If the Pokemon Anime took the Power Rangers/Super Sentai route each gen since Day 1?

[matt0044]

Many are frustrated with BW resetting Ash's character and skills for no good reason and how his story goes on and on with no apparent closure for the character. However, we know that replacing him now would be too soon and Pikachu... well, that goes without saying. But, as the title implies, I'm asking you how you'd like it if Pokemon took the Power Rangers (post-In Space)/Super Sentai route with the Anime. The staff would replaced the characters and reset the story each region and generation while (maybe) keeping them all in the same universe in order to keep the show fresh. Each series would start by introducing the main characters and each would end by giving the main characters closure in their development while mixing things up each time (Who knows? They might let a girl like May or Dawn be the protagonist if they feel daring?). How would you like it and how do you think this could work? This means that Pikachu wouldn't be a mascot (but hey, at least other Pokemon would have the chance to shine more).

Many Japanese Franchise like Digimon or Gundam (yes, it's for kids since the models are for kids and nerds) have been doing this with their Anime series for YEARS and many have been successful. Ask me honestly why the Pokemon Anime apparently can't do the same if the staff happened to give a damn about their story? This is Japan, not America.

Not to mention that the idea of using Ash as a continuous protagonist ever though their audience wouldn't remember him from before if they ever got into Pokemon during later generation like Hoenn and beyond is pretty stupid and begs the question, "Why?" They can't be keeping him around to keep the older fans appeased since they never listen to the US fans especially before and in the early days of the internet and the new fans wouldn't recognize him as the game character they play or anything about him from before.

Anyways, discuss your thoughts and ideas here. Please try to have an open mind here and don't denounce anything as "impossible." This is a "what if" scenario so have a little imagination.

 

[LuckyLucario2000]

They aren't going to change Ash as the protagonist for a very long time. Ash and Pikachu are the poster children of Pokemon. If they just vanished well..it would kind of defeat the purpose of Ash wanting to become a Pokemon Master. Which is a vague title but Ash has been through too much for them to throw him away now.

 

[psyanic]

They just do what's safe, and that happens to be Mr. Ash Ketchum and his trusty Pikachu. They're not sure if it will be successful and so far, they don't appear to want to take a risk and are supposedly content on the money they make. I think he's been around way too long to just dump out of nowhere. He needs some closure, or else you'll get even angrier fans, which would include me, even if I don't like him one bit.

 

[matt0044]

Um, hello? I was asking if they shifted the cast after Kanto WHILE tying up loose ends in that region's storyline. Everything would be wrapped up before going onwards to Johto and so on. Yes, as of now he's been on the show too long to just leave but what if they ended his story in Kanto and moved on to Gold (or whatever he'd be called then) in Johto? I wasn't saying they should NOW replace Ash but rather they should've after Kanto. His goal could've just been to become a legendary Trainer by become Kanto's Champion (like his Father as part of his character, perhaps) rather that getting an ill-defined title like "Pokemon Master."

Were you guys even reading the first post?

 

[psyanic]

Your first post?

However, we know that replacing him now would be too soon and Pikachu... well, that goes without saying.

This is the only thing you said dedicated to any sorts of closure, so yeah, I did read it. And this statement looked more implied and such rather than actually saying, "What if Ash had closure and they replaced him?" Also, Ash had way too much development to be needed after Kanto had ended. He was still immature and he only really fully developed by the end of, say, Johto. If they did somehow tie it all up and used a different protagonist, well, okay they did. What else is there to discuss? You asked why they can't, and I'm pretty sure the above responses already answered most of it.

And we can't be sure why. I can't imagine why they wouldn't replace him, but they didn't. I believe they would have been equally successful if they changed the protagonist to give viewers something new every region, if not more.

 

[Guest123_x1]

Here's what I think's going on:
From the start, the show has focused on the travels of entirely one person-Ash, along with his Pikachu he got from Professor Oak. It's almost as if the show was intended to be a mixture of elements from shows such as "The Simpsons" and various soap operas. Having the main central character replaced every region would probably throw some viewers off.

Yes, as of now he's been on the show too long to just leave but what if they ended his story in Kanto and moved on to Gold (or whatever he'd be called then) in Johto?

Pokémon Chronicles does something similar-focusing on different characters, with different characters' stories covered in the series' episodes. However, it'd be a bit confusing for viewers if they had covered the Johto arc with Gold/Jimmy for his entire journey through that region, replacing Ash in the process.
IMHO, I think the show's creators intended to focus on Ash Ketchum, even when they reset him come time for him to go to a new region. The reason there is no closure on the main character's story is so they can continue the show's run, for likely as long as they come up with new generations of games.