Pokémon series, like the long-existing franchise, often contain enigmatic elements, with one particular mystery carrying substantial implications for the relationship between Ash and Pikachu. In the 2017 film Pokémon The Movie: I Choose You!, the climax depicted Ash fervently questioning Pikachu as to why he refused to return to its pokéball. The revelation that Pikachu answered in clear English left audiences stunned, resulting in intense debates regarding the authenticity of the scene.
The prevailing belief suggests that Pikachu's admission occurred within a dream-like state that Ash inadvertently entered. However, despite Ash displaying signs of physical weakness and teetering on the brink of unconsciousness, his mental state did not seem disoriented enough to warrant hallucinations about conversing with animals. Even in his compromised condition, Ash demonstrated enough awareness to protect Pikachu to the best of his abilities. Consequently, it appears more plausible that Ash had always possessed the ability to comprehend Pokémon, with this particular instance being the first time the audience could also understand their language.
Pikachu Speaks to Ash & Reveals Why He Won't Get in His Pokéball
Ash tries to reason with Pikachu in Pokemon The Movie: I Choose You!
Ash's world is filled with unbelievable occurrences, where impossible things happen regularly. In this world, even abandoned toys can come to life as Pokémon. It's only natural that some of this everyday magic would influence humans as well. All the characters share deep connections with their Pokémon, to the extent that they seem to comprehend the messages conveyed by these little creatures. Sometimes these conversations are obvious and even amusing, like when Pikachu resorts to playing charades for a few minutes. Other times, the communication is more subtle. These discussions imply that humans possess their own powers, as they have actually been understanding the language of Pokémon all along.
Surprisingly, this idea isn't as far-fetched as it seems. According to the lore in the games, humans and Pokémon were once the same entity. They shared common ancestors before gradually diverging from each other through evolution. However, despite their differences, the various species continued to evolve alongside each other. It would be logical to assume that this co-evolution resulted in a lasting ability to comprehend each other's speech. Similar to other traits, the strength of this ability can vary from person to person. Ash, with his exceptional ability to connect with his Pokémon, can simply understand them more clearly.
The reason why Pokémon do not constantly communicate with humans in a straightforward manner is because they possess their own unique language that is not comprehensible to humans. This is similar to other forms of media, like The Secret Life of Pets, where the audience can understand the animals when they speak, but the human characters cannot. However, in the world of Pokémon, this dynamic is reversed. In the pivotal moment of the film Pokémon the Movie: I Choose You!, the revelation that Ash has been able to communicate with Pikachu all along adds a heightened emotional impact to the scene, allowing the audience to step into Ash's perspective.
The inclusion of Pikachu's ability to speak in the film sparked mixed reactions among viewers. However, if we consider the different languages within the Pokémon world, the controversy may be better understood. In this world, the ability to comprehend and communicate with Pokémon is not unusual, but it is limited to the context of the Pokémon universe itself. Therefore, individuals who are not part of this fictional world would not have a reason to understand Poké-language. The human characters' ability to converse with Pokémon can be traced back to their shared evolutionary history, when humans and Pokémon were once interconnected. This ancestral connection holds the key to unraveling the mystery behind Pikachu's ability to speak and Ash's ability to comprehend him in the Pokémon universe.