Unveiling the Top 10 Elusive Pokémon Characters Missing From the Anime for Ages

The Pokémon anime featuring Ash Ketchum had an astonishing 1,232 episodes, all part of a continuous storyline. Throughout the series, characters who were introduced in the beginning continued to make appearances, although not consistently. In fact, many characters, both human and Pokémon, were not seen for hundreds of episodes, which is highly uncommon for most TV shows.

In this list, we define an absence as the time between a character's last significant in-person appearance and their next physical return. Since the series frequently changes its cast, except for Ash and Pikachu, this list only includes actual return appearances, not flashbacks.

10 Paul (544 episodes)

Paul was one of Ash's most merciless adversaries throughout the Sinnoh era of the anime. He treated his Pokémon with disdain, going so far as to abandon Chimchar before Ash kindly took it under his wing. Nevertheless, Ash managed to impress Paul and not only earn his respect, but also inspire a change in his heart. In a surprising turn of events over 500 episodes later, just before the Masters' Eight tournament, Paul returned to assist Ash in his training as a way of returning the favor. Ash benefited greatly from Paul's guidance, as he had meticulously analyzed the techniques and strategies of Ash's future opponents. This allowed Ash to gain insight into what battling against them would entail.

9 Misty (573 episodes)

Misty, the prominent character in the anime, appeared in a staggering 273 episodes. Despite a few subsequent appearances, she made a powerful comeback alongside Brock in the "Alola, Kanto!" episode, a staggering 573 episodes after her last appearance in Hoenn. During her absence, Misty had been engrossed in various endeavors, demonstrating her mastery over Mega Evolution and possessing an awe-inspiring Gyarados. In Sun & Moon, Misty paid a visit to Alola and finally reunited with Ash in the show's final miniseries.

8 Jigglypuff (668 episodes)

Jigglypuff, a wild Pokémon, accompanied Ash and the gang for an unexpectedly long period, making regular appearances to sing its enchanting song, ultimately lulling everyone to sleep. Unsurprisingly, this perpetually infuriated Jigglypuff, prompting it to artistically doodle on the snoozing characters' faces. In the episode "A PokéBLOCK party!" from the Hoenn era, Jigglypuff last executed this mischievous act before bidding farewell to Ash. During Ash's return to Kanto in the Sun & Moon series, where he was happily reunited with Misty, he coincidentally encountered Jigglypuff once again. This time, after a staggering 668 episodes offscreen, Jigglypuff seized the opportunity to immortalize its artistic talents by embellishing everyone's faces for the final time.

7 May and Max (670 episodes)

May and her younger brother Max went missing for a slightly longer duration than Jigglypuff, spanning across 670 episodes. They later resurfaced in Sinnoh to engage in a friendly competition with Dawn, which ultimately resulted in Dawn emerging victorious. However, following that event, May and Max remained absent until the "Partners in Time" episode of Journeys, where they made an appearance as supporters of Ash during the Masters Eight finals, albeit without any dialogue. It is unfortunate to note that May's absence can be attributed to her Japanese voice actor's physical health, adding a touch of sadness to her prolonged disappearance.

6 Misty's Psyduck (712 episodes)

5 Tracey Sketchit (766 episodes)

Since Misty had been gone for a significant amount of time, it comes as no surprise that her Psyduck was absent for a similar duration. However, the disparity between their absences is nearly 150 episodes. Though Psyduck did make an appearance in the Kanto arc of Sun & Moon, it didn't accompany Misty in the Hoenn region, resulting in an even longer absence that dates back to the tail end of Johto in "Can't Beat the Heat." Psyduck was arguably one of Misty's most prominent Pokémon, apart from Togepi, and its return to the show was met with a warm reception. Additionally, Psyduck had the opportunity to appear alongside Misty in her final episodes, making it one of the Pokémon with the longest duration from first to last appearance.

Tracey is an intriguing character who made sporadic appearances in opening and ending themes even after his departure from the show. He often made cameo appearances in the background while Ash communicated remotely with Professor Oak. It is worth noting that Tracey's longest period of absence, in terms of speaking roles, spanned from "Home is Where the Start is!" in Hoenn to the final episode of the series, encompassing a staggering 766 episodes. Additionally, several of Tracey's Pokémon also deserve recognition. For instance, his Scyther remained unseen for a remarkable 1,007 episodes, while Marill was absent for 825 episodes.

4 Ash's Lapras (971 episodes)

Ash's Lapras was initially caught in the Orange Islands arc. However, it was later released to rejoin its pod when Ash's journey demanded it. In the Johto era, Lapras resurfaced in the episode called "Lapras of Luxury," but then remained absent until the final stages of the series where it appeared in "Ride, Lapras, Ride!" This particular episode revolves around Lapras seeking Ash's assistance in rescuing a trapped Wailmer. Despite their heartwarming reunion, Ash ultimately allows Lapras to go back to the sea since it has now become the leader of its pod.

3 Todd Snap (1,028 episodes)

Todd Snap, the protagonist of Pokémon Snap, made a cameo appearance in the anime to promote the release of the game. He partnered with Ash on two separate occasions, assisting in defeating Team Rocket. However, due to their differing interests (Todd's passion for Pokémon photography), their travels together were cut short. Surprisingly, Todd was present at the stadium during Ash's championship match, witnessing his victory in the Masters' Eight tournament.

2 Ash's Pidgeot (1,151 episodes)

1 Ash's Butterfree (1,200 episodes)

Ash's Pidgeotto was set free after it evolved into Pidgeot so that it could protect a flock of Pidgey near Palette Town. Ash always promised to return for it, but surprisingly, the opposite happened. During the final episode, Team Rocket snatches Pikachu, leaving Ash defenseless. However, in a dramatic turn of events, Pidgeot makes a grand entrance, thwarting Team Rocket's plans and rescuing Pikachu. Pidgeot is now ready to reunite with Ash for good, and all three joyfully celebrate their reunion in one of the series' concluding moments. This heartwarming event serves as a well-deserved reward for devoted fans who eagerly waited to see Pidgeot once more.

The release of Ash's Butterfree marked a significant moment for both Ash and viewers alike. It was a tough ordeal for everyone involved, as they bid farewell to a cherished Pokémon. Little did Ash expect, but Butterfree made a surprise return in the final episode of the regular Journeys anime, titled "This Could Be the Start of Something Big." This unexpected reunion not only caught Ash off guard but also delighted fans at home. Butterfree reappeared alongside its Pink Butterfree partner, joining the ranks of Pokémon who made a comeback after a staggering 1,200 episodes.

The Pokémon anime offers a unique fan service through its continuous storyline, where returning characters may not be familiar to newer viewers. This nostalgia factor adds a touch of realism, showcasing the idea of friends being separated for long periods of time. Unlike other anime series, Pokémon highlights the enduring bonds between characters. Although controversial, the strength of their friendships upon reuniting is one of the show's remarkable qualities. It brings back not only Ash's old friends but also the fans' cherished companions.