Ash Ketchum's journey in the Pokémon anime came to a mildly controversial end in 2023, as it left many things open-ended in a way that some fans didn't appreciate. Those fans might instead be better off checking out the epilogue for The Electric Tale of Pikachu manga, as it drew many of those plot threads to a satisfying conclusion, while still leaving Ash with the open ending that the anime provided.
The Electric Tale of Pikachu is a manga that adapts the first two seasons of the Pokémon anime, in particular the Indigo League and Orange Islands arcs that made up the bulk of the series' beginning. It features all the characters from the anime, like Misty, Brock, Gary, and Team Rocket, and loosely adapts the plots of certain episodes while also taking time to tell its own stories on occasion. The art style and tone are quite different from that used by the anime, offering unique takes on classic Pokémon designs that are arguably more "realistic." The humor of the series is slightly more mature as well, more aimed at teens than the younger children who constitute the anime's primary audience.
Ash's Manga Finale is Every Fanboy's Dream Ending
For those with strong memories of the first two seasons of Pokémon at its biggest, this manga's ending provides a degree of closure. The epilogue of the series sees Ash writing a letter home to his mother, which is hand-delivered by James of Team Rocket, whom Ash refers to as a "friend." Jessie and James are shown to be married and have quit Team Rocket, with a baby on the way. Ash and Gary's mutual respect for each other has grown, and now the two are proper friends, traveling together in a way that never really happened in the anime. Ash talks about meeting Lugia and what a revelatory experience it was, and even hints that he and Misty have hooked up.
Since The Electric Tale of Pikachu stopped adapting the anime when it moved to Johto, it made sense to offer up an ending for this version of the characters at the time. That means ending right after Ash wins the Orange Islands League, what was certainly a high point of his even in the anime. By contrast, the anime's ending left Ash and Pikachu still traveling on their own, with Team Rocket still chasing after them to chase Pikachu, exactly as before. His last goodbye with Misty in the anime is casual as well. Ash is still adventuring in both endings, but the manga offers a conclusion to certain character arcs, like Ash's relationships with Gary and Misty, or Jessie and James' own relationship, that just makes it more satisfying.
The Pokémon anime wanted to end in a manner that would leave the door open for a return appearance by Ash Ketchum down the line, so they were afraid to diverge too far from the series' status quo, ultimately leading to an unsatisfying ending. The Electric Tale of Pikachu didn't have this problem, since it was just plain over, and was thus allowed to do things like pair up characters. Long-time fans of the Pokémon anime owe it to themselves to check out The Electric Tale of Pikachu, even if it's only to read the epilogue and finally get to give their favorite characters a proper goodbye.
