A lot of Pokémon fans have been hoping for the day they would finally get to see Ash fully-grown, but it doesn't seem like this will happen any time soon, at least not canonically. Despite having over 25 years' worth of adventures -- and his story being over -- he remains the same 10-year-old boy he's always been. Fans should not hold their breath for an "adult Ash" reveal.

However, the successor to Ash's story, Pokémon Horizons, seems to offer a compromise. Friede, one of the characters of the series, seems kind of like a person Ash would have grown up into if he were given the opportunity. By introducing this character, fans are given an idea of what an adult Ash would be like, while the anime gets to keep its most iconic character in perpetual stasis.

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How Is Friede Similar to Ash?

Professor Friede and his Pokemon crew

The biggest parallel that can be drawn between Ash and Friede is their choice of Pokémon. So far, Friede has been shown regularly using a Charizard and a Pikachu. Normally, this would make for a pretty small sample size, but considering they're two of Ash's most well-known Pokémon, this resemblance can't be ignored.

Besides their Pokémon, Friede's personality seems a lot like something Ash's could someday develop into. He's extroverted, free-spirited, and radiates positive energy. At the same time, he also has the air of a seasoned veteran whose skills and knowledge have been refined throughout many adventures. That said, he can still be a little absent-minded at times. It's as if Ash had matured over his adventures while still maintaining his youthful enthusiasm.

Friede's Captain Pikachu similarly seems like an older, more experienced version of Ash's Pikachu. Much of Captain Pikachu's confidence can be seen through its body language; the gaze, the crossed arms, and the way it stands up on the tip of its tail. The way it fights also shows a great deal of synchronicity between Trainer and Pokémon. Just as Friede is the kind of person Ash would grow up to be, so, too, is Captain Pikachu the kind of Pokémon Ash's Pikachu could someday be.

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Friede's profession could also arguably be seen as something Ash would consider for a career path. Ash's life story is defined by endless adventure and seeing what the world has to offer him on his quest to become a Pokémon Master. With that in mind, the Rising Volt Tacklers, a group of world travelers devoted to learning the mysteries of the Pokémon world, seems like the ideal place for him to work. He might even create a similar group of adventurers when he grows up.

With this, even if Ash remains a 10-year-old, fans will still get the satisfaction of seeing what things would be like if he were ever aged up. Friede captures Ash's spirit not just in his choice of Pokémon but also in his outgoing personality and nomadic way of life. If these two were ever to meet up, their friends would no doubt be quick to point out how alike they are.