On Nintendo Network (and formerly Miiverse), Pokémon forums and various other websites, I am simply known as Shadao. I tend to write a lot of things regarding to Pokémon and any Nintendo-related stuff, as well as other franchises like Star Wars. I like to make artworks in my spare time, and I hope they'll find an audience here on this social network. Visit @rexshadaoart for my art gallery.
I plan to make a long essay talking about the connection between Ash and Red throughout the Pokémon franchise, but since the franchise is over 27 years old, and much of the old Internet is scattered and lost to time, I decided to make a timeline of the early years of Pokémon to compile all the evidences in chronological order, most consisted of their first appearance, the mention of their names in various media, some forums talking about the two, and any other misc information. I also included links to each specific media to keep track of where I found such information whenever necessary.
I know for certain that I'm missing some media here or there, but I'll be updating this post whenever I find new information. If you have any new information, I'll be happy to include it in this massive timeline doc.
Also note, the timeline will not extend beyond 2010 because by that point, Ash and Red have been officially considered to be two distinct characters. This is merely a timeline to document how Red rose into prominence in the Pokémon fandom and at what point was he considered to be a separate character from Ash rather than just Ash with a different name.
February 27th, 1996: Pokémon Red and Green came out in Japan. The player Pokémon Trainer made his debut. Three optional names were offered in Pokémon Red: レッド Red, サトシ Satoshi and ジャック Jack. Three optional names offered in Pokémon Green: グリーン Green, シゲル Shigeru, and ジョン John.
April 1996: CoroCoro Special released "The Strange Pokémon Pippi", the first chapter of Pokémon Pocket Monsters. Pokémon Trainer named Isamu Akai (nicknamed Red) and his rude Clefairy companion.
October 15th, 1996: Pokémon Blue released as a CoroCoro Comic special. Three optional names: ブルー Blue, ツネカズ Tsunekaz and ジャン Jean.
September 1996: Pocket Monsters Carddass Trading Cards released in Japan. Pokémon Trainer featured, though no official name was given.
March 3rd, 1997: Pokémon Special released its first chapter, featuring a Pokémon Trainer named Red. His rival was named Green.
April 1st, 1997: Pokémon anime debuted. Pokémon Trainer named Satoshi featured as main protagonist alongside Pikachu. His rival was named Shigeru.
April 1997: Pocket Monsters Carddass Trading Cards released with a special promotional, rainbow-framed card featuring Pokémon Trainer and three Kanto Starters plus Pikachu. CoroCoro also released the first chapter of Dengeki! Pikachu, manga adaptation of the anime.
May 20th, 1997: Official Fan Book of Pocket Monsters (ポケットモンスター公式ファンブック) released. Heavily featured the Pokémon anime on the front and back cover along with TCG and the video games. Player Pokémon Trainer of Red and Green teased to return in Gold and Silver, and was named Satoshi. Pokémon Special was also featured with an image of Red.
December 16, 1997: "Computer Warrior Porygon" episode aired. Seizure Incident. Footage of Pokémon anime was broadcasted overseas for the first time on news channel. Also on that same day, Pokémon Special Volume 2 was released in Japan, featuring Red getting his Eevee that can switch back and forth of its three Eeveelutions.
January 1998: Nintendo Power announced that Pokémon will be arriving in North America later this year.
February 1998: Pokemon Craft DX Book featured Pokémon Trainer, his Rival, and an unnamed Female Trainer. The name Red does not appear in book.
April 1998: Pokémon Zensho released. Pokémon Trainer was named Satoshi. His rival was named Shigeru.
May 1998: Nintendo Power covered the Pokémon franchise and the craze in Japan. Anime and TGC mentioned. Pokémon Trainer Satoshi was only referred as Pokémon Trainer. No mention of his English name.
July 18, 1998: Pokémon the Movie: Mewtwo Strikes Back released in Japan.
Summer 1998: A Sneak Peek at Pokémon released. Satoshi was renamed to Ash Ketchum. Shigeru renamed Gary Oak. GameBoy footage of Pokémon Red and Blue shown, with the player Pokémon Trainer clearly named Ash.
