The most reliable and detailed guide about Ash Ketchum
Character:
Ash Ketchum is the main character of the Pokémon Anime. He is based on Red, the protagonist of the first generation games (Pokémon). The original name Satoshi means “Wisdom” (a quality that Ash has gradually gained throughout the series) and comes directly from the Pokémon creator, Satoshi Tajiri, which, in many interviews, claimed to be reflected in the character. In the games Pokémon Red and Blue, and Pokémon Yellow, Ash is one of the default name which the player can choose. His surname “Ketchum” comes from the slogan “gotta catch ‘em all”, but it is also a real and existing surname. It’s possible that it has been choosen due to the number of movements of the mouth made, in the anime, to pronunce the protagonist ‘s original name, in order to make the dubbing easier since “Satoshi” has two more syllables than “Ash”.
As many others shōnen characters, he would like to achieve a very difficult goal. In this case, Ash wants to become a Pokémon Master. For this reason, he travels around the world challenging Gym Leaders and competing in Pokémon Leagues, similarly to the protagonist of the videogames.
Though being a character with the typical shōnen hero peculiar features, Ash has some specific qualities which highlight an even more articulated personality. In particular it stands out his exceptional ability to comfort and encourage those who need a helping hand, making use of his empathy. This makes him a landmark for most of his fans, so that in the book “The Japanification of Children’s Popular Culture” Ash is cited as an example of cultural identification. Additionally it emphasized the character’s growth and development as the anime series progressed.
Personality:
Ash is particularly unselfish, empathetic and kind, but at the same time he also has other peculiar characteristics, like his courage and determination. Ash is indeed extremely stubborn and he never gives up, despite difficulties. His motto is “saigo made akirameru na” (literally: “never give up until it’s over“). As mentioned above, he shows a particular empathy, thanks to which he always manages to find the right words to cheer up those who need it. Thanks to this particular trait, friends consider him a sort of psychologist in the group, often making use of his own teachings on how to face life and its difficulties. 
But when he is having a problem, he prefers to keep everything inside and can become grumpy against anyone who tries to help him. Ash established a relationship based on trust and mutual respect with his Pokémon: he wants his team to feel part of a big family. Moreover, as explained by Takeshi Shudo, Ash also has super-strong feelings thanks to which nothing can traumatize him, so that he has never been deeply shocked by the absence of his father. In fact this has strengthened his character.
Physical appearance:
Ash appears as a boy of short stature (165 centimeters) and thin, but at the same time very athletic and vigorous (as a matter of fact, he is known for his great agility).
He is used to wear a red hat on his thick and messy hair, while, as far as his hands are concerned, he wears some fingerless gloves. He prefers to wear jackets with short sleeves and long pants (probably for convenience and practicality while travelling).
History:
On the 1st of April, after his 10th birthday, Ash left his hometown Pallet Town, along with three other trainers, including Gary Oak, his rival since childhood.
But that morning he overslept and met Gary, professor Oak’s grandson, from whom he already received his first Pokémon. Once he reached the professor laboratory, Ash found out that all the starters (Bulbasaur, Charmander and Squirtle) had already been taken, so he decided to take an exemplary of Pikachu, the only remaining creature, together with the Pokédex provided by the professor (called Dexter). However, Pikachu hates Poké Balls, which is the reason why it still follows Ash as if it was a “free” Pokémon. Initially, it caused some problems to its trainer by not respecting him, but when Ash risked his life to protect the little Pokémon injured by some Spearow, the two became inseparable friends. At the end of this adventure, Ash and his Pikachu saw a peculiar Pokémon. During a video-call with professor Oak, Ash realized that it was the legendary Pokémon Ho-Oh, but nobody believed him. He was, in fact, the first to have seen Ho-Oh in the last three centuries.
Since Pikachu is able to generate powerful electrical attacks, it is often the target of Jessie, James and Meowth (members of Team Rocket) plans, that often consist on trying to steal the Pokémon and bringing him to their boss Giovanni. At the beginning, Ash was accompanied by Misty, who followed him to get her bike back, taken by Ash to save Pikachu and destroyed by the Thundershock it used to help Ash. Having to win eight badges in different Gyms to partecipate in the Pokémon League, he fought Brock, the Gym Leader of Pewter City, who joined the team after being defeated. In the second season of the anime (according to the western numeration), Ash finally participated in the Kanto League, situated in the Indigo Plateau, where he was defeated by his friend Richie and finishing in the top sixteen positions. 
