Pikachu are Dedenne are so cute I think I'm likely going to die of cute rodent overload when Kalos starts airing.
And all I'm going to say to all that, Fanon, is that you have too many hopes of Pokemon become another anime: one that Pokemon is not and never will be. It's part of its charm and if you don't like it the least you can do it stop wishing it was like 'this anime' or 'that anime' every other post.
Also no one said that shipping has no plays in kids anime. But it doesn't have a place in Pokemon. Not from Ash. He's too thickheaded to realize and until he does there's not much hope for him in the love department. I'll bet that if Serena does have a crush on him it'll probably go right over his head. There was I believe only one time when Ash liked or whatever one girl and that was in Kanto which was a huge testing ground of developing Ash to who he will be and they decided that romance is not the focus. Adventuring, gaining companions, winning battles, and being a Pokemon Trainer is more important.
I think the main problem is that everyone seeing thing from ''BW Series View'' !!!
But I'm seeing from ''Original Kento series view''.
Because Back then , Pokemon was just as bizarre and funny as ''Sgt Frog'' , ''Shugo chara'' & ''Yakitate Japan''.
Sometime ''Original series'' followed more matured plot as well. (Like Mewtwo Murdering people)
Thats why it was more popular then Other Pokemon series.
For example , If I say I want Angry Serena to hit Ash with a Rubber Hammer and send him flying then I'm sure everyone will say ''Its too Mature'' But I saw Misty to do that type of thing and that what made Kento series hilarious .
And I'm not wishing Pokemon to be like other Anime .
When Somebody try to say My idea to be ''too Mature'' for Kids Anime , I simply show other ''Kids Anime'' that did those type of this which prove that My idea is not mature .
I simply saying Pokemon to be treated like ''Pokemon'' , not like ''Dragon Tail'' or ''Dora The explore'' .
Pokemon is an Anime based on a E-rated game .
If we see the concept of the game ,
Then Pokemon always meant to be for Older Kids (9 & above) and it should treated more like a Kids shounen Anime .
Like ''Shugo Chara'' .
Its a Kids Anime But if you watch it then you will notice that this Anime is treated more like a Shoujo Anime rather then a Kids Anime .
Thats the same case with Pokemon Anime.
Pokemon need to be treated more like a Shounen Anime for Kids , Not some exploring Anime like ''Dragon Tail'' .
After all , Writer did everything to make Pokemon a Real Kids Anime .
They get rid of Shounen genre in Pokemon , They focus more on ''Exploring'' ,They turn Ash into a Pathetic Loser , They gave Sidekick & rival more spotlight then Ash , They ignored all human shipping , and They didn't do anything that feel ''Too Mature'' .
But Did it made ''Best Wish''more Popular then before ???
Nope , Pokemon got most of its Worst rating during this series .
Even An Older Anime like Doreamon still gets 12% rating
Because Writer hopeless treating Pokemon like ''Dragon Tail'' .
Ash is a Pokemon Trainer , not a explore .
He's not traveling to explore new place , He traveling to become a Pokemon Master.
Exploring the world is job for a explore , Kids interested in Ash doing his own Job , Not someone else's job .
If Pokemon XY series abandon ''Exploring'' as a theme and focus more on Ash overcoming all obstacle and reaching his goal like a Shounen then it can get back the place it once had 15 year ago .
Focusing on exploring killing this show .
As for ever-lasting friendship , Shounen Anime has better friendship & bond then exploring Anime like ''Dragon Tail'' has.