>>58820668>Everyone including Gamefreak was begging for Ash to retire by Hoenn but this one retard didn't listen to any of it!Baby logic to assume one person had that kind of sway. Ash became an albatross for the brand because all the international marketing and cultural impact of Pokemon centred around the anime. That cast of ~10 human characters were more recognizable than some of top 10 Pokemon.
Of course GF wanted the anime to fall in line with their games. They want to operate with some insularity, that's why TPC exists, to manage the broader brand rollouts. It was the marketing machine of TPC, NoA, and international partners that had a vested interest in Ash. Going into gen 2, it was all about maintaining momentum and familiarity. As gen 2 petered out, it was about retention and playing it safe. They likely looked back on the previous toy megabrand, Power Rangers, and how that series tried to revitalize itself with a significant rebrand/overhaul. These brands typically have a 3-5 year lifespan, and Pokemon was no exception, but Pokemon overcame the slump because it dug in its heels with the anime while branching out with the games. I don't love gen 3, but I have a lot of respect for how it managed this previously impossible feat.
