The Shocking Revelation: Ash's Long-Lost Father Confirmed in Pokémon's Anime Prepare to Be Amazed!

Summary

Ash's father has remained a mystery throughout the series, with only occasional mentions and no concrete information about him.

In the Pokémon series, the special episode "Pokémon: The Distant, Blue Sky" presents an opportunity for Ash to meet his father. However, due to unfortunate timing, he ultimately fails to do so. The identity of Ash's father continues to be an enigma in the Pokémon series, leaving fans uncertain about whether they will ever receive further information about him.

While Ash's mother in Pokémon has gained more prominence in recent years, his father remains a mysterious figure, with only occasional references made to his existence. However, for the first time in the series, Ash is presented with an opportunity to reconnect with him. Unfortunately, as is often the case with Ash, things rarely go as planned. The initial mention of Ash's father occurs in the second episode of the series, where his mother discusses how it took him four days to travel from Pallet Town to Viridian City during his own Pokémon journey. While Ash's father has been alluded to in recent movies such as I Choose You! and Secrets of the Jungle, these films exist in a separate continuity from the main anime, providing little additional information about him. In fact, very little is known about him at all, including his occupation, interests, and even his physical appearance.

Ash Just Barely Misses Seeing His Father

In the special episode "Pokémon: The Distant, Blue Sky," Ash starts his journey by swimming and engaging in a Pokémon battle alongside a new friend. Soon after, he receives a call from his mother, Delia, who wants to meet him in a place called Tonari Town in Kanto. Delia plans to meet Ash's father there the next day, and Ash excitedly sets off. On his way, he encounters a peculiar boy who inquires about Pokémon, leading Ash to a house nestled within an enigmatic forest.

Peering through the expansive windows of the house, Ash spots a man absorbed in painting sky scenes. Suddenly, the man's wife notices Ash's presence, yet Ash's new companion, Haruto, mysteriously vanishes. As it turns out, Haruto is the couple's deceased child who never had the chance to embark on a Pokémon journey. Utilizing his Aura powers, Ash enables Haruto's spectral form to interact with Pikachu, before continuing his own travels. Unfortunately, upon reaching the Pokémon Center, Ash discovers that his father has already departed, thwarting their reunion, leaving the audience without a glimpse of him. Nonetheless, Ash's father has left behind a gift: a new Pokémon League hat, mirroring his original one.

Ash's Father Remains Pokémon's Biggest Mystery

The final episodes did not provide any further information about Ash's father, leaving his identity as one of the biggest unanswered questions of his entire journey. Fan theories surrounding Ash's father have been quite wild, with one popular theory suggesting that Giovanni, the leader of Team Rocket, is actually his father. This theory gained popularity due to the fact that the two characters did not meet face to face until over ten years after the anime debuted. However, when they finally did meet, there was no recognition or reunion, making it unlikely that Giovanni is Ash's father.

Those involved in the production 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 shortly after his birth and never returned, leaving his fate unknown. Another staff member, storyboard artist Masamitsu Hidaka, stated that Ash's father is also a Pokémon Trainer on a journey and is still alive. However, neither of these claims were confirmed in the anime, and even the status of Ash's father remained uncertain until a very special episode.

The book has closed on Ash's era of the anime, leaving fans uncertain about the identity of his father. However, this seems to indicate that his father's character is not significant. Just like the game counterpart, Red, Ash doesn't have a father, a pattern that has been consistent with most Pokémon game protagonists. This trend extends beyond Ash and with Pokémon Horizons introducing Liko's father early on, it may be a sign that this trend is finally fading away. Unless there is another movie in the I Choose You! continuity with Ash, his father will continue to be a mystery in the Pokémon world.