August 1998: Nintendo Power released a magazine mini-series called Pokémon Power. Included strategy guide. Used English names Ash and Gary for player and rival respectively. Reused again for Player's Strategy Guide.
September 7th, 1998: Pokémon anime released overseas in North America.
September 28th, 1998: Pokémon Red and Blue released in North America. Three optional names in Pokémon Red: Red, Ash and Jack.
September 12th, 1998: Pokémon Yellow released in Japan. Three optional names: イエロー Yellow, サトシ Satoshi, and ジャック Jack. Rival was given an Eevee as his starter.
November 27, 1998: Dengeki! Pikachu released as The Electric Tale of Pikachu.
March 1999: Pokémon Getto Da Ze! (aka Pokémon Gotta Catch 'Em All!) Volume 1 released in Japan. Pokémon Trainer was named Shu.
October 7th, 1999: "Rival Showdown! Satoshi VS Shigeru!!" released in Japan. Gary was revealed to have an Eevee, which he used against Ash.
November 12th, 1999: Mewtwo Strikes Back released in North American theaters.
November 21st, 1999: Pokémon Gold and Silver released in Japan. Previous Pokémon Trainer and Rival were given canon names: Red and Green. Red's team composed of Pikachu, Espeon, Snorlax, Venusaur, Charizard, and Blastoise.
November 22nd, 1999: Time Asia posted an interview with Pokémon creator Satoshi Tajiri. He distinguished Ash and Red's relationship with their rivals to be different (Gary is Ash's superior, Green is Red's rival). However, he also referred to them by the same names respectively: Satoshi for both Ash and Red, Shigeru for both Gary and Green.
July 6th, 2000: Pokémon Special was released overseas as Pokémon Adventures. Red made his oversea debut. Rival renamed Blue.
October 2000: Nintendo Power released Pokémon Gold and Silver: Official Nintendo Player's Guide. Unlike the last Player's Guide, this guide referred the previous Pokémon Trainer and his rival as Red and Blue instead of Ash and Gary.
October 11, 2000: Pokémon Gold & Silver: Prima's Official Strategy Guide released. Pokémon Trainer and Rival referred as Red and Blue respectively.
October 14th, 2000: "Rival Showdown! Satoshi VS Shigeru!!" released in USA as "The Rivalry Revival." The first Johto episode, dub title "Don't Touch That 'dile", aired on the same day as well.
October 15th, 2000: Pokémon Gold and Silver released in North America. Previous Pokémon Trainer and Rival were given canon names: Red and Blue.
November 2th, 2000: "Blacky! Battle During a Dark Night!!" released in Japan. Gary was revealed to have evolved Eevee into Umbreon.
December 14th, 2000: Pokémon Stadium: Gold and Silver released in Japan. Pokémon Trainer named Red served as the final boss of the Gym Leader Castle challenge. His teams were:
March 26, 2001: Pokémon Stadium: Gold and Silver released in North America as Pokémon Stadium 2.
July 23, 2001: Pokémon Crystal: Prima's Official Strategy Guide released. Allegedly, it referred Pokémon Trainer and Rival as Ash and Gary respectively.
August 8th, 2001: Pokémon Special Volume 9 released in Japan, featuring Round 115 "VS. Forretress" aka which revealed that Red's Eevee evolved into Espeon.
October 20th, 2001: "Umbreon! Battle During a Dark Night!!" released in North America as "Power Play."
August 4th, 2002: The first documented screenshot featuring Special Red's profile on Netkun.
November 4th, 2002: Dragon's Love fan fiction published online. Considered Red (Pokémon Adventures) to be the same as Ash.
September 13th, 2003: Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen announced to be in development.
November 4th, 2003: Neoseeker forum posted thread titled "pokemon to beat ash." Question refers to how to beat Red in Pokémon Gold, Silver, and Crystal. However, majority of the users referred to him as Ash (because he looks like Ash), while others thought his name was Red.
January 29th, 2004: Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen released in Japan. Featured a newly redesigned Pokémon Trainer alongside his female counterpart.
November 23, 2004: Netkun released Red's profile during the FRLG arc of Pokémon Special.
