There is quite a lot going on in the Pokemon world. In addition to the release of Pokemon Scarlet and Violet, fans have also been told that Ash and Pikachu will be saying goodbye. The next season of the anime series will feature new protagonists with the starters from Pokemon Scarlet and Violet. This is a very risky move for The Pokemon Company, but it may be worth it.
Pikachu has served as a global mascot for decades, and Ash is a prominent part of the franchise beyond just the anime series. However, a new set of protagonists may be helpful for newcomers who will have new characters to start their Pokemon journey with, rather than jumping into Ash and Pikachu's already long-running story. Furthermore, long-time fans finally get to see Ash and Pikachu become Pokemon Champions and move on to the next stage of their lives.
Pokemon is Increasingly Accommodating Newcomers
Despite being decades old, the Pokemon franchise still has a strong fan base and enjoys global popularity. Nevertheless, for any business that wants to be successful, continued customer acquisition has been a must. Hence, The Pokemon Company is always looking for new ways to draw in more fans and get them hooked on collecting critters. This has arguably been seen with the Pokemon games. Pokemon Scarlet and Violet is easily the most accessible title to date, with features such as the TM machine and auto-battles making it easier than ever for new Trainers to get their journey started.
It could be argued that this is also being seen in the Pokemon anime series. With Pokemon Journeys, Ash travels with Goh. His companion seldom needs to have battles to catch Pokemon - the hardest part of the ordeal is simply throwing the Poke Ball. This seems to replicate the way players might catch creatures in Pokemon GO and Pokemon: Let's Go, Eevee and Pikachu. The ease with which Goh catches Pokemon might seem off to series veterans, but it is quite normal to gamers who entered the franchise through the more recently released aforementioned games.
Ash and Pikachu's departure feels like a natural progression of this desire to make the franchise more accessible to newcomers. Although the iconic duo might hold a strong nostalgic draw for long-time fans, the same is not true for newcomers who may be more open to a new set of characters they can begin a new journey with. It's a daring move on The Pokemon Company's part, but it could be a winning move when it comes to accommodating fans who are new to the series.
It Is Time For Ash and Pikachu's Journey to End
Although it appears that the main benefits of Ash and Pikachu's departure are for newcomers, long-time fans stand to gain as well. Ash has been on a seemingly eternal quest to become a Pokemon Master. For the first few seasons, it seemed natural that Ash would lose, as he was a new Trainer still learning the ropes. However, after catching increasingly powerful Pokemon and gaining experience, fans started questioning why he and Pikachu keep losing. Complaints reached a crescendo when Ash lost the Kalos League in Pokémon the Series: XY Kalos Quest, even with his Greninja going up against a Charizard.
Ash and Pikachu's departure may be sad, but it comes with the wonderful gift that fans have always been asking for: character development. With Ash finally the Pokemon World Champion he always dreamed of, following his adventures would not serve the purpose the anime series always has, which is to mirror the game's story of working towards becoming a Pokemon Champion. With new characters, viewers will be able to witness new characters go through the trials and tribulations Ash experienced before he finally achieved his goal.
The new era of the Pokemon anime series could be great for both newcomers and longtime fans, though only will tell as the new protagonists have brilliant predecessors to outshine. If done correctly, Ash and Pikachu's departure could save the series from stagnancy. If it fails, Ash and Pikachu can always make a return.
