Despite being a formulaic marketing tool for toys and video games, the Pokemon anime still managed to evoke emotional responses from fans at home, leaving them in tears.
Prior to Pokemon Horizons, the majority of Pokemon episodes followed a set of familiar formats. Typically, Ash would encounter and engage in a battle with a new Pokemon or Team Rocket, or challenge a notable trainer such as a Gym Leader. These formats showcased the latest features and additions from the current mainline Pokemon games at that time.
Despite still having emotional moments throughout the series, there were a few instances where a character’s passing affected the audience. In the event of a Pokemon’s death, everyone was deeply saddened. However, if one of the villains met their demise, it was often met with laughter as they were seen as deserving of their fate.
To this day, there are moments from the Pokemon anime that still bring tears to the eyes of fans. This was a topic of discussion in a thread on the Pokemon Reddit, where fans were able to relive the saddest moments once again.
What is a Pokémon scene that made you cry? byu/LocalEnthusiasm8 inpokemon
One user pointed out the epic battle between Jessie, James, and Meowth against a poacher and his Tyranitar, which allowed Arbok and Weezing to escape with a group of Ekans and Koffing. This battle marked the departure of Team Rocket’s original Pokemon.
The episode “Bye bye Butterfree”was repeatedly referenced as it was the moment when Ash and Pikachu tearfully said goodbye to Butterfree as it departed from the group. In the final series of the anime, they were all reunited and Ash was able to recognize his old friend thanks to the ribbon it still had on.
One user shared, “I know this may sound silly, but I remember feeling really sad for Charmander when he was abandoned in the first season. I can’t bring myself to watch that episode anymore because it just makes me too sad.”Another user recalled the episode where Ash considered letting Pikachu live with the wild Pokémon they had encountered in the forest, and attempted to release Pikachu.
A user brought up “Stoutland,”the aging Pokemon that passed away in the Sun & Moon series. This particular storyline is significant as it spanned multiple episodes and directly addressed the concept of death, something that is uncommon in the franchise.
Ash Ketchum’s time as the main character in the Pokemon anime has come to an end, as Liko and Roy have taken the reins for Pokemon Horizons. It is still uncertain if the new series will be able to evoke the same sense of melancholy as its predecessor, as it has only recently begun airing.
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