Since his debut in the nineties, Ash Ketchum of the original Pokémon anime has remained iconic. In fact, he is so well-known that the Pokémon Trainer is recognizable even to those not familiar with the Pokémon franchise. Like any Trainer, Ash is rarely seen without his Pokémon, from his home region of Kanto to the bustling Galar region.
Ash is most well-known for being Pikachu’s Trainer, but that is only the tip of the iceberg. In the Sinnoh region, Ash rescues an abandoned Chimchar and shows him a more compassionate way of training. Meanwhile, in Kalos, Ash meets an independent Froakie who would later become one of the only Pokémon capable of working with the Bond Phenomenon.
10
Squirtle Is a Born Leader
Squirtle Deeply Cares About Its Friends
During his initial adventures in the Kanto region, Ash visits a small town that has had many encounters with a Squirtle horde known as the Squirtle Squad. Each Squirtle in the group, including their mischievous leader, was all abandoned by their Trainers at an unknown period of time. As such, the Water-types have grown to dislike humans in general and thus gain great joy at wreaking havoc in the town, pulling pranks and painting graffiti everywhere. However, things change for the Squirtle Squad forever when Meowth attempts to trick the group into doing their dirty work.
Team Rocket would later set fire to the Squirtle Squad’s base, the chaos leaving the leader Squirtle on its back until Ash came to rescue it. Touched by the Trainer’s compassion, the leader Squirtle temporarily left the Squirtle Squad in order to travel with its new friend. Although the Tiny Turtle Pokémon chose to never evolve, it was still capable of mastering moves such as Hydro Pump, Rapid Spin and Skull Bash. This loyal Pokémon is always there for Ash when he needs help, and is also loyal to its Pokémon friends, new and old.
9
Bulbasaur Will Never Abandon Those in Need
Bulbasaur Is Capable of a Powerful Solar Beam Attack
Raised by Melanie, the owner of the Hidden Village, Bulbasaur grew up watching over the many Pokémon who came to the safe haven. The Pokémon who come to the Hidden Village to recuperate all once belonged to Trainers, though they were mistreated and abandoned. Seeing how fearful the Pokémon had become due to their experiences made Bulbasaur grow to dislike Trainers, seeing them as a threat to innocent Pokémon.
However, Ash helped the Seed Pokémon understand that not all Trainers were cruel. Upon joining Ash’s team, Bulbasaur became one of his most loyal companions. Like Squirtle, Bulbasaur chose to never evolve, and actually appears to be afraid of the idea of changing its form. Regardless, Bulbasaur is very strong, and adept at using its signature Vine Whip attack and even a super-strong Solar Beam move. Ash’s Bulbasaur is also capable of using the move Dig, which the species usually is not able to learn.
8
Ash’s Dragonite Loves Giving Hugs
She Is Also a Skilled Flyer and a Very Tough Opponent
The evolved form of Dragonair and the final form of Dratini, Dragonite is a very rare and very powerful Dragon/Flying-type Pokémon. As a pseudo-legendary Pokémon, Dragonite is far more powerful than many other species, yet its battle statistics are not as strong as a Legendary Pokémon’s statistics. Despite this, many Trainers seek out Dragonites, as these amazing Pokémon are great at battling against a wide array of enemy Pokémon. In Pokémon Journeys: The Series, Ash met a wild Dragonair (confirmed to be female via the games) and supported her as she tried to learn to fly. After evolving in order to save her new friend, Dragonite wished to join his team.
Ash’s Dragonite is a very loving Pokémon, and is famous for hugging anyone around her, even Pokémon she has never met before. However, she is also a fierce battler and will never back down from a fight, a stark difference from her usual cheerful nature. Aside from being able to use moves such as Hyper Beam and even Draco Meteor, Dragonite has amazing stamina and can stand her ground against a wide array of Pokémon, including Mega Lucario. Since Ash’s Dragonite debuted, Mega Dragonite has been showcased in Pokémon Horizons: The Series, though it is unknown whether Ash’s own Dragonite ever gained her own Mega Stone.
7
Gengar Once Belonged to Another Trainer
The Shadow Pokémon Learns To Trust Others Again
As Ash and Pikachu learn early on in their journey together, not all Trainers are kind to their Pokémon. They are once again met with this reality after returning to the Kanto region once more, where strange things have been happening at the Cerise Laboratory in Vermilion City. There, the heroes find out that a Gengar (who was confirmed to be male via the games) had been staying there for many years, trying to scare those at the laboratory. As Gengar and Ash would soon learn, Gengar’s former Trainer had abandoned him, because he believed that he was losing battles and failing to catch other Pokémon because of the Ghost/Poison-type.
