While the official Pokemon anime series based on the Paldea region introduced with Pokemon Scarlet and Violet has yet to be released, it's not uncommon for it to be linked with games through specific characters or even some story bits. A good example is provided by Pokemon Journeys: The Series, which featured Ash and Pikachu as the main characters alongside Goh, telling the stories of their exploration of the Galar region. Pokemon Journeys also made Ash and Pikachu win the Masters Eight Tournament, consecrating the former as the strongest trainer in the world after he manages to defeat champion Leon, whose role is significant in Gen 8 games as well.
And yet, Ash and Pikachu are leaving the show after 26 years in 2023, a decision that was made public by The Pokemon Company just two days ago after the weekly Pokemon Journeys episode aired. Although Ash and Pikachu are not really part of the mainline series in the games, they did influence the direction of the saga so far and vice versa. This means that the iconic duo may be leaving the anime and still leave a mark on the video game franchise as a whole, and that's not only because the Pokemon Scarlet and Violet series is the very first with a new protagonist.
Why Ash and Pikachu Leaving Could Change Gen 10 and Future Pokemon Games
An undeniable consequence of Pikachu's worldwide success as the franchise's mascot comes from the so-called Pikachu clones - a subset of Electric-type critters that are inspired by rodents and share similar characteristics to the iconic Pokemon. This can be anything from the color to physical features, too, and Pokemon Scarlet and Violet's Pawmi line did break the mold when it comes to standards of Pikachu clones because it's the first one to evolve across all games.
Pikachu, and particularly Ash's Pikachu, leaving the Pokemon anime might be a sign that things are changing within the franchise in the future, and one of those changes might be that evolutions lines inspired by the yellow mouse won't be as heavily featured as they are now. Alternatively, new mascots could arise, making Game Freak focus on those more. Not only that, but Ash and Pikachu's journeys in the anime are often based on a given region introduced with the games, much like Pokemon Journeys acted as a spotlight for Galar. As such, a possible consequence is that Gen 10 games and beyond could feature regions that are conceived to be explored linearly in the anime as well.
The Pokemon Scarlet and Violet anime protagonist could be Ash's daughter based on fans' comments regarding how this young girl looks like a mix of the eternal 10-year-old protagonist and Serena, a supporting character introduced all the way back in Kalos. If this proves to be correct, the Paldea region as portrayed in Pokemon Scarlet and Violet could be different from the one in the anime because a time jump might occur, or maybe future games or anime seasons could be subject to something similar as a consequence of Ash and Pikachu leaving.
Ash's Pikachu is also a big reason why Pokemon Scarlet and Violet's picnics or Gen 8's camps became so popular, as players have more of a chance to truly build a relationship with their Pokemon by playing with them, cooking for them, and even washing them. Pikachu has often been featured in such a way, and its quirks always made it seem like the perfect Pokemon companion one could ever want - a best friend. There's a chance all this could change too moving forward, as the series is losing its most iconic example of how Pokemon and humans can become inseparable. Overall, Gen 10 games and beyond could be very different from what the franchise currently is, and a good chunk of that could depend on Ash and Pikachu's final goodbyes in the anime.
