Many adult fans ofPokémonare a little ashamed to admit they still watch the anime, or have let the perception that the anime is only for children keep them from engaging with it entirely. The truth of the matter is, though, that thePokémonanime is just as much fun to watch as it was when you were a kid, and there’s no reason to hide one’s love ofPokémon.
I can speak to this because… well, I was one of those adults. I’m of the age thatPokémonmania hit when I was just the right age, and I loved every aspect ofPokémonas a kid: the anime, the games, the trading cards. Due to social pressure moving into middle school, I eventually gave up onPokémon. I often considered going back to it, but everyone else’s “Pokémon is for kids” opinions clouded my own. I got back intoPokémonaround the time thatBlackandWhitecame out, but while I returned to the games, the anime was still firmly in my mind as a kid’s show, so I continued to ignore it.
Pokémon is Designed for All Ages
The Pokémon Anime is Meant to Appeal to Everyone
It’s certainly true thatPokémonis primarily aimed at children, but just because something is for children doesn’t mean it’sonlysuitable for children. All that really means is that the anime is free from adult-only content. There’s still plenty for an adult to enjoy watching thePokémonanime. For me, the thing that finally got me to give the anime a try again wasAsh’s Pokémon League victory in Alola. The next season,Pokémon Journeys, promised to be a globetrotting adventure as Ash battled his way to the top and challenged the World Champion, Leon. It was an interesting enough premise for me to give it a shot.
While many fans of the anime would say thatJourneysis a flawed series, it was still a lot of fun for me to watch aPokémonanime again after all this time. I didn’t find Goh to be annoying, the way some do, and while this iteration of Ash was clearly very different than the season 1 Ash I was familiar with, it felt more like he had grown and changed over the years, just as I had.Journeyswas good enough that it encouraged me to go back and watchSun & Moon, and thenXY, until I’d seen nearly everything I had missed over the years. Coming back to the anime was like hanging out with old friends again.
Ultimately, what I realized is thatPokémonis designed not only to be enjoyable for children, but for their parents as well.It’s something kids and adults can watch together, as there’s a little something for everyone. This is especially true for those parents who might’ve been kids themselves whenPokémonstarted, who had an existing relationship with the franchise even before their kid was born. Of course, you don’t need to be a parent to enjoyPokémon, either; it can be enjoyed for its own sake, even as an adult without children.
Pokémon Tackles Themes That Are Relevant to All Audiences
Pokémon’s Morals are Fitting Reminders to Anyone
Like many shows aimed at children, Pokémon makes a point of having some kind of lesson in many episodes. These lessons are new to children watching the show, but they can be good reminders for adults as well. One of my favorite episodes happens to beaSun & Moonepisode about Litten’s adoptive parent, Stoutland, falling ill and dying, leaving Litten alone. Ash is incredibly mature and supportive of Litten throughout, giving it space when it needs it while being there for it otherwise. An important lesson on loss for children, to be sure, but also a reminder to adults on dealing with grief.
There’s also something that’s very hopeful and positive about thePokémonanime in general.The series isn’t set in a paradise, as there are still problems, but the Pokémon world is one that’s populated largely by good people who want to help each other out, and by working together, any barrier can be overcome. This is something that’s woefully missing from most media aimed at adults, so it can be a real breath of fresh air watching thePokémonanime.
Aspire to Be Like Ash Ketchum
Ash Ketchum Sets a Good Standard for Anyone
Ash himself is worth talking about as well. Ash changes a lot over the course of the anime, as he gains experience and moves from being the newbie to the teacher. Ash is always enthusiastic for whatever’s coming next, and he’s a good sport when he loses. He takes caring for Pikachu and his other Pokémon very seriously, and the show often displays him feeding and otherwise taking care of them. Ash is a good friend as well, supporting his companions in their own endeavors, which they reciprocatewhen Ash has a gym battle. Ash’s willingness to help strangers is also an admirable quality.
These are all positive traits that would help make someone a good person, so Ash is actually a pretty decent role model. It can be easy to forget about things like this in the hustle and bustle of adult life, butPokémoncan be there to remind you, just like when you were a kid. The new seriesPokémon Horizonsis also good for this, and even features major adult characters, such as Friede, who have their own conflicts and learn their own lessons.
When it comes down to it, there’s no reason to be ashamed or embarrassed to watch media aimed at children as adults. Oftentimes, these series are designed to appeal to children and adults alike, and their tonal differences from shows aimed at adults can give them a refreshing change of pace. No one is going to jump out and say, “Silly adult,Pokémonis for kids!” Being an adult means you get to choose what you enjoy, and no one can take that right away from you.
