Quoted By:
Hearing Ash and Pikachu getting retired unexpectedly hit me in the feels. Pokemon was a huge part of my childhood, even though I haven't followed the series aside from the odd episode for the last 20 years or played the games after BW
Watching the show before school, everyone in the school yard trading cards, link battles and trading with friends. Buying knock off toys and sharing theories about missingno and pikablu. Watching the movie in a cinema full of other hyped kids, renting the sequel from the video store. Lining up to get Mew in the mall. Endless hours lost in Kanto and Johto, exploring and imagining the possibilities of every town, cave, forest and team combination. Trying to catch them all
Pokemon was a true phenomenon, even when it began to die down after 2001. It was funny seeing it come back briefly to mainstream hype with Pokemon GO, but this is different
I wasn't prepared for how much importance Ash and Pikachu held at a point in life when, even though there were hard times in school and home, a big part of my childhood was filled with wonder and fun because of these characters and the world they live in. Seeing them leave is truly a closure on a part of my life I cherish and miss. I feel lucky I got to live it and experience it
I have a little boy of my own now and I can't wait to show him the OG series. I don't know if he'll like it or think it's some lame cartoon from 100 years ago, but sharing a part of my childhood with him will be priceless to me
Ash, Pikachu and pokemon, truly the best, like no one ever was
