Ash Ketchum

Ash Ketchum
'Pokémon' character
File:Satoshidp.png Ash Ketchum as seen in Pokémon: Best Wishes series (Season 14)
First game	Pokémon Puzzle League
Created by	Satoshi Tajiri

Ash Ketchum, known as Satoshi (サトシ) for all appearances in Japan, is a fictional character in the Pokémon franchise owned by Nintendo. He was created by Satoshi Tajiri as the protagonist of the anime and manga series, as well as on various merchandise related to the franchise. In Japanese, the character is voiced by Rica Matsumoto; in English, he was voiced by Veronica Taylor until the eighth season of the anime series, replaced by Sarah Natochenny for the remainder of the anime and Kayzie Rogers in the The Mastermind of Mirage Pokémon television special.

His dream is to become the greatest Pokémon trainer in the world.

Concept and creation

Named after his and Pokémon creator Satoshi Tajiri, Satoshi was designed by Ken Sugimori and Atsuko Nishida, and intended to represent how Tajiri was as a child, obsessed with collecting creatures. During localization of both for North American audiences, the character's name was changed in the anime to "Ash Ketchum", the first name taken from one of the possible default names players could select for the player character in Pokémon Red and Blue, and the surname tying into 4Kids' former tagline for the series, "Gotta catch 'em all!" In regards to the video games, however, the player character was officially unnamed until the release of Pokémon Gold and Silver, in which the localized character name was changed to Red, tying in both with the original game appearance and one of the possible default names players could select in those titles. Though Red was redesigned to look similar to Ash in Pokémon Yellow, the two characters are not to be confused with each other.

Tajiri noted in an interview that between Japanese and American reactions to the series, Japanese consumers focused on the character Pikachu, while Americans purchased more items featuring Ash and Pikachu together. He stated that he felt the character represented the concept of the franchise, the human aspect, and was a necessity. In both the games and anime, the character was given a rival, Shigeru. In an interview Tajiri noted the contrast between the character's relationship in the games and anime; while in the games they were rivals, in the anime, Shigeru represented Satoshi's master. When asked if in either instance Satoshi would surpass his rival, Tajiri replied "No! Never!" Ash's character design was initially overseen by Sayuri Ichishi, replaced by Toshiya Yamada during the Diamond and Pearl storyline arc.

Voice acting

Veronica Taylor provided the voice of Ash in first eight season of the English adaption of the Pokémon anime, which was dubbed by 4Kids Entertainment. After the script is translated from Japanese, the lines are adapted to fit the movements of the character's mouth (called lip flap). All the voices were recorded separately so Taylor was the only one in the booth when she recorded her lines, which took approximately six to eight hours. Taylor was often the first person to record so she had to "imagine how the previous line will be said. Luckily, I work with a great director who helps with the interpretation of the line, matching of the lip flap, and consistency of the voice." Taylor enjoyed playing Ash because of his "low, husky voice" and "energy and excitement".

Taylor commented that Ash and the other characters "loosened up" after the first ten episodes of the anime; she believed the writers were more relaxed and did no longer feel the pressure of making sure everything was done correctly. Taylor commented: "I enjoy playing [Ash] now much more than I did in the very beginning because I can have fun with him more, and we kind of know him and can work out how he really would react. We have the classic Ash responses and things like that." Sarah Natochenny replaced Taylor in season nine when The Pokémon Company International (known at that time as Pokémon USA) took over the dubbing rights. In Japan, Rica Matsumoto provides the voice of Ash.

Appearances

In the anime

File:Ash BW.png

Ash, with Pikachu, as he will be seen in the new Pokémon: Best Wishes! anime arc, scheduled to start in Japan 23 September 2010.

At the start of the series, ten year old Ash started out as a beginner Pokémon trainer in Pallet Town, his hometown. After receiving Pikachu as a starter Pokémon from Professor Oak, Ash left Pallet Town to start his journey. Since his departure, Ash has traveled the World of Pokémon, competed in many challenges, and caught newer Pokémon.He has met many companions such as Misty, and May. He currently travels with Dawn and Brock in Sinnoh. Ash worked his way into the Sinnoh League Festival, and eventually faced his Sinnoh rival Paul in the quarterfinals of the Sinnoh League Festival and defeated him, but lost in the semi finals to Takuto, a trainer with a Latios and a Darkrai.

The producers have confirmed that Ash will continue his journeys in the new anime arc Pokémon: Best Wishes, which is scheduled to debut on 23 September 2010 in Japan. In the Isshu region, where the Pokémon Black and White video games and this new series will be based, he will travel with two new companions: a female trainer named Airisu (アイリス?) and a new male trainer named Dento (デント?), a gym leader who is also a Pokémon Somollier.

Ash has considerably improved his abilities as a trainer over the course of the series. However, his earnestness and determination remain the same. During the first season of the series, Ash trained to catch more Pokémon than his childhood rival, Gary Oak, although Gary was always shown to be the stronger trainer. He soon began to focus more on each of his Pokémon's abilities. Ash's primary nemesis is a group of antagonists named Team Rocket. Ever since the second episode, "Pokémon Emergency!", two Team Rocket operatives named Jessie and James, along with a talking Meowth, have tried to steal his first Pokémon, Pikachu as well as many others, but have always failed. Despite their constant antagonism, they occasionally put their differences aside and work together against a common adversary, such as in Pokémon: The Movie 2000, where they aid Ash in retrieving the three treasures in order to save the world.

In video games

The only video game that Ash has truly appeared in to date is Pokémon Puzzle League, where he tries to become a Pokémon Puzzle Master.

In printed adaptations

The portrayals of Ash in the manga The Electric Tale of Pikachu, Pocket Monster Zensho, and Ash & Pikachu, are very similar to the one in the anime. There are key differences in the manga, though. The Electric Tale of Pikachu is based on Ash's journey up until the end of the Orange Islands travel. Ash is usually seen traveling by himself during the course of this manga although he is joined by Misty and Brock in Indigo sometimes. Misty is the only one to join Ash in the Orange Islands. The Ash & Pikachu manga is similar, although it has the episodes from the anime like "The Fortune Hunters" and "A Goldenrod Opportunity" combined, but with a couple of changes. In Pocket Monsters Zensho, Satoshi (as Ash is known in Japan) starts with Charmander instead of Pikachu. The manga ends at the Indigo Plateau, where Satoshi defeats the Elite Four. Manga author Toshihiro Ono cited Ash as one of his favorite characters to draw for the series, stating, "I want to go on a trip with Misty just like him! (And forget about job, rent, etc.)".

Critical reception

The book The Japanification of Children's Popular Culture cited Ash as an example of consumer identification, with the character going through similar motions players of the games had to in order to progress through them. It additionally emphasized the character's growth and development as the anime series progressed.