Ash Ketchum

**Ash Ketchum**, also known **Satoshi** and **Tom Ato**, is the main protagonist from the *Pokemon* series.

## **Charactah Account**

Hailing from Kanto region's Pallet Town, Ash is a brave young boy full of energy and passion who lets nothing stand in the way of his dream to be a Pokemon Master. On his journey, Ash is joined by several Pokemon and human companions whose friendships help him grow and mature as a trainer. Ash is nevertheless quite naive and immature in many regards, but that won't stop him from being the best.

Ash is very determined to be a good Pokemon trainer as seen in every episode. He shows a lot of sympathy towards Pokémon, usually helping and befriending Pokemon he meets on his long journey. He doesn't like trainers who mistreat Pokemon such as Damian and Shamus. He is a role model to many people such as May, Dawn, N, and Serena. Ash never changes his strategy of all-out attacking and using various Moves to defeat other Pokemon. Ash is generally kind, compassionate, and brave, but can be stubborn, hot-headed, short-tempered, impatient, cocky, reckless, and impulsive at times.

Ash's biggest fear is having any of his Pokemon leave him the way Pikachu almost did to him, after Team Rocket tried turning Pikachu against him when he had amnesia in the Advanced Generation series but didn't hold any grudge against his best friend due to knowing that it wasn't his fault. Although he tried to let go of his fears but it somehow comes back to haunt him no matter how hard he trained and tried with his Pokémon. His fears were one of his downfalls from perfecting the Ash-Greninja form, shown in XYZ series, besides not having enough faith and trust in his Pokemon, Greninja.

## **Appearance**

### **Anime**

* A Ripple in Time
* Pokemon
* Pokemon (2019)
* Pokemon (2019): Arceus Who is Called a God
* Pokemon Advanced Generation
* Pokemon Best Wishes!
* Pokemon Best Wishes! Season 2
* Pokemon Best Wishes! Season 2: Decolora Adventure
* Pokemon Best Wishes! Season 2: Episode N
* Pokemon Chronicles
* Pokemon Diamond & Pearl
* Pokemon Introductory Recap
* Pokemon Movie 01: Mewtwo Strikes Back
* Pokemon Movie 02: Revelation Lugia
* Pokemon Movie 03: Spell Of The Unown
* Pokemon Movie 04: Celebi - Voice of the Forest
* Pokemon Movie 05: Latias to Latios
* Pokemon Movie 06: Jirachi Wishmaker
* Pokemon Movie 07: Destiny Deoxys
* Pokemon Movie 08: Lucario and the Mystery of Mew
* Pokemon Movie 09: Pokemon Ranger and the Temple of the Sea
* Pokemon Movie 10: The Rise Of Darkrai
* Pokemon Movie 11: Giratina and the Sky Warrior
* Pokemon Movie 12: Arceus and the Jewel of Life
* Pokemon Movie 13: Master of Illusions
* Pokemon Movie 14: Black - Victini and Reshiram
* Pokemon Movie 14: White - Victini and Zekrom
* Pokemon Movie 15: Kyurem VS. The Sword of Justice
* Pokemon Movie 16: Genesect and the Legend Awakened
* Pokemon Movie 17: Diancie and the Cocoon of Destruction
* Pokemon Movie 18: Hoopa and the Clash of Ages
* Pokemon Movie 19: Volcanion and the Mechanical Marvel
* Pokémon Movie 20: I Choose You!
* Pokémon Movie 21: The Power of Us
* Pokémon Movie 22: Mewtwo Strikes Back - Evolution
* Pokémon Movie 23: Secrets of the Jungle
* Pokemon Sun & Moon
* Pokemon XY
* Pokemon XY&Z
* Pokemon XY: New Year Special
* Pokemon XY Special: Road to Kalos
* Pokemon: Mewtwo Returns
* Pokemon: Mewtwo - Prologue to Awakening
* Pokemon: Pikachu and Pichu
* Pokemon: Pikachu, What's This Key?
* Pokemon: Pikachu's Rescue Adventure
* Pokemon: Pikachu's Summer Vacation
* Pokemon: Pikachu's Winter Vacation
* Pokemon: Pikachu's Winter Vacation (2000)
* Pokemon: The Mastermind of Mirage Pokemon

### **Manga**

* Ash & Pikachu
* Pokemon (2019)
* Pokemon Advanced Generation: Jirachi Wish Maker
* Pokemon Ranger and the Temple of the Sea
* Pokemon the Movie White: Victini and Zekrom
* Pokemon the Movie XY&Z: Volcanion and the Mechanical Magearna
* Pokemon the Movie: Genesect and the Legend Awakened
* Pokemon the Movie: Hoopa and the Clash of Ages
* Pokemon: Celebi A Timeless Encounter
* Pokemon: Arceus and the Jewel of Life
* Pokemon: Emperor of the Crystal Tower: Entei
* Pokemon: Giratina and the Sky Warrior
* Pokemon: Guardian Gods of the City of Water - Latias and Latios
* Pokemon: Kyurem VS. The Sword of Justice
* Pokemon: Lucario and the Mystery of Mew
* Pokemon: The Electric Tale of Pikachu
* Pokemon: The Rise of Darkrai
* Pokemon: Zoroark - Master of Illusions

