In the world of Pokémon, trainers who wish to become the very best must go great lengths to achieve that goal. After 25 years since the Pokémon anime’s circulation, protagonist Ash Ketchum has finally attained his dream by being named world champion in Pokémon Journeys. Naturally, fans all across the world were filled with joy upon learning this, much like when he won the Alola league a few years back — the first league he had ever won. In fact, the latter accomplishment resonated so strongly with the fanbase that they referred to the episode’s air date as Ash Ketchum Day.
However, there remains the question of why Ash has maintained his high reputation among fans, given the fact it took over two decades to win his first league championship. While some have been annoyed by his constant young age or his tendency to be careless and not think before he does something, others were mentally facepalming at his continuous streak of being unwary of the Team Rocket trio’s mischief, despite their terrible disguises. Yet, the fan reaction to Ash becoming a Pokémon master proves that he’s had unwavering support all these years. Shortcomings aside, there could be a few reasons why this is.
Pokémon’s Ash Refuses to Give Up on His Goals
It’s no secret that Ash has endured many losses throughout his adventure, whether it’s a regional league, a gym battle, or even a simple battle against a rival. While one might think this myriad of losses would discourage him and perhaps even give up, Ash never gives in. Although he may be upset for a while, he is always picking himself back up and trying again. He is willing to learn from his mistakes so he can have a better chance of winning in the future, be it using a different kind of Pokémon in a certain situation or knowing how to care for them properly.
It is because of his sheer determination that the Pokémon fandom has been able to sympathize with Ash. On top of that, many have seen him as a source of inspiration to keep pulling forward no matter their own struggles, and he is a perfect example of that. The lessons Ash takes from his losses can often serve as a valuable takeaway for anyone, making him one of the most-liked anime characters of all time.
Ash Sets a High Bar For Himself
Even if it does tend to land him in trouble, Ash doesn’t like to take the easy way out in Pokémon battles. When he reaches the Unova region’s first gym in Pokémon the Series: Black & White, he finds it is run by three gym leaders instead of one. While trainers only have to challenge one of the gym leaders, Ash defies this by insisting on battling all three of them. Two of these battles don’t even involve him using a type advantage, demonstrating the amount of faith he has in his Pokémon.
Ash’s willingness to take risks and try new things has no doubt brought him to where he is today. It may be because of these methods that he was able to win the Alola league before going on to become the world champion. This strong desire has caused viewers to see Ash in a more positive light, even if it doesn’t always work out for him.
Ash Ketchum Is Always Willing to Stand Up for His Friends
During his travels across Unova, Ash befriends a flighty but hardworking girl named Bianca. When her father one day catches up to her and claims she is not ready for her own adventure, he lets her keep going on the condition that she defeats the city’s gym leader. After witnessing a disastrous loss, Ash offers to help Bianca by challenging her father to a battle, hoping to win for her.
Although Ash also loses despite the type advantage, it has been established that Ash is willing to stand up for his friends and will put them and his Pokémon first — a trait that is greatly admired by many viewers. While he does not always think rationally or make the best decisions in the moment, it is his selflessness that makes him appreciated by all, boosting his relevancy and influence even further over time.
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