Why You Should Respect Ash's Lucario OR Why Anipoke Shouldn't Push a Rivalry between Lucario and Cinderace OR I have no idea what to title my first Pokemon Analysis
Now, as you read this, I know what you're probably thinking. Nycteus, tons of people have already analyzed this new season of the Pokemon Anime and Ash's team. Why are you kicking this beehive?? Well, sit down for a minute, and hear me out on this.
Ash's team this season, is a big deal. This season and the Pokemon he has adventured with are truly something special. And while there's going to be time for me to cover nearly all of them in due time there is one in particular who spurred me into action to write this post:
This absolute unit, this powerhouse of character development, this loveable mothertrucker is what convinced me of Anipoke's quality. Quite simply put, this Lucario is my favorite Anipoke mon we've had in years.
Now, Lucarios in the Pokemon anime are nothing new: we've had approximately 20 billion of them (I counted). Although in the past, Lucario's were basically background characters, their trainers being non main characters who appeared for 3 episodes or little more. There were a few exceptions, such as firstly, Cameron and his Riolu/Lucario (who are adorable and underrated)
And secondly, the one we all know, the Lucario from the 8th Pokemon movie (No, I'm not gonna refer to him as Sir Aaron's Lucario, because he's his own independent doggo)! Now this Lucario in particular, from the Mystery of Mew, is well worth going into detail on because of his relevance to Ash and my current season Pokemon GOAT, which I'll get into. In this film, Lucario was from a time far in the past, long before trainers and Pokemon capturing existed. He had a human best friend, named Aaron. Well, more accurately, Aaron saw Lucario as a friend, but Lucario thought that Aaron saw him as simply his student, and treated him as if one would treat a teacher. This misunderstanding, along with several other events, leads to one of the most tragic stories in the Pokemon anime.
Aaron, who in this film is an Aura Guardian and fights to protect his and Lucario's home, suddenly finds that home being devastated by a war. Their home, the Kingdom of Rota, is connected to the Tree of Beginning, a spiritually significant tree in which Mew, the legendary Pokemon, lives. It's at this point that Aaron makes a bold decision:
Aaron decides to sacrifice himself, and before doing so, he uses his aura staff and abilities as a Guardian to trap Lucario in a protective sleep within his staff, thinking that Lucario will try and follow him and could lose his life as well. Lucario remains in stasis for centuries until the aura of one boy in particular, wakes him up: Ash Ketchum's. Ash's aura is so similar to Sir Aaron's that, when Ash is wearing a costume made to honor Aaron (an award he was given by Rota's current government), his aura is virtually indistinguishable from the hero.
This Lucario wakes up in the time period of Ash's and is confused and even angry at first, mistaking Ash for his former friend Aaron. However, Lucario then decides to help the boy (whose Pikachu had been mistakenly kidnapped by Mew to The Tree of Beginning) the two even become friends after Lucario was initially distrustful of humans. Lucario goes through great character development and learns to help Ash, even bravely protecting him and his friends from other Pokemon at the Tree of Beginning who don't understand why a human is there and aren't afraid of showing violence to Ash and his friends. However, what makes this Lucario's story truly tragic, is how he ultimately succumbs to the same fate that Aaron did: as all of the time Ash and his human friends spend trying to rescue Pikachu put the Tree of Beginning in danger and the only way to set it right, is for the tree to be given the aura of a true Guardian. Lucario offers selflessly to help, and Ash does too, as he now remembers what Lucario told him about his aura being similiar to Aarons. Ash bravely works alongside Lucario to revive the tree, but ultimately, Lucario shoves Ash to the side, not wanting the boy to sacrafice himself. Lucario smiles at Ash, and with that, he leaves his life... Someone who Ash had formed a true bond with, just gave his life to protect Ash and every other living creature at the Tree of Beginning by preventing the Tree's death.
It's on this exact stage, that we now transition to the 21st episode of the Pokemon anime. In this episode, Ash manages to do the impossible and inspires a Pokemon to leave its egg early in the Pokemon Center purely through the inspiration with which Ash gives it.
Yes, you heard me correct, a Pokemon that hadn't yet hatched from it's egg, is so inspired by the positive energy, his aura with which Ash gives off that it hatches. And this Pokemon, is none other than Riolu the baby form of Lucario.
This, is a huge deal. This is something fans have been waiting for years to see, ever since Ash's aura was strong enough to wake Lucario up in the Mystery of Mew. Ever since the bond Ash had with Lucario in that film, fans were waiting for Ash to raise a Lucario of his own. And he did it: He welcomed this Riolu into his life with open arms. And even better, this Riolu has recently evolved into a Lucario, single-handedly from the friendship between the two of them. And... The rest is adorable Pokemon history...
Now, after this amazing first showing, something has changed. The recent Pokemon episodes have been neglecting on developing Lucario and instead focusing on cheap jokes involving it getting angry with Goh's Pokemon, Cinderace (Goh being one of several new main characters for this season. Not only is Lucario being involved in these rude and mean spirited jokes, but it is now even implied to have a rivalry with this Cinderace!
Which makes no sense, as previously they were friends, not to mention that Ash has been shown to be more of a mentor to Goh, so it makes no sense for Goh's Cinderace to be bitter with Lucario. It would make far more sense for Cinderace to want to learn from Lucario, considering Ash and his Lucario are clearly shown to be so strong...
However, I will not harp on this point, as my friend Sunseeksday has already made a far more well written post than mine on why exactly a rivalry between Ash's Lucario and Goh's Cinderace makes no sense.
Hiya! I like to write stuff! (requests closed) — Why a rivalry between Ash and Goh WOULD NOT work (tumblr.com)
Now, after you've heard this long passioned ramble from me, I have a question: Does it truly make sense for Ash's Lucario to be forced into a bitter, meanspirited fued with Goh's Cinderace? No, it doesn't make sense, and its not what Lucario or Cinderace deserve. They deserve to have satisfying development that isn't forced...
So, you guys feel similarly, right? OK, Good.
Tags: pokemon journeys anipoke pokeani ash ketchum pikachu lucario goh cinderace
