If Takeshi Shudo had his way, the Pokemon anime would've ended with Ash as a delusional old man! Comicbook reports that Shudo, who wrote the first three seasons of the series and three movies, planned to have Ash reflecting on his childhood as an old man and wondering whether Pokemon really exist or not. The series would then close out with Ash wandering into the woods searching for Pokemon, presumably to die.

WHAT THE HELL, SHUDO?!

I suppose I shouldn't speak ill of the dead, as Shudo passed away last year, but that's quite a bonkers and ridiculously dark direction for a series that has been pretty happy all the way through. It would also directly conflict with every Pokemon game in existence or perhaps be an incredibly symbolic statement on mental illness...I can't decide which.

Obviously, Nintendo had other plans as Shudo was taken away from the series not too long after pitching a "Pokemon Revolution" movie that would reach its climax in Ash and Pikachu having a showdown to decide the fate of Pokemon and human kind.

Good to know the series won't be straying from its lighthearted nature anytime soon!