Most Loved Pokemon Characters From The Anime

Summary

• Professor Kukui in Sun & Moon was beloved for becoming Ash’s father figure and for his goofy Royal Mask persona.
• Professor Oak is iconic for giving Ash his Pikachu and being a wise and likable character throughout the entire series.
• Misty, Ash’s iconic companion, evolved into a powerful Gym Leader.

The Pokemon anime has been airing on television since 1997, and even though the story of Ash Ketchum’s long journey has already come to an end, it still has many passionate fans around the world, many of whom are incredibly fond of the show’s extensive cast of characters.

Whether they are human or actual Pokemon, there’s no denying that the Pokemon series has featured some of the most recognizable characters in the anime industry, and as a result, most of them have gained a lot of popularity from audiences throughout the years – even those who have only appeared in one or two generations. Needless to say, the Pokemon anime is full of great characters, but the following eight are the most beloved ones in the entire show.

8

Professor Kukui

This Lovable Professor Became Ash’s Surrogate Father

• Series: Pokemon the Series: Sun & Moon
• First Appearance: Episode 940

While it was a bit polarizing at first, Pokemon the Series: Sun & Moon eventually became one of the most critically acclaimed series of the entire Pokemon anime, something that can be partially contributed to its cast of lovable characters, of which Professor Kukui is definitely the most popular one. Alola’s resident Pokemon Professor is a friendly and carefree adult who knows a lot about Pokemon and cares deeply about all of his students.

On top of that, his Royal Mask persona, combined with the chemistry he has with his own Incineroar, made him into an even goofier and more entertaining figure. That said, the reason Kukui is currently so beloved by the fan base is the fact that he basically became Ash’s father figure throughout the Sun & Moon series, and when he married Professor Burnet, she became a mother figure to the main character as well. Because of this, most fans consider the scene in the final episode of the series in which Ash has to say goodbye to Kukui and Burnet to be one of the most emotional ones in the entire history of the anime.

7

Professor Oak

The Most Famous And Important Pokemon Professor In The World

• Series: Pokemon the Series: The Beginning
• First Appearance: Episode 1

There are a lot of Pokemon professors in the world of Pokemon, and Ash Ketchum has met many of them, but the most iconic, important, and influential one is undoubtedly the professor who gave Ash his Pikachu and set him off on his journey: the one and only Professor Samuel Oak. Personality-wise, he’s extremely likable because he’s both wise and intelligent, but he can also be goofy and comedic, especially when he interacts with Pokemon.

Professor Oak may not be the most recurrent character in the anime, but every time he appears in the story, it feels like a special occasion, and his episodes are always some of the most memorable ones of each series. Furthermore, the father-son relationship he has with Ash is really captivating, and it’s always nice to know that he’s the professor who gave the boy who would eventually become World Champion his very first starter Pokemon. On top of that, Oak is always taking care of all the other Pokemon Ash caught in his own laboratory. Many fans appreciate him deeply for that.

6

Misty

Ash’s First (And Most Iconic) Female Companion

• Series: Pokemon the Series: The Beginning, Pokemon the Series: Gold and Silver
• First Appearance: Episode 1

Ash Ketchum has traveled through many regions alongside many different female Pokemon trainers, but there’s no denying that Misty from the original series is one of the most beloved ones by fans. Their friendship got off to a rocky start, seeing as Ash stole her bicycle and Pikachu accidentally destroyed it, but they eventually became closer as they both got stronger together.

Misty is sweet and kind, but she can also be quite temperamental and knows when to keep her friends in check (especially Brock, whenever he tries to flirt with other women). The friendship between her, Ash, and Brock was really fun and endearing, which led to their inevitable goodbye being very bittersweet for the audience. Fortunately for her fans, Misty kept occasionally appearing in subsequent seasons, and she proved that she had become an even stronger trainer each time, worthy of being the Gym Leader of Cerulean City. Her appearance in Pokemon the Series: Sun & Moon, in which she revealed she’s able to Mega Evolve her Gyarados, was particularly memorable and well-received by fans.

5

Serena

This Fan-Favorite Character Was Ash’s First Romantic Interest

• Series: Pokemon the Series: XY
• First Appearance: Episode 800

Ash has traveled with many female companions, and while the anime occasionally played with the idea of them being romantically interested in him, none of them actually had explicit feelings towards the main character. That is until the introduction of Serena in Pokemon the Series: XY. She’s interesting because she’s the only one of Ash’s companions who had previously met him before the start of their journey. They met each other during Pokemon Summer Camp at the Kanto Region.

The romantic subplot between Ash and Serena was one of the most interesting and endearing parts of Pokemon the Series: XY, and it’s, without a doubt, one of the main reasons this series is highly beloved by many fans, even to this day. Of course, Serena is more than Ash’s romantic interest; she’s actually a full-fledged character with her own dreams and convictions, and seeing her become a better Pokemon Performer was actually very inspiring. Pokemon fans always argue about who’s the best female companion, whether it be her or Misty, but Serena is definitely the most popular one of the two because she was pretty much the main character of her respective series. As a result, she had a lot more screen time to shine.