December 24, 2004: Ash Ketchum's page was created on Bulbapedia.
February 26th, 2005: Red's page on Bulbapedia created. Only referred to Gen I and II player protagonist.
April 5th, 2005: Bulbapedia designated Pokémon Trainer of FireRed and LeafGreen to be Red from Gen I and II for the first time. Also placed a statement that Red is arguably a Pokémon Master.
April 24th, 2005: The first time Bulbapedia made mention that Ash was likely based on the main character of Pokémon Red and Blue. Linked to Red (game).
November 13th 2006: Bulbapedia page for Red included a Misc Information section stating that Ash and Red are not the same person, noting that many fans have made that mistake. Mixing the two, it claimed, was a big error.
November 14th, 2006: Bulbapedia page for Red claimed that Ritchie, regarded as '"perfect" manefestation' of Ash, is closely designed to the original Red.
November 17th, 2006: Bulbapedia proofread the page and added several other of Red's media counterparts.
October 27th, 2007: Edit war over whether Red's team could be considered a reference to the anime or Pokémon Adventures.
September 12th, 2009: Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver released in Japan. Red appeared in his FRLG redesign. Red's Espeon replaced by Lapras. Red's Pikachu's moveset was changed to reflect Ash's Pikachu's moveset in Diamond and Pearl anime.
One wolf is aggravated by Linkara's review of the Rise of Skywalker comic adaptation because it's the same tired, cliche, utterly bad faith and tone-deaf criticisms lobbed at the movie rather than any of its actual faults. "Wah, why resurrect Palpatine, he was nowhere in the previous two movies and him suddenly being the Big Bad and Final Boss instead of Kylo Ren ruins the trilogy!" (he even shot himself in the foot here by noting that Palpatine was only ever the actual main villain of the previous trilogy enders, and by dismissing the Skywalker Saga defense saying this is the Sequel Trilogy first and foremost as if the film's title doesn't literally include Episode IX meaning by default it connects all the way back to Episode I not just the prior two episodes). "Wah, why make Rey a Palpatine and not someone from nowhere whom the Force just gifted power to, why endorse the Divine Right of Kings from royal bloodlines and then have her become a Skywalker following Luke and Leia's leads instead of carving her own path on top of that?" (he completely misses how this connects to how Rey's arc was set up in TFA and even where she was left off in TLJ where she'd accepted her found family with the Resistance and Skywalkers and is thus challenged when told she's of that family's mortal enemy's blood). "Wah, why redeem Kylo Ren, he was nothing but bad and had no moments that made us ever want to see him redeemed!" (he does Adam Driver's performance a disservice and acts as if Ben Solo didn't get a shit ton of fans who not only wanted him to get redeemed but to survive that redemption as a result). Linkara is yet another TLJ-loving critic who is offended on the perceived walk-backs from that movie and denying the extent to which TLJ didn't align well with TFA / TLJ's ending didn't lend itself well to a satisfactory conclusion to the Skywalker Saga, and is just pinning all the blame for the Sequel Trilogy's shitshow production on the final movie even when you actually look at the situation without emotion it's objectively the least to blame and was just working with what it had. He's better at expressing his views than Brad Jones and the Walkers, but it's still frustrating to hear these views trotted out over half a decade later. Get over it already!
The other wolf is very appreciative of Linkara's segments at the beginning and the end where he defends "Disney Star Wars", points out that Star Wars has always been an omni-present merchandising juggernaut with a shit-ton of installments to varying degrees of quality with messy lore and the only difference with Disney is that it's doing more live-action installments than just sticking to books, comics, cartoons, video games, etc., that it has always been divided between itself and thus the fandom has been similarly divided as well, does not give into the gaslighting about how George Lucas and the Prequel Trilogy and the state of the franchise in general back then were treated that modern fans such as "the Fandom Menace" engage in, and that time heals all wounds which causes previously contested Star Wars installments to gain reappraisals especially from new generations of fans, with fun memes in particular being a major factor - specifically noting how TROS already has that going for it much like ROTS did. In the end, this space wizard shit shouldn't be taken so damn seriously!
But then, I have a love-hate relationship with Linkara in general, so I guess that tracks.
