The Pokémon anime is one of the most important contributions to pop culture that has ever been created. The series is a true treasure to the millions of fans who have followed Ash’s adventures ever since it began airing during the late 90s. For most viewers, the franchise is one of the best kids’ anime ever created.
As the story has progressed, a large majority of fans have come to agree about certain topics, which have become widely popular opinions about the anime. Nonetheless, there are particular ideas spread around the fandom that do not sit well with all viewers. While significantly less accepted, there are controversies and opinions about Pokémon that need to be discussed.
10
The Alolan Redesigns Are Over Hated
The New Art Style Is Nowhere Near as Bad as Imagined
After his amazing performance during the Kalos Pokémon League championship, Ash and Pikachu were ready to embark on a new adventure in the Alolan Islands. This new quest came with a total overhaul of the anime’s art style, giving it a much more cartoonish and childish appearance to the characters. For many years, the Sun and Moon era has been widely criticized by fans who disagreed with the decision to change the hero’s design.
Related
Pokemon Made a Massive Mistake With Ash Ketchum, But Don’t Worry! It Can Be Fixed
There’s one evolution Pokemon’s anime refuses to allow, but letting Ash grow up could be the key to saving the franchise from becoming stale.
Almost a decade after the release of this show, it is time to admit that Ash and Pikachu’s new looks are nowhere near as bad as fans claimed. The style was changed to better fit the Alolan era of the anime, which was focused on comedy and more wholesome moments. The new design also made the protagonist look like an actual 10-year-old instead of a young teen, as he had been depicted several times in the past.
9
Iris Is Not a Bad Companion
She Is a Sweet and Powerful Trainer
The Black and White series is often acknowledged as one of the worst in Pokémon, mostly because the show attempted to be a soft reboot for Ash. The distaste fans feel over this series has often translated into anger against parts of the series that are not at fault for its performance, such as the hero’s companion, Iris. This young and talented Dragon-Type trainer was shunned by the fandom for many years.
Viewers claimed that she was annoying and overly critical of Ash’s skills, despite the protagonist acting similarly toward her. Iris and Ketchum had a sibling-like relationship, one that made them tease and bother each other without any real ill intent behind their words, even if Ash could be quite heartless at times. Iris is also one of the best trainers in the world, so it does not make sense that viewers called her an unskilled fighter.
8
Lusamine Is Not an Effective Villain
She Should Not Have Been Depicted as an Antagonist
Unlike the original version of the character, who is one of the best and most unsettling villains in the games, the anime’s version of Lusamine is a kind but immature woman. She is overbearing towards her children, to the point where her daughter, Lillie, feels infantilized by her mother. She was also an overachiever, pushing her to sometimes ignore her family to continue her research on the Ultra Beasts.
Related
Team Rocket May Be Pokémon Villains, But the Duo Aren’t Nearly as Awful as You Think
Jessie and James are undoubtedly villains, but there are some things that they value above evil, and Meowth is the ultimate proof of that.
Yet, the show decided to use her as one of the final villains of the Sun and Moon anime, making her act out of character just to justify her being absorbed by Nihilego. Lusamine should not have been depicted as a villain but rather a victim of the will of the Ultra Beasts, giving her family a chance to reconnect and grow.
7
Ash Should Have Won the Kalos League
His Loss Was Extremely Unfair
The final battle of the Kalos Pokémon League has always been a point of discussion among fans due to the controversial decision of Ash losing to Alain during the finals. As years passed, opinions on the topic have shifted, with most of the fandom agreeing that the protagonist’s defeat could make sense in the context of the show. Still, this defeat continues to be one of the most unfair and senseless in the franchise.
|
Pokémon |
Type |
|---|---|
|
Greninja |
Dark/Water |
|
Pikachu |
Electric |
|
Hawlucha |
Fighting/Flying |
|
Noivern |
Dragon/Flying |
|
Talonflame |
Fire/Flying |
|
Goodra |
Dragon |
Ash’s Pokémon during the X and Y era was one of his best and most powerful teams ever crafted. The hero had a completely evolved roster of Pokémon, something that had seldom occurred in the past. He also had a unique and overwhelmingly strong Greninja, who had a major advantage against Alain’s Charizard. Despite this, Ash ultimately lost, without explanation.
6
Tobias Is Not an Interesting Character
His Introduction Does Not Make Sense
The Diamond and Pearl anime has one of the most controversial endings in the franchise. Tobias, Ash’s opponent during the Sinnoh League and the one who ultimately defeated the protagonist, was introduced without warning, along with a team of nothing but Legendary Pokémon. Most fans agree that his inclusion feels underserved but cannot help but feel an interest in the man’s backstory.
