Pokémon: How Old Is Serena (& 9 Other Questions About Her ... - CBR

Even as a fresh-faced Pokémon trainer, Serena stands out from the many other companions Ash has had over the years. Not only does she leave home without a clue about her goals in life, but she is also the only companion who knew Ash before the series began and has very obvious romantic feelings for him, even kissing him in her final episode.

RELATED: Pokémon: Everything We Know About Pikachu Project 2020

For the most part, Serena was able to keep Ash on his chosen path even when he was at his lowest or feeling the pressure in a particularly important battle. This makes her stand out from previous potential love interests like Misty, who had a much less personal relationship with him. Apart from her relationship with Ash, there's plenty more to know about Serena's character.

10 How Old Is Serena?

It isn't explicitly stated in the anime, but considering her status as a newbie Pokémon trainer and her past interactions with Ash, she is most likely 10. That being said, she is based on one of the rival characters from Pokémon X & Y, who is stated to be older than the other beginner trainers alongside the player character. Therefore, it is possible that she may actually be a few years older than Ash. Since teenaged characters are shown to be quite a bit taller than Ash, it's likely that she is, at most, probably a couple of years older than him or around the same age.

9 What Is Her Japanese Name?

Unlike virtually every other character in Pokémon, Serena's name wasn't changed in localization. This trend follows through with all of her other localized names as well, with her either being called Serena or a transliteration of that name more suited to the language it is being translated into. The same can't be said for her mother, Grace, whose name is based on "race" due to her status as a former Rhyhorn racer, while her Japanese name, Saki, could be based on multiple different words in Japanese.

8 Is Serena's Father Ever Shown?

Like many other new trainers in Pokémon, only one of Serena's parents is ever shown on screen, in this case, her mother. Her father is only briefly mentioned at one point in passing during the anime.

RELATED: Pokémon: 5 Ways Jessie & James Are Team Rocket's MVPs (& 5 It's Butch & Cassidy)

Like Ash and Brock's father, it is likely that he is on his own Pokémon journey in the Kalos region, which is why he is never seen in the series.

7 Is She In The Manga?

Most of the main characters in the video game series as well as the anime are based on characters from the Pokémon Adventures manga. In this case, Serena is based on Y from the X and Y Adventures series. Unlike her anime counterpart, she began her journey with a Fletchling and is likely the reason why there is one in her house at the beginning of the anime series. Unlike her anime counterpart, Y isn't as unsure about her goals in life and doesn't take part in contests.

6 Why Did Serena's Look Change?

One of the biggest twists in the Pokémon anime was when, following a major loss during a Pokémon Contest, Serena completely changes her look from how she was designed at the beginning of the series. This was refreshing to witness, as none of the other main characters have ever changed their appearance so drastically in the middle of a season before. Aside from it being a moment of character growth, it is also likely a reference to Y from Pokemon Adventures, who changed her hairstyle and look multiple times throughout the story.

5 How Many Pokémon Does She Have?

As a performer, Serena doesn't need as many Pokémon on her team as a regular trainer, and, as such, her team is comparatively small against the likes of May and Dawn. In the anime, Serena has only three Pokémon: the Fire starter Braixen, Pancham, and Sylveon, giving her one of the smallest teams for a main character in the show. Her manga counterpart, on the other hand, has a few changes as well as a near full team. Y's final team is Fletchinder, Sylveon, Greninja, Rhyhorn, and an Absol that can Mega Evolve.

4 Was She Also A Rhyhorn Racer In The Manga?

One of Serena's biggest hurdles in the anime was overcoming her mother's desire for her to become a Rhyhorn racer, with her spending much of her free time learning how to calm and ride the otherwise wild Pokémon.

RELATED: Pokémon: 10 Episodes That Prove The First Season Is The Darkest

While Y does have a Rhyhorn, she was never a Rhyhorn racer like Serena. Instead, Y is a dedicated sky battler alongside her Fletchinder, though it is odd that as a sky trainer, she only has one eligible partner as none of her other Pokémon can fly.

3 Where Is Serena Now?

As was commonplace with the Pokémon series, there are very few instances where a character will travel with Ash across multiple regions, with the only exceptions being Brock and Misty. At the end of the Kalos series, Serena decides that she needs some more experiences as a performer and is told to travel to the Hoenn region and take part in their contests. As of now, she is likely still in Hoenn performing in said contests, though considering the current format of Pokémon Journeys, it's likely that Ash may run into her again sooner rather than later.

2 Who Is The Voice Behind Serena?

As Serena was introduced well after the mass voice actor changeover that occurred when 4Kids lost their localization rights, Serena only ever had the one actor tied to her character. In the English dub, she is played by Haven Paschall, who also voiced Concordia, multiple Slurpuff in the series, and Jessie's Pumpkaboo and Gourgeist. In the Japanese dub, she is played by Mayuki Makiguchi, who is most notable for playing multiple parts in the Japanese localization of Adventure Time.

1 What Is Her Signature Pokemon?

The majority of characters in the Pokémon series will have one Pokémon in particular that they are more attached to than others, or will use more often in battle. Considering Serena and Y's only common Pokémon is Sylveon, there could be an argument made for her Eeveelution being her signature Pokémon. That being said, she also has an Absol in both the manga and video games, so it is more likely that she is one of the few characters who is so inconsistent that she doesn't have one specific signature Pokémon at all. Serena is currently traveling in the Hoenn region though, so she may end up catching an Absol in her travels for her showcases and to give her some level of consistency.

CBR Report: Subscribe and never miss what matters

Our main newsletter packed with the latest updates, reviews and buzz from the worlds of movies, TV, anime, comics, and beyond. Get ready and let's dive in! Subscribe By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.

NEXT: Pokémon: Who Is Ash Ketchum's Father? & 9 Other Questions About Ash, Answered