Who hasn't dreamed of traveling Ash Ketchum's path through the Pokémon world's wondrous regions, catching Pokémon and battling with them against friends and foes to become the best there ever was? Whether it's the anime, the video games, the collectible cards, etc., the franchise continues to capture the hearts and imaginations of people all across the world.

Stop and think about it, however, and the entire concept for Pokémon is rather disturbing. Pokémon are born free -- until they're pursued by humans and captured. They remain locked away in their poké ball like a prison cell until they are called out to battle or train. They (mostly) answer their trainers' commands without question. These creatures are electrocuted, burned, frozen, poisoned, mentally confused and beaten until one is unable to continue. Crowds watch and cheer it all on as the trainers get the credit for the Pokémon's hard work.

It's cockfighting with adorable critters.

RELATED: Pokémon Should Let You Join Team Rocket

Charmander waiting in Pokemon anime

The mental slavery most Pokémon are confined to is strikingly explored in the Season 1 episode "Charmander -- The Stray Pokemon." Ash and co. find a Charmander laying on a rock waiting for its trainer Damien, who told it to stay there until he comes back for it later. In reality, Damien deems Charmander to be too weak and brags to his friends about abandoning it. Its blind loyalty is so strong that it stays on the rock through a thunderstorm, nearly dying until it's rescued. Not until the very end of the episode does Charmander consider its own value and aspirations, and whether it's okay to leave its abusive trainer for a better life. Luckily there's a happy ending.

Ash's Pikachu has slightly more freedom: it never goes into its ball and travels openly. But is it truly free? Pikachu battles on command, many times at a steep disadvantage and often past the point of exhaustion. Despite barely surviving life-threatening situations, it never shows any misgivings, battling on to achieve victory. However, when Ash tries to leave Pikachu with its own kind -- feeling guilty over making it battle for his personal gain -- Pikachu makes its own individual decision to stay by Ash's side. It's a rare moment of genuine freedom of choice for a Pokémon with a trainer.

RELATED: Does Hayao Miyazaki Actually Hate Anime?

pokemon Ash & Charizard yawning

Charizard, on the other hand, refuses to obey Ash's commands for a while, only battling opponents it deems worthy of its time and effort. Perhaps due to its past, Charizard displays a blatant distrust of others and firmly decides its own behavior. Ash manages to earn loyalty by admitting his flaws, which inspires Charizard to work with him out of a mutual respect and desire to grow.

Team Rocket's Meowth takes the concept of free will even further, developing his talking, walking, thinking and even reading abilities to human levels. He understands ideas like the pursuit of happiness, pride, despair, analyzing a situation and having the desire to gain more from life than he currently has. For all his evilness, buffoonery and cheesy puns, everything about Meowth's trainer-less lifestyle is incredibly progressive in a world filled with such blind loyalty.

RELATED: Dragon Ball: Why a Saiyan's Hair Changes Color When Going Super

Team Rocket Pokemon

The relationship between Pokémon and their trainers is complex, but it's not all doom and gloom. The majority of trainers love their Pokémon deeply, bonding with and caring for them like pets. Video game players certainly develop the same feelings for their Pokemon: it's the main appeal of Pokemon X and Y's Pokémon-Amie mode where you can feed, pet and play games with your favorite Pokémon.

It's really all sunshine and daisies if you ignore that Pokémon fight each other until one is knocked out, then go to the hospital to be healed so they can do it all over again. And aside from a select few examples, they accept their lot in life without a second thought. Cockfighting with adorable critters indeed.

NEXT: The Best Pokémon Treats, Ranked