Fans of thePokémonanime love Ash Ketchum, even after 25 years. In fact, some fans are so into Ash that as soon as it was revealed that he would be retiring from the protagonist role, they immediately began speculating about how Ash might someday return to the anime. What’s less frequently pondered, however, is who should be with him when he does.
Not long after Ash’s retirement, the creators behind the anime made it clear that Ash is still out there journeying, he’s just doing it offscreen now. There’s even some hope thatAsh might cross over intoPokémon Horizonsat some point, although such an appearance would have to be handled very carefully to avoid Ash stealing the show.
Who Should Be at Ash’s Side When He Returns?
Ash Should Have Old Friends With Him When He Reappears
Many fans believe it’s only a matter of time before Ash is seen again in anime form, be it inHorizons, or a movie, or some other sort of project. One popular theory at the moment is thatAsh could returnfor the anime’s 30th anniversary in 2027–long enough after his retirement to avoid being too soon, but still close enough to be exciting.
Whether it’s new companions or old friends, Ash should probably be traveling with someone when he reappears.
No doubt when Ash returns, so too will Pikachu. When Ash was last seen, he and Pikachu were traveling alone, but if there’s anything his track record has proven, it’s that he’s never alone for too long. Whether it’s new companions or old friends, Ash should probably be traveling with someone when he reappears.
The most likely choices, of course, would be Brock and Misty.As his most iconic companions and the longest-running, it would certainly be exciting to see them again, just as it would be to see Ash. However, there are other possibilities–Ash could perhaps be traveling with familiar characters he’s never traveled with before, like Gary.
Ash’s other past companions could still show up, depending on where the story of Ash’s return is set.
Which Pokémon Should Ash Have for a Return Appearance?
Ash’s Pokémon Roster is Nearly as Contentious as His Companions
Of course, Ash will be traveling with a full team of Pokémon as well, and given how he was changing his team up throughout theAim To Be a Pokémon Masterminiseries, it could be any mix of his old Pokémon.Fan favorites like Charizardseem likely, but it will be interesting to see exactly what Pokémon end up on his team in a return appearance.
While some fans might hope for a team full of old favorites, that might not be the best call, however.If Ash really has been adventuring offscreen, then it would certainly be fun and interesting to see what kind of new Pokémon Ash has caught since he was last seen.Did he ever make it toScarletandViolet’s Paldea, for example?
They could even do both: have Ash reclaim his Primeape, and then evolve it into an Annihilape, giving him a Paldean Pokémon that he caught long ago.
A mix of old and new Pokémon on Ash’s team would be ideal. If he does return in 2027, that would be after the 10th generationPokémongames come out on the Switch 2, so he might even have Pokémon fans don’t know about yet. That, of course, would only make Ash’s eventualPokémonreturn all the more exciting, regardless of the circumstances.
