After winning the Pokemon World Championship in Pokemon Journeys, Ash Ketchum will continue to be featured in the Pokemon anime for the foreseeable future, in at least some capacity. Since winning the Pokemon World Championship after so many years of almost making it, many Pokemon fans have speculated that the anime would shift focus to a new protagonist, but according to executives, the lead character is sticking around.TV Tokyo executives recently discussed the Pokemon anime and its future following Ash Ketchum's Pokemon World Championship victory that capped off the latest season of Pokemon Journeys. Ash Ketchum has been the protagonist of the Pokemon anime series since its beginning, and although he's undergone multiple design changes, he's maintained the lead role. While other Pokemon game protagonists like Dawn from Pokemon Diamond and Pearl or Brendan from Pokemon Ruby and Sapphire have appeared in the Pokemon anime over the years, none have taken over for Ash in the 25 years of the anime's run, but that could change soon.According to TV Tokyo Head of Anime Hiraoka Risuke, Ash Ketchum, who is known as Satoshi in the Japanese version of the show, will be featured in the Pokemon anime franchise despite some fan concern that he will be replaced. Hinting at more Ash Ketchum adventures to come, Risuke stated that there will be an "announcement" during a future anime broadcast, though they failed to clarify when Pokemon fans can expect the reveal. TV Tokyo Presiden Ichiro Ishikawa pointed toward fans from all over the globe celebrating Ash Ketchum's World Championship victory as a cause for TV Tokyo to celebrate as well which suggests that the viral moment was exciting for fans and executives alike.
Ash Ketchum's position as the primary protagonist of the anime hasn't entirely been confirmed moving forward, but TV Tokyo's candid comments about the character may ease the minds of some fans that were worried about his replacement. Given that TV Tokyo has yet to confirm a date for the next Pokemon anime or movie, it's currently unclear when fans of the franchise can expect to see the hero in action again.
Some fans may be tired of Ash and want the trainer from Pokemon Scarlet and Violet or Pokemon Legends: Arceus to take over. While some Pokemon fans continue to celebrate Ash's World Championship victory after waiting years for the moment, others are just speculating on when the next season will drop.
Source: ComicBook