Do we like them?

Do we like Ash Ketchum?

A character from Pokémon (1997–2023)

Our score: 9 out of 10. Yes, we'd back him. He's stubborn, loyal and endlessly kind, and he treats every Pokémon like a friend. He loses a lot and keeps going, so it's easy to cheer for him.

Ash Ketchum is a boy from Pallet Town who dreams of becoming a Pokémon Master. He oversleeps on the day he is meant to get his first Pokémon and ends up with a stubborn Pikachu who won't obey him. The show follows the two of them as they travel through region after region, collecting gym badges, entering league tournaments and meeting a changing cast of friends and rivals.

Ash is impulsive, hot-headed and sometimes clueless, but he is loyal and brave. He will leap into danger for a Pokémon he has only just met, and he cares more about his bond with his team than about winning. He takes losses hard, then trains harder. Over the years he also grows into a patient mentor to younger trainers. That mix of heart and persistence is why he scores so high.

After many near misses, Ash finally wins big. He became Alola League Champion, then took the title of World Champion at the end of Pokémon Ultimate Journeys. His long story then closed with a final set of episodes, and the anime moved on to a new cast in Pokémon Horizons. He is still a hero we'd follow anywhere.