All good things must come to an end. Ash Ketchum and his loyal sidekick Pikachu bid farewell to our television screens in search of new paths in life after becoming the greatest Pokémon champions in the world. We’re not crying… you’re crying.
The very first episode of “Pokémon”, an abbreviation of the Japanese title Pocket Monsters, aired in Japan on Tokyo TV in 1997. In it, 10-year-old Ash from Pallet Town is filled with excitement at getting his first Rookie Pokémon from Professor Oak. However, after he was late for the event and all of his first-choice Pokémon were taken by others, he was left with only one option – a powerful but tenacious electric mouse named Pikachu. The two didn’t start on the best basis, but amidst their first unexpected encounter with a swarm of raging spears during a raging storm, Pikachu channels lightning to defend Ash from the attackers. From then on, the dynamic duo was unstoppable.
Over the last two decades of anime, Ash and Pikachu have embarked on a world of adventures that has included heartbreaking tournaments, encounters with unrelenting enemies, and forging many true friendships that have touched our hearts. Both the Trainer and his Pokémon brought out the best in each other and brought each to their fullest potential.
Back in 2019, Ash won the Alola League Championship competition in the final episode of Pokémon the Series: Sun and Moon, cementing his title as Pokémon Master. It’s not all over yet. It was recently announced that the “final chapter in the story of Ash and Pikachu” will begin on January 13, 2023. Featuring 11 new episodes that will conclude the couple’s journey before the spotlight is handed over to a new group of protagonists, Liko and Roy, as well as the three starter Pokémon from the game, Scarlet and Violet.
In the end, there’s no reason to be sad—the young trainer and his Pokemon accomplished what they set out to do, all the while making us laugh and cry endlessly. The only thing left to do is celebrate the legacy the Partners in Crime have created that will inspire us and future coaches. The duo will live on in our hearts and on our skin. With one of these Ash and Pikachu tattoos, we hope you’re determined to fulfill your destiny and make some friends along the way. Just like Ash says, “Sometimes friends have to go, but a part of them always stays with you.”