Delia Ketchum
| Delia Ketchum ハナコ Hanako | |
 Delia Ketchum | |
| Age | Unknown (anime) 29 (novel) |
|---|---|
| Gender | Female |
| Eye color | Black (hand-colored episodes) Amber (digitally colored episodes) |
| Hair color | Auburn (hand-colored episodes) Mahogany (digitally colored episodes) |
| Hometown | Pallet Town |
| Region | Kanto |
| Relatives | Ash (son), Ash (son, M20), Unnamed husband (EP002, M20, M23, JNS05), Unnamed father-in-law (EP002) |
| Anime debut | Pokémon - I Choose You! |
| English voice actor | Veronica Taylor (EP001-AG133) Sarah Natochenny (AG192-JN147) |
| Japanese voice actor | Masami Toyoshima |
Delia Ketchum (Japanese: ハナコ Hanako), also known as Mrs. Ketchum or Ms. Ketchum (Japanese: ママさん Mama-san) is a recurring character who appeared in the Pokémon anime. She is the mother of Ash.
In the anime
Main series
History
Pre-series
According to Takeshi Shudō's novelization, she runs Pallet Town's only restaurant, Pallet House, which she inherited from her mother. When she was younger, she dreamed of becoming both a model and a Pokémon Trainer, but abandoned those dreams to run the restaurant after Ash was born. Pocket Monsters: The Animation also elaborates that the reason why she raised Ash by herself is that his father married her fast and then left just as fast due to him being a Pokémon Trainer. It is also implied that the reason he and Ash's grandfather didn't return is because they achieved nothing in their goal.
Four years prior to the start of the original series, Delia agreed to sign her son Ash up for Professor Oak's Pokémon Camp. As she had things to do, Ash had to get up by himself, which eventually resulted in the young boy oversleeping and missing the camp.
Original series
Delia debuted in Pokémon - I Choose You!, telling Ash that he should get to bed for his big day tomorrow. She was then seen in front of Professor Oak's Laboratory with a small group of people from Pallet Town, cheering Ash on as he walked out with his first Pokémon. She was shown to be very sad that her little boy was growing up, but quickly put it aside to tell him everything that she had packed in his backpack for his journey. When she unintentionally insulted Pikachu, who was already upset at getting Ash for a Trainer, he used his Thunder Shock and shocked the entire group.
In the next episode, Ash decided to call her while waiting for his Pikachu to be healed by Nurse Joy. She seemed to be surprised that he was already in Viridian. She also mentioned his father, saying it took him four days to get there when he began his Pokémon journey. Mentioning that his father would be proud of him, she commented that he was the apple of his eye. When he continued to shoot down her words of encouragement, she became angry and scolded him by telling him that he can do anything he set his mind to.
In Beauty and the Beach, she, along with Professor Oak and Gary, visited Porta Vista. She sat in the stands during the Beach Beauty and Pokémon Costume Contest, and held the trophy at the end of the episode, telling Professor Oak that she is proud of Ash.
In It's Mr. Mime Time, Delia watched a performance of the Pokémon Circus. She watched what appeared to be a Mr. Mime, but was actually Ash in costume. This was only revealed to her when Ash fought Team Rocket, later stealing their balloon. Later, she invited Brock and Misty over to her house for lunch. A wild Mr. Mime that Ash, Brock, and Misty saw at the beginning of the episode tapped on the window, and Delia thought it was Ash. When letting "Ash" in for a snack, the real Ash appeared, revealing to Delia that the Mr. Mime wasn't fake. Ash asked Mr. Mime to help him, and Delia encouraged it, offering it a big dessert. Later, when Team Rocket stole the circus's Pokémon with a tank, she had the wild Mr. Mime help stop Team Rocket. Stella's Mr. Mime and the wild one built a solid tower around the tank, causing Team Rocket's missile to rebound and send them blasting off again. At the end of the episode, the wild Mr. Mime, whom Delia had nicknamed Mimey, decided to stay with her.
