Skip to main content

After 25 seasons, Ash Ketchum is retiring from Pokémon

The Pokémon Company confirmed that Ash Ketchum will no longer be the main protagonist of the series’ anime starting in 2023.

Ever since Pokémon! I Choose You! first aired in Japan on April 1, 1997, the Pokémon anime has followed the exploits of 10-year-old Pokémon trainer Ash Ketchum on his quest to become Pokémon Master. After trying and failing many times across 25 seasons, Ash finally managed to become the world’s greatest Pokémon trainer in Pokémon Ultimate Journeys: The Series after winning the Pokémon World Coronation Series.

The Pokémon Company is deciding to leave Ash’s journey on a high note and will retire his character as the protagonist of the Pokémon anime after the current season. Thankfully, he is getting a proper send-off across the final 11 episodes of Pokémon Ultimate Journeys: The Series, with classic anime characters like Misty and Brock returning to help tell “the final chapter in Ash and Pikachu’s story.” These final 11 episodes will start airing in Japan on January 13, 2023.

This won’t be the end of Pokémon anime adaptions, though; The Pokémon Company will start a new series later next year, following two new characters named Liko and Roy. Details on this new series are still scarce, but we know it will also feature Sprigatito, Fuecoco, Quaxly, and a Shiny Rayquaza in significant roles. We’re likely to see them venture through Paldea, the region Pokémon Scarlet and Violet are set in.

While the announcement that Ash Ketchum will no longer be the protagonist of the Pokémon series is bittersweet for those of us who grew up with the Pokémon anime, we can hope that the series will give him a beautiful farewell, and that Liko and Roy’s series can successfully capture the hearts of a whole new generation of Pokémon fans. 

Editors' Recommendations

Tomas Franzese
Gaming Staff Writer
Tomas Franzese is a Staff Writer at Digital Trends, where he reports on and reviews the latest releases and exciting…
The best Pokémon Scarlet and Violet mods
Three shiny Pokémon by a picnic.

It's no secret that Pokémon Scarlet and Violet launched in a technically messy state. Many are willing to look past the flaws in performance, graphics, and quality of life features, however, others took it upon themselves to fix or improve aspects of the game that the developers can't or won't. While modding is typically associated with PC games, it is possible to do it on your Nintendo Switch. There are limitations, and they may come with some risks, but these mods can certainly make your journey through Paldea more enjoyable. Don't expect a 4K, 60 fps enhancement here, but these are the best Pokémon Scarlet and Violet mods out there.
How to mod Pokémon Scarlet and Violet
Modding on your Nintendo Switch isn't as easy as it is on PC, but as long as you follow a few simple steps, anyone can do it. The basics of it simply ask you to download the Trinity Mod Loader tool, download the mod(s) you want and add them to the tool, and then apply the mod to your Switch.

Be aware that mods can result in you getting banned by Nintendo, so it is recommended that you play offline while using them. Even then, you do so at your own risk.

Read more
Pokémon showed why it’s still unstoppable in 2022
Pokemon Scarlet and Violet protagonist holding glowing Poke Ball

Remember Temtem, the monster-taming MMO that got its 1.0 release earlier this year? Don't feel too bad if you don't.

What was once hailed as the "Pokémon killer" officially launched in September too little fanfare. Despite the initial spike in interest after its early access release, it didn't quite reach the cultural status of the game it was trying to build on. Meanwhile, Pokémon Scarlet and Violet broke records as Nintendo's fastest-selling games of all time, despite being the most heavily criticized entries in the series' history due to performance issues and glitches. Not even bad press could keep Pikachu down.

Read more
Pokémon Scarlet and Violet Academy Ace Tournament guide
A Spanish inspired landscape and castle from Pokemon Scarlet and Pokemon Violet.

Pokémon titles have always provided extra content for players to challenge themselves with after completing the main quest. Pokémon Scarlet and Violet not only has a far more expansive series of main quests but tons more to do even after beating all three of them. Aside from hunting down legendary Pokémon or rematching all the gym leaders, one of the toughest post-game activities that will open up is the Academy Ace Tournament.

Unlike gym leaders, or most other trainers you will fight around Paldea, the competition you will go up against in the Academy Ace Tournament typically won't build their teams around a single Pokémon type. Their teams are all very high-level and diverse, making them quite the challenge to overcome. Here's all the information you need to train your team to become the Academy Ace Tournament champion in Pokémon Scarlet and Violet.

Read more