For over two decades,Ash Ketchumserved as the face of thePokémonanime, capturing hearts as he chased his dream of becoming a Pokémon Master. From Pallet Town to Paldea, fans watched him grow, not in age, but in experience through countless battles, friendships, and heartbreaks. So whenPokémon Horizonslaunched with a brand-new cast, the natural question arose of whether Ash would ever return.
Many longtime viewers are hopeful, if not outright demanding, that the iconic trainer make his comeback.But as beloved as Ash is, the time has come to move on.His journey has reached its natural conclusion, and reinserting him into the anime could undermine everythingPokémon Horizonsis trying to accomplish. Ash doesn’t need to come back, not because he failed, but because he already succeeded.
Ash Has Reached the End of His Arc
Ash Ketchum’s Finale Was the Perfect Send-Off
Ash’s character arc is rare in long-running anime, as he actually achieved his goal. After years of being the underdog, he finally became a world champion. This wasn’t just a trophy win; it symbolized the completion of a 25-year-long narrative.Bringing Ash back risks reopening a story that already has a perfect ending.
There’s a reason most fans agreed that Ash’s win in the Pokémon World Coronation Series was the ultimate payoff. It proved that he had grown, not just as a trainer, but as a person. He evolved from a brash kid into someone who could lead, inspire, and win on the biggest stage. His final episodes, which emphasized reflection and personal growth, felt like a farewell.
And yet, the anime’s producers have made it clear that if Ash returns, he won’t be aged up. That creates an immediate problem. If Ash remains perpetually 10, how can he continue to grow? It is impossible to logically advance a character’s development while freezing him in time, especially after giving him the highest possible achievement.
Keeping Ash 10 means any future appearances would regress his character or retread old ground. That’s the opposite of what fans really want. They want more depth, more challenges, but that only works if Ash is allowed to age and evolve. Since the franchise won’t do that, it’s better to let him stay retired at the top of his game.
Ash Doesn’t Fit in the Horizons World
Ash and Horizons Exist in Two Different Pokémon Timelines
One of the most compelling reasonsto leave Ash in the past is thatPokémon Horizonsis carving out something entirely new. The series centers on Liko and Roy, two fresh protagonists with distinct personalities and arcs. Their story involves a unique mystery, a different structure, and even a time-skip that Ash could never realistically be a part of.
With Liko and Roy aging forward, it would be strange to see them interact with a version of Ash who’s still 10. The timeline would break. Ash’s eternal youth clashes with the worldHorizonsis building that’s slowly maturing alongside its audience. Forcing him into this new narrative would feel jarring and out of place.
It’s also important to remember that Liko and Roy need space to grow without being overshadowed. Ash is a cultural giant; placing him back into the spotlight would inevitably draw attention away from the new cast. Rather than being a mentor or rival, he’d dominate every scene simply by existing.
If Ash returned without meaningful change or growth, it would send the message that thePokémonseries doesn’t trust its new leads to carry the torch.
TheHorizonsera is about forging a new legacy. It’s trying to appeal to a generation that grew up with Ash, yes, but also to a new audience that deserves their own heroes. If Ash returned without meaningful change or growth, it would send the message that thePokémonseries doesn’t trust its new leads to carry the torch. That would be a disservice to both the past and the future.
A Return Without Growth Would Undermine Ash Ketchum’s Legacy
Letting Ash Go Is the Best Way for Pokémon to Honor Him
There’s also the emotional risk, becausewhat happens if Ash comes back and isn’t handled well? Fans waited decades to see him reach the top. If his return involves bland filler or feels like a marketing stunt, it could taint the memory of everything he achieved. Nostalgia is a powerful tool, but it’s also fragile.
Consider how often other long-running franchises bring back old characters, only to do nothing interesting with them. The result is usually disappointing at best and character assassination at worst. Ash’s story doesn’t need that risk.Ash has earned his rest, and his final moments were poetic because they gave him closure.
That closure was rare in anime and even rarer in global pop culture. It was clear-eyed, optimistic, and final. Reopening that door could unravel everythingPokémonworked so hard to build. Worse, it might prove that the franchise is too scared to move forward without clinging to the past.
The best tribute thePokémonfranchise can give him is to build something bold and new, and let Ash be the legend that he already is.
Ash’s legacy is already immortal. Kids who grew up with him still talk about his battles, his friendships, and his perseverance. There’s no need to turn him into a hollow cameo machine. The best tribute thePokémonfranchise can give him is to build something bold and new, and let Ash be the legend that he already is.
Moving On From Ash Is How Pokémon Evolves
The Franchise Grows Stronger Without Ash at the Helm
Change can be uncomfortable,especially in a series as nostalgic asPokémon. But growth often means saying goodbye. Ash’s departure was the franchise’s way of growing up, and its audience, especially those who followed him since the ’90s, can understand that. Letting go doesn’t mean forgetting; it means honoring what came before by moving forward.
The creators ofPokémon Horizonshave taken a risk by starting fresh, and so far, it’s paying off. Liko and Roy are developing into fully realized characters, and the world they inhabit feels like it has room to breathe. That only works because the shadow of Ash has stepped aside, not loomed overhead.
Bringing Ash back would be an emotional shortcut. It would win headlines and online applause, for a moment. But in the long run, it would dilute his impact and rob the new generation of their own story. Ash Ketchum’s time has passed, and that’s okay. His journey didn’t end because he was no longer relevant, it ended because he had nothing left to prove.
Sometimes, the most heroic thing a character can do is exit the stage gracefully.Ash Ketchumdid that. And for that reason alone,Pokémondoesn’t need to bring him back. Not because fans have stopped loving him, but because they always will.
Pokemon
Ash Ketchum
Ash Ketchum is considered to be one of the main figureheads of the Pokemon franchise, who starred in the TV series and several films. Originally from Pallet Town, Ash Ketchum left on his journey at ten years old after starting late on the day Pokemon trainers leave home. Forced to bond with a Pokemon that initially didn’t want him, the two became inseparable, with Pikachu being as much a part of Ash as he was. Together the two met many allies and challenged several leagues with the hope of winning a championship and Ash becoming a Pokemon master - until 2023, when they won the Pokemon World Championship.
