Ash and Pikachu are poised for their final hurrahs. On Friday, January 13, in Japan, an epilogue spanning over 11 episodes will conclude the adventures of these iconic characters from the animated series Pokémon.
They have been the leading characters since the show’s debut in April 1997 on TV Tokyo. Despite their harmless appearance, the perpetually ten-year-old boy and his electrically charged companion rose to global stardom. Their stories were broadcast across 192 countries over 25 seasons and included 23 movies.
The Pokémon Company is now aiming to modernize the anime television series, a childhood staple for those born between the mid-1980s and late 2000s. On December 16, the Japanese corporation announced a new series set to debut in April.
Ash’s successors, Liko and Roy, will be joined by Sprigatito, Fuecoco, and Quaxly, the three original Pokémon introduced in the Pokémon Scarlet and Violet video games, released on November 17.
This animated series has served as licensed merchandise for Nintendo’s video games, a strategy that has been in place since the franchise’s inception. The series was originally designed to continue the narrative of the first two video games, Pokémon Green and Red, which were launched in 1996 in Japan on the Game Boy console.
‘Pokémon Shock’ Ash’s adventures have significantly influenced the franchise. Pikachu, in particular, gained fame through these adventures. Initially, players could choose from other companions in the first titles: Squirtle, Bulbasaur, or Charmander. However, Pikachu was later featured as a primary Pokémon in Pokémon Yellow (1998), a game designed to complement the television series.
Another distinctive feature of the series is the Pokémon’s language. They communicate by repeating their names in various tones — “Pika pika?” In the video games, these adorable monsters are unable to speak.
The series nearly ended after its 38th episode when a sequence in “Computer Warrior Porygon,” which depicted a computer attack, induced nausea, vomiting, and epileptic seizures among viewers during its broadcast on TV Tokyo.
The Tokyo fire department reported 618 cases, including about a hundred hospitalizations. Stroboscopic colored flashes from one of Pikachu’s battles were identified as the cause.
Known as the “Pokémon shock,” this incident sparked outrage in Japan and internationally. Pokémon was taken off the air for four months, and the offending episode was never aired again.
This led to the introduction of stringent regulations on colored flashes in Japanese animation, allowing the show to resume in April 1998. Ultimately, the export strategy of Nintendo and the Pokémon Company outweighed the controversy. The program was sold to the United States and adapted into English the same year.
When Nintendo of America first released and adapted the Pokémon series in the United States in 1998, it was a huge success. The adaptation involved significant changes to make the series more relatable to American audiences. These modifications extended to the renaming of characters, cultural references, and even the food depicted in the series. Ash Ketchum, originally Satoshi in Japan, quickly became a household name among American viewers.
The adaptation process also highlighted the strategic approach Nintendo took in marketing Pokémon as a global franchise. By Americanizing the series, Nintendo ensured it would appeal broadly across different cultures, albeit at the expense of its distinctively Japanese elements. This strategy was evident as Pikachu, the franchise’s mascot, became emblematic of not just the series but also of global pop culture.
Despite these changes, the essence of Pokémon — the adventures of a young trainer battling and befriending creatures to become a Pokémon Master — remained intact. This core narrative resonated with millions around the world, making Pokémon one of the most beloved and successful franchises in animation history.
In retrospect, the impact of Pokémon extends beyond its television and gaming successes. It set a precedent for how Japanese anime could be effectively localized for Western markets without losing its global appeal. The series not only entertained but also spawned a massive merchandise industry, from trading cards to toys, further cementing its legacy.
As the original Pokémon series concludes, fans old and new will remember the adventures of Ash and Pikachu not just as a form of entertainment, but as a significant part of their childhood and pop culture. With the announcement of a new series, the legacy of Pokémon is set to continue, evolving with new characters and stories designed to captivate the next generation of fans. The enduring appeal of Pokémon demonstrates the timeless nature of its themes of friendship, adventure, and the joy of discovery.
In this way, Pokémon remains a pivotal part of the animation landscape, illustrating how creative storytelling and innovative marketing can combine to create a phenomenon that transcends cultural and geographic boundaries. As Ash’s journey concludes, the world eagerly anticipates the next chapter in the Pokémon saga, hopeful for the same magic that has enchanted audiences for over a quarter of a century.