The following is list of the main and recurring characters from the animated series of Pokémon. Since the show's inception, only the protagonist Ash Ketchum, his best friend Brock and their principal antagonists who are Jessie, James and Meowth (known as Team Rocket) have been in every single series excluding the Pokémon Chronicles, although Brock and Team Rocket have appeared in the Pokémon Chronicles. In 2006, due to 4Kids Entertainment being dropped from handling the anime and being replaced by the Pokémon Company, almost all of the original voices were replaced including Ash's voice.