Subsequently, Ash traveled through the Orange Islands alongside Misty and Tracey Sketchit to win the Orange League. In the episode “Enter The Dragonite” he defeated Drake and obtained the trophy. Ash’s next journey took place in the Johto region, where, once again, he was followed by Misty and Brock. In the Johto League, Ash finally defeats his rival Gary, but is then beaten by Harrison finishing in the first eight positions.
In the Advanced Generation series, Ash had to separate from Misty and Brock, which made him feel very sad. However, Brock came back and joined again Ash and his new friends: May and Max. This time, a more mature and experienced Ash acted as if he was a mentor for the young new trainer, May. In this region Ash had to defeat again 8 Gym Leaders in order to enter the Hoenn League, where he also fought his friend and rival Morrison. Ash finished alongside the eight best trainers.
Next, he separated from his friends again and came back home. However, he found them right there, in Pallet town, a place in which they decided to set off again for another journey altogether. This time, Ash’s main objective was the Battle Frontier. Ash defeated all the Frontier Brains, gaining the Champion title in the episode “Pace – The Final Frontier!“, during which he managed to win against Baldo. At the end of his second journey through the Kanto region, Ash saw for the first time Gary’s Electivire, experience that lead him to decide to visit the Sinnoh region, where he met again his friend Brock. 
In Twinleaf Town, the two met Dawn and with her they started a new journey during which Ash not only faced matches in Gyms, but also, with her new friend, joined two Pokémon Contests. During this series Ash, has become an experienced trainer, specialized in creating new and spectacular fighting strategies, so much that Dawn developed a great admiration for him. However, more than once Ash has been under pressure because of his new rival, Paul, who is used to train his pokémon with completely different methods from the ones used by Ash. Paul, in order to make his pokémon stronger, doesn’t even worry about them. His methods, for this very reason, are stricts and heedless. After many difficulties, Ash finally managed to defeat Paul in the most spectacular match of his life, arriving at the semifinals of the Sinnoh league but being defeated by Tobias and his legendary Pokémon. 
However, Ash was the only trainer who managed to defeat not only Tobias’s Darkrai, but even his Latios, this way becoming the moral winner of the Sinnoh league. Once the competion ended, Ash separated from Dawn and Brock. In the end the latter wouldn’t come back to travel with Ash because he decided to study very hard to become a doctor.
The events of Unova region are NOT mentioned nor in the Diamond&Pearl Series, nor in the XY One. Satoshipedia is based solely on what is demonstrated in the series that constituite the original timeline of the Pokémon anime. So the lenght of the Black&White series constitues a hole in the timeline.
The time hole starts from Ash’s return at home in the last episode of Diamond&Pearl (autumn) to Ash’s arrival in Kalos (late spring of the following year). So, we continue counting the timeline by adding an year.
Further readings:
The XY series, in fact, sees a return of Ash as we had left him in the Sinnoh region: mature and extraordinarily skilled in Pokémon battles. In a short period of time, Ash has improved a lot his trainer skills and during the XYZ series he also discovers a power that binds him to his Greninja. Thanks to it, Ash reaches a level never seen before and is ranked finalist in the League of Kalos. His travel friends were Clemont, Bonnie and Serena. The latter is in love with Ash after he, as a child, helped her in a forest where she had lost. Upon arrival in Kalos, Serena recognizes Ash seeing him on television and decided to travel with him.
Further readings:
Family:
The reason for which Ash’s parents are separated is that his father, a person whom information are ignored, abandoned the family a little while later Ash’s birth, leaving a young 19-year old Delia alone. We only know that he is a pokémon trainer (who doesn’t appear in the membership list of the World Pokémon trainers Association) currently travelling in a far land. As for Ash’s maternal grandparents, Delia’s mother died because of a disease, while her father had a behavior very similar to that of her husband: he also left home to become a trainer.
