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Pokémon TV show protagonist Ash Ketchum acquired some great creatures early on in his journey, and here’s what ultimately happened to them. When Pokémon first became popular in the video game realm back in the late-1990s, it’s doubtful anyone involved foresaw just how massive and long-lasting a phenomenon the franchise would become. In addition to all the video games, Pokémon spawned a decades-spanning anime series, theatrical and direct to video animated movies, board games, manga, and just about every other type of tie-in imaginable. With 2019’s Detective Pikachu, Pokémon even expanded into live-action films.
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Pokémon is one of the most financially successful franchises in history, earning a staggering $92 billion worldwide, and that’s no wonder, when one considers the hysteria surrounding the Pokémon GO augmented reality game a few years back. Still, it’s safe to say that for many kids growing up in the western world, what first got them truly hooked on the Pokémon universe was the anime series, starring young trainer Ash Ketchum as he goes on a quest to become the very best, like no one ever was.
The inaugural Pokémon anime season saw Ash attempt to conquer the Indigo League, traveling around to gyms in the Kanto region in the hopes of defeating their leaders. Along the way, he makes new friends in Brock and Misty, and periodically does battle with the evil Team Rocket. Of course, the main attraction was the Pokémon themselves, the initial set numbering 150. Here’s a look at the first six Pokémon that Ash caught, and where they ended up.
Pikachu
The most famous pairing in Pokémon history is Ash and his stalwart companion Pikachu. The trainer and creature seemed destined to be together, as Ash received Pikachu as his starter Pokémon following arriving late to meet Professor Oak. This Pikachu was stubborn and not exactly Ash’s biggest fan at first, but Ash quickly won the Pokémon over by risking his own safety to protect it, as well as respecting its desire to not reside within a Pokeball. From then on, the two have been almost inseparable, and remain so throughout the anime series. As a result, Pikachu has also become the unofficial mascot Pokémon of the franchise, and it makes perfect sense that it led the first live-action Pokemon movie.
Butterfree
Ash captured Butterfree in episode 3 of the anime, appropriately titled “Ash Catches a Pokémon.” Or rather, he caught Butterfree’s early form Caterpie. The cute little creature would make it known to Pikachu that its goal was to evolve into a Butterfree, and despite early failures in battle, the flying Pokémon eventually accomplished that goal. It first evolved into Metapod, then Butterfree, by the end of the next episode. By the 21st episode, “Bye Bye Butterfree” though, it was time for trainer and Pokémon to part ways. Butterfree and Ash shared a tearful goodbye, as Butterfree went off with its new mate to reproduce. Butterfree sadly never reunited with Ash, although Ash has fondly remembered it at various points.
Pidgeotto
Ash caught Pidgeotto in the same episode that he caught Caterpie, who was soundly beaten by the bird Pokémon, that is until Ash sent out Pikachu to get the duke. Ash would later use Pidgeotto in battle against Brock and Misty, in their roles as gym leaders. Things got dramatic in the episode “Pallet Party Panic,” in which Ash headed back home to Pallet Town, only to encounter the Spearow he had tried and failed to catch early on. The Pokémon had evolved into Fearow, and was attacking a group of wild Pidgeys, Pidgeotto’s earlier form. To defeat Fearow, Pidgeotto needed to evolve into Pidgeot. Afterward, Ash reluctantly released Pidgeot so that the Pokémon could watch over his smaller brethren. Ash promised to come back for him later, but so far never has.
Bulbasaur
While Ash had really wanted to catch a Bulbasaur from the beginning, it wasn’t until episode 10, “Bulbasaur and the Hidden Village” that he ended up with one. In the titular village, Ash and pals run into a Bulbasaur who serves as the protector of the Pokémon in the area, and is hostile to Pokémon trainers. However, once Team Rocket invaded, Ash proved his mettle, and Bulbasaur ultimately agreed to join him if he was defeated in battle. Pikachu did so, and Ash got another Pokémon. Bulbasaur remained with Ash much longer than Butterfree or Pidgeotto, but did eventually part with him. During the Ruby and Sapphire period of the anime, Bulbasaur chose to start helping troubled Pokémon at Professor Oak’s lab, much as he had done in the village. Still, Ash and Bulbasaur have had several happy reunions since.
Charmander
The story of how Ash acquired Charmander is a bit sad, as the poor creature was left abandoned by its trainer Damian, who lied that he would return for it. Charmander refused to leave the spot, and its health declined. Thankfully, Charmander eventually realized Damian was a jerk, and went off with Ash. However, after Charmander evolved into Charmeleon, it lost respect for Ash, who it believed unworthy of its skills. This got even worse after it subsequently evolved into Charizard. Eventually though, Charizard regained its regard for its trainer, and became one of his most dependable Pokémon. That was until Ash made the difficult decision to leave Charizard in the Charicific Valley, so that it could become as formidable as the wild Charizards found there. The two have since reunited multiple times though, and Ash sometimes calls upon Charizard’s help with an important battle.
Squirtle
Squirtle ended up as one of Ash’s go-to Pokémon, but he first appeared as the leader of a roving gang called The Squirtle Squad, who had been abandoned by their trainers and thus become hostile to people. Ash being Ash though, he eventually saved Squirtle’s life during an attack by Team Rocket, impressing the gang leader enough to earn his respect and friendship. Squirtle later rejoined his old Squad, who had become a team of fire-fighters under the direction of Officer Jenny. Notably, Squirtle has never evolved, and is actually the only one of Ash’s original six Pokémon to not do so who didn’t also make it explicitly known that they didn’t want to. Like Charizard, Squirtle and Ash have reunited multiple times since its return to the Squad, and is often called upon when Ash engages in an important battle.
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