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Ash Ketchum

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Ash redirects here. For the item attached to Ho-Oh, see Sacred Ash. For the ash found at the foot of Mt. Chimney, see volcanic ash.
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Ash Ketchum
サトシ Satoshi

Art from Diamond/Pearl anime
Age 10 (as of debut)
Gender Male
Eye color Brown
Hair color Black
Hometown Pallet Town
Region Kanto
Relatives Delia, Unknown father (EP002), Unknown grandfather (EP002) (Japanese only) (anime)
Mom (manga)
Class Trainer
Game counterpart Red
First episode Pokémon - I Choose You!
English
voice actor 		Veronica Taylor (4Kids)
Sarah Natochenny (PUSA)
Japanese
voice actor 		Rica Matsumoto

Ash Ketchum (Japanese: サトシ Satoshi) is the main character of both the Pokémon anime and the manga The Electric Tale of Pikachu. Ash is apparently based on the main character of Pokémon Red and Blue Versions, 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). His English last name is a pun on the original English Pokémon motto, "Gotta Catch 'em All!".

   Spoiler warning: Major plot or ending details may follow.

Contents

In the anime

Character

Ash Ketchum in the original series.

Ash's main goal in life, as described in the first episode, 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 willingness to give up his own safety to keep Pikachu safe, he formed a strong bond of friendship with his Pokémon. This 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 was reluctant to admit it whenever he was wrong. Many of his first Gym badges were given to him merely out of gratitude for his assistance rather than claiming a victory in battle over the Gym Leaders; of his first five gym battles, only his victory over Lt. Surge was an actual victory. Every time he thought he was doing well, he would somehow cross paths with his childhood rival, Gary Oak. He always reminded Ash that he was always a step or seven behind, with Gary catching around forty-five Pokémon by the time Ash had only caught his seventh. This hampered matters further when his Charizard, his most powerful Pokémon, refused to listen to him due to his inexperience until he had proven himself to the powerful Fire-type.

Ash's dedication to his goal paid off over time, and after earning his first eight badges, he competed in the Indigo League. He advanced further in the rounds than Gary, making it to Round Five while Gary lost his fourth round. After recovering from his defeat, he continued on to improve his skill, take on new challenges, and compete in more Pokémon League competitions, triumphing in the Orange League and the Battle Frontier.

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, as well as resorting to unorthodox strategies when fighting particularly challenging opponents. For example, he uses his Pikachu's speed to outmaneuver larger foes and attack. In another instance, his Charizard defeated Gary's Blastoise by causing the field to overheat and have Charizard mount a close-range attack while Blastoise was blinded by the steam. He also prefers to train a Pokémon to be the best it can without making it evolve, as evidenced by his treatment of Gligar in Fighting Fear With Fear!. At first, he was hesitant to let his Pokémon evolve to get stronger, but, as shown in the Advanced Generation series and Diamond & Pearl series, he has no problem at all in allowing his team members to reach their evolved forms, except for Pikachu.

Ash in the Advanced Generation series.
Ash without his hat.

Early on, Ash originally trained not to further himself but instead to catch more Pokémon than Gary. He later slowed his pace which allowed him 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. This is shown when a Mankey stole his hat in Primeape Goes Bananas, he screamed and yelled at it, even climbing trees just to get his hat back, but when an Aipom did the same in Slaking Kong, he stated merely that he would feel strange without a hat. This would later be contradicted in Setting the World on its Buneary; however, when he starts chasing and shouting at Aipom for his hat being stolen in a manner similar to Mankey.

In most episodes of the anime, especially those during the Johto League saga, 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, particularly the maternal skills of Brock. The honor of "best friend" is usually reserved for Pikachu but Ash has come to see his closest human friends in the same light over time; using the term for Misty and Brock in Gotta Catch Ya Later as well as May and Max in Battling the Enemy Within.

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 using Aura inside the Tree of Beginning.

Ash apparently has a close connection with Legendary Pokémon, especially Ho-Oh, Lugia, Latias, Shaymin and Giratina. 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. Although viewed as a normal human, Ash does have some special abilities as he is said to have the same aura as Sir Aaron, a legendary hero, and is theoretically able to manipulate it in much the same way. However, he has not received any training in this field, opting to continue his Pokémon journey instead. He has also been likened to an ancient aura guardian in The Keystone Pops!, who also had a partner Pikachu. Later, in Pokémon Ranger and the Kidnapped Riolu! Parts 1 and 2, Ash uses aura again to locate a lost Riolu and read Riolu's mind as well.

He has a Contest Pass for the Sinnoh region, though he has stated that the contest he got it for was the only one he intends on entering. He also has one for the Hoenn region as it was required to watch one of the contests held there. Ash also carries around a broken Poké Ball, of which the other half belongs to Gary and is a symbol of their ongoing, but now friendly, rivalry, as well as Misty's special lure, which she sent to him as a gift, and also half of a ribbon he received in a contest against May before she left the group to compete in Johto.