Thankfully for Gengar, he would later join Ash’s team after the two teamed up to stop Team Rocket’s latest scheme. Remaining a rather mischievous Pokémon, Gengar would also become happier and less hostile towards humans. In battle, Gengar is famous for its ability to evade and escape from traps, as well as its move-disabling Cursed Body Ability. After meeting Allister, who he would become great friends with, Gengar also gained the power of Gigantamaxing, becoming even more useful during battle. Gengar can also use a wide variety of moves in battle, from the classic Shadow Ball to the sparkling Dazzling Gleam.
6
Sceptile Never Backs Down From a Fight
A Grass-type That Is Always Cool and Collected
Prior to meeting Ash, Sceptile was once a wild Treecko that was very protective of his home. However, the tree that the Wood Gecko Pokémon called home later fell. Despite his sadness, Treecko later accepted Ash’s offer to join his roster, becoming a key member of his Hoenn team. Even after evolving into Grovyle and Sceptile, the Forest Pokémon remained a rather private and aloof individual, though he would never leave behind those he cared about.
Sceptile is well-known not just for its calm nature, but for his intelligence and speed. Aside from being a star on Ash’s Hoenn team, Sceptile would later return during Ash’s time in the Sinnoh region, specifically for the Lily of the Valley Conference. There, Sceptile would battle against the Mythical Pokémon Darkrai, who had already defeated several teammates. Though he would later be knocked out by Latios, Sceptile was powerful and swift enough to knock out Darkrai, despite its nightmare-inducing powers.
5
Ash Met Lucario While It Was an Egg
The Aura Pokémon Is Capable of Mega Evolution
Prior to gaining his own Lucario, Ash had met countless other Lucario, such as the ones belonging to Maylene and Korrina. Even before meeting these two, Ash would form an unlikely friendship with an ancient Lucario belonging to the Aura Guardian, Sir Aaron, with its own story meeting a shocking climax in Pokémon: Lucario and the Mystery of Mew. Despite this, Ash’s relationship with the species would finalize on a bittersweet note after causing the hatching of a Riolu Egg, who admired the Trainer’s passionate aura.
Ash took great care of the baby Pokémon, teaching him everything he knew about battling and introducing it to the rest of the roster. During an intense battle against Chairman Rose, Riolu evolved into Lucario, and played a key role in bringing about the end of the Darkest Day. Afterward, Lucario began to work more on using its aura-related powers, even training under Ash’s Greninja in the Kalos region. Prior to this adventure, however, Lucario had also gained a Mega Stone of its own, able to Mega Evolve into the formidable Mega Lucario.
Find all 10 pairs
Find all 10 pairs
4
Infernape Learns How To Hone in His Unique Powers
Infernape Proves His Former Trainer Wrong
.jpg?q=49&fit=crop&w=500&dpr=2)
Like Ash’s Pignite and Charizard, Infernape once belonged to a different Trainer. In the case of Infernape, who Ash met as a Chimchar, the Chimp Pokémon was once raised by Paul, a calculating Trainer who only saw Pokémon as tools for battle. Though Paul had other Pokémon that excelled under his harsh training methods, Chimchar’s former life did not help him grow more powerful at all; instead, he would simply lose confidence and become ashamed whenever Paul scolded him. One day, Paul released Chimchar for his “weakness”, and was accepted into Ash’s group.
Chimchar had a unique Blaze Ability that, while it was very powerful and intensely raised the skill of his Fire-type moves, also took an emotional toll on the Chimp Pokémon. Thankfully, with Ash’s support and an overall kinder training regimen, Chimchar evolved into Monferno and even Infernape. By the time the Lily of the Valley Conference started, Infernape had grown much more confident in his skills, and even defeated Paul’s Electivire in an explosive final battle. Without a doubt, Infernape had proved Paul wrong about his supposed lack of strength.
3
Charizard Became Aggressive After Evolving
Charizard Later Battles Against Entei
After being abandoned in the rain and nursed back to health, Charmander, a sweet-natured Fire-type Pokémon, agreed to join Ash’s team over returning to his unkind former Trainer. However, a strange phenomenon occurred when Charmander evolved into Charmeleon and then Charizard, the final form of his initial species. Once a friendly and loyal Pokémon, Charizard became aggressive towards everyone around him, and would simply lounge whenever he felt like an opponent was not worth his time. It was only after Charizard became very ill that the Flame Pokémon realized just how much his Trainer cared for him, and decided to turn over a new leaf.
