[UNCONFIRMED] Ash will be NOT in next year's anime

[Anthony]

Over at animebyt.es, somebody posted a thread about this.

OLM, the animation studio for pokémon and Nintendo themselves recently made an announcement about this, where an anonymous person translated it. Post below is directly taking from the forum post over at Animebytes.

Translation of OLM and
Nintendo's announcement
(found on /vp/) below:
anonymous translator wrote:
We at OLM Incorporated have
recently run into a creative
corner with Pokemon. The
writers feel unattached to the
show itself and we also have
accepted the fact that the
adventure needs to end. Now, I
am not talking about the end of
Pokemon itself, but the end of
Ash's journey. Ash has entered
the hearts of millions of people
around the world with his
positive attitude, but his
importance in the show has
marginalized. Just as Misty had to
leave, and Brock as well, Ash
must depart the Pokemon
anime. This is not because
anyone hates Ash, but because
many love him. We want his
departure to not be one of a
dying elder, but one of a young
man that will still live on in the
hearts of all his fans. So, Ash will
be leaving the series and we will
introduce a new protagonist, and
hopefully he'll be just as loved as
Ash is today.

I'm not by my computer right now, so looking for any confirmation about this is quite hard.

What are your thoughts about this?

If this is true, and only if, I'd say that this will be very interesting.

It seems like they've finally decided to do something real.

And to that, I applaud.


Speedy's Edit: This rumour has been completely debunked by the creators of the show.

[Dr. Phil E. Sophical]

I definitely think it's plausible. If they don't replace him, then they'll have to keep adding regions and challenges to the anime world. You reach a point where doing that is unrealistic, so I think Ash very well could be on his way out...

[Anthony]

Hm, thinking from a shipping viewpoint, they might just ship Ash with someone!

.. or not.

Well, like I said it's still impossible to know unless somebody here knows japanese and can really translate their announcement.

[Deleted]

I'm actually a little torn on this one...I don't really watch the anime all that often anymore, but from a nostalgic perspective seeing Ash, the main protagonist of the series, leave and be replaced with a new main protagonist is a bit heartbreaking. I would have been absolutely devastated if they'd done this a few years ago when I was regularly keeping up with the anime.

Then again, like you all have said, this is a much more realistic option. Ash can't be a 10 year old going on adventure after adventure forever. Plus, if the writers really are getting bored and starting to feel detached from the show, it can be a way to start fresh and re-inspire them with a new cast.

But, honestly, what more is there for them to do? If they're getting bored, it might not necessarily be Ash's character that's causing them to get stuck in a rut, but the plot of Pokemon itself. They've already done a lot with Ash and his adventures, so if there isn't much left to do that might just translate over to the next protagonist :/

I'd be really interested in seeing a new series that's a more adult version of Pokemon, where either Ash and Co. age a few years or the new cast is all around the ages of maybe 15+. This would allow them to explore more things that don't necessarily work in a child's television program and appeal to a larger audience. A lot of Pokemon fans aren't just kids, after all.

So, yeah, like I said, I'm torn. Growing up with Ash as the main character makes this all very sad, but thinking of it from a more logical standpoint I do see the reasoning and the potential for something new and exciting.

[Wubbzy]

We could convince the writers to make ash older,marry may and watch their kids travel. Just saying.

[Sceptile1234]

Ash departure from show may be not good for the anime world. But at the same time this is interesting to confirm this news.

[Anthony]

@sara
- Even though I'm a bit sad about this, I'm still very excited to how exactly they will execute all of this. Almost like with what you said, I think that they'll have to do something relatively new, or it'll just be the same thing with another face and personalities.

@beast
- eh, good luck making that happen :3

@spectile
- Like I said I haven't really confirmed this yet, I'll have to look closer into it once I get home tomorrow. ^^

[Wubbzy]

Thanks. Means alot from a contestshipper/pokeshipper. I'm sorry when your ships don't become Canon

[Anthony]

Heh, you're welcome. And it's cool man, I won't get pissed. :3

[Gengar]

As much as I hate to say this... it's about time... :/

if it's legit, of course.

Although extremely unlikely, it would be interesting if they did something like Legend of Korra. Ash is much older, and they focus on a new character.

I think it would be interesting as well if they changed the anime around and made it more like the Manga.

Or maybe they'll start doing anime like that short anime video to introduce B & W 2, I'll admit, I might even watch it, that was awesome.

Idk, all I can say is that I'd be satisfied seeing this part of the anime finally come to a close, shipping or no shipping. I'd be sad, but I don't watch the anime anymore, and it was bound to happen eventually.

Regardless, I will continue to write Advanceshipping fics for a good long while, even if Ash and May don't return.

[Lightning]

Well I have mixed feeling about this. On one hand it would give the anime a fresh new feel but on the other it will kinda weird not to see Ash.

Like you guys said it would be awesome if they decide to age Ash and show what became of him. Only time will tell what will happen

[Yoh]

Yeah, mixed feelings.

[Wubbzy]

If ash leaves,fine. If he gets shipped with may ill be happier beyond belief. If he gets shipped with someone else,expect hell from me.

[Gengar]

XD

Lol agreed.

[chloe]

Jul 14, 2012 7:59:38 GMT -8 Wubbzy said:

We could convince the writers to make ash older,marry may and watch their kids travel. Just saying.

I knew you would say this.