"It happened that, as I was watching some of the little people bathing in a shallow, one of them was seized with cramp and began drifting downstream. The main current ran rather swiftly, but not too strongly for even a moderate swimmer. It will give you an idea, therefore, of the strange deficiency in these creatures, when I tell you that none made the slightest attempt to rescue the weakly crying little thing which was drowning before their eyes. When I realised this, I hurriedly slipped off my clothes, and, wading in at a point lower down, I caught the poor mite and drew her safe to land."
Chapter VIII "Explanation", The Time Machine
Well, like with the Conan piece, this was also another digital illustration I did for Illustration class this year. And honestly, I've learned a lot about inking, lighting and model references in that class.
This artwork, I feel very proud and accomplished with because of all the hours I put into this.
If you're wondering what I've been doing in April and May, this is why. This artwork I did for a Digital Illustration Class assignment.
The subject is Conan the Barbarian and the pirate lady Valeria looking at the ruined lost city known as Xuchotl, which is illuminated by the light of the moon.
Valeria's pose was based on a pose from @adorkastock complete with the swords.
Conan was based on a low-poly model lended to me by the teacher (as we had no big muscular figure for reference).
And I used Cinema 4D to figure out where the lighting of the moon would hit these characters and what kind of shades would emerge from said lighting. The overall artwork is ultimately done in Procreate.
Finally, something that isn't Tincrow, hehe. I like Dorozma; I think it's cute. And if you're wondering about Ozma's design, I wanted to create an androgynous character it's part of the lore I'm developing: fairies are androgynous. I hope I did a good job, since I'm also using this as practice for character design :,
There has been recent debates about how to approach Megatron. Some want him to be an anti-villain with well-intentioned goals and yet also takes things way too far like Magneto. Others want him to be a classic villain, selfish and power-hungry with no redeeming qualities. And others like the idea of Megatron being redeemed.
And this naturally leads to people bringing up the complicated and vengeful D-16 from Transformers One, the redeemed IDW Megatron, the manipulative Animated Megatron, and the classic power hungry G1 Megatron.
But I noticed that one Megatron is often overlooked in these debates, which happens to be Megatron from Transformers Prime. Which is ironic since TF Prime Megatron is voiced by the legendary Frank Welker reprising his role alongside Peter Cullen's Optimus Prime.
Prime Megatron is honestly who I think of when it comes to the definitive Megatron. This Megatron was once a hero like D-16 who wanted equality and liberation from oppression for Cybertronians. But that was a long time ago, and Megatron is completely unrecognizable today.
He is a ruler of ashes. He may have a standing army in his warship compared to Optimus Prime's tiny team, but it's heavily implied in the show that's all he has left in terms of Decepticon forces. Cybertron lies in complete ruins, devoid of energy and sentient life. And yet, it doesn't bother him. Not one bit.
Because Megatron is driven by conquest and spite. Particularly spite against Optimus Prime for standing in his way. For "betraying" him by being anointed as the next Prime.
Megatron coveted that position as it would legitimize his rise to power as a revolutionary. But since he was passed over by the council in favor of his former brother-in-arms, Orion Pax, Megatron felt that the whole universe was conspiring against him. He tried to find and claim the Matrix of Leadership for himself to prove that he is the next Prime, even launching a war to get it. But it only led to Orion Pax being bestowed the Matrix of Leadership and becoming Optimus Prime.
And this only aggravated Megatron further. Now he's convinced that even the Primes conspired against his greatness and rule. And if they see him as the enemy, then he shall be the enemy. If Optimus' ideals are what make him "worthy" of being a Prime, then Megatron shall destroy them to show how weak they are.
Other Decepticons like Starscream want a living planet to rule over. But for Megatron? That's secondary. His main goal is to destroy Optimus Prime first and foremost. Since Optimus cares about humans on this planet, Megatron seeks to conquer Earth and wipe out humanity. When Optimus refuses to kill him, Megatron exploits that mercy to cause more atrocities. If Optimus is given a divine weapon, then Megatron will forge an unholy weapon built from the blood of Cybertron's enemy. He may talk about symbolism of ruling over Unicron and Primus to Shockwave, but it's really just about hurting Optimus Prime whenever he could.
