Ash Ketchum voice actor Veronica Taylor, who voiced Pallet Town's favorite son across the first eight seasons of the Pokemon anime's English dub, says the episode that broke a generation's hearts could have been even sadder.
The entry in question, 'Bye-Bye, Butterfree!' was likely the day you found out all about loss.
In the episode, remarkably only the 21st in the show's entire run, Ash has to come to terms with Butterfree leaving with a mate. The iconic episode, coupled with the Futurama episode 'Jurassic Bark' (if you know, you know) traumatized children the world over.
But, for Taylor, the moment in question is spoiled somewhat by the music that plays over the top of what is supposed to be an emotional moment for Ash as one of his first Pokemon flies the nest.
"I watched it recently and what I can't believe is that [the] music swells," Taylor says on an episode of Crunchyroll's The Anime Effect. "I think it takes you out of it. I was like, can we have a little bit more of – I just wanna cry, I just wanna watch, and see the joyful scenes and remember. But then the music is like [guitar riff]."
You only have to watch the scene back for yourself to understand Taylor's point. While at the time the soundtrack may have been drowned out by our own stifled sobs, over a quarter-of-a-century later it clearly needs to be dialled down a notch or two to let the moment breathe. Super effective, it is not.
If you're still playing catch-up on Ash's journey (and beyond), head on over to our guide on how to watch Pokemon in order. Then relive some of the franchise's big-screen adventures with this ranking of best Pokemon movies.
