Twenty-two years. That’s how long it took. When Ash in Pokémon Sun and Moon finally hoisted that trophy in Alola, it wasn't just a plot point; it was a cultural reset for a generation of fans who had grown used to seeing the kid from Pallet Town choke at the finish line. Honestly, the shift was jarring at first. People hated the art style. They complained about the "soft" look. But if you actually sit down and watch the 146 episodes of the Sun & Moon series, you realize it’s arguably the most sophisticated writing the Pokémon anime has ever seen. It stopped being a repetitive road trip and turned into a genuine character study.
Ash Ketchum didn't just go to a new region; he went to school.
For the first time since 1997, the show stayed in one place. Melemele Island became home. This wasn't the stoic, "shonen-hero" version of Ash we saw in XY&Z. This was a kid rediscovering the joy of just being a kid, and paradoxically, that’s exactly what he needed to finally become a champion.
The Art Style Controversy: Why It Actually Worked
Let’s address the Elephant (or Phanpy) in the room. When the first trailers dropped back in 2016, the internet went nuclear. Ash looked "rebooted." His face was rounder, his movements were fluid to the point of being rubbery, and he lacked those sharp, jagged lines that defined his look in Kalos.
But here is the thing: the animation was better.
By simplifying the character designs, the team at OLM, Inc. was able to inject an incredible amount of "sakuga"—those high-quality, fluid animation sequences—into the battles. You can’t get the expressive, wild physics of a Z-Move with the rigid models of the previous seasons. The "smear" frames allowed Ash to express emotions beyond just "determined" or "surprised." He was funny again. He was goofy. He was Alolan.
The Alola region is based on Hawaii. It’s laid back. It’s warm. If Ash had shown up in his stiff, serious Kalos persona, he would have felt like a tourist. By softening his edges, the creators made him part of the ecosystem. It allowed for a slice-of-life storytelling rhythm that the show desperately needed after decades of "arrive at town, beat gym, leave town."
Relearning the Basics at the Pokémon School
Ash in Pokémon Sun and Moon wasn't chasing badges. There were no gyms. Instead, we got the Island Challenge, or Mohn's Trials. This changed the fundamental stakes of the show.
Instead of traveling with one or two companions, Ash was part of a legitimate ensemble cast. Kiawe, Mallow, Lana, Sophocles, and Lillie weren't just sidekicks; they had their own houses, their own families, and their own traumas. Lillie’s inability to touch Pokémon—a plot point driven by the horrific actions of her mother, Lusamine—provided a level of emotional depth that the anime usually reserved for movies.
Ash acted as the catalyst for these characters. He wasn't the only one growing; he was teaching while learning. We saw him integrate into a community. He lived with Professor Kukui and Professor Burnet, creating a makeshift family unit that felt more real than his distant relationship with Delia Ketchum back in Kanto. This "found family" dynamic is why the eventual Alola League victory felt so earned. He wasn't just winning for himself; he was winning for his home.
The Power of Z-Moves and the Alolan Team
The battle mechanics changed the game. Mega Evolution was cool, sure, but it was exclusive. Only certain Pokémon could do it. Z-Moves? Anyone could use them, provided they had the bond and the crystal.
Ash’s Alolan team is arguably his most "unique" roster. It wasn't about raw power; it was about personality.
- Pikachu: Obviously. But with 10,000,000 Volt Thunderbolt, he reached god-tier status.
- Rowlet: A fan favorite who refused to evolve and literally slept inside Ash’s backpack during battles. It was hilarious, but also a reminder that Pokémon don't have to be "tough" to be effective.
- Lycanroc (Dusk Form): A literal one-of-a-kind evolution that represented Ash’s specific training style—a mix of ferocity and calm.
- Incineroar: The culmination of one of the saddest arcs in Pokémon history. The death of Stoutland is still one of the few times the show has tackled permanent loss. Seeing Torracat evolve into Incineroar after defeating its rival, Kukui’s Incineroar, was peak storytelling.
