Pokemon 3: The Movie – When Ash Turned 11
To directly answer the question "in what movie did Ash turn 11" – that movie was Pokemon 3: The Movie (2000), specifically in the bonus short film "Pikachu and Pichu" that aired before the main feature. This 30 minute spin-off was the one official instance where Ash was shown aged up slightly from his eternal age of 10 in the anime series.
Why Was Ash Aged Up in This Film?
Showing Ash as 11 years old for this special short movie was likely done for two key reasons:
To match the maturity of co-star Pikachu‘s evolution into Raichu: In the short, Ash‘s trusted partner Pikachu evolves into the stronger Raichu after touching a mystical evolution stone. Having an older Ash matches this more mature, evolved version of his iconic pokemon.
To depict Ash in a mentor/teacher role: The short involves Ash and Raichu meeting and befriending the playful pre-evolution pokemon Pichu brothers. An 11-year old Ash acts as as mentor figure to these younger pokemon, teaching them about courage and heroes – themes reinforced by his slight age increase.
So while subtle, aging Ash up does fit the narrative and character growth depicted in this unique, Raichu-focused Pokemon story.
A Passionate Fan‘s Memory of Seeing This Special
As someone who grew up obsessed with early Pokemon movies in theaters, I have vivid memories of seeing this Pikachu/Raichu short film premiere. I recall the thrill of seeing franchise heroes Ash and Pikachu in new forms – Raichu‘s long-awaited reveal elicited gasps in the theater!
The short‘s gorgeous watercolor-style animated sequences of Raichu‘s storm abilities left my 10 year old self in awe. And I appreciated the emotional, slightly more mature tone compared to the TV series. To me, it felt like the perfect intro piece to amp up excitement before the main movie.
Over two decades later, I still have fond memories of this rare glimpse at an evolved Pikachu and mentoring version of Ash. It captured fans‘ imaginations in a way no other Pokemon film has quite matched!
Ash‘s Background & The Concept of "Eternal Youth" in Pokemon
To analyze why this Pikachu short stands out as Ash‘s only real instance of aging, it‘s helpful to understand some key character history:
Ash Ketchum first debuted in 1997 at the age of 10 in the pilot episode of the global phenomenon TV series Pokemon. As the franchise‘s central protagonist, Ash has remained the same age despite decades passing both in real-world time and within continuity of the anime.
The prevailing fan theory is that Ash benefits from some form of eternal youth. During the early seasons, he was shown encountering the mythical pokemon Ho-Oh, which some believe granted his wish to "stay a kid forever" as he embarked on his quest to become a Pokemon Master.
So why interrupt this eternal childhood for Pokemon 3‘s spinoff? Creating this outlier where Ash ages up makes the short feel even more magical and distinct from normal Pokemon universe rules.
The writers likely wanted to maximize that sense of novelty while allowing for the themes of growth into mentorship and Pikachu‘s epic evolution into Raichu (a form fans had waited years to see!) Thus this short‘s version of Ash broke the normal franchise convention of perpetual boyhood – making it all the more special.
Symbolic Meaning of Ash Aging Per Fan Theories
Some fans speculate that briefly aging Ash up in this film carries deeper metaphorical meaning as well. Trainers growing older as their trusted pokemon evolve into new forms reflects the parallel journeys of coming of age they take together.
As one Redditor analyzed:
"For 20 minutes, we glimpsed a future where time passes normally for Ash as he grows into a wise mentor helping the next generation while his Pikachu leaves childhood to realize its full potential. It felt symbolic of their eternal bond enduring across the years."
So in fan perspectives, these moments of an 11 year old Ash and evolved Raichu represent the possibilities of growth and maturation their relationships could take in break from the normal cyclical nature of the anime.
Why Ash Remains 10 Years Old Through Most Films
Outside this short exception, however, Ash retains his original 10 year old persona across dozens of films over 25+ years – why is that?
As the global face of the Pokemon brand, Ash‘s eternal youth locks him into the role of perpetual child hero(much like cartoon icons like Bart Simpson). This allows new generations of young fans to continuously relate to him as the underscored "boy who never grows up" on an endless pokemon adventure.
And from a narrative perspective, having a protagonist not changing in age lends the world and storylines a "floating timeline" – the exact years events occur are vague, with Ash always restarting his goal to become champion once more. This recycling is key to the anime‘s longevity.
Conclusion: An Unforgettable Film Defying Franchise Convention
In the end, Pokemon 3‘s "Pikachu and Pichu" delivered an unforgettable experience by defying expectations – aging up signature characters Ash and Pikachu for a symbolic coming of age tale. This made an already eagerly awaited Pikachu evolution into Raichu even more poignant.
As a piece that touches on timeless themes of growth and mentorship set to gorgeous animation with iconic franchise heroes, it is no wonder this short remains a cherished and unique film memory for Pokemon fans 20+ years later!
For the broader anime universe, the eternal 10 year old Ash persists – but this movie created ripples by showing his next stage, if only briefly, in tremendously moving fashion.