Family

Ash lived with his mother, Delia Ketchum, until he left for his Pokémon journey at the age of ten.

His father was never introduced. The anime suggests that his father was once a Pokémon Trainer that began his journey in Pallet Town, but it is unclear whether he is still living. There has been much discussion in the fandom as to the identity of Ash's father, though 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.

An interview with the series' storyboarder confirmed Ash's father is a Trainer on his own journey. According the same storyboarder, Ash's father may or may not be introduced at the series, depending on its necessity to Ash's further maturity and development as a Trainer.

Ash is an only child, breaking from the tradition of several other main characters, with the exception of Dawn and possibly Tracey, whose siblings are often a foil or focal point in their lives.

Pokémon

Ash and his current party

As a Trainer, Ash has captured and befriended a sizable number of Pokémon over the course of the anime's run. His philosophy on training is that Pokémon are individuals and that a combination of trust, friendship and hard work are needed to overcome the toughest of challenges. He seems to battle best with Pokémon that are similar to Pikachu: ones that are speedy and maneuverable, yet able to perform high-powered attacks, but he is willing to work with any Pokémon that comes into his care. Ash tends to battle in a fairly unorthodox manner as well, and his Pokémon often reflect this.

On hand

Image:025.png
Pikachu 		Image:396.png→Image:397.png→Image:398.png
Starly → Staravia → Staraptor
Image:387.png→Image:388.png
Turtwig → Grotle 		Image:390.png→Image:391.png
Chimchar → Monferno
Image:418.png
Buizel 		Image:207.png→Image:472.png
Gligar → Gliscor

With Professor Oak

Image:001.png
Bulbasaur 		Image:098.png → Image:099.png
Krabby → Kingler 		Image:089.png
Muk
Image:128.png
Tauros
(×30) 		Image:143.png
Snorlax

 Image:214.png
Heracross

 Image:155.png
Cyndaquil

Image:152.png → Image:153.png
Chikorita → Bayleef 		Image:158.png
Totodile 		Image:164 s.png
Noctowl
Image:Ash's Phanpy Egg.png → Image:231.png → Image:232.png
Egg → Phanpy → Donphan 		Image:341.png
Corphish
Image:Ash's Treecko.png → Image:Ash's Grovyle.png → Image:Ash's Sceptile2.png
Treecko → Grovyle → Sceptile 		Image:324.png
Torkoal
Image:276.png → Image:277.png
Taillow → Swellow 		Image:361.png → Image:362.png
Snorunt → Glalie

In training

Image:057.png
Primeape 		Image:Ash's Squirtle2.png
Squirtle
Image:004.png → Image:005.png → Image:006.png
Charmander → Charmeleon → Charizard

Released

Image:010.png → Image:011.png → Image:Ash's Butterfree.png
Caterpie → Metapod → Butterfree
Image:017.png → Image:018.png
Pidgeotto → Pidgeot 		Image:131.png
Lapras

Traded away

Image:020.png
Raticate 		Image:190 f.png
Aipom
  • Raticate: Received from Gentleman for Butterfree; subsequently sent it back again.
  • Aipom: Traded to Dawn for Buizel.

Given away

Image:015.png
Beedrill
  • Beedrill: Caught Beedrill in the Bug-Catching Contest, but subsequently gave it to Casey due to his knowledge of her fondness for black-and-yellow-striped Pokémon.

Unofficial

Image:093.png
Haunter 		Image:Ash's Larvitar Egg.png → Image:246.png
Egg → Larvitar
  • Haunter: Never officially caught Haunter, but it accompanied him back to Saffron City to aid in his Gym battle against Sabrina before it decided to remain with her
  • Larvitar: Cared for Larvitar as an egg and took it home to its mother; he never caught it in a ball, but he did use it in battle on at least one occasion.

Temporary

Image:077.png → Image:078.png
Ponyta → Rapidash 		Image:137.png
Porygon 		Image:110.png
Weezing
Image:052.png
Meowth 		Image:024.png
Arbok 		Image:163.png
Hoothoot 		Image:119.png
Seaking
Image:106.png
Hitmonlee 		Image:026.png
Raichu 		Image:325.png
Spoink 		Image:458.png
Mantyke

Badges obtained

Indigo League

Ash's eight badges of Kanto.
Ash's four Orange League badges.

Orange League

Ash's eight badges of Johto.

Johto League

Hoenn League

Ash's eight badges from Hoenn.

Battle Frontier

Ash's seven Battle Frontier Symbols.

Sinnoh League

Pokémon Competitions

Pokémon League ranking

Ash placed in the Pokémon League competitions listed below.

Pokémon Championship battles

Ash challenged the following Pokémon championships as well:

Miscellaneous Competitions

Ash has also participated in the following competitions:

Voice actors

In the manga

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