He wanted to be the very best, like no one ever was, and after 25 years, he has done just that. The latest episode of the Pokemon anime has officially aired in Japan. With it, the outcome has been confirmed by the Pokemon Company themselves: Ash Ketchum has defeated Leon, solidifying his place as the top trainer in the Pokemon Masters Eight Tournament as the Pokemon World Champion.
The episode will air worldwide in the near future, but the Pokemon Company has already made official announcements regarding it.
With this, Ash has officially become the world’s greatest Pokemon Trainer and, by extension, a Pokemon Master.
He’s done it! Ash has become a World Champion! 🏆🎉 pic.twitter.com/a2jPb8pym3
— Pokémon (@Pokemon) November 11, 2022
Ash Ketchum: From First Loss to World Champion
Ash Ketchum’s journey in the Pokemon anime officially began on April 1, 1997, with the airing of the episode “Pokemon – I Choose You!“. Here, fans worldwide were first introduced to Ash and his partner Pokemon, Pikachu, and for the last 25 years, have watched their journey across the world, battling Trainers and meeting new Pokemon from each new generation.
It was all with one goal: becoming a Pokemon Master. However, Ash didn’t exactly have the best track record, having lost the Kanto tournament and coming short of the mark in the tournaments that followed over the years.
The only league wins Ash managed to secure were the Orange League – which is anime-exclusive – and recently as Champion of the Alola Pokemon League. Now, the Pokemon Company and fans worldwide are celebrating the culmination of Ash Ketchum’s trials and tribulations over the last 25 years and his achievement of becoming the Pokemon World Champion.
“Ash Ketchum’s determination and perseverance to achieve his goal of becoming the world’s top Pokémon Trainer over the course of 25 seasons represents the very best of what it means to be a Trainer,” said Taito Okiura, vice president of marketing for The Pokemon Company International, in an official statement released by the company this morning.
“We cannot wait to celebrate this moment with Pokémon fans when the newest season of ‘Pokémon Ultimate Journeys: The Series’ and this adventure-defining episode air around the world in the coming year. This is a season fans won’t want to miss!”
