The Hidden Truth Behind the Pokémon Anime's Deceptive Tagline - Astonishing Revelation!

Summary

The phrase "Gotta Catch 'em All" was developed for marketing purposes, but the idea of catching all Pokémon was never a big part of the anime.

The anime centers around friendship and the development of strong connections with Pokémon, portraying them as individuals with imperfections and personal growth journeys.

The anime highlights the significance of respecting nature and the need to preserve the ecosystem, prompting Ash to lend a hand to wild Pokémon without necessarily capturing them in every instance.

The Pokémon anime has become synonymous with the phrase "Gotta Catch 'em All" worldwide. However, despite popular belief, Ash actually didn't catch a large number of Pokémon. Surprisingly, this is a positive aspect of the series, as it would have suffered if it had solely focused on capturing as many Pokémon as possible.

The "Gotta Catch 'em All!" phrase was originally created by the English marketing teams behind the Pokémon Red and Blue Game Boy games. It was later adopted for all Pokémon media and prominently featured in the English opening theme of the anime. In the early episodes, Ash himself embodies this mentality, especially when he captures Caterpie. However, the Japanese marketing slogan simply states "Get Pokémon!" without emphasizing the need to catch them all. Consequently, the pursuit of catching every Pokémon was never a significant aspect of the anime from the start.

Why Catching Them All Is The Wrong Way For the Pokémon Anime

The "Gotta Catch 'em All!" slogan worked well for the games, as the main objective was to complete the Pokédex. However, this approach did not translate effectively to the anime. Unlike the games, where Pokémon are simply controlled by the player and lack distinct personalities, the anime focused heavily on the bond and friendship between trainers and their Pokémon - a common theme in shonen anime.

In order to establish a friendship with a Pokémon, they were portrayed as characters with their own flaws and personal growth. One prime example is Ash's Pikachu. Initially, Ash and Pikachu had a strained relationship, but Ash's unwavering dedication and willingness to protect Pikachu at any cost inspired Pikachu to reciprocate. By the end of their first episode together, Pikachu had already experienced a character progression and growth.

Another illustration of this narrative approach can be seen in Ash's Charmander, which evolves into Charizard. Initially, Charizard's newfound power led to arrogance and disobedience towards Ash. However, as Charizard reflected on the care and support Ash had shown, it ultimately learned to respect Ash and acknowledge his worth.

Pokémon is All About Respecting Nature

One of the highlights of Pokémon, right from the start, is the way it portrays Pokémon as an integral part of nature, deserving of respect whether in the wild or not. As the story unfolds and Ash encounters more wild Pokémon, he develops a deeper appreciation for their natural habitat and realizes that he doesn't always have to capture them to build a connection. Numerous instances see Ash standing up against Team Rocket, not only to protect Pikachu but also to defend wild Pokémon populations from being taken away from their homes. Although Team Rocket's capture of wild Pokémon is technically legal, it is their disruption of the ecosystem that truly constitutes their crime.

Over time, Ash reaches a point where he encounters wild Pokémon in need of assistance during his journey. He selflessly dedicates time and effort to help them, without any expectation of capturing them afterwards. Occasionally, these Pokémon express their desire to join Ash and accompany him on his adventures, becoming his companions. Eventually, this becomes the primary way Ash acquires new Pokémon. Ash starts by forming friendships with Pokémon before considering the idea of capturing them, and there are many Pokémon, from Larvitar to Beartic in his final episodes, with whom he develops a strong bond but never captures.

This theme reached its climax in Alola when Ash was recruited into the Ultra Guardians, a team dedicated to safeguarding the Alola region by apprehending Ultra Beasts before they unleash chaos. However, during his mission, Ash discovers that these Ultra Beasts are actually frightened and disoriented Pokémon, just like any other. With complete compassion, he captures them solely with the intention of returning them to their rightful homes. Despite the fact that the Ultra Beasts possess immense power, which would greatly benefit Ash in his pursuit of becoming a champion, he never entertains the idea of using them in battles (except for Poipole, who explicitly expressed such desire).

Ash's Final Episode Perfectly Captures the Theme of the Series

In the concluding episode of Ash's journey, titled "The Rainbow and the Pokémon Master," Gary poses a thought-provoking question to Ash regarding his progress towards becoming a Pokémon Master, which has always been somewhat undefined. This inquiry momentarily stuns Ash, leading him to contemplate it throughout the rest of the episode. Eventually, Ash confides in Pikachu that, to him, being a Pokémon Master means forming a bond with every Pokémon he encounters, regardless of their species. Upon revisiting his final set of episodes, it becomes evident that his actions indeed align with this belief, exemplified by his interactions with Beartic and even Latias. By this point in his journey, capturing Pokémon has become less important to Ash; what matters most to him is simply getting to know them.

The series chose to treat Pokémon as characters, mainly focusing on Ash's team and his friends' Pokémon. This approach allowed for a deeper exploration and utilization of these specific Pokémon, rather than treating them as mere collectibles. It also helped draw a clear distinction between Ash's actions and those of Team Rocket, with Ash always capturing Pokémon with their consent, while Team Rocket acted selfishly without considering the consequences. Additionally, this approach ensured that Ash never caught Legendary Pokémon, as it could potentially have detrimental effects on the world due to their intelligence and responsibilities.

By deviating from the "Gotta Catch 'em All" concept, the anime successfully conveyed important lessons of friendship with Pokémon and respect for nature to its young audience. Although Pokémon may not exist in reality, the show emphasized the importance of treating wild animals with the same level of respect. This strategy greatly enhanced the storytelling of the Pokémon anime, transforming these originally pixelated creatures on a Game Boy screen into iconic and beloved characters.