The most recent episode of Pokémon Journeys, which aired in Japan on Aug. 9, has made history as the first main Pokémon anime episode to not feature either of the series’ iconic duo, Ash and Pikachu. Instead, it elected to focus on Goh, Ash's latest companion, and an event from his childhood. Whenever Ash leaves the scene, whether it be temporary like the Mega Evolution Special or a separate project like Twilight Wings, it's always worth taking another look at the argument fans have been making for years: that it’s high time the Pokémon anime moved on from its protagonist of over 20 years, Ash Ketchum.
Of course, were this change to happen, it would be a huge transition for the franchise as a whole. While spinoffs have explored other characters from the world of Pokémon before, the focus always remained on Ash. He’s been present in every single animated film — despite their disconnected nature creating perfect opportunities to venture away from his constant spotlight — and been kept onboard as the protagonist of the main show, despite each new region’s potential to simply introduce a new one. Not to mention that Ash’s loyal partner, Pikachu, is by far the most recognizable and marketable Pokémon in the entire franchise. If one thing’s for certain, The Pokémon Company won’t move on from the pair easily. However, in spite of this, there are still several reasons why now would be the perfect time for Pokémon to retire its eternal 10-year-old.
For one, Pokémon Journeys has already introduced a perfectly fine candidate to take his place. Despite his relatively recent introduction, Goh is regarded highly enough to warrant this historic episode, and there’s no reason why future seasons need to have Ash in them. The anime could even give him a Pikachu of his own, as several episodes in past seasons haven’t shied away from showing other electric mice on screen. And, if The Pokémon Company feels the need to make a clear distinction between the two, there’s already a canon solution; give Goh a female Pikachu, as all females have a distinct notch on their tails. With this option, Ash can take a break from the spotlight while keeping Pikachu on the screen for that all-important brand recognition.
A new protagonist taking center stage would not only reignite interest in the series, but opens the door for different uses of Ash’s character in the future. Many viewers who watched Ash Ketchum embark on his earlier adventures have long since grown up and matured. Ash, however, never did the same. Which is unfortunate, as other long-running anime have shown the storytelling potential that can result from an older protagonist. While Pokémon has and always will be focused on children, there are other ways to keep this focus, while still moving away from Ash as the protagonist. If a new hero took over, the show’s lasting appeal to kids could remain while also breathing some new life into its old one.
For those concerned that the anime simply would lose traction without its most iconic character, one needs only look at Pokémon Adventures. The manga, which has been running strong since 1997, is a Pokémon story without even a hint of Ash. In fact, it changes protagonists every region and has delivered some of the most interesting stories to ever come out of the franchise. There are also already successful anime (miniseries) that have thrived without Ash. Pokémon Origins was among the most successful, an excellent — albeit only 4 episode — anime that pulled inspiration from Pokémon's first generation of video games. It followed the adventures of Red and his journey through Kanto, offering a fresh and interesting point of view on the world of Pokémon.
An honorable mention should also be given to Pokémon Generations, a series of fully animated shorts that followed characters from across Pokémon’s long history. While the IP never went any further than those small snippets, the amount of charm and personality packed into each episode left fans wanting more.
There is no way to know for certain what the future holds for Ash and Goh. It could be quite possible that this episode was The Pokémon Company’s way of testing the waters, but regardless of what direction is decided upon, Pokémon fans are clearly ready for even more creative and bolder stories. The Pokémon Company just has to deliver.