Ash Ketchum is by far one of the most recognizable Pokémon trainers in the world. Considering that he was just 10 years old in 1997's Pokémon - I Choose You, one might expect that through his many trials and adventures he'd have gained some age with experience, but that's not quite the case. Across 26 years and more 1300 episodes, Ash has done everything from tame a stubborn Pikachu to becoming the Monarch of the Pokémon World Coronation Series; yet, by the time he made his presumed final appearance in 2023's The Rainbow and the Pokémon Master, Ash hadn't even aged a full year.
Ash obviously worked really hard to become the most powerful Pokémon Master in the world, but it's definitely a feat that should have taken actual years to achieve. The fact that he is still only 10 at the end of it all raises a lot of eyebrows and questions. Do the other people around him ever age? Why does he mature emotionally, but not physically? While there have been numerous fan theories over the years about why Ash doesn't get any older, there has never actually been a solid explanation. In fact, Pokémon as a series has never really taken the time to address age, or the mysterious passage of time that has kept one of the world's most recognizable and accomplished Pokémon masters eternally 10 years old.
Wait, Then How Old Is Ash Ketchum in Black and White?
One crucial anomaly that needs to be addressed is that time does pass in Ash's world. There are regular notes throughout the original about months -- and sometimes even a full year -- going by. The first episode of Pokémon: Black and White references the "Johto Arc," for example, noting that a year has passed since the events of Johto. Even ignoring the time prior to that arc, Ash should have aged two years at the very least; however, somehow still 10 years old, he goes on to face adventure after adventure, while never actually getting any older.
How Old Is Ash Ketchum Really?
When taking into account the actual passage of time, 26 years have gone by during Ash's many adventures. If he were actually aging, he would be 36 years old in 2023. He went through numerous adventures, experiences, losses and tournaments, only to remain eternally 10. He's been through a lot for a kid, and taking the time to comb through his journey, it's obvious that he's matured. So why doesn't he actually get older? One can only assume this he is kept at his current age, to be more identifiable with the franchise's target audience.
Fan Theories About Ash's Age
Because Ash never ages across obviously noted years of passage, a number of fan theories have arisen. The Oh-ho Eternal Happiness theory believes Ash and Pikachu never age because of their viewing of the legendary bird. Known to grant eternal happiness, there's no doubt that Ash would gladly spend forever having the time of his life at age ten. Some fans have even proposed that perhaps Ash is a slow-aging Gallifreyan Timelord like Doctor Who, though that seems like a bit of a stretch. Two darker fan theories posit that from the start, Ash was either in a coma and these are his dreams -- or that he's died and training Pokémon is his afterlife.
When Did Ash Become Pokémon World Champion?
Ash accomplished a lot in his time, including becoming the first regional Pokemon champion from Alola. It wasn't until the finale of Pokemon Ultimate Journeys: The Series in 2022 that Ash finally managed to achieve his lifelong goal of becoming the Pokémon World Champion. 26 years and more than 1200 episodes later, he finally achieved his dreams. He's done everything he set out to do, and then some. With his final episodes with Pikachu set to air in the US on Netflix in June 2023, it's time to for Ash pass the torch to a whole new generation of trainers and aspiring champions.