I see people claiming ratings for pokemon anime are "doing fine" with low success being just nusproduct of less people watching TV.
But if that was completely true, than other anime would follow same suit having repeadetly significant drop in ratings like pokemon does. Yet, they dont with likes of One Piece, Detective Connan, Fairy Tail, Doraemon, Inazuma Eleven Go, new fewer calles Youkai Watch etc.
So its clearly obvious how its not just in "less kids being born or watching TV" being problem of pokemon popularity dropping.
But bad, insensitive and repetitive strategy producers apply over and over again.
Strategy of Ash journey never going on bigger, more substantial level of character development.
Continuity in pokemon being very bad acting like past development, build up and achievements never happened.
Lack of on going story which grows over long period of time gradually developing characters and adventure aspect as whole giving recognizable touch to narrative.
Or repetitive, overused ideas and rehashed occurences from past instead of offering more orginal subplots, depth to character dynamic which used to be on higher level in older sagas with protagonists bursting with bigger pool of emotions and substance to their behavior.
Accompanied with unpredictable twist shaking up development and traveling as whole which could be achieved by diving more in main hero history, breaking new steps with its quest expanding on horizons of what else beside winning league is required to become master. Doing fresh, exciting sequels with past friends, rivals giving insight in pokemon history and what happened before etc.
I definitely think paying more attention to past and returning older fan favorites(such as Misty, May, Brock etc) in new updated forms, having them play new roles in pokemon plot and giving continuation of their adventures would inject much needed energy, enthusiasm and appreciation for pokemon series attracting more of older fans.
Increasing ratings and helping improve bad reputation pokemon anime has right now restoring fans faith in writers and anime they mostly feel indifferent about. Despising direction it follows losing main objective of what this anime used to be about.
Anime characterized by continuity based journey using past as template on which future is created, significant unbreakable friendships which are mantained not losing iis meaning(kinda hard to get that feeling when Ash and older buddies dont see each other for 10 years), hard works, renunciation and effort not happening in vain. With stories of Ash past traveling companions being mantained, updated and going somewhere instead of lying down in mud forgotten like it never mattered etc.
Being underestimated how much one simple thing such as
stronger continuty, maintaining connections with past emphasizing on importance of events and characters which happened before and consistent story which dont experience soft resets can mean. In increasing popularity of some anime and fans loyalty toward it.
Why are you going into rants about Misty in an XY ratings thread? Misty has NOTHING to do with this series or its ratings. You've been told this in the previous ratings thread before it was locked. You're bringing up a character who has been gone for over 12 years and four generations as well as 600+ episodes?
Nobody cares what Misty did or didn't do, it has no affect on the show nearly 15 years later. Its mind boggling this needs to be explained since for everyone else this is common sense.
It may not mater nowadays, but 13 years ago it was one of major factors which caused significant portion of pokmemon fans to abandon pokemon anime after Johto never coming back again. Ratings did started to drop in middle Johto, but Misty removal only contributed in popularity dropping even further.
You should be aware most than anyone else in here how much strife, dust and complaining Misty removal from pokemon anime caused dividing western pokemon fandom.
Having on one side people who either never liked Misty or used to like her. But didn't thought twice of turning back on Misty character and giving up from her just because of being mishandled in some ways during Johto saga with second chance and redemption being out of question for them. Despite writers managing to return her appeal and luster fully in Mastere Quest and onwards in chronicles.
Praising it as "best move writers did".
As on other side there were people who viewed writers move as insulting, disrespecting and careless. In deciding to drop heavily popular and recognizable first girl of pokemon ; 5 years of build up, introduction to her dreams, goals, fears, background, dillemas and relationships with other characters so easily.
Abandoning her comletely from pokemon series not wanting to put effort and time in making something out of all that potential she had.
Invoking frustration and disapoointment among many of direction in which pokemon show was taken ever since. With no stable cast, weak continuity barely; if ever maintaining connections to what happened before and consistent storyline which evolves with relatable, endearing smaller, but well fleshed out group of protagonists as they explore world, grow, change and overcome steps in reaching their dreams and destination they choosed to follow.
Being to them writers message of whatever direction anime followed being tarnished.
Misty's Goal was never Define !
Her goal & dream were always different in Kento ! She ether wants to be a TV-star , Model or catch the rarest Water type.
She didn't settle into One goal until Jotho.
Sure she talk about her love for Water Pokemon but that didn't confirm her goal.
Clemont also said how much he loves Electric type Pokemon and want to learn everything about them and become the best Electric Pokemon trainer.
