Ash Gets a New Look in the Latest Pokémon Anime

It’s been almost 20 years since the Pokémon anime was released in Japan.
While Ash Ketchum’s look has understandably had slight changes since then, the 10-year-old Pokémon trainer goes through an extreme makeover in the new Sun and Moon anime, which is based off the tropical region of Alola.
For instance, Ash’s face is a whole lot rounder than previous seasons. His hair is wavier, plus his nose is radically smaller. The squiggles on his cheek are more pronounced as well.
Here’s a comparison of how Ash’s look has changed through the years:

サトシさんの歴代シリーズ作画の移り変わり #anipoke pic.twitter.com/wcHVF7SPyZ

— 赤面くん (@RUlT0_) September 15, 2016

Safe to say, reactions online have been…divided, to say the least. Some hardcore fans have clamoured for Ash’s old look, while others have heralded the new changes, with some even comparing the art style to Hayao Miyazaki’s famed Studio Ghibli.
Whatever the case may be; it’s certain the anime’s taking on a whole new direction. First up, Ash will be, gasp, going to school! No longer will he be wandering the land training to be the very best. The new series will also feature the new Z-Moves in battle, introduced by the new Pokémon games.
If anything, Pikachu is still remarkably cute. Except in this screenshot tweet captured by Twitter user @rozikku_0317, where the pint-sized electric mouse looks disturbingly deranged.