'The stars aligned': Sarah Natochenny reflects on her time as Ash Ketchum of Pokémon

One of the most recognizable voices, however, was Sarah Natochenny, who after taking a few jobs being voices for medical videos landed her first big role as Ash Ketchum in the animated adaptation of the famous video game series, “Pokémon.”

It was a role that almost didn’t happen, according to Natochenny, as much like the character she portrayed, she was late to the audition that would define her voice-acting career.

"I actually forgot I had it that day," Natochenny explained. "It was a Monday, I had forgotten to flip the calendar and I saw it was Monday morning and I ran over there."

Natochenny said it was like the "stars aligned," and she landed the role of Ash at 18 years old. 17 years later, her time as one of the most famous characters in pop culture is coming to an end.

"To Be A Pokémon Master" is set to air on Netflix in September and will be the final 10 episodes that will feature Ash as the central protagonist. Natochenny’s voice work for the 10-year-old boy, who spent over two decades becoming a Pokemon master, has already been recorded.

As Natochenny went to her final recording session, it was an emotional day for her.

"With every episode I was like, 'this is it, this is almost it, I'm almost never doing this again,'" Natochenny said. "But all good things come to an end."

Hundreds of fans visit her signing/photo booth at the convention, held in the Raleigh Convention Center Thursday, July 27, through Sunday, July 30, with some bringing in their own Pokémon cards and even dressing up as Ash themselves.

Natochenny enjoys tracking down all the cosplayers of Ash throughout various conventions, including a small boy who dressed up as Ash from the early days of the anime with all eight gym badges at the convention Thursday.

One of Natochenny's favorite cosplays was at another convention, when one cosplayer took a horror approach to the character.

"I saw like an 'Evil Dead' Ash Ketchum," Natochenny said. "So he was all bloody. I don't know if that's the best crossover, but it's one I enjoyed."

For Steve Warren and Helton Magueyl, two fans who came to see Natochenny, it was the experience of a lifetime to see who they call the voice of their childhood. Both fans were happy for Ash finally becoming the strongest trainer in the series, but realized it meant the show would probably be ending soon.

"I've been a fan since day one," Warren, who was dressed as Ash Ketchum, said.

"It's like, you grew up with Ash," Magueyl said. "So seeing him finally win was bittersweet."

While Natochenny joked that she’s retired at a voice actors roundtable featuring Dana Snyder, Colleen O’Shaunessy and Elizabeth Maxwell, she will have plenty of voice acting work on the horizon.

Natochenny has joined the cast of Tokyo Revengers, an anime about a man who travels back in time to prevent the death of his girlfriend, for its second season. Natochenny has an original anime in the works that she will be writing as well.

Natochenny also isn’t finished with Pokemon just yet, as she will be voicing one of the characters in the newest iteration of the anime, “Pokemon Horizons," which currently doesn't have a release date in North America.

As for whether she would make an appearance as everyone’s favorite trainer from Pallet Town, Natochenny said she doesn't know if Ash will return.