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Although the original Pokemon series ended back in 2023 after an impressive 25 seasons, there was a point where it felt as if the show might continue forever — which is when one of the show’s biggest writers came up with two imaginary alternate endings that reveal roads not taken… and a wonderfully dramatic climactic shift that the series never ended up using. 

Back in 2009, writer Takeshi Shudo — who wrote on initial seasons of the series, as well as writing Pokémon: The First movie — was asked how he’d end the series if it was up to him. In one of his scenarios, he opted for a bittersweet idea that leaned quite heavily on the sweet side of the equation.

“Months and years pass,” he imagined. “Ash grows old, then one day suddenly he looks back on his past. He remembers his childhood fondly. The adventures he had with his amazing Pokémon, the friendship, the coexistence. Maybe Ash wasn't able to experience these things later in life. However, as a kid there was Pikachu and lots of other Pokémon, Jessie and James, and Mewtwo ... And so much more — elderly Ash remembers everything that happened during his adventures as a young boy.”

That is, admittedly, quite lovely… and very different from the other ending he came up with.

“The Pokémon would stage a rebellion, much like Spartacus in ancient Rome. Although at first glance Pokémon appear to be friends with humans, they would realize they're actually being used like slaves, which would lead to an uprising,” Shudo supposed. “Pikachu would become the leader of the revolt and end up fighting with Ash.”

Firstly, this is an amazing idea, although obviously one at odds with the overall tone of the series. The show instead ended with Ash becoming a Pokémon Master and realizing that the true “gotta catch ‘em all” was learning to love and respect all Pokêmon, regardless of championships or Pokédexes. In comparison, it feels almost anti-climactic, really.

Secondly, Shudo had a dark fate for the comedy antagonists Team Rocket in this second scenario. “Team Rocket, who are in possession of lots of sinister Pokémon (including Meowth, who can translate the Pokémon language into human speech) would try to mediate the conflict, but they'd do a poor job of interpreting and only make things worse,” he added.

Well, if the powers in charge of Pokémon ever want a dystopian reboot for disillusioned former viewers, I think we already know what the plot should be…

(Via /Film.)

Each week, Popverse's resident anime expert Trent Cannon runs down the latest and, dare we say "greatest," in anime and manga in Popverse Jump. Some recent columns have included... 

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