Ash was once a greenback, cocky, and arrogant pokemon trainer throwing rocks at pidgey hoping he can bare fist a pokemon into a Pokeball. Now he has made his first, or possibly second depending on qualifications, championship.

Whether through different writing or a sense of development Ash has changed through the years fro what you once knew him as. He definitely seems more apt to jump into responsibility when necessary without any doubts and has learned better how to be friends with others. So here are 10 ways Ash has actually changed that you never knew.

10 More Happy

One thing about Ash is during the beginning he really did act miserable and constantly out to prove something. He had a major ego and was constantly pride driven in his actions making him super petty. He was the type of faulty character you would see often in 2000’s media. Now he seems actually more edited and satisfied with just being himself, instead of battles being pride driven they are more fun driven.

Instead of him having a grouchy neutral look he has a big sale and gait to his walk. You could say he is a completely different character because he is so happy and energetic. The old Ash wouldn’t be anywhere near as energetic or bouncy as the new one is all the time. He, in a way, acts more like an immature Monkey D. Luffy now, given random cartoonish streaming cries in pride hurt scenarios before bouncing right back into a steadfast confident state.

9 Rounder

There is a reason that people say the 90’s were “Edgy,” and Ash’s old look embodied that with his spiked hair. His clothing is also much softer, and you could say middle class “Preppy” with modern-style inspired clothing.

Now, overall many of his facial features look more rounded, such as his face which they seem to have added more baby fat. Even Ash current hair looks more rounded as though it’s curly now like an unkempt perm.

8 More Japanese in Look

The original animation in the series made Ash much whiter and vaguer in features, much like a cartoon rather than an anime. As the series went on they made sure to animate Ash as being darker with perkier eyes and more Japanese features in his face.

The modern version of Ash Started in Sun and Moon where you can clearly see that vision now, as opposed to X and Y where it was more of a combination between the two. Even in the Sword and Shield anime you can see Sun and Moon features being the most prominent.

7 Doesn’t Want To Catch ‘Em All

This was a big part of the first season which eventually started getting relaxed as the writer pushed for more friendship driven pokemon for Ash to get. To this day that element was completely phased out of Ash who didn’t do it before pretty much because he was lazy and incompetent.

All of his pokemon are no longer random encounters but quests he helps out with and becomes friends with them. As though no longer makes the choice to own a pokemon, but the pokemon are the ones who choose Ash.

6 Less Straight Foward Attacks

Not to say Ash has more strategy than before, but he isn’t recklessly using just any move with no thought put to battling as much.

There are times he shines and has a well-planned out move that can involve 2 parts, especially involving Pikachu’s Electric Web. Whereas he used to be pretty straight-forward when it came to his battle strategy: Attack!

5 Doesn’t Use The Pokedex

Even THough Ash is given a Pokedex he doesn’t use it. Even when encountering a new pokemon it is always a side character using their Pokedex to tell the viewer about the pokemon. He has especially stopped using it since the Pokedex started talking…

4 No  Longer Arrogant

One of Ash’s biggest old traits was his arrogance, it was his constant downfall. He always felt he didn’t need to train, that he was a top trainer because he got a pity badge, you must be cheating and treating your pokemon bad because I lost type of attitude.

He was not modest, compared to now where he acts like a nice supportive neighbor who isn’t insecure but instead bold and boisterous. Modern Ash has taken the more hero role where he acts more like a person to look up to.

3 Not as Confrontational

The Old Ash’s insecurity led to him getting into actual fistfights with other trainers very often. He would not take bad attitudes from others as level headed as now. He tried to fistfight Mewtwo, certain pokemon, Gary, Gym Leaders, Team Rocket, and other Snobby trainers. He had his fists flying at everyone.

2 No More Flipping The Hat Back

That was one of the most memorable 90’s aspects of Ash. The way most remember Ash from the first season is he looked like a 90’s kid with lots of attitude. It stopped completely sometime around the Diamon and Pearl series where it was phased out. By the Time the first reboot hit, it was no longer a trait you ever saw doing.

It was meant in the first season to show that he was getting series with catching a pokemon or sending something out to battle, much like a pose before throwing the Pokeball. It was both goofy and serious in its own way. Goofy because actually making the pose while throwing that Pokeball and being overdramatic about is hilarious in retrospect, and series because it did add a sense of actual drama when Ash did something.

1 No Longer 11

In a strange twist of time and fate, even though it was pronounced that Ash had been on the road for 1 year by the time he was at the 8th gym, Ash has since been reverted back to 10 years old for every region possibly past Diamond and Pearl.

In actuality, if every League took 1 year to complete, saying they didn’t have a delay like the Indigo League did, and Sun and Moon happened over a pre-summer school season, then Ash should really be around 18 at this point.

NEXT: How To Evolve Riolu (& 9 Other Facts About The Pokémon)