This is why his most evil act is using the Omega Lock to cyber form Earth instead of repairing Cybertron. He knows what that Optimus Prime wouldn't allow humanity to be wiped out, even if it means destroying the only thing that could restore Cybertron. He doesn't care if Cybertron isn't restored. It's all worth it just to torture Optimus Prime with a sadistic choice.
G1 Megatron is a power-hungry monster, but eventually he decided to find other planets to drain their energy once Earth became too much trouble for him. Animated Megatron only sees Earth as a temporary hideout and a target practice for his new weapons, but nothing more. Cyberverse Megatron abandons Earth once the Allspark is found by the Autobots and taken back to Cybertron.
But Prime Megatron sees Earth as the manifestation of Optimus Prime's ideals. And thus, he prioritizes on conquering and destroying Earth over everything else, just out of spite for Optimus.
The only other Megatron who has ever come to that level of pettiness is Skybound Megatron. And that alone should tell you everything. And the fact that Prime Megatron's backstory was one of the big inspirations for D-16 in Transformers One makes me optimistic that if they ever go back to Transformers One continuity, they'll truly make D16/Megatron into an unrecognizable monster driven by spite and power.
I want to see the full story of AU Dragon Link, specifically how he became a dragon and the fallout of his friends now realizing he has reunited with Zelda (Light Dragon) forever. Finding fan fiction of this scenario is surprisingly rare, with the best and completed one being privately hidden from public viewers. Do you ever consider doing an actual fanfiction or full comic of the story?
I actually have a very short comic about this that I started back in 2023 but never finished where Link transforms into a dragon right before the Demon Dragon fight, I should probably try to finish that.
I don’t have one specific backstory for my version of dragon Link, he’s meant to fit with any backstory you want, maybe he became a dragon post Totk to join Zelda, maybe he was sent back in time instead of Zelda, idk I just like drawing him.
I suck at writing so I don’t think I could write a fanfic or do a full comic, but I’ll definitely keep making art of him!
Well, considering that the dragons can't talk, a silent comic would honestly work for them. If there be any dialogue or written words, they can be writings taken from journal observations of people close to Link and Zelda.
One idea that pops into my mind is that the floating Hyrule Castle becomes a nesting ground for the these two dragons. It's a place where you can find the dragons actually resting instead of mindlessly flying the sky. Of course, Link would be rather hostile and territorial towards anyone that venture in the castle. It is, after all, a private sanctum for two now.
This isn’t really a problem on an individual level; it’s the trend as a whole I’m tired of. Like, there are some decent Peter Pan retellings where Peter is the villain.
But. Like. Why is that everyone’s go-to.
I have read the original book. Peter is manipulative, Peter is selfish, Peter is so fundamentally a child that it hurts. But he’s not evil. He flatters Wendy into going to Neverland with him because he’s convinced that she would love it there, because he loves it there, and she just needs a push. He is the kind of child who thinks that what makes him happy would make everyone else happy too.
(And he’s right, Wendy loved Neverland.)
He kills pirates, yes. He also goes out of his way to make it sporting and is horrified at the idea of attacking one who was sleeping. He and Wendy get trapped, about to drown, and when a chance of rescue arrives he sacrifices himself to save Wendy without a single hesitation. He thinks playing schoolboy is an awesome game. He cries for his best friend, Tinker Bell, and frantically begs the world at large to save her from poison.
He’s bossy and kind and always wants to be in charge of the game and is really bad at considering that other people have their own opinions. He makes friends with mermaids and has horrific nightmares and invents the “Second to the right and straight on till morning!” off the top of his head because he’s embarrassed he doesn’t have an address (which the narrator then notes is nonsense and you would never get to Neverland that way).
Everything always has to go his way because he is nine years old and that is the point of the book.
Meanwhile Tinker Bell’s main plot in the book is trying to kill an eight year old girl for daring to look at Peter. Why don’t the retellings ever make her the villain?
*No, the ages are not explicit in text. Peter and Wendy are old enough to read, young enough to be before puberty.
