We're no marketing experts, but usually you'd expect a successful brand like Pokémon to showcase the very best of its heroes, highlighting just how wonderful and cool they are in every possible way. Forget that rubbish, though, because The Pokémon Company has purposefully highlighted just how much anime star Ash Ketchum sucks.
We say 'sucks' in the most endearing way possible, by the way - we actually really like the fact that his losses teach young viewers the importance of learning from failure and bouncing back from defeat - but we still find it funny nonetheless. The slightly bizarre news comes in the form of an article on Pokémon's official website, hilariously called 'Watch Ash Lose Tournaments in Pokémon the Series on Pokémon TV'.
As you might expect, it goes on to tell you exactly how Ash has failed in six major tournaments in a row - we'll conveniently forget about the Orange Islands and Battle Frontier for a second here - even going as far as linking to the exact episode in each story arc where he gets knocked out of competitions. Make sure to go and give it a read if you're interested.
It all seems a bit harsh, but it's actually building up the hype for the upcoming Alola League finals in the current season of the anime in the west. There, Ash is about to compete in major tournament number seven - we already know how he did thanks to the Japanese show being slightly ahead, so only click here if you don't mind being spoiled.
We're amazed he loses anything, to be honest. Shouldn't that Pikachu be about level 5,000 by now?
[source pokemon.com]
Comments 18
I really dislike him and I don't know why. He is boring
I always prefer his companions or rivals
Well, at least he still tries to this day to become a champion. You can give the boy created that he holds to his dreams.
@Zuljaras Probably because Ash is the ultimate filler character, while his companions and rivals are actually from the games. He isn't.
@RareFan but he did become a Champion, the Champion of Alola
Right, he is Alola's champion. Wonder what he will do in the new anime.
Brave of Pokémon to remind us of the disaster that was the Unova League.
"Only click here if you don't mind being spoiled."
...A somewhat silly spoiler warning, after this site announced the result in the large font letters of an actual article title on the main page a while back (which did very much spoil it for me...).
Ash used to be a way more interesting character that at least I cared more about back in the day when he actually had personality flaws.
I guess it's easier to relate to a character who is not smiling all the time.
@Zuljaras That's because people in general don't understand what a Flat Character Arc is.
@Aquamine-Amarine He isn't from the game cause he's the guy that made the game. Remember his Japanese name is Satoshi for a reason.
Wasn't he supposed to be a different Ash each time? That was how he was 10 years old always.
The thing that bothered me most, growing up watching this show, is how he took so long to actually catch a Pokemon with a Pokeball. Almost all of the Pokemon he gets, just follow him. He didn't even catch them
Did he learnt to not using Electric type Pokemons against Rock / Earth type Pokemons ?
Well, i wish i want to see his victory a lot rather than seeing his sorrow after get lost oftenly.
Lol Pikachu resets to level 1 like new territory new mystery dungeon lol
I'm going with Multiverse theory for the anime.
No one can ever say Ash was a Mary Sue. Im cool with that, and good on Nintendo for supporting the concept of journey and struggle.
@Quincy so true. He's boring but at least he isn't to "that" point of boring.
Why would ash be in the next gen He already got his goal done with.
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