Fans of the anime for Pokemon have been on a wild ride since the series’ protagonist finally became the very best that no one ever was. With Ash departing from the series, a lot of fans were shocked to hear the news of a certain voice actor leaving the series as well. Here’s everything you need to know about Ash Ketchum’s voice actor retiring from the Pokemon anime series. Stay with us!
An all-new Pokémon series has been announced!
Join 2 new characters and 3 Paldea starter Pokémon as they adventure through the Pokémon world! Plus, commemorate Ash’s journey with special episodes concluding Pokémon Ultimate Journeys: The Series.
Coming soon in 2023 and beyond! pic.twitter.com/2lrM6W1dgW
— Pokémon (@Pokemon) December 16, 2022
Who is Ash Ketchum’s voice actor in the Pokemon anime?
The iconic voice behind Ash Ketchum in the Pokemon anime is Sarah Natochenny. She has been the voice of Pikachu’s Trainer for the English dub since 2006, but with Ash finally winning the highest championship, it seems we’ve seen the end of the road for this character.
- Before we had Sarah Natochenny, the original English dub of Ash was voiced by Veronica Taylor. However, the entire English voice cast for the anime was replaced in 2006 and that was when Natochenny appeared in the picture. Although a lot of fans loved Taylor’s performance, it was Natochenny who really stuck with them.
- She was only 19 years old when she started being the voice actor for Ash. Because of her young age, she was truly able to embody Ash’s journey as he bloomed into the Pokemon master he is now.
- After 16 years, all good things must come to an end. However, the fans aren’t ready to see Natochenny, Ash, and Pikachu depart from the series. It may have been a running gag that Ash is eternally 10 years old, but Ash’s departure from the series was bittersweet for the entire Pokemon community.
Why Sarah Natochenny retires as the voice behind Ash
Although there is no direct confirmation from Pokemon or Natochenny, it looks like her journey with Ash has come to an end. He finally did it. Now that Ash is the Pokemon master, there really isn’t anything else left for him to do. Speaking with The Daily Beast, she shared that she has no idea whether she will appear in future Pokemon projects.
“I’ve got no idea, obviously, [of whether I’ll be back for the next iteration of the show]. But you know, I’m very open to that. I don’t know if it’s realistic.”
In Natochenny’s response to the announcement of a new Pokemon series coming, she’s enthusiastic to see what’s coming next for fans of the series. “Cheers to new beginnings!” Natochenny says in her tweet. She also goes on to express how honored she was for being the voice of Ash Ketchum for almost 17 years.
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 final chapter, he’ll live forever in the hearts of many generations to come. Cheers to new beginnings! ❤️
— Sarah Natochenny 🥸 (@sarahnatochenny) December 16, 2022
Now that a new series has been announced, it seems Ash’s journey has come to an end. Despite this, Ash will “live forever in the hearts of many generations to come.” It’s unclear whether she’s finally retiring, but this is definitely a bittersweet goodbye for everyone who grew up with the Ash-and-Pikachu tandem.
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