POKEMON, GOTTA DEVELOP MENTAL CAPABiLiTiES

Our journey starts in Pallet Town, with our young hero, Ash Ketchum, with his Pikachu and hat, he strives to become a pokemon master! Still staying 10 years old after 25 years of experience, this young trainer has finally achieved his goal. After defeating literal gods and losing to a black Charizard, he won the Alola League, setting up a lucky streak for him to achieve the title of Pokemon World Champion in his battle against former champion Leon. Yet, how exactly did our young champion earn his place as champion? How did he stay 10 years old for so long? What was the story of love, loss, tragedy and friendship our young hero beat to get his title? And how does watching Ash in his fun and wacky adventures affect the development of the minds of children who choose to watch the show. Our protagonist, Ask Ketchum has, was and is a questionable boy. Sometimes a smart and tactical

by: Kyle Garo

pokemon trainer that comes up with great strategies, other times, not so much. But, the point of his character is not to be the most intelligent person alive, rather, he embodies the point the show make, things like friendship, sportsmanship, helpfulness and protecting the people we love. Ash Ketchum is shown to be caring, compassionate and friendly to pokemon, yet willing to put up a stand to those who threaten them. He is also adventurous and perseverant, traveling to different regions and never giving up his hope of becoming a pokemon master. He has travelled all many regions, training and helping pokemon along the way, also fighting literal GOD. He had many life changing experiences and battles, learning more of the world and morality in his way. He is truly an inspiration of friendship, kindness and sportsmanship to the youth.

Children are heavily affected by what they watch and learn while growing up. Children who watched violent and comedic yet sad cartoons may desensitize children to cause their comrades pain and sadness. Children who watch cartoons with a positive message and good implementation on the other hand, show more empathy and better life skills. Pokemon is just that. Multiple pokemon from the main characters teams are not fully evolved yet still strong enough to beat other pokemon, yet also, other members evolved. This teaches kids that even as people are telling them to grow up, they can still save their inner child, that even as everyone tells them they are wrong, they continue with what they think is right. We also have the other more obvious lessons, friendship, animal care, negative sentiments to animal abuse, relationships need to be built up slowly and all the others.

Overall, Ash Ketchum, and by extension the Pokemon Show, is a good influence on children mentally.

It shows the need to protect life, to nurture life and to save life. It helps kids to understand more dramatic topics with a lighter tone. It’s also a good way to not get bothered by children for a few hours at a time. Now, all we need to do is find out, how does Ash not age?