Yes, Ash Will Return to Pokémon, But It Won’t Go the Way You Want

The Pokémon anime has been in its closing episodes in recent weeks, preparing to send Ash off and introduce a new generation of trainers aiming to be a Pokémon Master. However, even before he’s out the door, there’s word that Ash won’t be gone for good.

According to an interview in the Japanese magazine Otomedia, as picked up by comicbook.com, executive director of the Pokémon anime Kunihiko Yuyuama suggested that it was only “a matter of time” before Ash and Pikachu appear in Pokémon again following their departure. Yuyuama also stated that he sees Ash as being “forever 10 years old,” implying that should Ash appear again, fans should expect to see him more or less as he’s always been, rather than as an adult.

Pokémon Still Refuses to Age-Up Ash

It may seem premature to discuss Ash’s return, but even the possibility raises some interesting points. Firstly, it confirms that Pokémon Horizons is set in the same world as the original, meaning that many other characters besides Ash (for example, Pokémon’s Team Rocket) could appear, possibly well before Ash does.

Yuyuama’s comment on Ash being “forever 10 years old” also quashes several fan theories about Horizons protagonists Liko and Roy potentially being the children of Ash or other characters, or of Ash being an older role model in the series, similar to other anime sequel series like Boruto or Yashahime. If Ash interacts with Liko and Roy, it will be on the same level as them, just one young trainer to another.

Of course, these statements are not promises or indications of anything solid; it’s simply a general insight into the mindset of the Pokémon anime’s creators.

Ash’s appearance in the Pokémon Horizons anime would overshadow the new protagonists, which is probably not what the creators want, even a handful of years after Liko and Roy’s debut. Whenever Ash and Pikachu do finally appear, though, fans can expect their return to be quite a big deal.

How Long Should Pokémon Wait Before Bringing Ash Back?

Ash still holds a place close to the hearts of many fans, and there’s no shortage of posts online wondering when or if Ash will return. Before Ash himself could appear in the series, there would have to be a reason to justify his inclusion; simply encountering Ash on the road wouldn’t be very interesting or satisfying.

It also seems likely that the creators will want to give Ash some time to rest, which gives time for hype to build around his possible return. It may be well over a year, or perhaps even two, before there’s a real possibility of Ash’s return to the Pokémon anime.

Ash’s Return to Pokémon Has Tremendous Potential (But Could Be Difficult)

Even if Ash remains the same age as he always has been, Ash does occupy a spot that really hasn’t been used much in Pokémon Horizons: that of a battle specialist. As World Champion, Ash’s skills in battle are absolutely unmatched by any character in Horizons, and Liko and Roy would certainly benefit from his guidance, as their progress in battling has been slow, to say the least.

While they’re not exactly on a badge-collecting quest like Ash was, neither Liko nor Roy has yet to successfully defeat a gym leader, despite having the opportunities.

Ash has already been a mentor to Goh in Journeys, so seeing him fill that role more fully in Horizons would be very fitting. However, bringing Ash back comes with a lot of risk; how does one make sure that Ash and Pikachu don’t steal the show? At the same time, it should be more than a glorified cameo, too.

Ash’s return would need to be handled very carefully, and giving Liko and Roy a lot of time to establish themselves before Ash comes back is absolutely crucial. Even with Horizons already having run for some time now, it still feels too early to discuss Ash’s future appearances.

At the moment, it’s simply too risky to have Ash appear again, but that won’t be the case forever. Perhaps an anniversary, such as the franchise’s upcoming 30th anniversary in 2026, would be the ideal time to have Liko and Roy meet Ash.

If it goes well, then Ash could be considered for a recurring role, where he would appear from time to time, keeping him from overshadowing the new cast too much. Ash’s return will surely be a major event for long-time fans, so using an anniversary special to reintroduce him feels fitting.

Will Ash Ever Get His Own Anime Series Again?

There always exists the possibility that Ash could return to the starring role someday, although the odds of that are pretty slim right now. If Ash and Pikachu were to return as leads, it would probably be in the form of a limited-run series or miniseries, rather than returning to the way that things were, with Ash on the trail for badges.

The very nature of Ash and Pikachu’s adventure has, in many ways, changed as a result of his World Championship victory, so it wouldn’t make much sense to go back to the old status quo.

Such a miniseries or limited run of episodes could be a crossover with Horizons, but it wouldn’t have to be. As noted above, an anniversary special would be an ideal time to check in with Ash, and enough time would have passed that the prospect of seeing Ash again would be an exciting one.

The anime has also had side-series running in the past, so it’s possible that Ash could return as a protagonist for a side-series that in some way supports the main series. It all depends on exactly what Ash has gotten up to since leaving the show as to what would be the right return appearance for him.

There always exists the possibility of a reboot as well. Fans could see Ash again this way, even if it was just a more modernized retelling of the original series and not strictly new content. Such a reboot would also seem well-suited to an anniversary event–perhaps something akin to Pokémon Origins, but with Ash instead of Red.