Following his illness, Charizard has become one of Ash’s best Pokémon, thanks to his strength, speed and stamina. Even apart, while Charizard was working on being stronger, the Fire/Flying-type would never give up on his best friends. In fact, when Ash was battling the Unown’s Entei in the third Pokémon movie, Charizard sensed that his friends were in trouble and fled to Molly’s palace as fast as he could. There, he stood his ground against the Legendary Pokémon, firing at Entei with amazing Flamethrower attacks.
2
Greninja Is Part of the Rare Bond Phenomenon
Ash-Greninja’s Legacy Remains Prominent
Just like Ash, Greninja has always had a passion for battling, even when he was a Froakie. However, he felt isolated from other Pokémon after being attacked by his former Froakie horde, and still isolated from Trainers after failing to connect with his previous ones. Thankfully, Froakie would soon meet his perfect Trainer in the form of Ash, who adored everything to do with training and battling just as much as he did. Froakie would thus become the jewel of Ash’s Kalos roster, especially after evolving into Frogadier and then Greninja.
After evolving into Greninja, the Ninja Pokémon would later become part of the Bond Phenomenon, a unique power based on his loyalty towards Ash. In the games (where Greninja was confirmed to be male), this is showcased via the one-of-a-kind Ability Battle Bond, where it transforms into Ash-Greninja, during which its signature move of Water Shuriken also grows stronger. Though mastering the Bond Phenomemon took some time, Ash and Greninja soon excelled with using this power, and even used it as Team Flare attempted to destroy Kalos. Greninja would later leave the roster in order to watch over the region, though he later returned to mentor Ash’s Lucario.
Ash’s Partner Pokémon and Best Friend for Life
Whenever someone thinks of Ash Ketchum, it is highly likely that they also think about his legendary Pikachu. As he overslept on the day he was meant to pick out a starter Pokémon, all the usual starters in Professor Oak’s Pokémon Lab were gone by the time Ash arrived. Instead, he was given a Pikachu that Professor Oak had caught in the wild not long ago. Having grown up in the forest, Pikachu was initially not ecstatic about working with a Trainer, though a chance encounter with a horde of Spearow ended up with the two saving the other from the violent bird Pokémon.
Many people, from fans of the show to the members of Team Rocket, have remarked on how powerful Ash’s Pikachu is, even compared to other Pikachu or Raichu. Though Pikachu has been seen using moves such as Iron Tail and Electro Ball, he is most famous for using the move Thunderbolt. As he has only grown stronger over time, just like his Trainer, Pikachu has also been seen using the signature Z-Move 10,000,000 Volt Thunderbolt and even Gigantamaxing. No matter where Ash goes and what foes he comes across, Pikachu will surely be there to protect his best friend and those in need of saving. Currently, as the original series has ended, no one knows what happened to Ash and Pikachu, but one can be sure that they are embarking on amazing adventures.
Pokémon
- Release Date
-
1997 – 2023
- Network
-
TV Tokyo, TV Osaka, TV Aichi, TVh, TVQ, TSC
- Directors
-
Shigeru Omachi, Koji Ogawa, Fumihiro Ueno, Hideki Hiroshima, Maki Kodaira, Makoto Ooga, Ayumi Moriyama, Keitaro Motonaga, Shigeru Ueda, Fumihiro Yoshimura, Minoru Ohara, Yoshitaka Makino, Kiyoshi Egami, Makoto Sokuza, Bjarne Heuser, Naoki Murata, Kenichi Nishida, Tomoe Makino, Masahiko Watanabe, Hiroaki Takagi, Tazumi Mukaiyama, Ryohei Horiuchi, Yoshihiro Oda, Hiromichi Matano
- Writers
-
Junki Takegami, Atsuhiro Tomioka, Hideki Sonoda, Yukiyoshi Ôhashi, Yuka Miyata, Takeshi Shudo, Shouji Yonemura, Shinzo Fujita, Michihiro Tsuchiya, Deko Akao, Reiko Yoshida, Aya Matsui, Junichi Fujisaku
-
Rica Matsumoto
Satoshi (voice)
-
Ikue Otani
Pikachu (voice)
