Ash Ketchum facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Ash Ketchum |
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| Pokémon character | |
Ash Ketchum as seen in seasons 23 and 24 of the anime.
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| First appearance | "Pokémon, I Choose You!" (1997) |
| First game | Pokémon Puzzle League (2000) |
| Created by | Satoshi Tajiri |
| Designed by | Ken Sugimori and Atsuko Nishida (video games) Sayuri Ichishi (Seasons 1–8) Toshiya Yamada (Season 10–present) |
| Voiced by |
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| Information | |
| Aliases | Satoshi (Japanese name) |
| Species | Human |
| Gender | Male |
| Occupation |
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| Affiliation | Ultra Guardians of the Aether Foundation |
| Title |
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| Family |
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| Home | Pallet Town, Kanto Region |
Ash Ketchum (サトシ Satoshi in Japanese) is the main character of the Pokémon anime. His first Pokémon was Pikachu, which he has kept since the beginning of the series. Ash is a Pokémon Trainer whose big goal is to become a Pokémon Master. He travels the world, catches many Pokémon, and battles other trainers.
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Creating Ash Ketchum
Ash Ketchum was named after Satoshi Tajiri, who created the Pokémon series. He was designed by Ken Sugimori and Atsuko Nishida. Ash was meant to be like Tajiri when he was a child.
There is a similar character in the Pokémon video games named Red. Red is the main character you play as in Pokémon Red and Blue. He is also a Pokémon Trainer who catches and trains Pokémon.
When the Pokémon show was brought to North America, Ash's name was changed. His first name, Ash, came from a name players could choose in the games. His last name, Ketchum, came from the phrase "Gotta catch 'em all!"
Tajiri once said that Japanese fans liked Pikachu a lot. But American fans bought more items that showed Ash and Pikachu together. He felt that Ash helped show what the Pokémon story was all about.
Ash has a rival (someone he competes against) named Gary Oak. In the games, Red and Blue (Gary's game version) were enemies. But in the anime, Gary was more like a mentor to Ash at first. Over time, Ash became a better trainer than Gary. Gary later became a Pokémon researcher, just like his grandfather, Professor Oak.
Ash's look was first designed by Sayuri Ichishi. Later, Toshiya Yamada took over during the Diamond and Pearl series.
Who Voices Ash?
Veronica Taylor was the voice of Ash in the first eight seasons of the English Pokémon anime. She enjoyed playing Ash because of his "low, husky voice" and his "energy and excitement."
Taylor said that Ash and the other characters became more relaxed after the first ten episodes. She felt the writers were more comfortable with the show. She said, "I enjoy playing [Ash] now much more than I did in the very beginning."
Sarah Natochenny took over as Ash's voice in season nine. This happened when Pokémon International started handling the English versions of the show. In Japan, Rica Matsumoto is the voice of Ash.
Ash's Adventures
In Video Games
The character Red, from the games Pokémon Red, Blue, and Yellow and their remakes, has many names. One of these names is "Ash." In the games, Red is a young boy from Pallet Town. His journey starts when Professor Oak gives him and his rival a Pokémon.
After getting their Pokémon, Red and his rival battle. Professor Oak then gives them both a Pokédex. He sends them on a journey to catch every type of Pokémon.
Ash has also appeared in a few video games himself. He is in Pokémon Puzzle League, where he tries to become a Pokémon Puzzle Master. You can also play as Ash in Pokémon Yellow, where you start with a Pikachu.
In the Anime Show
Ash starts his journey as a ten-year-old beginner Pokémon trainer in Pallet Town. He gets Pikachu as his first Pokémon from Professor Oak. Then, Ash leaves his hometown to begin his big adventure.
Since then, Ash has traveled all over the Pokémon world. He has competed in many challenges and caught many different Pokémon. He has grown a lot as a trainer. He is still very excited and strong-willed.
Ash's main enemies are a group called Team Rocket. In almost every episode, two Team Rocket agents, Jessie and James, along with a talking Meowth, try to steal Ash's Pikachu. They always fail. Even though they fight a lot, they sometimes work together against a common enemy. For example, in Pokémon: The Movie 2000, they helped Ash save the world.
In Books and Comics
Ash also appears in manga (Japanese comics) like The Electric Tale of Pikachu, Pocket Monster Zensho, and Ash & Pikachu. His story in these comics is much like in the anime.
In The Electric Tale of Pikachu, Ash often travels alone. Sometimes, Misty and Brock join him. The Ash & Pikachu manga combines episodes from the anime.
In Pocket Monsters Zensho, Ash (known as Satoshi) starts with a Charmander instead of Pikachu. This manga ends with Ash winning at the Indigo Plateau. The manga artist, Toshihiro Ono, said Ash was one of his favorite characters to draw.
In the Pokémon Adventures manga, Red is the main character. He starts in Pallet Town and gets a Bulbasaur and a Pokédex from Professor Oak. He also has a Poliwhirl that he has known since he was a child. Red later catches a Pikachu, which becomes one of his top Pokémon.
Red's rivals in this manga include Oak’s grandson, Blue, and Green, another trainer. The evil Team Rocket also tries to take over the world using Pokémon.
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See Also
In Spanish: Ash Ketchum para niños
