Who is funding Ash's journey?

[KJC]

His mom doesn't seem to work. Did his mysterious father leave behind a lot of money?

 

[Lord Trollbias]

If you go by Takeshi Shudo's novelisation then Delia owns Pallet House, Pallet Town's only restaurant, which she inherited from her mother.

 

[doofinc]

If you go by Takeshi Shudo's novelisation then Delia owns Pallet House, Pallet Town's only restaurant, which she inherited from her mother.

Got a link to that? Sounds like an interesting read.

 

[Genaller]

Got a link to that? Sounds like an interesting read.

Well try Satoshipedia.eng. They're only fan translations but they're pretty accurate (and I don't think official translations exist yet). The site I mentioned also has a number of other interesting articles regarding Ash.

 

[Ash-Pikachu]

Nothing, everything is free for 10 year olds in the world of pokemon.

 

[snorlax512]

Ash has just freeloading off Pokemon centres for 20 years

 

[Bguy7]

There are two likely answers. Either the Pokemon World in the anime is completely socialistic and has dropped the need for money, with exceptions existing in small pockets of the world, such as criminal organizations like Team Rocket (as Jessie, James, and Meowth are the only characters in the show to ever make mention of money) or, the more likely answer, that being a Pokemon trainer in the anime is just like being one in the games, meaning you earn money by winning battles. We may not ever see trainers handing over prize money, but it's possible this happens just off screen. A third possibility is that the "responsible" member of Ash's group (Brock/Cilan/Clemont) pay for everything, as they're always the ones who go shopping.

 

[snorlax512]

There are two likely answers. Either the Pokemon World in the anime is completely socialistic and has dropped the need for money, with exceptions existing in small pockets of the world, such as criminal organizations like Team Rocket (as Jessie, James, and Meowth are the only characters in the show to ever make mention of money) or, the more likely answer, that being a Pokemon trainer in the anime is just like being one in the games, meaning you earn money by winning battles. We may not ever see trainers handing over prize money, but it's possible this happens just off screen. A third possibility is that the "responsible" member of Ash's group (Brock/Cilan/Clemont) pay for everything, as they're always the ones who go shopping.

Nah because Ash would have gone bankrupt in Kanto lol

 

[KingMinun]

I don't see why Jessie, James and Meowth go after Pikachu all the time, they're better off robbing Ash of his endless supply of money instead, then they'll be filthy rich like they want to.

 

[Pikachu52]

A.V Club wrote an article proposing how the economics and commerce of the Pokémon world might work in real life - assuming the games but I suppose most of it could be applied to the anime

http://www.avclub.com/article/mon-measure-all-things-unraveling-pokemons-utopian-223059

That article specifically notes provision of social services in the form of Pokémon Centre's to trainers.

But a Pokémon-centric economy can’t be maintained if trainers are constantly being bled dry, so several social services are provided free of charge to support them. These employ some of this world’s most sophisticated technology. Pokémon Centers can be found in even the tiniest one-Ponyta towns, but they use healthcare machinery advanced enough to instantly heal injuries and simple enough for a single nurse to operate

The notion that Pokémon Centres provide free medical care for Pokémon as well as free food, board and lodging to trainers was confirmed in the second episode of AG - I believe May makes a comment about how wonderful it is that trainers are free food in Pokémon Centres.

My preferred theory is to go one further than the cannon and hypothesis that whatever form of government exists in Pokémon - it's implied at least the first four regions a sub national entities to a single Nation-State owing to the title "national Pokédex" given to the Pokédex post name - provides it's citizens with a Universal Basic Income. Enough money to cover people and hence trainers basic costs - which don't seem that high given Ash and friends get a lot for free from Pokémon centres and when travelling are often self sufficient. Playing on that theory, Jessie and James may be penniless because as wanted criminals - It's confirmed from episode 2 of the original series that they're known to police - they're either unable to claim the payment without identifying themselves or have the payment frozen because of their criminal activity.

As for Delia owning the "Pallet House" restaurant. I don't know what the relationship between the novelisation and the anime so I'm going to propose it's not cannon in the anime. Neither Delia or Ash has never mentioned it, which is a fairly large omission.

My guess is it's probably going to remain an unexplored part of the series - though it might make for good fanfiction.

I don't see why Jessie, James and Meowth go after Pikachu all the time, they're better off robbing Ash of his endless supply of money instead, then they'll be filthy rich like they want to.

He doesn't seem to carry anything of real value with him though. Food, some Pokémon medicines, camping equipment, Pokéballs and a few sentimental items. Given there is a lucrative black market for trade in powerful or rare Pokémon, Pikachu is infinitely more valuable - Hunter J thought so

 

[thor94]

pokemon center and their meal are free for trainers.
for the journey, it is obvious that the group responsible of the generation (brock, cylan and clemont) paid for the other basics.
ash always depended of other for anything that not crying pokemon move on battlefield or more rarely during training.
ash is good battler but pathetic trainer and traveller

 

[Isaac52]

I always considered pokemon centers paid for via some universal pokemon health care. Maybe supplemented by the merchandising and tickets sold for the league battles and such.

 

[Janovy]

The fandom. And we want our money back!

 

[satopi]

Ash beats trainers for their money. There's more than just a badge and a power surge awarded in the end.

 

[Mrs. Oreo]

it is obvious that the group responsible of the generation (brock, cylan and clemont) paid for the other basics.

I don't think they paid for anything either. I mean we saw them get supplies for the group every so often, but I've always assumed that stuff like that is free for trainers in the same way that Pokemon Center services seem free. I think that out of the whole cast, only Team Rocket has had to pay for some stuff on occasion cuz Giovanni doesn't seem to give them a big budget, at least not during some parts of OS. ^^;

 

[satopi]

I think that out of the whole cast, only Team Rocket has had to pay for some stuff on occasion cuz Giovanni doesn't seem to give them a big budget, at least not during some parts of OS. ^^;

Don't forget in AG where the TRio were struggling. James having to sell his bottle cap collection for food money, Meowth getting a ramen job, the TRio stealing food sometimes, etc. Otherwise they didn't have to worry about paying for a hotel since the wilderness is free to use.

 

[Wednesdayz]

Nothing, everything is free for 10 year olds in the world of pokemon.

I suspect that this is the case, or else Dehlia sends Ash money off-screen.

 

[Daniel31]

I suspect that this is the case, or else Dehlia sends Ash money off-screen.

Nah, his Dad puts money into an account for him. It's the reason we've never seen him because he's working all the time.

 

[Mrs. Oreo]

I suspect that this is the case, or else Dehlia sends Ash money off-screen.

Ash's mom sending him money was what I had assumed to be Ash's method of affording stuff before, tho since she doesn't seem to work, I doubt she has much cash on hand to give him. So I think Ash and his friends simply getting things for free makes slightly more sense.

 

[_LightMeww_]

His mom doesn't seem to work. Did his mysterious father leave behind a lot of money?

What's with the fandom always trying to shoehorn Ash's dad into everything? FFS. To answer the question, I think Ash gets an allowance from his mom off-screen.