Featured Image Credit: Pokemon/Vanity Fair
Topics: Pokemon, Film and TV
Anish Vij
People are somehow only just finding out that Pokémon's Ash Ketchum is voiced by a woman.
Before we get into that - we need to address the Pokémon in the room - the company has announced that for the first time in 25 years, the storyline won’t feature Ash and Pikachu.
The new series, which comes out next year, will feature two new protagonists, Liko and Roy, in the Japanese version.
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Ash, who was previously known as Satoshi in Japan, made his first appearance in 1997.
He has become one of the most recognisable cartoon characters in history and the success of Pokémon has gone from strength to strength.
Just last month, Ketchum finally became the top trainer and official Pokémon world champion.
On an episode of Pokémon Ultimate Journeys: The Series, which aired in Japan on Friday 11 November, Ketchum and Pikachu completed their life goal of becoming the very best there is, the best there was and perhaps the best there ever will be.
However, following the sad announcement, some people are only just realising that the male character is, and always has been, voiced by a female.
Sarah Natochenny took the mantle from Veronica Taylor and from season nine onwards, has made the role her own.
Taking to Twitter, one user wrote: "IT WAS A WOMAN?", while someone else added: "Lmaooo it was a girl doing his voice."
"He’s voiced by a woman?" a third added.
"Kinda funny how people are just now finding out that Ash was voiced by a woman, he’s always been voiced by a woman. I’ve known that for f**king years," another user pointed out.
Well, the woman herself wrote a heartfelt letter to fans ahead of the news she would be abandoning the character.
Sarah wrote: "It's been an extraordinary privilege to have been the English voice of Ash Ketchum for what will be 17 years.
"No matter what lies beyond his Anal chapter, he'll live forever in the hearts of many generations to come.
"I'll keep him present for all of us in every way I can."
Taito Okiura, the vice president of marketing for The Pokémon Company International, celebrated Ash’s last-ever victory.
"Ash Ketchum’s determination and perseverance to achieve his goal of becoming the world’s top Pokémon Trainer over the course of 25 seasons represents the very best of what it means to be a Trainer," he said.
"We cannot wait to celebrate this moment with Pokémon fans when the newest season of Pokémon Ultimate Journeys: The Series and this adventure-defining episode air around the world in the coming year. This is a season fans won’t want to miss!"