Summary
Ash's Fire-type Pokémon are often abandoned by previous trainers. The anime recycles ideas, like Charmander's origin story, with Chimchar and Tepig. Reusing ideas can lead to original spins and deeper character development for Pokémon.
During Pokémon anime, there are many elements that fans may find a little… familiar. One of the biggest examples of this involves Ash's Fire-type Pokémon, as there is a disturbing pattern that appears regarding the unusual way Ash gets his Fire-type starter Pokémon.
Ash's first Fire-type starter Pokémon was, of course, Charmander, which he found abandoned and slowly dying in the rain. After learning that its owner had left it there on purpose and was laughing at its fate, Ash went into the storm to rescue Charmander. When Charmander's original trainer returned to retrieve it the next day, Charmander refused and instead became Ash's Pokémon. This episode is a fan favorite, and Charmander curled up under a leaf, desperately protecting its tail flame, lives on in gifs all over the internet.
It's perhaps no surprise that the creators of the anime decided to revisit this theme when it came time for Ash to receive his Fire-type starter Pokémon in the future.
Most of Ash's Fire-type starters were abandoned.
Anime isn't afraid to recycle ideas, and sometimes it works.
In Pokémon Diamond and Pearl, Ash encounters a Chimchar that belongs to his rival, Paul. Paul is extremely harsh with Chimchar, and eventually abandons it when it fails to meet his expectations. Ash is furious, and when Paul refuses to take it back, Ash adopts Chimchar as his own Pokémon. Like Charmander, Chimchar takes some time to adjust to its new life, and together with Ash, it is able to grow and evolve. While Charizard is notorious for disobeying Ash, Chimchar also has some trouble following instructions, although this is due to it entering a frenzy-like state rather than being deliberately disobedient.
In Pokémon Black and White, the anime uses a similar trope with Ash's Tepig. Ash's Tepig once belonged to a trainer named Shamus, who tied it to a pole after it lost a battle. Tepig's mouth was tied so it couldn't eat, and Ash captured it and also adopted it as one of his Pokémon. When they later met Shamus, he was extremely rude to Tepig, and Ash embarrassed him in battle, with Tepig evolving into Pignite to secure the victory.
For a series as long-running as Pokémon, it's only natural that writers end up recycling some ideas, and when it comes to recycling ideas, it's best to stick with the ones you know have worked. Charmander is a beloved member of Ash's party, so using its shared origins as a model for later Pokémon seemed like an obvious choice. Arguably, their first attempt at remaking Charmander's storyline with Chimchar is better than the original.. Giving Chimchar a connection to Paul, Ash's rival, made their rivalry personal in a way that only Gary could match.
While reusing ideas can feel “lazy,” Chimchar’s journey proves that an idea can be reused and still be unique, and just because an idea has been done before doesn’t mean it can’t be done better the second time around. Pokémon The anime succeeds in portraying the tragic origins of Ash's Fire-type Pokémon, giving these Pokémon more depth than most other Pokémon.