Pokemon Moments That’ll Leave You In Tears

When it comes to Pokemon, there are plenty of highs and lows for anime fans to binge. The beloved series has been on-air in some capacity for more than a decade, and a slew of heart-wrenching scenes have made their way into Pokemon‘s canon. Be it through movies or the show itself, Ash Ketchum has left millions of fans in tears over the years – and it’s time fans took a walk back through some of the anime’s most depressing moments.

Here at ComicBook, you can stroll through the tragic past of Pokemon, but you will want to gather some tissues before you head off on your journey. Ash’s dream to become a true Pokemon Master has not been an easy one at times, and the boy’s poor struggles will leave you bawling with the littlest nudge.

Pikachu’s Goodbye

In the first season of Pokemon, fans all but dissolved into a puddle of tears when they thought Pikachu and Ash would be separated for good. In the anime, the duo nearly split when they stumbled upon a wild Pikachu group, and Ash’s first Pokemon immediately fell into the group’s rhythm. Thinking Pikachu would be happier with his kind, Ash quietly leaves his best friend behind, and the boy was filled with all kinds of pre-teen angst. Luckily, Ash and Pikachu reunited in a rather dramatic manner, solidifying how close the pair were and would eventually become. 

Brock And Misty Leave Ash

It’s always sad when friends part ways, but nothing could prepare anime fans for the leave of Brock and Misty. Pokemon went through hundreds of episodes with the duo as they helped Ash along his journey, but they could not stay forever. Eventually, Misty needed to return to the Cerulean Gym while Brock felt the need to explore other regions. As such, the trio had a final, emotional goodbye as Ash and Pikachu set off on their own again.

Ash Parts Way With Charizard

Ash and Charizard have always had a tempestuous relationship with one another. They rarely saw eye-to-eye at first, but their overt antagonism towards one another softened with time. So, when the third season of Pokemon came around, fans were stunned when Ash offered to leave Charizard to train with his friends in the Charicific Valley. The heroic trainer did his best to keep a straight face in front of his strongest Pokemon, but Ash couldn’t help but let his sadness show. And, for audiences, that is when their waterworks started.

Goodbye Butterfree

Releasing a Pokemon is always hard, but the anime has seen its fair share of creatures regain freedom over the years. However, when Ash let go of his Butterfree back in season one, the ensuing montage left fans traumatized. Not only was Butterfree one of Ash’s favorite Pokemon, but it was also his first aside from Pikachu. The pair caught an unsuspecting Caterpie which evolved into the beautiful bug-type Pokemon, but Ash knew he had to let Butterfree go when it ran into a hoard of its own kind. Seriously, seeing Ash run after his friend whilst bidding a tearful goodbye is enough to choke up anyone.

Ash Dies – Kind Of

Death is not a stranger to the Pokemon series despite the anime’s decision to keep its presence at a minimum. Nods have been made to various Pokemon deaths over the year, and the most recent Pokemon anime overtly referenced a creature’s passing. However, few fans ever expected Ash to be the person who bit the dust, so audiences were left sobbing when the hero apparently died in Pokemon: Mewtwo Strikes Back. Watching Ash get turned to stone was hard enough but seeing Pikachu cry over his trainer’s body was soul-destroying. Luckily, the couple hundred Pokemon tears were able to revive Ash, but the encounter has scarred fans to this day.