{"id":31422,"date":"2023-03-23T10:55:31","date_gmt":"2023-03-23T09:55:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.radiotimes.com\/?p=1804091"},"modified":"2023-03-23T13:48:50","modified_gmt":"2023-03-23T12:48:50","slug":"why-is-ash-ketchum-leaving-pokemon-and-who-is-replacing-him","status":"publish","type":"rss_feed","link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/radiotimes\/rss_feed\/why-is-ash-ketchum-leaving-pokemon-and-who-is-replacing-him\/","title":{"rendered":"Why is Ash Ketchum leaving Pok\u00e9mon and who is replacing him?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Ash Ketchum and Pikachu’s adventure is finally coming to a close after 25 years. <\/p>

By Christopher Megrath\n \t\t<\/p>

Published: Thursday, 23 March 2023 at 12:00 am<\/p>

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Ash Ketchum is as much a vital part of the Pok\u00e9mon<\/a> franchise as his beloved electric sidekick. He and Pikachu joined forces in 1997 and instantly became one of the most recognisable tag teams not only in anime but television\u2019s history.<\/p>\n

They initially journeyed through the Kanto region in order to become the very best but the family grew bigger after the likes of leaders Misty and Brock joined, along with countless other Pok\u00e9mon friends to keep Pikachu happy.<\/p>\n

Ash\u2019s team has undergone numerous iterations to decide the best six to tackle the Pok\u00e9mon League, but Pikachu remained his electric trump card tough enough to take down the most difficult of foes.<\/p>\n

After 25 years, viewers recently watched Ash walk away as the Champion of the Pok\u00e9mon League<\/a>. His day one goal was finally achieved, which coincidentally aligned with his farewell as the show\u2019s main protagonist<\/p>\n

Why is Ash Ketchum leaving Pokemon?<\/strong><\/h2>\n
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It was simply his time. Ash achieved what he set out to accomplish and if viewers continued to follow him on his journey then the story would be rehashing lesser content.<\/p>\n
The anime became its own monster and never really focused on the grittier adaption. The majority of episodes focused on a Pok\u00e9mon of the day in a new area, with Team Rocket attempting to steal said Pok\u00e9mon, and everything wrapped up neatly by the end of the show.<\/p>\n
This became somewhat formulaic after all this time which is why the creators finally gifted Ash with a Pok\u00e9mon World Championship victory. The accomplishment was celebrated by older fans as something they\u2019ve waited decades for, but it also ushered in the realisation that there\u2019s no more story to tell with Ash.<\/p>\n
Will Pok\u00e9mon continue without Ash Ketchum?<\/strong><\/h2>\n
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