In Showdown at the Po-ké Corral, Ash greeted his mother in the kitchen and told her that Mimey had vacuumed his face to wake him up, to which she responded that Mimey generally cleaned dirty things. She also told him that Mimey only listens to her. Later in the episode, Team Rocket appeared as a news crew at her house, claiming that they wanted to have an interview with Ash, but Delia told them that Ash was at Oak's laboratory.
In The Evolution Solution, Delia went to Seafoam Island with Ash and his friends.
In Make Room for Gloom, she told her son to help out in the garden, but Ash says that he had to do some "serious training" in the mountains. She told him and his friends to get three to four hundred pounds of fertilizer from the Xanadu Nursery.
In Go West Young Meowth, she went to Hollywood with Ash and his friends. They were the only ones to watch the premiere of Cleavon Schpielbunk's new movie, Pokémon in Love, which was filmed in the previous episode.
Three episodes later, she wished Ash good luck as he headed off to the Indigo Plateau for the Indigo Plateau Conference.
In A Friend In Deed, Delia was standing outside a restaurant in the Indigo Plateau with Professor Oak, where she met up with Ash and his friends. She acted as a cook in the restaurant, much to the confusion of the cooks. When she had cooked for them, they sat down to eat and talk. Later, she ended up stuck in an elevator with Ash, his friends, Prof. Oak, and Ritchie, before when Ritchie and Pikachu saved them.
In Friend and Foe Alike, she watched Ash's round five battle against Ritchie with Brock, Misty, and Prof. Oak, and wondered why Ash was not there for the start, unaware that he had been kidnapped by Team Rocket. She was very relieved when he eventually showed up.
In Friends to the End, Delia was shown worrying about Ash when he would not get out of bed.
In A Tent Situation, Delia arrived at her house and found Ash, Misty, Brock, and Tracey there. She told Ash, Misty, and Tracey that she found Brock on the ground in a field of grass. She let him stay at her house, and he had been doing chores for her while they were away. They discussed this over dinner, and when Ash showed her the Winner's Trophy he earned for winning the Orange League, she mentioned that she could use it as a dumbbell. Later in the episode, she and Mimey packed things into Ash's backpack in preparation of him going to Johto for the Johto League the next day.
Pokémon the Series: Ruby and Sapphire
In Saved by the Beldum, Delia watched Ash light the Pokémon League torch. Later, in The Scheme Team, she was seen welcoming Ash home.
In The Right Place and the Right Mime, she was shown wondering what to cook for dinner, before May and her Bulbasaur, Combusken, and Munchlax appeared at the door. Later, May and Delia went to Professor Oak's laboratory and had tea as Ash explained the Battle Frontier to everyone. After hearing this, Delia said that there are Contest Halls in Kanto, which excited May. As Ash said that he would be leaving the next day, Professor Oak asked Delia if she was worried about Ash leaving on another journey, however, she said that she wasn't. When Team Rocket tried to steal Ash's Pokémon again, Delia and Professors Oak and Birch ran out of the lab. Delia stopped Professor Birch from helping Ash and his friends from getting their Pokémon back, saying that it was their fight. When Team Rocket blasted off, Delia said that she knew they could do it. Later in the episode, Delia said her goodbyes to Ash as he set off again.
In Home is Where the Start Is!, neither Delia nor Mimey were in Ash's house when he came back from his Battle Frontier journey. He went to Professor Oak's laboratory, where the Professor and Tracey were also missed. Delia was found in the sitting room alongside Mimey, Tracey, Gary, and the Professor to welcome Ash home. Delia was presented with all seven of her son's Frontier Symbols. Soon, Delia watched Ash and Pikachu's battle against Gary and his Electivire. After Gary won and left for Sinnoh, Ash announced that he will go to Sinnoh as well. Delia was seen sewing Ash's new clothes for him that night.
Pokémon the Series: Diamond and Pearl
Ash eventually received his new clothes that Delia made for him in When Pokémon Worlds Collide!.
Delia appeared briefly in Strategy Begins at Home!. She was delivering some herbs to Professor Oak when she noticed he was talking to Ash over the videophone. She interrupted their conversation and then started talking to Dawn's mother, Johanna. As Ash was staying at Johanna's house for the duration of the Twinleaf Festival, she told her to feel free to scold Ash if needed, much to Ash's embarrassment.
