The newest Pokemon anime special features a major reference to Ash's father, with Ash receiving a gift many classic fans will remember from his still unknown dad. The most recent specials in the monster-catching anime come as the series is preparing to say goodbye to its beloved protagonist after almost three decades. The anime has confirmed it will see the departure of longtime main character Ash Ketchum for the start of the next season, swapping instead to a pair of new protagonists. However, the anime still has yet to explain one of its most storied mysteries.Since the first Pokemon anime debuted in April 1997, fans have been teased by the mysterious identity of Ash's father. While Ash's mom has played a recurring role in the Pokemon anime, appearing several times throughout the many different seasons, fans have never been properly introduced to his father. The identity of Ash's father has been a popular point of speculation among fans of the franchise, with many theorizing pre-existing characters like Professor Oak could be Ash's dad. Now, the most recent special has seen Ash apparently receiving a gift from his dad.Recent Pokemon anime specials have continued to tease the potential reveal of Ash's dad, with a recently released episode seeing Ash just miss a meeting with his father. However, Ash's mom would reveal that the character's mystery dad would leave behind a gift for his son, one that longtime Pokemon fans should remember. The gift from Ash's father is revealed to be the iconic hat that Ash wore throughout the Kanto and Johto anime seasons. Many fans have speculated that the Pokemon anime may be preparing to finally reveal Ash's father before his farewell.
The reveal of Ash's father during the character's final episodes in the spotlight would come as Pokemon is set to feature many of Ash's classic partners. Misty and Brock have already been confirmed to return during Ash's final episodes, allowing the character to have his send-off with his original traveling partners. Many of Ash's older Pokemon are also heavily rumored to be coming back in the concluding episodes, with Pokemon already featuring Ash's reunion with his Butterfree.
The transition to a new protagonist for the Pokemon anime comes as part of a major change across the franchise as a whole. The debut of Pokemon Scarlet and Violet last month saw the main-series Pokemon games transition to a fully open-world style for the first time. Pokemon Legends: Arceus, released earlier this year, also experimented with several new ideas for the franchise, including capturing Pokemon without battling, and crafting mechanics. The Pokemon anime is set to move into a new era next year, but not before giving its longtime protagonist a proper send-off.