Ash Ketchum has had many companions throughout the course of the Pokémon animated series. From Brock and Misty in Kanto and Johto to Goh in Pokémon Journeys, the types of trainers Ash has met have been diverse. However, there is one companion from the show who would make an amazing main character for new Pokémon series content if Ash ever decided to retire. Bonnie, from Pokémon The Series: XYZ is a plucky, likable character, and, most importantly, she could become a better trainer than Ash if given the opportunity.
Bonnie is the younger sister of Clemont, the Lumiose City Electric-type Gym Leader. She is also in the Pokémon X and Y games as a supporting character for Clemont when the player takes on the Lumiose City Gym. However, her part in the animated series is much bigger. She is presented as a young, up-and-coming Pokémon Trainer with a natural gift for befriending Pokémon, regardless of how powerful or aggressive they might be. She is able to quickly win over Ash's Pikachu, and becomes fast friends with all of Clemont and Ash's Pokémon as they travel together.
While Bonnie is a child, likely somewhere around the ages of seven or eight, she is smart and empathetic. This enables her to solve puzzles the team faces quickly, and gives her the ability to connect emotionally with the struggles of Pokémon they meet on their journey. This can especially be seen in episode 87 of Pokémon The Series: XY, when Bonnie finds and rescues a stranded baby Tyrunt and takes up the role of its mother. Not only does she forge a deep bond with the Tyrunt in a short period of time, but the connection becomes so strong Tyrunt evolves into Tyrantrum at the end of the episode to save her life as she plummets through the sky after rescuing Tyrunt from Team Rocket.
Pokémon's Bonnie Is A Powerful Female Role Model For Kids
Bonnie is brave and willing to take risks that put her life in danger for the greater good of Pokémon and the people she loves. This is best illustrated when Bonnie finds and befriends the Legendary Pokémon Zygarde via one of its Cores, which she names "Squishy." The Zygarde Core travels in Bonnie's bag, and through her love and care, the Legendary Pokémon learns to trust people and accept that not all humans have evil intentions. Bonnie is one of the first Pokémon animated series characters to have such a special bond with a Legendary Pokémon, and she wasn't even legally able to become a Pokémon Trainer when it happened.
Creating an animated series around Bonnie after she is old enough to become a Pokémon Trainer would open the door for a strong, female main character. Her desire to become a Trainer is similar to Ash's, allowing her to continue the Pokémon series legacy of traveling from region to region looking for new adventures and Pokémon companions. While it is currently unknown if Ash will ever retire from the Pokémon series, Bonnie would offer kids around the world a new personality to connect with, and a fresh start for the decades-old TV series.