Pokémon the Series: Black & White
In In the Shadow of Zekrom!, Delia went on a trip to the Unova region with Professor Oak and her son by plane. Delia was separated from her son after Team Rocket tried to capture Pikachu, but they failed when their machine was destroyed by lightning. Ash and Pikachu were pulled into the storm, and they woke up on the ground with Delia and Professor Oak by their side. Professor Juniper eventually drove up and got them to Nuvema Town.
In the next episode, Ash departed on his Unova journey, while Delia returned home to Kanto.
In The Dream Continues!, Delia welcomed her son home and took his laundry. She said that by the look of Ash's backpack, he certainly did his best. While Ash was at Professor Oak's laboratory, she sewed some new clothes again. Later, during dinner at home with her son, Alexa, and Professor Oak, Ash decided to travel to the Kalos region. Delia suddenly left, and everyone worried that she was upset. However, she returned soon with a smile and new clothes for Ash, wishing him good luck. The next day, after Ash's plane left Delia said at the airport that Ash is always ready for adventures, and that's how boys should be. At the end of the episode, she was shown with a picture of Ash and all of his Pokémon.
Pokémon the Series: XY
In Till We Compete Again!, Delia and Professor Oak spoke to Ash and his friends via a video call and told Serena, Clemont, and Bonnie that they are welcome to stop by.
Pokémon the Series: Sun & Moon
In Alola to New Adventure!, Delia traveled to Alola along with Ash after Mimey won a trip to the region in the lottery. She and Ash were also asked by Professor Oak to deliver a Pokémon Egg to his cousin at the Pokémon School. By the end of the episode, she had already returned to Pallet Town and was seen talking to Ash over a video call.
Delia traveled to Alola again in Alolan Open House!, where she reunited with Ash at Professor Kukui's house. She met her son's Pokémon and gave them nicknames: Rocky (Japanese イちゃん I-chan) for Rockruff, Rowlie (Japanese モクちゃん Mok-chan) for Rowlet, Littie (Japanese ニャビーちゃん Nyabby-chan) for Litten, and Dexy Wexy (Japanese ズカンちゃん Zukan-chan) for the Rotom Pokédex. Later, she went to the Pokémon School, which was welcoming students' relatives as part of the Visiting Day. She watched Ash's presentation and was seen chatting with Sophocles's parents. She took a liking for Litten and even used it in battle against Tupp, Zipp, and Rapp from Team Skull. She left Ash and returned to Kanto by the end of the episode.
In Alola, Kanto!, Delia welcomed her son home, along with his classmates, Professor Kukui, and Samson Oak.
In Lillier and the Staff!, Delia returned to Alola again so she could watch Ash perform in the school play.
In Final Rivals!, Delia alongside Professor Oak arrived at Manalo Stadium to watch her son's battle during the Manalo Conference finals and was happy and proud to witness him win the Malano Conference in the next episode. During the attack by the Guzzlord in Z-Move Showdown!, Delia was among the people that were being evacuated until another Guzzlord appeared, blocking the ships.
After the crisis had been resolved, Delia remained at Manalo Stadium to watch Ash and Professor Kukui's exhibition match from Exhibition Unmasked! to From Z to Shining Z!. Following Ash's win, she returned to Pallet Town.
Pokémon Journeys: The Series
In Legend? Go! Friends? Go!, Delia reminded Ash to get out of bed to visit Professor Oak's Laboratory. She later met up with him in front of the lab to accompany him and Professor Oak to Vermilion City. After Ash was appointed as one of Professor Cerise's research fellows, she left Mimey at Cerise Laboratory to watch over Ash before returning to Pallet Town.
