Pokemon stories often appear as sweet, simple tales written for children, but the overarching themes run far deeper. If you’re familiar withthe original Pokemon themesong’s lyrics, you may notice several lines that serve as a manifesto of Ash’s journey and Pokemon media as a whole.
From traveling across the land to teaching Pokemon to understand their power, this first theme sets the tone for the poignant kernels of wisdom that the series explores. Using the opening theme as a key point of reference, let’s dive into Pokemon’s best life lessons.
10Winning Isn’t Everything
Every season of the Pokemon anime begins with Ash striving to become the champion or to top the rankings in places like Galar. However, the seasons rarely ever end with victory for Ash, as he only becomes champion of one region: Alola.
Despite consistently falling short afterdefeating difficult Elite Four membersand other powerful trainers,Ash’s approach to battling matures with each loss. He realizes that learning from his mistakes and enjoying the journey with friends is essential to his growth as a person and trainer.
If Ash won in Kanto, he might not have continued exploring other regions and could have missed out on making countless friends and memories.
9Set Goals, Not Comparisons
“I want to be the very best, like no one ever was,” is the first line of Pokemon’s original theme, and an example of Ash’s singular focus at the onset of his journey. However, several battles throughout the series teach Ash an important reality:there will always be someone better than you.
And you know what? That’s completely okay.
Ash loses to trainers like Flint andhis powerful starter, Infernape, but learns from this loss as a necessary experience that later helps him to defeat others, like Cynthia – one of the strongest trainers ever. If Ash obsessed over each loss, he might never have developed the self-belief that led to him becoming the Alolan champion.
8Find Your Passion And Own It
Stepping away from Ash momentarily, many other folks are striving to achieve their goals in the Pokemon world. From Nurse Joy’s passion for healing to Sonia’s pursuit of historical truth in Galar, everyone has their niche in Pokemon, however small it may seem.
The many trainer classes found throughout the series offer further examples of goals that don’t necessarily include battling to become the strongest trainer. From breeders to actors to couriers, and everything in between,there are many professions worth pursuingif it’s something you’re passionate about.
7Let Love Blossom Naturally
Oh Brock, where do we even begin? If there was everan example of how not to find love, then Brock is surely it. Whether you believe in love at first sight or not, Brock certainly takes this paradigm to the extreme, falling in love with just about any attractive person he meets.
There’s nothing inherently wrong with pursuing your options, but itmight not be a good idea to start gushing with professions of unrequited lovein the first 12 seconds after meeting someone. Love, much like becoming a champion, isn’t something that happens in an instant. It takes time and cultivation to blossom, so don’t force things and take it slow.
6Listen And Learn
You know, Brock could benefit from this advice as well, but let’s consider it in the context of starting your Pokemon journey as a trainer.
Most Pokemon games begin with a tutorial from a professor or more experienced trainer who knows the ropes. Ash’s path begins similarly, and his journey is full of further advice from seasoned competitors, namely gym leaders.
For instance,Ramos, the Grass-type Gym Leader of Coumarine City,educates Ash through cryptic sayings. Ash chooses to listen and processes the advice while reflecting on it during battle; this eventuallyserves as Ash’s key to defeating the Grass master.
Ash humbles himself and accepts that Ramos is wiser than he is, and this humility cools Ash’s hot head and teaches him not to rush blindly into every battle.
5Greed Isn’t Good
Team Rocket is a cautionary tale against the dangers of unchecked greed and the pursuit of power. The driving force of Team Rocket’s greed is Giovanni, the shady leader of the international crime syndicate.
While Giovanni calls the shots, he sends his many grunts – including Jesse, James, and Meowth – to do his dirty work for him. In the end, despite the many failures of Giovanni and his grand plans, the ones who end up suffering are his employees – all while Team Rocket’s CEO hides in mysterious locations.
The greed of one man leads to the suffering of manywho follow him in hopes that they too may share Giovanni’s power, which Jesse and James repeatedly declare as their motivation. Pursuing goals solely to gain wealth or status will always end in ruin – for you and those around you.
4Don’t Be Afraid To Let Go
Alright, let’s get the tears going now, shall we?
In the anime episode, “Bye Bye Butterfree,” Ash is faced with a hard reality: releasing his Butterfree so that the Pokemon can pursue a happy life with its (shiny) partner. The decision Ash makes is firmly rooted in the belief, “If you love something, let it go.”
Aside from the obvious message of this cliché,letting go of the past is a valuable lesson to learn, especially when we feel the impetus to relive pain or past mistakes. People and experiences come into our lives, but may not stay forever.
Cherishing warm memories while learning from difficult timesallows us to move forward without regret – after all, no life is perfect.
3Explore With An Open Mind
Pokemon encouragesexploring new regions, making new friends, and striving to be the bestyou can bealong the way – just like our journey in real life. Ash’s fearless sense of adventure takes him from Kanto to Alola and everywhere in between, opening his world to people and Pokemon he could never have imagined.
While he rides a Lapras and other Pokemon across the ocean in Kanto, Lana’s Brionne introduces him (and Pikachu) to bubble transportation, a wonderfully whimsical way to cross the water. Ash follows Lana’s lead and experiences something he might never have done alone, a reminder thatkeeping an open mind can yield unexpectedly beautiful results.
2Celebrate Our Differences
With over 1,000 Pokemon and nine regions to explore, there are countless unique styles and points of view to uncover in the Pokemon world. Ash and Goh’s joint journey embodiesthe importance of sharing differing views with peers.
You teach me, and I’ll teach you.
Forming groups or cliques that serve as an echo chamber of the same beliefs limits your perspective and prevents the discovery of new ideas. Similarly, Pokemon’s theme song highlights the importance of not only raising your Pokemon and teaching them new moves but alsoallowing yourself to learn from your partners along the way.
1You Control Who You Become
Pokemon: The First Movieis home to many heart-wrenching moments that are sure to bring tears to your eyes. The most poignant and important life lesson in Pokemon comes from Mewtwo after Ash sacrifices himself to save Pikachu:
…But not until they set aside their differences did I see the true power they all shared deep inside. I see now that the circumstances of one’s birth are irrelevant; it is what you do with the gift of life that determines who you are.
This moment embodies the many lessons found within Pokemon, several of which become clear upon a close reading of the iconic original theme song. While we cannot control who we are expected to be,our greatest strength is determining the person we become, through our words and actions toward others.
