Did Ash and Pikachu End Because Their Actors Didn't Get Along? Ash's VA Responds

Did Ash and Pikachu End Because Their Actors Didn’t Get Along? Ash’s VA Responds

Danica Davidson October 15, 2024

A ton of stuff has been leaked online as a result of the massive hack at Game Freak, the company that develops Pokémon games. Game Freak has acknowledged these leaks, but they’ve been wary about commenting on leaked items and if they’re real or not. For instance, is there going to be a Netflix live-action Pokémon show? Is there going to be a Detective Pikachu sequel? At this point, who knows? But one bit of information that’s floating around on the internet has been reportedly debunked.

The rumor in question involves a document that made its way online and contended it was a meeting about the era of Ash and Pikachu in Pokémon — and why it had to end. Allegedly Rica Matsumoto, the VA for Ash Ketchum (who is known as Satoshi in Japanese) and Ikue Ōtani, the VA for Pikachu, were not getting along and had strained relations. And that signaled the end of Ash and Pikachu.

But according to Matsumoto, that’s a lot of hooey.

Responding to the rumors, she wrote on social media (translation via Anime News Network):

Lol
Someone is making this up.
Don’t worry, nothing like this has happened.
I’ve been friends with Iku-chan since we were rookies, and she even came as a guest on the Rica fan club tour.
I don’t know you, do you enjoy writing these things, no one is happy about it. I think it’s in bad taste and childish.

In the midst of the stuff that was leaked, it is possible that some people are trying to pass off fake items as part of the real leak.

Since sharing online yesterday, Matsumoto’s message has been seen more than 100,000 times.

Game Freak has apologized publicly for the leak, vowing to have better security in the future. The full fallout of the hacking has yet to be seen, but maybe the rumors around Ash and Pikachu’s Japanese voice talents can be laid to rest.

Source: ANN

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Danica Davidson is the author of the bestselling Manga Art for Beginners with artist Melanie Westin, plus its sequel, Manga Art for Everyone, and the first-of-its-kind manga chalk book Chalk Art Manga, both illustrated by professional Japanese mangaka Rena Saiya. Check out her other comics and books at www.danicadavidson.com.