Ash Ketchum has lived quite a life. Actually, he’s lived several lives. Most movie or TV show characters are lucky to be revived just once after they die, but the Pokemon anime has given Ash Ketchum that luck a whopping five times over.
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It’s a mystery why the writers want to keep putting the poor boy through the experience of dying, but either way, it’s triggered the waterworks and created core memories for many a Pokemon fan. Here are all five times Ash has bitten the bullet and been resurrected, listed in chronological order and detailed as thoroughly as necessary.
Before we get started, a quick note on two alternate-universe instances of Ash Ketchum’s temporary demise. In the first movie of a separate-canon trilogy, 2017’s “I Choose You!”, Ash perishes when Marshadow attacks, but is brought back to life through Pikachu and the powers of Ho-oh. “Mewtwo Strikes Back: Evolution”, a 2019 CG film, puts the three-dimensional Ash through the same ringer as the original Pokemon movie whose plot beats it seeks to remake.
1
The Tower Of Terror (EP023)
Ash’s first death – and only death if you don’t consider the movies canon – falls right in line with the general silliness of the original series, being far less emotional than the next few deaths Ash would experience in his life.
In pursuit of a Ghost-type for his battle against Sabrina, Ash and company enter Lavender Town’s fabled Pokemon Tower. It essentially turns into a haunted house-like experience for the gang, and it culminates with Ash and Pikachu having a chandelier fall on them and knock them out. The Haunter that would later accompany Ash essentially kills the two, pulling their souls out of their bodies.
After some initial post-mortem shock, Ash enjoys his time as a ghost, even lifting Misty off the ground without her knowledge. He and Pikachu eventually decide they’ve had enough fun, though, and promptly return to their bodies right as Misty and Brock discover them unresponsive and lifeless.
2
The First Movie – Mewtwo Strikes Back
Most Pokemon fans will come to this moment when they think of a time Ash died, and for good reason. Every subsequent death in the movies tries its damnedest to replicate the magic of this one, and arguably fails each time.
What is basically a whole night of chaos almost culminates in an apocalyptic final showdown between Mewtwo and Mew, before Ash decides he’s had enough of the senseless fighting and steps between the two Legendary Pokemon’s blasts, turning into stone.
A sobbing Pikachu can’t accept he’s gone, trying to electrify him back to life. It’s ultimately the tears of all the Pokemon in the area that end up reviving him, scientific realism be damned.
While most would remember this moment for just how emotionally wrecking it is, it’s also the most extreme representation of Ash’s good heart, as it was that sacrifice that caused Mewtwo to realize the error of its ways.
“Mewtwo Strikes Back: Evolution”, the 2019 CG film, gets a bad rap for its bullish attempt at remaking a classic. It’s not a great effort, but it’s a solid one; Ash’s stoning in Evolution is handled well enough, we guess.
3
Lucario And The Mystery Of Mew
A bulk of the series’ eighth movie takes place in the Tree of Beginning, which has a defense mechanism, mainly consisting of red blobs that eat up any threats that end up inside. Once the Tree’s Guardians in the form of Regirock, Regice, and Registeel notice Ash and his gang (as well as Team Rocket) intruding, the red blobs go after everyone, eating up all the humans and leaving all their Pokemon Trainer-less and devastated.
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Everyone would have stayed dead if it wasn’t for Mew, who had been a strong presence throughout the movie, watching all the Pokemon left behind mourn for their Trainers. It uses its powers to reverse-engineer the Tree’s defenses, bringing all the humans back to life and causing the Regis to back off. It leaves Mew extremely weak, though, setting everything up for the movie’s climactic finale where Ash almost ends up dying again.
4
Pokemon Ranger And The Temple Of The Sea
Here’s another straightforward act of heroism from Ash that supposedly ends up with his demise. “Supposedly”, because it’s not quite clear if Ash truly reached his demise, but either way, he probably would’ve died if it weren’t for the help of yet another Mythical Pokemon.
Samiya, a sea temple where Water-type Pokemon live, has become unstable after the interference of Captain Phantom, the film’s main antagonist. To save the temple, Ash and May need to collect its crystals.
In an effort to obtain one of them, Ash ends up swimming through a flooded area of the temple and essentially drowns to death, until Manaphy uses Heart Swap to give Ash a lifeline and bring the crystal up to the surface.
5
Pokemon The Movie: Black / Pokemon The Movie: White
While they’re technically two movies, Pokemon the Movies: Black and White essentially follow the same plot: Ash becomes friends with Victini; they try to stop antagonist Damon’s efforts to revive an ancient kingdom; Ash dies and Victini revives him.
In spite of the short amount of time they spent together, the friendship between Ash, Pikachu, and Victini was quite strong, as proven by Ash and Pikachu not wanting to leave Victini as it gets trapped in a barrier generated by the castle’s Pillars of Protection.
Thing is, they’re way above the Earth’s atmosphere, and it’s only a matter of time before Ash apologizes for not fulfilling his promise to Victini to bring it to the ocean, and freezes to death. He’s later revived by the overwhelming heat from Victini’s Searing Shot.
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