Further Readings:
Ash’s Pokémon:
Pokémon series (click on spoiler to view):
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| Pikachu is the initial Pokémon of Ash, obtained from Professor Oak in the episode “Pokémon – I Choose You!“. |
| Moves: Thundershock, Thunderbolt, Thunder, Agility, Double-Edge, Quick Attack, Tail Whip (used sporadically without command, as in the Vermilion Gym), Tackle, Leer (used only in the episode “Hour of the Houndour“), Iron Tail (teached by Ash in the episode “All Things Bright and Beautifly!“), Locomovolt (learned in the episode “May’s Egg-Cellent Adventure“), Electro Ball (learned in the episode “Dancing With the Ducklett Trio!” (Black&White series). |
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| Given to Ash in the episode “Bulbasaur and the Hidden Village“. |
| Moves: Razor Leaf, Vine Whip, Sleep Powder, Take Down, Leech Seed, Solar Beam (learned in the episode “Bulbasaur’s Mysterious Garden“), Whirlwind, Tickle, Dig. |
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| Evolution of his Charmeleon, which evolved from Charmander. This Pokémon was caught by Ash in the episode “Charmander the Stray Pokémon“. Charizard is training in the Charicific Valley. However, in case of necessity, Ash can ask Liza to use it temporarily. |
| Moves: Flamethrower, Leer, Ember, Fire Spin, Skull Bash (used only in the episode “Pokémon Scent-sation!“), Seismic Toss (learned after evolving), Tackle, Mega Punch, Submission, Take Down, Rage, Dragon Rage, Dragon Breath, Whirlwind, Overheat (learned in the Charicific Valley), Steel Wing (learned in the Charicific Valley before the episode “Gathering the Gang of Four!“), Wing Attack, Slash, Dragon Tail. |
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| Evolution of Ash’s Krabby, one of his first Pokémon and caught by Ash in the episode “Mystery at the Lighthouse“. |
| Moves: Crabhammer, Harden, Leer, Bubble, Water Gun, Hyper Beam, Vice Grip, Stomp. |
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| Caught in the episode “Sparks Fly for Magnemite“. |
| Moves: Body Slam, Poison Gas, Sludge Bomb. |
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| Caught at the Safari Zone in the banned episode “The Legend of Dratini“, together with 29 other Tauros. Indeed, Ash has 30 Tauros. |
| Moves: Fissure, Take Down, Horn Attack, Double Team (used for the first time in the episode “Second Time’s the Charm!“) |
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| Caught at the Orange Islands, during the episode “Snack Attack“. |
| Moves: Tackle, Body Slam, Hyper Beam, Ice Punch, Mega Punch, Mega Kick, Protect, Rest, Headbutt. |
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| Caught in the episode “A Sappy Ending“. |
| Moves: Tackle, Take Down, Leer, Fury Attack, Megahorn, Horn Attack, Endure, Sleep Talk (shown in the episode “League Unleashed!“), Focus Punch (shown in the episode “League Unleashed!“), Hyper Beam (shown in the episode “The Semi-Final Frontier!“). |
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| Evolution of his Chikorita, a Pokémon healed by Ash, after the struggle with his Charizard in the episode “The Chikorita rescue“. |
| Moves: Tackle, Razor Leaf, Vine Whip, Sweet Scent (which has been used only in the episode “Gettin’ The Bugs Out”), Body Slam (learned right after evolving into Bayleef), Headbutt (used only in the episode “Playing with Fire!“). |
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| Evolution of his Cyndaquil, caught in the episode “Good ‘Quil Hunting“. |
| Moves: Tackle, Flamethrower, Quick Attack, Agility, Smokescreen, Swift, Flame Wheel (shown in the episode “An old Family Blend!“), Eruption (learned right after evolving into Quilava in the episode “An old Family Blend!“), Aerial Ace (shown in the episode “League Unleashed!“). |
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| Caught in the episode “The Totodile Duel“. |
| Moves: Scratch, Water Gun, Bite, Slash (used only in the episode “Just Add Water“), Headbutt, Skull Bash, Scary Face, Leer (used only in the episode “Playing with Fire!“), Tail Whip (used only during the second phase of the Silver Conference after the command ” Finish it!”). |