Pokémon’s Best Solution For Bringing Ash Into Horizons Is Staring Fans Right In The Face

Though bringing Ash back to the Pokémon anime for Horizons has more than a few difficulties, it’s possible that the right move is to save the iconic hero’s return for something larger scale. The Yu-Gi-Oh! anime, for instance, had the protagonists of its first three series all meet in 2010’s Yu-Gi-Oh! Bonds Beyond Time. Not only did this give fans more Yugi after the original Yu-Gi-Oh! anime’s ending, but it also gave characters from each series a chance to interact.

While fans may want to see Ash return on a more permanent basis, a crossover movie has some benefits. Given the fact that movies are mostly treated as non-canon, Ash meeting Liko and Roy in a movie would mean that Horizons wouldn’t have to interrupt its storyline for the sake of fan service. A movie would also mean that the timeline could basically be ignored, making it possible for Liko and Roy to meet an Ash who is more on their level.

Even outside of story concerns, one of the biggest benefits of giving Ash his own crossover movie with the Horizons cast would be the potential for spectacle. Regardless of how fans feel about the numerous Pokémon movies that have been released, the animation on display is generally a step above a normal episode of the TV show.

Movies also have an opportunity to tell larger-scale stories with bigger consequences. The box office potential to appeal to nostalgic fans is also difficult to ignore. But a movie return can only work if Ash stays gone for some time, meaning patience is key.

How Should Pokémon Evolve Ash When He Returns?

Whether Pokémon decides to let Ash return or not, be it through a movie, Horizons, or even an honorary mini-series celebrating an anniversary, there is one request that many fans can agree on: Ash should be aged up. Either by a few years or well on his way to adulthood, his next appearance should depict him older.

Throughout the series and its incredibly long journey, Ash has remained a 10-year-old through it all. And while there is a nostalgia and memorabilia factor that resonates with all fans upon seeing his familiar face change and adapt through each new Pokémon installment, there is also a satisfying realization that the character you’ve grown up with has aged alongside you.

From a narrative perspective, there’s also not a lot to be gained by reintroducing Ash as his younger self into Pokémon Horizon or through a movie. Over nearly 30 years of screentime, Ash has gone through numerous developments and arcs that have expanded his character, with his final achievement realized as Pokémon World Champion.

But as an adult, Ash’s contributions to the franchise grow tremendously. His return could span anywhere from being a mentor figure, either as a senior Pokémon trainer or a teacher, to an opponent as a future member of the Elite Four or Champion. With either role, fans get to see him branch out in a way that they haven’t before.

Growing older and entering adulthood creates a new line of threads for Pokémon to explore, not for its realism, but as an opportunity to expand on an adult’s perspective as a trainer. Fans often contemplate Ash’s character growth when it’s regressed for the sake of a new season, but growing older naturally allows for a clean slate.

With the franchise’s focus switching to spotlighting other Pokémon projects, aging Ash behind the scenes gives the audience time to miss him while also replicating the passage of time if he were to return older for it. Whether through the ongoing series, a movie spin-off, or a series highlighting the original cast, surely Pokémon isn’t done with Ash just yet.

Is Bringing Ash Back Even a Good Idea?

Regardless of whether it’s a good decision to age Ash up or leave him be, it’s worth questioning whether Ash should even come back at all.

Fans had mixed reactions to Ash’s final Pokémon episode, as it left him pretty much exactly where every other season of the anime left him. The anime itself seems to be inviting viewers to wonder about his return, as it’s clear that Ash still has plenty of adventures and excitement ahead of him.

Given this, it probably wouldn’t be too jarring to bring Ash back. Nothing was really resolved in Ash’s ending, other than his understanding of what it means to be a Pokémon Master, so it’s not like bringing him back would be disruptive.

That being said, though, the larger concern with bringing Ash back is the context. Is the anime going to age Ash up? Is it going to have him interact with the Horizons crew? Will his World Championship win change him at all? These are all questions that could involve some degree of creative risk for OLM and the Pokémon Company, two companies infamous for wanting to stay the course as long as possible.

The bigger risk of bringing Ash back is not, then, that a hypothetical revival could change too much, but that it wouldn’t change enough. If Pokémon were to bring Ash back exactly the same as To Be a Master left him, then there would truly be no point. Ash has starred in over 1,200 episodes of the anime, so it would be a wasted opportunity not to do more with him if he is brought back.

Fans have had quite some time to make peace with Ash’s departure, so it may very well be past time to bring him back. Ash may no longer be on Pokémon each week, but he’s still out there adventuring and hopefully growing, so his next appearance should reflect that.

Created by

Satoshi Taijiri, Ken Sugimori, Junichi Masuda

First Film

Pokemon: The First Movie

Latest Film

Pokémon the Movie: Secrets of the Jungle

First Episode Air Date

April 1, 1997