Ash Ketchum

Ash Ketchum
Pokémon character
Ash Ketchum as depicted in the first five seasons of the anime
First appearance"Pokémon, I Choose You!" (1997)
Last appearance"The Rainbow and the Pokémon Master!" (2023)
Designed byAtsuko Nishida
Voiced by
In-universe information
HomePallet Town, Kanto

Ash Ketchum, known as Satoshi (サトシ) in Japan, is a character in the Pokémon franchise owned by Nintendo, Game Freak, and Creatures. He was the protagonist of the Pokémon anime for the first 25 seasons, as well as the protagonist of several manga series. In Japanese, the character is voiced by Rica Matsumoto. In the English dub, he was voiced by Veronica Taylor in the first eight seasons and Sarah Natochenny afterwards. Ash is a young man who travels with various companions, aiming to fulfill his dream to become a Pokémon Master; his Pokémon lineup constantly changes over the course of the series, with its sole constant member being Pikachu, Ash's first Pokémon. Ash is loosely based on Red, the player character from the Generation I games Pokémon Red and Blue. Satoshi Tajiri, the creator of Pokémon, has stated that Ash represents the 'human aspect' of the series, and that Ash reflects what he himself was like as a child.

Ash has been criticized for being stuck in a 'floating timeline', as well as for his long-lasting inability to win many major Pokémon League competitions in the series. However, his longevity and persistence have also been positively received, and his character has received attention for teaching important and relatable lessons to children. Ash ultimately became Alola League Champion in Pokémon the Series: Sun & Moon – Ultra Legends, and World Champion in Pokémon Ultimate Journeys: The Series.

Due to the huge popularity, success, and longevity of the Pokémon anime series around the world since its debut, Ash has gone on to become one of the most well-known and recognizable fictional characters of all time. He is considered a pop culture icon and a figurehead character of the wave of anime in the late 1990s. He has been used extensively in merchandise for the series.

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  2. ^ "ABOUT". sarahnatochenny.com. Archived from the original on April 29, 2017. Retrieved November 7, 2017.
  3. ^ Casey Baseel (March 28, 2023). "Satoshi/Ash's voice actress almost couldn't make it through final Pokémon anime recording session". soranews24.com. Archived from the original on March 18, 2024. Retrieved March 20, 2024.
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