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| The only shiny Pokémon caught by Ash, during the episode “Fowl Play!“. |
| Moves: Tackle, Whirlwind, Peck, Foresight, Hypnosis, Confusion (learned in the episode “From Ghost to Ghost“), Air Slash (shown in the episode “Working on a Right Move!“), Sky Attack (shown in the episode “Working on a Right Move!“), Extrasensory (shown in the episode “Working on a Right Move!“). |
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| Evolution of his Phanpy, born from an egg received in the episode “Extreme Pokémon!” and hatched in the episode “Hatching a Plan!“. |
| Moves: Tackle, Take Down, Rollout, Earthquake, Defense Curl, Hidden Power (used for the first time in the episode “Hooked on Onix“), Hyper Beam (learned right after evolving into Donphan in the episode “Reversing the Charges“). |
Pokémon Advanced series (click on spoiler to view):
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| Evolution of his Taillow, caught in the episode “You Never Can Taillow“. |
| Moves: Quick Attack, Wing Attack, Double Team (learned right after evolving into Swellow in the episode “Solid as a Solrock“), Aerial Ace (taught by Ash in the episode “Lessons in Lilycove!“). |
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| Evolution of his Grovyle, which evolved from Treecko, caught in the episode “Tree’s a Crowd“. |
| Moves: Quick Attack, Pound, Slam, Agility, Bullet Seed (taught by ash during the episode “What You Seed is What You Get“), Leaf Blade (learned right after evolving into Grovyle in the episode “Exploud and Clear!“), Solar Beam (learned during the match with Spenser), Verdebufera (shown in the episode “The Semi-Final Frontier!“). |
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| Caught in the episode “Gone Corphishin’“. |
| Moves: Crabhammer, Bubble Beam, Bubble, Harden, Vice Grip, Dig. |
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| Caught in the Valley of Steel, during the episode “All Torkoal, No Play“. |
| Moves: Flamethrower, Overheat, Iron Defense, Body Slam, Heat Wave (learned before the episode “Overjoyed!“). |
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| Evolution of his Snorunt, caught in the episode “Let it snow, let it snow, let it Snorunt!“ |
| Moves: Ice Beam, Ice Windy, Powder Snow, Double Team, Headbutt. |
Pokémon Diamond&Pearl series (click on spoiler to view):
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| Evolution of his Staravia, which evolved from Starly, caught in the episode “Two Degrees of Separation!“. |
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Moves: Wing Attack, Quick Attack, Gust, Aerial Ace (learned right after evolving into Staravia in the episode “A Staravia is Born!“), Brave Bird (taught by Ash in the episode “Crossing the Battle Line!“), Close Combat (learned right after evolving into Staraptor in the episode “Pursuing a Lofty Goal!“). |
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| Evolution of his Grotle, which evolved from Turtwig, caught in the episode “Gettin’ Twiggy With It!“. |
| Moves: Tackle, Razor Leaf, Synthesis, Bite, Energy Ball (taught by Ash in the episode “Tanks for the Memories!“), Rock Climb (learned in the episode “The lonely Snover“), Leaf Storm (learned right after evolving into Torterra in the episode “The Fleeing Tower of Sunyshore!“). |
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| Evolution of his Monferno, which evolved from Chimchar. This Pokémon, has been abandoned by its previous trainer, Paul. So, Ash decided to ask it to join his team in the episode “Smells Like Team Spirit!“. |
| Moves: Flame Wheel, Ember, Dig, Fire Spin, Scratch, Flamethrower, Mach Punch (learned right after evolving into Monferno in the episode “Evolving Strategies!“), Flare Blitz (learned in the episode “Working on a Right Move!“). |
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| Previously owned by Dawn. Ash recevied it from her with a trade thanks to which Dawn obtained Ash’s Aipom, in the episode “Throwing the Track Switch“ |
| Moves: Water Gun, Aqua Jet, Sonic Boom, Water Pulse (used for the first time in the Veilstone Gym), Ice Punch (taught by Ash in the episode “Short and To the Punch!“). |
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| Evolution of his Gligar, caught in the episode “Riding the Winds of Change!“. |
