What is the age of Ash Ketchum in Pokemon?
Many people have pondered the enigma that is Ash Ketchum’s age. Like many animated characters, his appearance is consistent between Pokemon productions. So, the question becomes, how old is Ash Ketchum? Is he, in reality, much older than he seems, or is he some sort of immortal being endowed with endless youth?
In 2023, how old will Ash Ketchum be?
Ash is now… ten years old, after a decade of Pokemon media. The age of Ash Ketchum is established in the pilot episode of Indigo League, just before he embarks on his journey as a Pokemon trainer. Then, Pokemon Journeys: The Series says he’s 10 again, leaving folks to question what’s up with this kid’s erratic ageing.
You would expect that by the time the main character’s adventure was over, he would have developed in some way. However, at the end of the popular show, he is considered to be only 10 years old.
Fans are left wondering if Ketchum would return as a mentor to the new trainer, perhaps in a much older look, even if his exploits have concluded.
The Pokemon fandom has and continues to speculate on Ash’s aging process, even after the series’ last episode. In particular, people have proposed the most outlandish theories, which include everything from his being in a coma to the Legendary Pokemon Ho-Oh bestowing perpetual life on him.
With the release of episode 89 of Pokemon Journeys, it has become clear that the Pokemon universe is multiverse, much like Marvel’s. The group, including Ash, travels to a parallel reality and encounters duplicates of themselves and other versions of the same people.
So what if Ash Ketchum’s age is fixed in stone because we’ve never seen the same version of him? The scenarios we’ve seen in each season and film so far might all be possibilities.
Animated television shows, especially The Simpsons, South Park, and The Powerpuff Girls, have relied on amorphous timelines to prevent their characters from aging. If the same system is used in Pokemon, then we’d know how old Ash Ketchum is right now.
Animated television, and especially a show about made-up pocket creatures like Pokemon, isn’t supposed to make a lot of sense. Those who don’t understand why Ash doesn’t get old might also wonder how Pikachu is able to go amok after repeatedly startling his owner. Regardless of the uncertainty that surrounds them, floating timelines have been around for a long time and are here to stay.