Which was the main reason behind him becoming a Gym-Leader .
However , That doesn't mean Clemont want to be a ''Thunder Pokemon Master'' ! He wants to be an inventor that make Pokemon happy.
Also , The entire idea about Misty must win all Water related Tournament to be a ''Water Pokemon-master'' is made up by You , The Anime doesn't support it ! Just like winning all Battle Tournament or Battle Facility doesn't make Ash a Pokemon Master , He must win an Actual League and Compete at Champion League to be a Pokemon master ! Same way , Winning all Contest won't make May & Dawn a Top Coordinator unless they win the Grand-festival .
Everything has a system ! However , The system of becoming a Water Pokemon-master haven't reveal yet . So you can't claim Misty's goal to be define.
You are just so obsessed with Misty returning that You simply made yourself believe if Misty wins all Water related Tournament she will be a Water Pokemon Master .
Also , The line '' I will be closer to my goal by winning this'' are used all the time even during Minor Tournament ! Just because someone said Misty might be closer to her goal by winning ''Whirl Cup'' doesn't mean its true.
Ash will often say winning ''Twinleaf Tournament'' will get him closer to becoming a Pokemon Mater but he will not anywhere near closer to be a Pokemon Master if he doesn't win an Actual League.
Also , Orange League not even a real League , Its not even a Competition!!! Just because it has a name ''League'' tagging behind itself doesn't make it a real League. The Orange League didn't do any good at all for Ash because he only came back home to find himself inferior to Gary.
So think twice before claiming Misty's goal to be more define then Ash!
Just because Misty was versatile having multiple interests beside one does not mean her goal of becoming water pokemon master wasn't main dream she pursued.
All those things you mentioned about Misty side wishes don't change anything considering how in Orange Islands, Johto Misty expressed interest in various other things as well.
Such as wanting to become professor Foster assistant in researching about fossil water pokemon, dreaming of meeting legendary water pokemon realizing their true nature and origins.
Seeing Misty show interest in magic wanting to be magician such as in "Hocus Pokemon!" when meeting Tammy.
Etc, etc.
But this side interests were just that, side hobbies Misty expressed interest in forming her character. Just like its case with fishing, romance and love, cute pokemon wanting to catch quite a few ones despite not being water pokemon like Jigglypuff, Odish, Teddiursa etc.
Misty main love, passion and something she deeply cares about the most were always water pokemon and huge fiery desire of wanting to become strongest water expert in world/water pokemon master. That was her main career, main path she decided to follow and absolutely adores wanting to make important and sifnigicant feats with it.
Misty through whole original series(Kanto, Orange Islands, Johto)talked about desire to become strongest water trainer in world, show whole world how elegant and powerful water pokemon can be.
Her interest in renowned water specialists like E4 Lorelei considering her idol wanting to become one day popular and strong like her, all those moments of learning how to approach water pokemon better understanding their feelings; such as Marill from "Crying Out Loud!", Poliwhirl helping it about confidence issues, knowing how to read Staryu emotions and feelings inside core reflecting close bond existing between them.
Or desire to meet and learn about all kind of water pokemon, learn from other water experts etc were all situations where Misty passion and desire to become water pokemon master were further reinforced.
Being stated how water pokemon master means becoming
strongest water trainer in world.
Nevertheless winning water tournaments is required to acquire this title as Whirl Cup showed.
Being revealed through talks of sea priestess Maya and professor Elm, whole lore about sea heroes, water spirits and mystical water pendant.
How winner of this prestigue tournament gets title "Alpha Omega of water pokemon". Being one of names by which sea heroes(in Japanese water pokemon masters) were called by that name in past.
Serving as direct indisputable proof how by acquiring Whirl cup title you overcame one of steps on road of becoming water pokemon master bringing you closer toward that dream.
Your right, we don't know what other procedures and test someone need to pass afterwards, but winning Whirl Cup is without doubt one of steps required to be fulfilled in order to become water master.
Likewise every E4 member is named as type master in games being strongest trainers in world specializing in secific type.
Something Misty wants to become with water pokemon.
This was more throughly explained in thread i made regarding Misty water pokemon master goal, strong connection to E4 members(jpn. "Four Heaven Kings!") and what was showed in canon regarding it, steps and instances where writers dived deeper in whole thing.
Being more clearer in reality what title of water pokemon master carries with itself compared to pokemon master goal Ash is chasing. Not being known anything except how winning regional league will allow him to enter champion leaguer making step further in coming closer toward fulfillment of his goal.