| Moves: Sand-Attack, X-Scissor, Steel Wing, Screech, Fire Fang (learned in the episode “A Breed Stampede!“), Giga Impact (learned in the episode “Mastering Current Events!“), Stone Edge (shown in the episode “A Real Rival Rouser!“). |
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| Caught in the episode “Gotta Get a Gible!“. |
| Moves: Dig, Draco Meteor, Dragon Pulse, Rock Smash. |
Pokémon XY/Z series (click on spoiler to view):
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| Evolution of his Frogadier, which evolved from Froakie, caught by Ash during the episode “Lumiose City Pursuit!“. |
| Moves: Water Pulse, Bubble, Pound, Double Team (learned in the episode “A Rush of Ninja Wisdom!“), Cut (learned during the episode “Forging Forest Friendships!“), Aerial Ace (learned after evolving into Frogadier), Water Shuriken (learned right after evolving into Greninja). |
Check also: Ash Greninja |
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| Evolution of his Fletchinder, which evolved from Fletchling, caught by Ash during the episode “A Battle of Aerial Mobility!“ |
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Moves: Double Team, Peck, Razord Wind, Steel Wing, Nitro Charge (learned after evolving into Fletchinder), Brave Bird (learned after evolving into Talonflame). |
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| Caught by Ash during the episode “The Forest Champion!“. |
| Moves: Karate Chop, High Jump Kick, Flying Press, X-Scissor (used for the first in the Laverre Gym). |
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| Evolution of his Noibat, hatched from an egg found by Ash’s Hawlucha during the episode “A Not-So-Flying Start!“. |
| Moves: Supersonic, Tackle (learned during the episode “Terminus Cave! The Mystery of Z is Set in Motion!!”), Acrobatics (learned during the episode “Onbat and Flaette! An Encounter in the Wind!!“), Boomburst (learned during the episode “Thunder and Onvern! The Lightning of Anger!!“), Dragon Claw (learned during the episode “Rival Showdown! Satoshi VS Shōta!!”). |
In training (click on spoiler to view):
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| Caught by Ash, after that his pre-evolution (Mankey) had stolen the boy’s hat, in the episode “Primeape Goes Bananas“. Next, he donates it to a fighting type Pokémon trainer, Antony, in the episode “The Punchy Pokémon“. |
| Moves: Trash, Scratch, Mega Kick, Seismic Toss. |
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| Joined Ash in the episode “Here Comes the Squirtle Squad“. It works in a firefighters team formed by different Squirtle and their evolutions. |
| Moves: Water Gun, Bubble Beam, Withdraw, Skull Bash, Hydro Pump (learned in the episode “Misty Meets Her Match“), Rapid Spin (learned along with the Squirtle squad), Bubble. |
Released (click on spoiler to view):
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| Evolution of his Metapod, which evolved from Caterpie, caught in the episode “Ash Catches a Pokémonl“. Released in the episode “Bye Bye Butterfree“ because it fell in love with another Butterfree. |
| Moves: String Shot, Tackle, Harden, Sleep Powder, Whirlwind, Stun Spore, Double-Edge. |
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| Evolution of his Pidgeotto, caught in the episode “Ash catches a Pokémon“. Released in the episode “Pallet Party Panic” to protect a group of Pidgey and Pidgeotto from the attacks of a Fearow, the evolution of the same Spearow which attacked Ash and Pikachu at the beginning of the first series. |
| Moves: Gust, Quick Attack, Sand Attack, Whirlwind, Wind Attack, Double-Edge. |
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| Saved by Ash when it was young in “The Lost Lapras“, used as a ferry in the Orange Islands, released once it found its family at the end of the journey, in the episode “Viva Las Lapras“. |
| Moves: Ice Beam, Water Gun. |
Evolution of his Sliggoo, which evolved from Goomy, caught in the episode “A Slippery Encounter!“. Ash helped it to become stronger, so that it could protect its friends. It returned to live with them in the episode “Beyond the Rainbow!“.Moves: Rain Dance, Bide, Dragon Breath, Dragon Pulse, Ice Beam.
