Pokémon fans were shocked just weeks before it was revealed that Ash and Pikachu’s journey would come to an end after 25 years.
Ash Ketchum’s current VA, Sarah Natochenny, has shared a brief message on Twitter mentions what an “extraordinary privilege” it is to voice the character for 17 years, and she has now detailed this in a separate Instagram post:
“It has been an extraordinary privilege to be the English voice of Ash Ketchum for 17 years. Whatever lies beyond his final chapter, he will live forever in the hearts of generations to come. I will keep him present for all of us in any way I can.
“Ash & Pikachu: the best, no one has ever been. Forever grateful to Pokémon, Hilary, Toshi, Andy, Lisa, Nick, George, Fran, Iyuno, past directors, co-stars and my teammates in the past years. 17 years is a long time to play the role of a 10-year-old. To our fans…thank you from the bottom of my heart.. you guys in the wild! Love, Sarah Natochenny.”
A few weeks ago, Ash’s original voice actor Veronica Taylor also thanks fans to follow the character’s incredible journey.
The final chapter in Ash and Pikachu’s story will begin early next year in January – with 11 special episodes. It will be followed by a brand new Pokémon anime series – premiering in Japan in April 2023 – and starring two new protagonists.