In Betrayed, Bothered, and Beleaguered!, Delia visited Ash in Vermilion City and made everyone dinner. Professor Cerise invited her to stay for the night, which she accepted. Later, Delia observed Pikachu's jealousy as Ash was spending his time training with his Riolu. Despite her attempts to cheer him up and reminding him that he will always have a special place for Ash, Delia was joined by Pikachu for the night, and they slept together. That next day, Delia prepared to leave for Pallet Town and bade everyone farewell. However, after hearing that Pikachu ran away from Ash and came to Pallet Town, Delia scolded the Mouse Pokémon for wandering off without telling his Trainer or anyone else. After that, Delia made dinner for everyone and let Ash and Goh stay in Pallet Town for the night.
She reappeared in Friends, Rivals, Lend Me Your Spirit!, inviting Ash and Goh to stay at the Ketchum household for a night before they departed for the Masters Eight Tournament.
From Battling as Hard as Stone! onwards, Delia watched Ash's Masters Eight Tournament matches against Steven, Cynthia, Leon alongside Professor Oak, Tracey, and Ash's Pokémon.
In This Could be the Start of Something Big!, Delia attended a party at the Cerise Laboratory to commemorate Ash and Goh's departure the next day. Following the party, Mimey rejoined Delia and returned to Pallet Town with her.
In The Road Most Traveled!, Delia met Professor Oak and briefly discussed about Ash's continued travels with him.
In The Rainbow and the Pokémon Master!, Delia welcomed Ash back home and gave him a new pair of shoes before he left on his next journey.
Movies
In The Power of One, Delia accompanied Professors Oak and Ivy to the Orange Islands when the freak weather storms caused by the legendary birds began to wreak havoc worldwide. All the while, she worried about her son's well-being. She and Oak eventually made it to Shamouti Island towards the end of the film, after Lugia had calmed the legendary birds and brought the storms to an end. She scolded Ash for risking his life in undergoing his role as "the chosen one", but later admitted that he was her hero.
In Spell of the Unown: Entei, Delia played a key role. She arrived in Greenfield upon hearing about what happened to Spencer Hale, as well as the subsequent crisis in Greenfield. Soon after, she was kidnapped by the illusionary Entei created by the Unown and taken to the crystal tower, where she was forced to act as a "mother" to Molly Hale. Ash and his friends made their way into the former Hale mansion to rescue her. In the process, they had to battle Entei and the Unown, who were feeding upon the emotions of the grieving Molly, in the process.
Delia made a cameo appearance in the ending credits of Giratina and the Sky Warrior, where she was seen receiving a bouquet of Gracidea sent by Ash and Pikachu from the Sinnoh region.
Character
Delia Ketchum is a relatively reserved woman. She is usually quiet and cheerful, but when angered, she makes it known. In fact, she once shouted at an illusory Entei and said he should be ashamed of himself in Spell of the Unown: Entei. It was also revealed during the film that she was once a student of Professor Oak, along with Spencer Hale.
Delia lives in Pallet Town with Mimey, a Mr. Mime that she befriended in It's Mr. Mime Time. She is shown to care for Ash deeply, as he is her only child. She does reprimand him sometimes, as in the first episode, when she told him to go to bed so he would be ready for his first day as a Pokémon Trainer. Throughout Ash's journey, Delia has mainly stayed at home, but she traveled with Ash to the Unova region in In The Shadow of Zekrom!, and she also once visited him in Vermilion City in Betrayed, Bothered, and Beleaguered!. She flew home once Ash left on his quest to collect the Unova League Gym Badges.
Brock once commented that she would make a great Pokémon Trainer because of her perseverance. Her husband was mentioned in Pokémon Emergency! as a Trainer still on his journey. However, he has yet to appear onscreen.
Pokémon
This listing is of Delia's known Pokémon in the anime:
On hand
 Mimey |
Temporary
| Debut | Alola to New Adventure! |
|---|---|
| Voice actors | |
| Japanese | Chinami Nishimura |
| English | Lisa Ortiz |
- Main article: Ash's Litten
In Alolan Open House!, Delia quickly took a liking to Ash's Litten, giving it the nickname Litty (Japanese ニャビーちゃん Nyabby-chan) and soothing the solitary Pokémon by stroking its chin. Litten was seen with Delia throughout her visit to the Pokémon School during its visiting day. When Team Skull Grunts attacked, Delia took command of Litten to battle their Zubat.