** Yes, Peter can't read. But that's not related to his age.
One of the biggest irony is Wendy was never manipulated to go to Neverland. She chose to go to Neverland and she chose to leave on her own accord. She didn't even learn any lessons in Neverland in the book (contrary to what Disney and the 2003 film may lead you to believe) because she already decided to grow up even before leaving to Neverland. Neverland was just a place where she can be a kid and do anything she wants before she inevitability can longer return back.
Peter tried to keep her forever, yes. But seeing the sad face of Mrs. Darling broke his heart? He couldn't do it. He couldn't bear to separate Mrs. Darling from Wendy forever even if it would make him happy. That's what separate him from true sociopaths.
That's what people forget with all these dark interpretations of Peter Pan. You can always trust Peter to do the right thing in the end because that's who he is deep down.
And honestly, I'm more surprised there weren't darker interpretations of Wendy since nearly ever adaptations went for "Wendy goes to Neverland to avoid growing up, then learns a lesson that growing up isn't so bad because Neverland isn't what she thought."
Wendy wanting to be a mother even as child is the major reason why she is able to grow up without issue. Without that aspect, well, it'll be hard to believe that Wendy would love to be stuck in an Edwardian society.
Okay, so I think I have an idea of what titles each for version of Ozma in your AUs would be given, along with their lovers:
Book Ozma/Tip: Monarch of Oz, and their Princess/Queen Consort Dorothy Gale of Kansas
MGM: King Tippetarius of Oz and his Princess/Queen Consort Dorothy Gale of Kansas
Disney: Queen Ozma and Princess/Queen Consort Dorothy Gale of Kansas
And I don’t know if Ozma/Tippa in the Wicked-Movieverse would ever become ruler of Oz after being Glinda’s ward, but I’d imagine their title would be this:
Ozma Tippetarius, Monarch of Oz, and their Royal Consorts Dorothy Gale of Kansas and Oziandra Rainary Ko Tigelaar-Thropp
Oh love these!! Stamp of approval for all of them :)
Human forms of young Ariel, Attina, and Alana. Ariel is always interested in learning about humans. Attina only goes because she's next in line and takes it very seriously (she emulates her mother as much as possible). Alana is just bored. She hates the human world and tries everything to get out of having to go.
Based on recent events, I genuinely shudder at the alternate history scenario where Adolf Hitler was assassinated by the British and French during the Munich Conference. Oh sure, we got rid of a monster, but Nazi Germany still has a standing army with a lot of high-ranking Nazis fanatically loyal to Hitler's antisemitic and world domination agenda. And they just saw their Fuhrer assassinated during a peace negotiation.
Now of course, the Nazis will lose (they literally cannot win the war in any scenario). But just how much damage and death will Europe suffer before the Nazis finally fall in that scenario?
@danguy96 thank you for your patience on this request, here at last is Tip enjoying a dress while Dorothy has some fun in a suit for Valentine's Day! Or whatever the Oz equivalent is. Probably something like "Ozentines" xD
Thank you so very much for drawing this! It was very much worth the wait, and I love the detail of you adding in Dorothy in a suit to go along her girlfriend’s/boyfriend’s dress (I like to think that as Tip, Dorothy helps Ozma with her/his types of dresses, with Tip not minding wearing dresses when they’re in their “male persona/form”).
Unpopular opinion (?), but I don't really want a mainstream Oz adaptation to have canon dorzma or tincrow. Not necessarily because I don't think it'd be done well, but because there would inevitably be a bunch of morons going "argh how dare they make them gay" and I'd hate having to deal with all their bad takes.
That is true. But the longer it goes, the more people forget that Ozma/Tip is part of the Land of Oz series. And that her relationship with Dorothy is essential.
There's a reason why I was so disappointed by the Wicked Years sequels. The books brought in Tip/Ozma with all the queer themes surrounding the character... but never encompass that with Dorothy Gale. Instead, it's Tip/Ozma with Rain, the granddaughter of Elphaba.
Thus readers will be led to believe that Dorothy Gale is pure and an ordinary Kansas farm girl who wants to go home just like mainstream culture implies instead of the queer girl who decides that Oz is her home.
