Ash Ketchum

Overview

An aspiring Pokémon master, Ash Ketchum is the main protagonist of the Pokémon anime, Pokémon Puzzle League video game and the manga Pokémon: The Electric Tale of Pikachu. Being the main protagonist of the Pokémon anime TV series, Ash is invariably present in every single episode excepting Pikachu featurettes, Pokémon Chronicles and Mystery Dungeon.

Character Origins

Ash's name in the original Japanese version is Satoshi Taijiri, after the creator of Pokémon. During the process of localisation however, the name was changed to appeal more to western audiences. Satoshi was changed to "Ash", one of the default player names of the hit video game series Pokémon Red/Blue and "Ketchum" a play on words, reflecting the tagline for the show "Gotta catch 'em all!"

History

Ash Ketchum is a young boy from Pallet Town, and the only known son of Deliah Ketchum who lives with a house guardian Mr. Mime.

At the start of the series Ash oversleeps and misses his appointment with Professor Oak to obtain his first Pokémon. As a result all three starter pokémon have been taken, and Ash is left with a "reject" Pikachu, who frequently disobeys and even attacks him. Thus, Ash's first Pokemon becomes none of the three Kanto starter pokémon, Bulbasaur, Charmander and Squirtle. With his first Pokémon in tow Ash sets out on his quest to obtain all eight Kanto gym badges so he may qualify for the Pokémon League.

At first Ash and Pikachu didn't seem to get along as the cheeky electric type always seemed to deny any request or command from his trainer; however, this changed after a flock of Spearows began chasing the two of them. Seeing Pikachu in danger, Ash bravely attempted to protect Pikachu from the attackers. Pikachu then sees the commitment and courage his trainer had shown, and jumpes towards the Spearows, using a thundershock to take them all out. This marked the beginning of an iconic friendship.

Character Design

Ash Ketchum has a notable facial feature, this being the resemblance of lightning bolts shaped marks on his cheeks.

Character Development

Kanto Region

Ash Ketchum is demeanored by some Pokémon Trainers along his journey through the Kanto region, leading case being a reckless Pokémon Trainer whether it be responsibility towards Pokémon or friends.

Many of the Pokémon Trainers reasoned behind their accusations that Ash Ketchum was a de facto novice. Being a character of words, he was overseen as loud mouthed, surmise to assumptions, and arises to a temper of extreme offense due to little or simple points of argument.

He had a driving point of gullibility.

Johto Region

Ash Ketchum acquires some similitude of manners and developed as a character, retaining his same characteristic essence. Ash, still being quick spoken, retained a gain of quieter features to him.

Hoenn Region/Advanced Generation

In the Hoenn Region, recognized as the Advanced Generation series, Ash had still yet many things to learn from the Pokémon world.

In Jirachi Wish Maker, he alludes to having a character relation with a female Pokémon Trainer of extraneous caliber that became a very dear friend to him and later began to miss her presence due to her departure in their journey, showing characteristics of a compassionate friend.

Sinnoh

In the Sinnoh Region Ash meets Dawn whose dreams are to become the greatest Pokémon co-ordinator with her starter Pokemon Piplup. The new friends meet up with Ash and Pikachu on Route 202. On their same day of discovery, Ash meets reencounters Brock who comes to the Sinnoh region with his Bonsly.

With Pikachu's help Ash catches a Starly and catches himself a Turtwig. He also finds the meetings with his fellow Pokemon Trainer Paul and starts a saga of rivalry with him.

Character Relations

Throughout their early ventures, Ash and Pikachu met some intriguing characters that will inevitably follow them throughout many of their ventures in the world of Pokémon.

Misty

An accidental bump with Misty (Cerulean's gym leader in the video-games, and intermittently in the anime) prompted Ash to borrow Misty's bike, with her consent, in order to get away from all the Spearows.

During the shock that Pikachu emitted, the bike Ash borrowed from Misty suffered irreparable collateral damage.

Initially they stuck together under the premise that Ash had to repay Misty for the damage he had caused to her bike, but they eventually established a great relationship, and the debt to repay Misty a bike was eventually seemingly forgotten.