### **Video Games**

* Chiiku Drill Pocket Monsters Diamond & Pearl: Moji Kazu Chie Asobi
* Pocket Monsters Advanced Generation: Hiragana Katakana Kakechata!
* Pocket Monsters Advanced Generation: Minna de Pico Pokemon Waiwai Battle!
* Pocket Monsters Advanced Generation: Pokemon Suuji Battle!!
* Pocket Monsters Best Wishes! Chinoo Ikusei Pokemon Dai Undoukai
* Pocket Monsters: Suuji wo Tsukamaeyou!
* Pokemon Ga-Ole
* Pokemon Go
* Pokemon Masters
* Pokemon Mega Get!
* Pokemon Puzzle League
* Pokemon Team Turbo
* Pokemon Tretta
* Pokemon: Masters Arena

## **Trivia**

* Ash's original Japanese name is "Satoshi" and he was named after and based on Satoshi Tajiri, the creator of Pokémon.
* Ash's last name, Ketchum, may be derived from "catch 'em".
	+ His fake name, Tom Ato, might be derived from his last name, Ketchum, and be related to Ketchup.
* Ash's name is based on one of the three options for one's name in Red/Blue/Yellow.
* In the 20th Pokémon movie as well as Betrayed, Bothered, and Beleaguered!, Ash's birthdate is confirmed to be the same day he began his journey.
* On a related note, Ash is still considered 10 years old in promotional materials as well as the first episode of *Black & White* (dub only) despite the episode "Best Wishes Until We Meet Again!" strongly implying that at least a full year had passed since his time in Johto. Also, in the "Pikachu & Pichu" short, which aired at least two full series before Best Wishes, it is stated a full year has passed since Ash and Pikachu first met then, as well. Though he is still officially "10", this would make Ash chronologically around 12, or, around 12–13. Takeshi Shudo also wrote the screenplay for the movie "The Spell of the Unown", which the Pikachu & Pichu short was originally shown with.
* Besides the Orange League and Kanto Battle Frontier, the Alola League is currently the only actual league tournament that Ash ever won.
* In the Kanto region, Ash often turned his cap backward when preparing for a battle or to capture a Pokémon. This habit wore off as time went on. However, he was shown turning his cap backward when he was battling Tobias, presumably because Tobias was arguably the strongest Trainer he'd ever faced, being the only one who was capable of beating all six of his Pokémon using only two of his own. Although in the Best Wishes series, Ash is seen turning his cap backward more often. He recently turned his hat around in A Battle of Aerial Mobility! when he used Froakie to help defeat and capture Fletchling.
* In *Tekken 6*, there is a female character named Eleonore "Leo" Kliesen, who can be customized to look like Ash Ketchum. Coincidentally, both characters were voiced by Veronica Taylor and sounded very similar. However, in Tekken Tag Tournament 2 and onwards, Leo's voice grunts are used in later games where it was performed by Veronica Taylor, and Leo is now voiced by a German voice actor to speak in her native German language.
* According to "Climbing the Walls!", Ash's favorite move is Thunderbolt, mostly since this is his Pikachu's most notable move throughout the entire series.
* Ash was Veronica Taylor's favorite role to voice in her career.
* Ash has a total of 82 Pokémon under his ownership, including all 30 of his Tauros.
* Ash is the first male character to:
	+ Have a different Pokémon as his Starter Pokémon that isn't an actual Starter Pokémon from the normal Grass/Fire/Water-mix
	+ Have caught or received a Pokémon that has evolved into its second stage or was fully evolved prior to meeting their Trainer.
	+ Have caught at least one Pokémon of every type.
	+ Have caught at least one Pokémon species from all eight core series regions.
	+ Have caught a regional Starter, Artificial, a Male-only and Shiny Pokémon.
	+ Have caught more than one regional Starter Pokémon as he caught one or more from the 7 mainline Regions, except Galar.
	+ Have caught a Pokémon with a unique power or form.
	+ Have caught an Ultra Beast.
	+ Have compete in 7 Regional Pokémon League Conferences.
	+ Have used four battle techniques, Z-Moves, Gigantamax, Mega Evolution, and Dynamax.
	+ Have defeated more than one Legendary or Mythical Pokémon.
	+ Have looked after both a Mythical and Legendary Pokémon.
	+ Become an official regional Pokémon Champion after winning a Regional Pokémon League Conference in Alola.
	+ Have use a move from all eighteen types of Pokémon.
* So far, Ash has:
	+ Fourteen out of eighteen different types of Pokémon that fully evolved, although he has four of the missing types but all of them have already evolved into their second stage or was fully evolved prior to meeting their Trainer.
	+ Thirteen out of eighteen that are or were pure types, although he has the missing types but are all dual types.
	+ Not caught a Female-only and Legendary Pokémon.
* Ash has been held captive and used as a hostage for almost every villainous organizations in each Region he's been to:
* Ash has obtained at least one Flying-type from each region he has traveled.
* In the first episode of *Pokémon Journeys*, Ash overslept and was late to go to Professor Oak's summer camping trip just like the first day he was going to get his first starter Pokémon in the first episode of the original series "Pokémon - I Choose You!".
* Ash has his own special day event known as "National Ash Ketchum Day", which commemorates his first Pokémon League victory in Alola. It has been celebrated every September 15 since 2020.
* Just as Iris and May captured all of her Pokémon without battling them, Ash also caught his Pokémon from the Alola Region without having a Pokémon battle.