- Melmetal: Ash caught a Mythical Pokémon. Let that sink in.
- Naganadel: An Ultra Beast.
This team wasn't built to win a standard league. It was built to survive the chaos of Ultra Space and the experimental nature of the first-ever Manalo Conference.
That Historic Win: The Manalo Conference
People like to move the goalposts. When Ash won the Orange Islands, they said it didn't count because it wasn't a "major" league. When he won the Alola League, the skeptics said it was "too easy."
They’re wrong.
The Alola League was an open tournament. It brought back old favorites and put them against the best the islands had to offer. The final battle between Ash and Gladion was a masterclass in strategy, but the real final was the exhibition match against Professor Kukui (Masked Royal).
That 6-on-6 battle is widely considered one of the best in the history of the franchise. It wasn't just about Type advantages. It was a clash of philosophies. Kukui wanted to build a league to bring Alola together; Ash wanted to prove that his unconventional, "friendship-first" style could beat the best. When Pikachu finally took down Tapu Koko—a literal deity—the debate ended. Ash Ketchum was a Champion.
Why "Sun and Moon" Still Matters Today
Looking back from the perspective of the Journeys era and Ash’s eventual retirement as the protagonist, the Alola arc stands out as the turning point. It proved that the show could change its formula and still succeed. It proved that Ash didn't have to be a static character who reset every 150 episodes.
He carried his Z-Ring and his status as Champion into the next series. The continuity finally mattered.
The series also gave us a different kind of antagonist. Team Skull wasn't trying to destroy the world; they were just kids who felt left out of the Island Challenge. They were relatable. Guzma, their leader, is perhaps the most tragic figure in the show—a man who hated the "power of friendship" because he felt it was a lie used to justify his own failures. Ash beating Guzma wasn't just a win; it was a rebuttal to cynicism.
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What Most Fans Miss About the Alola Arc
A lot of people skipped this era because of the art, and that's a tragedy. If you look closely at the background details, the world-building is insane. The way Pokémon are integrated into Alolan society—as firefighters, as transport, as culinary assistants—is much more fleshed out than in previous regions.
Also, the humor. The "faces" Ash makes in this series became legendary memes for a reason. The writers allowed themselves to be weird. They did a baseball episode. They did a racing episode. They leaned into the absurdity of a world where people keep fire-breathing lizards in their pockets.
By the time the series ends, and Ash says goodbye to his Alolan family, it hits differently than his usual departures. He’s not just leaving a group of friends; he’s leaving a home he helped build.
How to Experience the Best of Alola
If you're looking to revisit this era or jump in for the first time, don't feel like you have to slog through every single episode. While the slice-of-life stuff is great, there are specific "peaks" you shouldn't miss.
- The Stoutland/Litten Arc: Start around Episode 7. It’s heavy, but it defines Ash’s relationship with his Pokémon for the rest of the series.
- The Aether Foundation Saga: This is the "main" plot. It’s where the stakes go from 0 to 100 very quickly.
- The Manalo Conference: Specifically the battles against Guzma and Gladion.
- Ash vs. Kukui: The full 6-on-6 exhibition match. It’s the gold standard.
There is no "gym leader" checklist here. Instead, focus on the bonds. Watch how Ash interacts with Rowlet. Notice how he treats his classmates. That is the true core of Ash in Pokémon Sun and Moon. He didn't win because he trained the hardest; he won because he understood Pokémon better than anyone else in the room.
Next Steps for Pokémon Fans
To truly appreciate the growth of the character, you should compare the Alola League finals with his previous "heartbreak" in Kalos. Observe the difference in his tactical flexibility—specifically how he uses the environment rather than just brute-force attacks. You might also want to track down the "Sun & Moon" art books to see the early character sketches; it gives you a much better appreciation for why the animators chose that specific, fluid style. Finally, check out the Alolan episodes of Pokémon Journeys to see how the characters reacted to Ash's global success later on. It brings the whole journey full circle.