Ash Ketchum
| Ash サトシ Satoshi | |
| [[File:File:SatoshiDP.png|{{{size}}}]] Art from Diamond/Pearl anime | |
| Gender | Male |
|---|---|
| Hometown | Pallet Town |
| Region | Kanto |
| Relatives | Delia |
| Trainer class | Trainer |
| Anime debut | Pokémon! I Choose You! |
| English voice actor | Unknown |
| Japanese voice actor | Unknown |
Ash Ketchum (Japanese: サトシ Satoshi, French: Sacha, German: Ash Ketchum, Korean: Jiu) is the main character of both the Pokémon anime and the manga The Electric Tale of Pikachu. His Japanese voice actress is 松本梨香 Rica Matsumoto, his English voice actresses are Veronica Taylor (EP001-AG145) and Sarah Natochenny (AG146-present) and his Brazilian voice actor is Fabio Lucindo.
Ash is apparently based on the main character of Pokémon Red and Blue, Red. He shares his name with the creator of the Pokémon franchise, Satoshi Tajiri. His Japanese name can be taken to mean "wisdom" or "reason" (智), and his English name has many meanings. His English last name is a pun on the original English Pokémon motto, "Gotta Catch 'em All!" As for his first name, some say that "Ash" has the same letters found in Satoshi.
In the anime
Character
Ash's goal, as described in the first episode, Pokémon! I Choose You!, is to be the world's greatest Pokémon Master. Ash began his journey at the age of 10 as a warm-hearted and well-intentioned but stubborn and unskilled Pokémon trainer. He was forced to accept the irreverent Pikachu from Professor Oak as his starter Pokémon because he carelessly broke his alarm clock and woke up late on the day he was set to get his first Pokémon. He was determined to achieve his goal, however, and when he showed his williness to give up his own safety to keep Pikachu safe, he formed a strong bond of friendship with his Pokémon which would set his course for the future.
However, from that point, Ash still had a lot to learn about becoming a trainer. He caught his first Pokémon by luck, knew nothing about battling, and showed a reluctance to admit when he was wrong. Many of his first Gym badges were given to him out of pity or gratitude rather than claiming a victory in battle over the Gym Leaders. Every time he thought he was doing well, he would somehow cross paths with his childhood rival, Gary Oak, who always reminded Ash that he was always a step or seven behind.
Ash's dedication to his goal paid off over time, and after earning his first eight badges, he competed in the Indigo League, and advanced further in the rounds than Gary. After recovering from his defeat, he continued on to improve his skill, take on new challenges, and compete in more Pokémon League competitions.
Ash has changed a great deal over the course of the series, particularly in regards to his skill at Pokémon training, but his earnestness and determination have remained. Never straying from his goal, he has remained loyal to his friends, his family, and his supporters, but most of all his Pokémon. Ash became a great trainer by learning to find and use the inner strength of each of his Pokémon by bonding with them and learning where their hidden abilities lie. For example, he uses his Pikachu's speed to outmaneuver larger foes and attack. Additionally, during the first season of the series, while Ash trained not to further himself, but instead to catch more Pokémon than his rival, Gary, he later slowed his pace which allowed him (as well as the writers of the anime) to focus on the individual traits of each Pokémon. At the Johto League Silver Conference, with great humility and maturity, Ash finally won a battle against his old rival, signifying a great milestone in his history. His maturity has also increased in his dealings with Pokémon, as when a Mankey stole his hat in EP025, he screamed and yelled at it, but when an Aipom did the same in AG178, he stated merely that he would feel strange without a hat.
In nearly every episode of the anime, Ash befriends someone who will influence him and cause him to strive to become a better trainer. Although he is not a dependent individual, he is still young and has learned to make his way relying on his friends. His closest friends have joined him on his Pokémon journey through the years: Misty, Brock, Tracey, May, Max, and Hikari.
He has traversed much of the Pokémon world and has thus far participated in four Pokémon League regional competitions, but he is still learning new things about Pokémon all the time.