Brock

Ash met Brock, the leader of the Pewter City gym, in Pewter City. They battled and ultimately won, earning his very first Gym Badge. After their battle, Brock decides to set away and leave his role as the Pewter City Gym Leader to join Ash in his Pokémon adventure.

Pokémon owned by Ash

Pokemon	Title of episode when caught	Storage or on hand (rotation)
	Pikachu	Pokemon - I choose you!	On hand
	Bulbasaur	Bulbasaur and the Hidden Village!	With Professor Oak
	Kingler	Mystery at the Lighthouse!	With Professor Oak
	Muk	Sparks fly for Magnemite!	With Professor Oak
	Tauros (x30)	EP035 (Did not aired in the USA)	With Professor Oak
	Snorlax	Snack Attack!	With Professor Oak
	Heracross	A Sappy Ending!	With Professor Oak
	Bayleef	The Chikorita Rescue!	With Professor Oak
	Quilava	Good 'Quil Hunting!	Whit Professor Oak
	Tododile	The Totodile Duel!	With Professor Oak
	Noctowl	Fowl Play!	With Professor Oak
	Donphan	Extreme Pokemon! (egg), Hatching a plan! (hatch)	With Professor Oak
	Swellow	You Never Can Taillow!	With Professor Oak
	Sceptile	Tree's a Crowd!	With Professor Oak
	Corphish	Gone Corphishn'!	With Professor Oak
	Torkoal	All Torkoal, No Play!	With Professor Oak
	Glalie	Let it Snow, Let it Snow, Let it Snorunt!	With Professor Oak
	Staraptor	Two Degrees of Separation!	With Professor Oak
	Torterra	Gettin' Twiggy With It!	With Professor Oak
	Infernape	Smells Like Team Spirit!	With Professor Oak
	Buizel	Trowing the Track Switch!	With Professor Oak
	Gliscor	Riding the Winds of Change!	Unknown location
	Gible	Gotta Get a Gible!	With Professor Oak
	Unfezant	Enter Iris and Axew!	Rotation or on hand
	Oshawott	A Sandile Gusher of Change!	On hand
	Pignite	The Battle Club and Tepig's Choice!	On hand
	Snivy	Snivy Plays Hard to Catch!	On hand
	Scraggy	Here Comes the Trubbish Squad! (egg), Scraggy-Hatched to be Wild! (hatch)	On hand
	Leavanny	Sewaddle and Burgh in Pinwheel Forest!	Rotation or on hand
	Palpitoad	Facing Fear with Eyes Wide Open!	Rotation or on hand
	Boldore	Gotta Catch A Roggenrola	Rotation or on hand
	Krokorok	Battling the Bully!	Rotation or on hand

Pokémon previously owned (Released)

Pokemon
	Butterfree
	Pidgeot
	Lapras

Pokémon Traded away

Pokemon Owned by Ash	Pokemon	Title of episode when traded	Character Traded To
	Raticate
	Aipom	Dawn

Pokemon Owned by Ash	Pokemon	Title of episode when given	Character Traded To
	Beedrill	Casey

Pokemon Owned by Ash	Pokemon	Title of episode when obtained	Title of episode evolved
	Caterpie
	Metapod
	Charmander
	Charmeleon
	Krabby
	Pidgeotto
	Chikorita
	Phanpy
	Taillow
	Treecko
	Grovyle
	Snover

Pokémon Gym Battles

Indigo League

*** Team Rocket takes place of Giovanni of Viridian City to take care of ' personal matters'.

Orange League

Johto League

The Johto League hosts the Silver Conference. Ash marks his presence as the top 8 within the Silver Conference.

Hoenn League

Pokémon Competitions

Fun Facts

• Ash Ketchum's Pokemon party usual has a default structure consisting of Pikachu, the region's starter Pokemon (Grass, Water, Fire), a Flying-type, with the sixth differencing in kind.
• The Trainer has been able to catch starter Pokemon of the first two generations and the fifth, of the three in the third and fourth generation caught the fire and grass-types.
• In Pokemon Anime Black and White, it is reported that Ash is still 10 years of age. Even after spending quintessential time back to Viridian City where he received his last badge in Kanto, it was reported that he had already one entire year in journey, with more than 600 episodes, 1 year 365 days, he'd be aging into approximately 13 years.

Names