Summary
- Throughout the Pokémon series, Ash’s father has remained a mystery with little information about him.
- In a special episode titled “Pokémon: The Distant, Blue Sky,” Ash is given the opportunity to meet his father but misses the chance due to timing.
- Despite fans’ curiosity, it is uncertain if the identity of Ash’s father will ever be revealed in the series.
In recent years, Ash’s mother in Pokémon has gained more prominence as a character, while Ash’s father remains shrouded in mystery, with only occasional references to his existence. Just before Ash embarked on his Pokémon journey, he was presented with an opportunity to reunite with his father, but as is often the case with Ash, things didn’t go according to plan.
The first mention of Ash’s father came from his mother in the second episode of the series. She mentioned that it took him four days to travel from Pallet Town to Viridian City during his own Pokémon journey.
Although Ash’s father has been alluded to in recent movies like “I Choose You!” and “Secrets of the Jungle,” these films exist in a separate continuity from the main anime, so they don’t provide much insight. Apart from these few mentions, very little is known about Ash’s father, including his occupation, interests, and even his physical appearance.
Ash’s Close Encounter with His Father
The special episode titled “Pokémon: The Distant, Blue Sky” commences with Ash engaging in a brief swimming session and engaging in a Pokémon battle alongside a newfound companion. Subsequently, he heads towards the nearest Pokémon Center and receives a call from his mother, Delia. She requests Ash’s presence in a place known as Tonari Town, situated in the region of Kanto. Delia informs him that she will be meeting his father there the following day, which fills Ash with excitement. Eagerly, Ash embarks on his journey towards Tonari Town.
During his travels, Ash encounters a peculiar boy who displays a keen interest in Pokémon. This inquisitive boy eventually guides Ash to a house nestled within a mysterious forest. As Ash gazes through the expansive windows of the house, he catches sight of a man engrossed in painting scenes of the sky. However, his presence is soon detected by the man’s wife. Unexpectedly, Ash’s newfound friend, Sunny, vanishes without a trace. It is later revealed that Sunny is the couple’s deceased child who never had the opportunity to embark on his own Pokémon journey.
Utilizing his Aura powers, Ash enables the ethereal Sunny to interact with Pikachu, allowing the ghostly child to fulfill his desire of petting a Pokémon. With this heartwarming encounter concluded, Ash resumes his journey. Regrettably, upon reaching the Pokémon Center, he discovers that his father has already departed, resulting in their missed meeting. The audience is left without a glimpse of Ash’s father. Nonetheless, Ash’s father leaves behind a parting gift: a brand new Pokémon League hat, identical to his original one.
Ash’s Father Remains Pokémon’s Biggest Mystery
The final episodes of the series did not delve further into the identity of Ash’s father, leaving it as one of the biggest unanswered questions of his entire journey. Fan theories about his father have been quite imaginative, with one popular theory suggesting that Giovanni, the leader of Team Rocket, was actually Ash’s father. This theory gained popularity due to the fact that the two characters did not meet until over ten years after the anime debuted. However, when they finally met, there was no recognition or reunion, and Giovanni obviously would not visit so casually, as Ash’s father does here.
The creators of the series have occasionally commented on Ash’s father. The original creator of the anime, Takeshi Shudo, wrote in a novelization that Ash’s father left on a journey not long after he was born, and never returned, leaving his fate up in the air. Another creative involved in the series, storyboard artist Masamitsu Hidaka, once stated that Ash’s father was also a Pokémon Trainer, off on a journey, and that he was definitively still alive. However, neither of these were ever confirmed in the anime.
With the series now concluded, it seems unlikely that fans will ever learn who Ash’s father was. However, this may not matter as much as it once did. The fact that Ash does not have a father is consistent with the trend in the Pokémon franchise, where most game protagonists do not have fathers either. While this trend may be changing with the introduction of Liko’s father in Pokémon Horizons, Ash’s father will likely remain a mystery unless there is another movie in the I Choose You! continuity.
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