Ash apparently has a close connection with Legendary Pokémon, especially Ho-oh. In the English dub of the second movie, he was revealed to be "The Chosen One" - the one who would bring balance back to the world.
Family
Ash lived with his mother, Delia Ketchum, until he left for his Pokémon journey at the age of ten.
His father is never introduced. The anime suggests that his father was once a Pokémon trainer, but it is unclear whether he is still living. There is great controversy as to whom Ash's father really is, but the writers have chosen to not focus on this aspect of Ash's life. Common characters put forward by fans for the role are Giovanni, Professor Oak and Silver.
Ash is an only child, breaking from the tradition of several other main characters, with the exception of Hikari and possibly Tracey, whose siblings are often a foil or focal point in their lives.
Pokémon
On hand
With Professor Oak
- Bulbasaur
- Chikorita → Bayleef
- Cyndaquil
- Heracross
- Krabby → Kingler
- Muk
- Noctowl (alternate color)
- Snorlax
- Tauros (×30)
- Totodile
- Torkoal
- Snorunt → Glalie
- Corphish
- Taillow → Swellow
- Treecko → Grovyle → Sceptile
- Phanpy → Donphan
In training
Released
Traded or temporarily owned
- Beedrill
- Haunter (befriended but never formally caught)
- Raticate (Traded for his Butterfree, but decided to trade back and keep his Butterfree)
- Seaking
- Larvitar (again, never formally caught)
Badges obtained
Indigo League
Orange League
Johto League
Hoenn League
Battle Frontier
Sinnoh League
Pokémon League Ranking
Ash placed in the following Pokémon League competitions:
- Indigo Plateau Conference (Top 16)
- Orange League (Champion)
- Silver Conference (Top 8)
- Ever Grande Conference (Top 8)
- Battle Frontier (Champion)
Pokémon Competitions
Ash has participated in the following competitions:
- Bug-Catching Contest (Champion)
- Fire and Rescue Grand Prix
- Fuchsia Free-For-All Race (Champion)
- Grass Tournament
- P1 Grand Prix (Champion)
- Pokémon Balloon Race (Champion)
- Pokémon contests
- Terracotta Contest (unofficial) (Winner - Tied w/May)
- ??? Contest
- Pokémon Orienteering
- Pokémon Swap Meet Tauros-battling competiton (Winner)
- PokéRinger (Champion)
- Seaking Catching Day
- Sumo Conference (Champion)
- Whirl Cup
Trivia
- Ash has caught 44 different kinds of Pokémon, including evolutions and counting Larvitar, Haunter, and Raticate, even though Larvitar and Haunter were not officially his. The original tagline for the dub was "Gotta Catch 'Em All!", but Ash has only caught 8.92% of all the Pokémon.
- So far, every time Ash becomes the champion of something, he then battles and gets defeated by Gary a few episodes later, before heading off to a new region.
- At one time, Ash was transformed into a Pikachu. This transformed state is sometimes referred to as Ashachu.
- Ash has captured each generation's Template:Type2 starter Pokémon.
- Ash has captured a form of each Flying-type Pokémon that players can encounter early in different games: Pidgeot, Noctowl, Swellow, and Mukubird.
In the manga
The manga version of Ash Ketchum is based on the anime version, but there are many differences after both versions took different directions. For example, while anime Ash is indifferent to romance or members of the opposite (or same, some may argue) sex, manga Ash has a big crush on Gary's sister, May Oak.
External links
On Bulbagarden forums
| Ash's Pokémon | ||||||
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| At Oak's/In rotation: | ||||||
| With Kukui/In rotation: |
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| Released: | ||||||
| Temporarily owned: | ||||||
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| The Power of Us only: | ||||||
| EToP only: | ||||||
| Newspaper Strip only: | ||||||
| For a list of Pokémon Ash has temporarily owned, used, or commanded, see here | ||||||
