Fans of thePokemonanime are questioning whether a recent World Championship Pokemon battle was a throwback to one of Ash’s earliest fights. The current season of thePokemonanime,Pokemon Journeys: The Serieshas been rife with references to past episodes. It’s a veritable trip down memory lane. It’s now culminated with Ash winning a World Championship, his first in 25 years of the anime airing. Ash’s final fight has some questioning if the anime team has been planning this for decades.
To win his very first Pokemon World Championship, Ash had a showdown with the Galar region’s Pokemon League Champion, Leon. Both Ash and Leon battled it out with their team of six, but it ultimately came down to each’s final Pokemon. Ash, naturally, had his Pikachu, while Leon was left with his Charizard. The anime mirrorsPokemon SwordandShieldin this regard, as Charizard is also Leon’s main Pokemon in the video games.
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Long-timePokemonfans likely already see where this is going. This isn’t Ash’s first Pikachu vs. Charizard matchup. Back in the very first season of thePokemonanime, during Ash’s very first effort to win aPokemon World Championship, he had what many would call a traumatic battle with a rival named Richie. The matchup didn’t feature Ash’s Pikachu, though. Instead, Ash chose to battle his opponent’s Pikachu with his own Charizard.
The battle against Richie ended as a complete loss for Ash. He didn’t lose because his Charizard was weaker than Richie’s Pikachu, though. He instead lost because Charizard refused to listen to Ash’s commands. Ash at the time was a young, brash, and inexperienced. His Charizard evolved faster than Ash knew how to train him, but Ash chose him for hisIndigo Plateau Championshipbattle anyway. He was ultimately disqualified.
WhatPokemonfans are seeing is the anime creators showing how much Ash has grown in his journey. 25 years ago it was Ash that tried to useCharizard’s reckless power and his opponent Richie that placed his trust in his Pokemon. Now, to win the World Championship, it’s Ash trusting in his Pikachu and embracing all of their experience and work together.
There’s definitely some poetry in Ash’s first World Championship being a reflection of his first big tournament loss, but it’s not necessarily overtly stated. The battle with Leon is simply a fun fight,Pikachugets to show off, and there’s a nod to all the Pokemon Ash has trained along the way. What’s more likely is thatPokemonfans are simply able to enjoy the moment for what it is, richer for their years of spending time with Ash, Pikachu, and theirPokemonadventures.
