[Image Description: A screenshot of Ash Ketchum lying on the grass looking up at the sky with a grin. Pikachu is standing near Ash’s head and is also looking up towards the sky with a wide smile]
It's been 25 years since the iconic original series was first aired, and it's been quite the ride ever since. I just want to give a small Happy 25th Anniversary to the show as it's been a massive part of my life. I started watching the anime in 1999 as a kindergartener). For better or for worse, it was the anime that got me hooked on the franchise, and 23 years later, I'm still a massive Pokemon nerd.
As a kid, I admired Ash a lot, and honestly still do. Showing kindness and perseverance throughout multiple failures and setbacks is inspiring. And seeing Ash finally clinch the win in Alola's league, I actually teared up at that. Also, I've always loved how the anime really has harped on showing Pokemon and humans living in harmony and expanding the world beyond the gyms by giving contests such a prominent role and coming up with new competitions like the Pokeringer, contests, or Showcases. Even just the mundane such as having the Squirtle squad be firefighters or, yes, even the infamous Ambipom Ping Pong episode, shows how Pokemon are used in ways not just for standing at the top of the Pokemon league.
The anime is not perfect, sure (but nothing in life is perfect), but it has a charm that keeps me invested even in my late 20s. And if it wasn't for the anime, I wouldn't have gotten involved in other aspects of the series, which meant I would have missed out on the irreplaceable friendships I've made over the internet sharing my love of Pokemon.
So Happy Anniversary, Anipoke. And thank you for all the good memories!