Related
Ash’s Loss to a Team of Legendary Pokémon Destroyed the Series’ Themes
Ash’s worst loss was notoriously unfair, but worse than that, it completely undermined the underlying themes of the entire Pokémon anime series.
Lamentably, Tobias is nowhere near as interesting as the fandom believes, and the lack of a proper explanation for his team, despite how many years have passed since his appearance, confirms this. The character was introduced simply to prevent Ash from winning the League and force him to continue his journey. After defeating the hero, Tobias never again contributed to the story, making his inclusion feel lazy.
5
The Alolan League Was Far Easier Than Others
Ash Deserved a Better Challenge
One of the traits that distinguish the Sun and Moon era of the anime from the rest is the fact that this series allowed Ash to win his first-ever official Pokémon League. Fans were shocked when the protagonist not only managed to reach the finals of the tournament but was also crowned the champion after almost two decades of waiting for this moment to occur.
While Ash’s victory during the Alolan League is one of the best and most epic moments in the anime, there is no denying that the competition was easier than most others. A large majority of the participants were trainers with far less experience and skill than Ash, several having begun their journey shortly after the hero arrived at the archipelago. The hero’s toughest battle in the arc is against Professor Kukui, who is not even a participant in the competition.
4
Paul Did Not Deserve Redemption
He Is Truly Despicable
Paul is one of Ash’s best and most skilled rivals, being one of the few characters who pushes the hero out of his comfort zone to become stronger. He is loved by a large portion of the fandom due to his impressive battling skills and high intelligence. Lamentably, he is also one of the cruelest characters ever introduced to the series.
Related
Ash Has One Pokémon Rival So Much Crueler Than Gary
Many fans remember Gary’s classic anime behavior and think of him as a jerk, but one of Ash’s rivals went much farther than Gary ever did.
Not only did Paul use harsh and often traumatizing methods to strengthen his Pokémon, but he also abandoned his defenseless Chimchar for not being powerful enough in one of the saddest scenes in the anime. His battle against Ash seemingly helped him understand how to be a better person, but it does not feel earned, as he never faced the consequences for his horrible acts.
3
Liko Is Not a Bad Protagonist
Reliable, Kind, and Strong
When the Pokémon franchise announced that Ash would step down from his role as the protagonist after 25 years as the face of the franchise, fans had divided reactions. The arguments about the decision did nothing but worsen after the newest main character, Liko, was introduced. For several fans, the girl would never be able to be as iconic or successful as Ketchum.
She is a reliable friend, a promising trainer, and one of the kindest heroes in the series.
With the upcoming release of Pokémon Horizons: Mega Voltage, fans must agree that she is indeed a great protagonist. She is a reliable friend, a promising trainer, and one of the kindest heroes in the series. Her methods of training, while still amateurish, have helped her partners quickly grow in strength to a level that only Ash has achieved before.
2
Goh Is a Great Character
He Is an Incredible Companion
Throughout his journey, Ash met various amazing companions who helped him become a better person and trainer. Goh was one of his last adventure partners, introduced during the Journeys era, and the reception was less than stellar. Several fans saw the young researcher as an awkward character who did not fit well with the protagonist. His quest to capture as many Legendary Pokémon as possible was also criticized for feeling like a marketing ploy to sell more games.
Related
Am I the Only One Who Think Ash’s Best Pokémon Companion Is Also His Most Controversial?
Many fans have an almost irrational dislike of Ash’s companion Goh, but the fact is that he’s one of the best companions Ash has ever had.
However, the reality is that Goh is one of the most endearing and interesting characters in the anime. His desire to learn and grow is admirable, and his adventure helps the show naturally introduce mythical creatures that had been mostly ignored in the past. His bond with Ash is also unique, with the main character helping him become more confident while also learning from Goh’s passion.
1
Ash Should Have Aged
His Growth Would Have Been More Noticeable
From the moment his journey begins to the day he returns home as a champion, Ash remains the same age: 10 years old. This used to be a controversy among fans, as they wished the Pokémon anime would have allowed the hero to grow as his journey progressed. During the final seasons, this once-criticized decision became less and less problematic.
Even then, the series would have greatly benefited from seeing Ash age and mature as he traveled the world. This would not only help the timeline be clearer, as the entire anime currently seems to occur in less than a year, but it would also make him a much more interesting lead.
- Release Date
-
1997 – 2023-00-00
- Network
-
TV Tokyo, TV Osaka, TV Aichi, TVh, TVQ, TSC
- Directors
-
Kunihiko Yuyama, Daiki Tomiyasu, Jun Owada, Saori Den
- Writers
-
Takeshi Shudo, Junki Takegami, Atsuhiro Tomioka, Aya Matsui, Shoji Yonemura, Dai Saito
-
Rica Matsumoto
Pikachu (voice)
-
Mayumi Iizuka
Satoshi (voice)