Traded away (click on spoiler to view):
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| Ash received it from a trade on the St. Anne, in the episode “Battle Aboard the St. Anne“, for his Butterfree. However he later traded it away in order to get his Butterfree back. |
| Moves: Jump Kick, Super Fang, Hyper Fang. |
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| Caught at the end of the Kanto Gran Festival, in the episode “Channeling the Battle Zone!“, subsequently traded with Lucinda in the episode “Throwing the Track Switch” because it preferred Pokémon Contests to Gym battles. |
| Moves: (when traded): Scratch, Swift, Focus Punch, Double Team. |
Given away (click on spoiler to view):
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| Caught by Ash and given to Casey in the episode “The Bug Stops Here“. |
| Moves: Twineedle. |
Unofficial (click on spoiler to view):
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| Caught by Ash in Lavender Town during the episode “The Tower of Terror“ and given to the Gym Leader Sabrina in “Haunter versus Kadabra“. |
| Moves: Lick. |
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| Born from an egg given to Ash by Professor Elm in the episode “Lapras of Luxury“. Ash finds its mother and gives her the Pokémon in the episode “Mother of Alls Battles“. |
| Moves: Screech, Hidden Power, Harden, Bite, Strength. |
Obtained Badges:
| Kanto League |
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| Orange League |
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| Johto League |
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| Hoenn League |
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| Battle Frontier |
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| Sinnoh League |
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| Kalos League |
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Pokémon League ranking:
- Indigo Plateau Conference (Top 16)
- Silver Conference (Top 8)
- Ever Grande Conference (Top 8)
- Lily of the Valley Conference (Top 4)
- Lumiose Conference (Runner-Up)
Trivia:
- The initial project for Ash’s hat, in the original series, was similar to that of Red (in the first generation). Subsequently, it was modified until its final design.
- When the english voice actor Veronica Taylor was interviewed in the documentary “Adventures in Voice Acting”, she revealed that, during the period of Ash’s voice auditions, the protagonist was known as Casey.
- Rica Matsumoto (his japanese voice actor), during an interview said: “Satoshi always comes up with funny phrases, like pajama wa jama (japanese pun that more or less means ‘pajamas are a threat’) or jokes. This is what drew me to him as a character”.
- Just as said by Rica Matsumoto, Ash is also known for his jokes with puns (it is famous, in the american dub, the phrase “I’m an apple for a day and I need a doctor right away“). Especially when he mutters, he often comes up with funny-sarcastic phrases.
- Ash loves apples. Among his favorite food we also find: fried chicken, spaghetti and custard as dessert. Ash eats everything and he also likes every kinds of vegetables. It seems that the only thing he doesn’t appreciate is the type of hazelnut which grows on Grotle.
- In the episode “Up Close and Personable!” it is shown that Ash is good at drawing.
Ash’s drawing of a Dewgong - Ash is particularly good at climbing, also because he used to do it often as a child, playing on his own (as he mentioned in the episode “The Screen Actor’s Guilt“).
- As seen in some episodes, Ash seems interested in catching a Dunsparce.
- Ash is not by any mean tech-savvy.
- The marking pen that Jigglypuff always kept with it actually belonged to Ash. The Pokémon had stolen it from his backpack.
- Ash is really good at Physics: during battles (and in other situation too) he always creates tactics based on levers, calculation of forces, forces and accelerations, combination of natural elements, ecc.
- The Master Ball-shaped ball, recurrently seen in the anime, belongs to Ash.
- Ash has the same aura of Lucario and is the so-called “Aura Guardian“, however, at the moment, he is not interested in developing this particular ability.
- Ash doesn’t like wearing pajamas, in fact, as a child, he often went sleeping without changing, making his mother angry.
Other Ash’s preparatory sketches:
Sources and external links:
- EPISODES OF THE POKEMON ANIME
- Takeshi Shudo books (it contains links to sources too)
- “Pokémon Mania” Magazine (fun fact about Rica Matsumoto)
Sign the petition to say “Stop Rebooting Ash in the Pokemon Anime!” You only need few second and you can also prefer to remain anonymous hiding all your personal data!
About Pokénerd
Pokénerd was born in Umbria, Italy, in June 1992. She got so attached to the pokémon anime since the very beginning that she carefully watches every single episode. Her knowledge about the main character, Ash Ketchum is really vast. She discovered everything about him, and now she manages the entire online encyclopedia
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Even though he was only at the beginning of his trainer career and he never put an effort in studying Pokémon when he was at school, he showed a good knowledge of the attacks that every pokemon was able to use, and you can easily see his talent for Pokémon Battles, although it was still immature and needed to properly develope his ability, since Ash was still clumsy and inexperienced; because of this, in Pokémon Battles, he always needed Misty’s and Brock’s suggestions. 
Even in his first tournament of the Pokémon League they sat on the sideline as assistants. Ash’s behaviors were obviously childish, and in fact, after every success he tended to become conceited (often becoming quite obnoxious) and euphoric. 
When he doesn’t act as a vain boy, he is quite cute.