4

Brock

Ash’s Most Loyal Companion Is Also A Respected Doctor And A Former Gym Leader

• Series: Pokemon the Series: The Beginning, Pokemon the Series: Gold and Silver, Pokemon the Series: Ruby and Sapphire, Pokemon the Series: Diamond and Pearl
• First Appearance: Episode 5

Most of Ash Ketchum’s companions have accompanied him on his travels throughout at least one region, but Brock is a notorious exception because he has traveled with the main character on four different occasions. It’s very odd to think that, at one point, the animation studio decided to replace him with Tracey Sketchit during the Orange Island Saga, because Brock eventually became one of the most popular and iconic characters in the entire anime after he returned.

He always felt like a wise, big brother figure to Ash, Misty, May, Max, Dawn, and pretty much everyone he traveled with, because he knew a lot more about Pokemon, their type match-ups, their biology, and their needs. While he mostly chose to specialize in training his skills as a Pokemon Breeder (and later, a Pokemon Doctor), his previous experience as a Gym Leader made him quite efficient in battle as well. Of course, another reason Brock is so fondly remembered by most fans is his romantic personality. There are countless scenes of him flirting with the women he encounters before being quickly dragged away by Misty, Max, or Croagunk, and this became one of the anime’s funniest recurring gags.

3

Ash’s Pikachu

A Friendly And Adorable Little Mouse Hiding A Lot Of Power And Determination

• Series: Every single Pokemon series
• First Appearance: Episode 1

In the Pokemon anime, the Pokemon themselves have actual personalities and real development, so they can be considered characters just as much as their trainers. There are a lot of Pokemon in the show who are deeply beloved by the fan base, but the most popular one is undoubtedly Ash’s Pikachu, who has been traveling right beside the main character since the debut episode.

For starters, Pikachu is extremely adorable, friendly, and funny, and he has a lot of small unique quirks – like his love for ketchup or his tendency to imitate other Pokemon – that make him a really lovable character. On top of that, he has trained so much and gotten so much stronger throughout the years that he ultimately became Ash’s most powerful Pokemon, and he played a key role in the final battle in which his trainer gained the prestigious title of Pokemon World Champion. Of course, the most important aspect of Pikachu’s character is his endearing relationship with Ash, since seeing them growing up together (from Episode 1, all the way to Episode 1232) was so amazing that most Pokemon fans will never forget about them.

2

Ash Ketchum

The Main Character Ultimately Proved Everyone Wrong And Achieved His Lifelong Dream

• Series: Every single Pokemon series
• First Appearance: Episode 1

Weirdly enough, there was a point in time in which the main character of the anime, Ash Ketchum, was highly divisive among fans, with many people growing tired of having him as the protagonist for over ten years and/or criticizing him for losing every single tournament he participated in. However, with time, Ash slowly grew stronger, more mature, and more skilled. He then went on to prove everybody wrong (both in the Pokemon universe and in the real world) when he became Alola’s first champion and, later, became the official Pokemon World Champion.

The story of Ash was truly inspirational, not to mention that he’s such a likable and relatable character who it was very easy for many fans to repeatedly cheer for him. Even though he’s a skilled Pokemon Trainer who caught and trained many powerful Pokemon, he always kept his friendly, easy-going, and silly personality, which allowed him to build close bonds with both his Pokemon and his human companions. He’s such a beloved main character that many fans have refused to watch Pokemon Horizons simply because he’s not in it. Another important reason Ash Ketchum is important to so many people around the world is the fact that Pokemon was the first anime many seasoned anime fans ever watched, so he inevitably became one of the most iconic and influential characters in the entire industry.

1

The Team Rocket Trio (Jesse, James, And Meowth)

The Pokemon Anime Wouldn’t Be The Same Without This Trio Of Goofballs

• Series: Every single Pokemon series
• First Appearance: Episode 2

There are only five characters that have appeared in every single series of the Pokemon anime: Ash, Pikachu, and the Team Rocket trio, a group that is made up of Jesse, James and Meowth. In their stubborn mission to try and capture Ash’s Pikachu, these comedic antagonists followed the two main characters throughout every single region they visited, and as a result, they became most fans’ favorite characters.

The chemistry between Jesse, James, and Meowth is as endearing as it is hilarious, as they’re responsible for most of the anime’s well-written comedic scenes. To the surprise of most viewers, they also have tragic backstories that explain why they joined Team Rocket, and even though they are technically villains, they always took good care of their Pokemon. Since they’re actually good people, the Team Rocket Trio likes Ash and Pikachu deep down, and they did not hesitate to join forces with them in order to defeat bigger villains on numerous occasions. There’s no doubt that, without the constant presence of Jesse, James, and Mewoth, the Pokemon anime would be nowhere near as funny, entertaining, and beloved as it is today.