Buzz
Did you know that Pokémon anime's head writer, Takeshi Shudo, once planned a surprising and dark finale?
Pokémon anime has been airing since 1997, still without a conclusive ending. Some joke about Ash Ketchum's perpetual 10-year-old status over 25 years, speculating his journey might extend for decades more.
Prior to the series, head writer Shudo Takeshi envisioned a shocking ending. In a 2009 blog post, Shudo disclosed insights into scripting Pokémon, including two alternative endings.
One idea revolved around the first Pokémon movie, 'Mewtwo Strikes Back,' where an elderly Ash reflects on his childhood adventures, reminiscing about the joyous experiences lost with time. He then hears his mother's voice, urging him to sleep, promising a new journey tomorrow.
The next day, Ash wakes up as a young boy once again, ready to embark on his adventure anew. According to Shudo, this time, 'he embarks not to catch Pokémon or become a master trainer but to explore the meaning of existence with others.'
Shudo's second idea for a Pokémon anime ending left fans uneasy. He planned for Pokémon to stage a rebellion akin to Spartacus in ancient Rome. Despite appearing as human companions, they would realize their exploitation as slaves, sparking a revolt. Leading this uprising would be none other than Pikachu, Ash's loyal friend turned foe. Team Rocket would attempt to mediate the human-Pokémon conflict with Meowth's newfound ability to speak, inadvertently worsening the situation.
Such an ending would truly shock Pokémon enthusiasts accustomed to Pikachu as Ash's steadfast companion. Throughout, Pokémon have been depicted as willing collaborators and fighters alongside humans. While there have been instances of Pokémon attacking humans, such as in the episode 'Tentacool & Tentacruel,' these incidents are always portrayed as outliers.
Shudo himself acknowledged that his idea 'would break Pokémon world rules and render the story unable to continue,' and if produced, it 'would indeed be the literal last episode.' Thus, Shudo, who scripted the first three Pokémon films, contemplated a fourth installment but ultimately shelved this dark finale.
In reality, the Pokémon anime continues to thrive, with Ash and Pikachu remaining each other's closest companions. Yet, die-hard fans might harbor a hint of concern knowing that the series once flirted with such a grim conclusion, don't you think?