At that time, he was also very spiteful, especially towards Misty who often did not appreciate his humor at all. He kept his particular feature with him: being a prankster is part of his own personality but, of course, it’s not as obvious as when he was a child.
Regarding his character, he also started to consolidate its sweetness, visible especially in respect to his pokémon, which he lovingly cuddled and comforted especially if sad or frightened.
He won his Chikorita’s love (currently Bayleef) that in many cases was also assuming attitudes of jealousy towards Ash.
After finally having defeated Gary and after saying goodbye to the friends who accompanied him on his journey until Johto, Ash looked slightly bewildered, because from that moment on, he would have to go on by his own, but being extremely positive, he took the opportunity for what he considered a new beginning: he left home all of his Pokémon except for Pikachu and departed towards the Hoenn region, in order to start a new adventure, but this time, all on his own.
In the middle of this third generation, Ash has finally stopped taking conceited attitudes, even giving May wise adviced, who suddenly, in the series, started to take the same behaviors.
As for Ash’s talent on Pokémon battles in this generation, as already mentioned, he became much more mature and expert, his Pokémon battles became truly immersive and his skills as a strategist have gradually consolidated, bringing him, at the end of the Battle Frontier series, to earn the title of Battle Frontier Master.
Here, too, he has had to deal with a novice trainer (or precisely a coordinator): Dawn, which immediately showed a lot of admiration for Ash, thanks to his skill as a trainer and for his gentle and reassuring personality.
Ash’s attitudes in this generation are very mature (although occasionally his “playful side” continues to come out) and this is also reflected on his work with Pokémon, with whom often turned out to be very severe, but at the same time sweet, especially against the more timid Pokémon. This kindness with Pokémon put him in collision with Paul, a very rigid trainer, whose attitudes were the exact opposite of those of Ash, but in the end, after the most spectacular battle he ever fought, Ash has put into practice all his experience, managing to defeat Paul and making him more friendly towards pokémon.
In many ways Pokémons are similar to humans.
Still talking about Pokémons, Latias too (protagonist of the film Pokémon Heroes) has literally shown to have a crush on Ash . 
During the course of the movie, several times it transformed itself into a human girl to lure Ash, or to ask for his help, also taking the opportunity to hug him and even kiss him.
Anabel is one of the strongest Frontier Brains of the Kanto region, due to the way she can communicate with Pokémon, which is similar to telepathy. Also, she is particularly impressed by Ash’s qualities that we all know about, making her fall in love with him.
Dawn has never openly shown it, perhaps because she actually did not realize it. However, according to several sources (but also judging from some of her behaviours), she seems to have had a crush on Ash, or at least a special admiration for him.
Lyra is the female protagonist of Pokémon Heart Gold & Soul Silver, who appeared in several episodes of the DP series in occasion of the release of the two games. In one episode she confided to Dawn that she was attracted by Ash.
She met Ash many years before, at the Professor Oak’s Pokémon Summer Camp, in Pallet Town. One day she got lost in the forest and hurt her knee. In that moment she met Ash, who bandaged the wound and encouraged her because she was afraid of not being able to get up. Then Ash pulled Serena up, making her stand on her feet, and she found herself embraced to him.
As mentioned at the beginning of the article, Ash returns feelings only for Misty, to whom he is always very fond of; this is shown by his attitudes and by the way he talks about her to other friends. In addition, Ash is really jealous about the presents she gives him (a handkerchief and Misty’s special lure), not allowing anyone to touch them.
In the episode 9 of the first series (The School of Hard Knocks) Ash met Giselle, the most beautiful girl in the school, for which he developed a crush along with Brock.
Although this is not considered a real “crush”, in the episode “It’s Mr. Mime Time“, (first series), Ash was asked to dress up as a Mr. Mime to help the girls of a circus, who were desperate because their Pokémons didn’t want to work. Ash categorically refused to disguise himself, but as soon as the girls softly re-asked it to him, he blushed and accepted the task, smiling.
In the second movie, Ash showed attraction to Melody, setting fire to the jealousy of Misty.
In the movie Pokémon Heroes, Ash saves Latias, who took the form of Bianca that, once out of danger, misteriously disappears. When, later at the museum, he sees Bianca, Ash starts to behave oddly, trying to reach her at all costs, not knowing that, in reality, she wasn’t the girl he previously saved. Ash’s behaviours bring the thought that he could have had a crush on Bianca.