Voice actors
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I Choose You! and Secrets of the Jungle
Delia appeared in I Choose You!, which is set in a different continuity from the main series. On the day Ash was supposed to get his first Pokémon, Delia woke him up, as he had accidentally broken his alarm clock and slept late. When her son asked her why she had not awakened him sooner, she reminded him that he had told her he could wake up himself on such an important day. After Professor Oak gave Ash his first Pokémon, Pikachu, Delia showed up at Professor Oak's Laboratory to give her son new clothes and a backpack for his journey. She remarked Ash had already become friends with Pikachu, after which Pikachu shocked Ash, Delia, and Professor Oak.
She later spoke with Ash via a video conversation, worried and upset that Ash had not called her earlier. She spoke to him again later in the movie, where she was introduced to Verity and Sorrel. She appeared once more near the end of the movie, cleaning Ash's room before spotting a rainbow in the sky.
Delia reappeared in Secrets of the Jungle.
Voice actors
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In the manga
The Electric Tale of Pikachu
Delia appeared Pikachu, I See You!, where she and Ash discovered Pikachu under the floorboards of their house, chewing on the wiring to eat the electricity. Later, she gave Ash a tearful farewell as he left on his Pokémon journey.
Movie adaptations
Delia appeared in Emperor of the Crystal Tower: Entei.
She briefly appeared in I Choose You!.
Delia appeared in a flashback in ICYR1.
Pokémon Newspaper Strip
Delia is a recurring character in the Pokémon Newspaper Strip. She is identified as "Ash's Mom" in the list of characters, and her name is not mentioned in the strips. She lives with her son Ash Ketchum, and often lectures him about his chores on the house, or about controlling his Pokémon.
She was first mentioned in Strip 11, when Ash said that his mom won't mind that he made protective clothing by stitching dozens of pot holders.
She debuted in Strip 14. Delia angrily told Ash to control his Pokémon (Pikachu, Bulbasaur, Charmander, and Squirtle) before they destroy the house. She also told Ash about several chores he needed to do: that his bike was in the driveway, his room was a mess, and the leaves needed to be raked. Ash said she's right, but asked if being trapped under Snorlax would earn him a little slack. Delia ignored him, and repeatedly asked where are her linens.
In Strip 23, Delia scolded Ash because his Pikachu had electrocuted her Aspidistra plant, his Bulbasaur had vine-whipped her curtains while fighting his Squirtle, and his Snorlax had eaten ate a frozen turkey. Delia said that Ash should either learn to control his Pokémon or give up being a Pokémon Trainer. Ash's Charmander burned the curtains, while Ash said to himself that a woman can't understand a man's passions.
In Strip 24, Delia said that Ash's Snorlax ate everything from the refrigerator. She also said that she had gone shopping three times this week because of his Pokémon, so she made Ash go shopping instead.
Trivia
- A woman with a striking resemblance appeared in From Cradle to Save.
- In Pokémon Live!, it is stated that Delia dated Giovanni and was in his gang, but took a better route in life when she met Ash's father, though this might not be the case in the anime.
- In the English dub, Delia and Ash have always shared the same voice actress, even after The Pokémon Company International changed all of the character's voice actors. Originally, both mother and son were voiced by Veronica Taylor. Since the voice actor switch, both have been voiced by Sarah Natochenny.
Names
| Language | Name | Origin |
|---|---|---|
| Japanese | ハナコ Hanako | From 花子. Means flower child. Also often used as an example female name, similar to Jane Doe in English. |
| English, French | Delia Ketchum | May be a reference to Dahlia, a flower. Ketchum is a pun on "Gotta Catch 'em all" the original slogan of the franchise. |
| Korean | 영자 Yeongja | From 英子 Hanako. |
| Chinese | 花子 Huāzǐ | From 花子 Hanako. |
| Russian | Делия Кетчум Deliya Ketchum | Transliteration of her English name. |
| Thai | ฮานาโกะ Hanako | Transliteration of her Japanese name |
Related articles
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This article is part of Project Anime, a Bulbapedia project that covers all aspects of Pokémon animation. |
