#ash-greninja

I've actually been trying to figure that out since I got to that part of the anime. I'm inclined to say no? Mainly because the way the bond phenomenon works in the mainline games is different from how it works in the anime, plus the whole "different universes" thing. In the mainline games it only activates once it KOs an opponent (though the flavor text says that it "became fully charged due to the bond with its trainer"). The fact that its appearance is still based on Ash's suggests that it's still tied to him though (tho in SV it doesn't transform at all). Though if we're talking Ultimate specifically, it could easily be done the same way that Lucario, Mewtwo, & Charizard can mega evolve without a trainer bond or even a mega stone (again, leaving Ash unaffected).

The Hands absolutely would realize that it was from the anime that's like the big reason why they invited it. Smash is filled with pokeani references--hell you could put it to a debate whether the Pokemon rep in Smash leans more anime or games. The Pokemon Stadium/2 stages are 100% inspired by the anime gyms and are not a games thing (despite what their names might suggest). All that to say that even if they didn't realize it right away (that is, they met Greninja before finding out) they'd be quick to identify it.

That does remind me of a random half-baked theory I thought of a bit ago: the letter Sun (the protagonist) receives in his mailbox at the start of the SM demo could be from Smash post-Ultimate.

Seemingly knows a Lot about Sun including his name, that he'd be moving into that specific house, and the fact that he was moving in from outside of Alola, all before he or his mom even arrived, gifts a Pokemon of a specific variant only previously seen in a separate continuity, total lack of a name or sender address or any identifying information, no one mentions the letter again after this point... yeah I think you can guess why I came up with this one.

Today's the 658th day of the 11th Pokémon Year Cycle, so we're celebrating Greninja!

The full video isn't ready yet, so please enjoy a preview of the video:

1) It stood out from Mega evolution because Ash didn't need a stone to "mega-evolve" greninja. All the focus on the "bond between pokemon and humans" was payed off when Ash-greninja's whole idea was based on their bond, similarities, drive and NOTHING ELSE, JUST THEM. You already knew that they were unique from how they moved and bonded compared to other pokemon. We can clearly see how irregular it is for that kind of transformation to take place with a non mega evolving pokemon like greninja

2) It really was a true mystery that was fun and exciting because you wouldn't think some regular bond would be able to draw out the power latent within greninja. Some of my own questions never got answered either in the anime but I'm ok with that cause not everything needs to be said and adds a deepedr perspective to the story because again- we don't know how deeo it trupy goes. I'm perfectly happy with my headcanons. (This is not countjng the lore of the x and y games)

Whereas Greninja takes on physical features to Ash, Ash takes on more of Greninja's personality when they're fused. He becomes quieter, more focused, less cheery. He's also a lot less patient. If you try to distract him, he'd probably tell you to shut up (Ash would apologize afterwards though.) His voice also gets a little bit deeper and softer.

This is also because Ash easily get overloaded when he's hearing or seeing things that doesn't line up with what Greninja's sensing. It won't be super obvious during the battle, but after Greninja reverts to its original form, Ash will often just stand there, his brain trying to sort out everything that happened.

Ash can feel all the pain Greninja's feeling, even in base form (it's significantly less though, more of an annoyance if anything.) Greninja can only feel Ash's pain if the injury is severe.

It's the exact opposite for their emotions. Because Ash is generally a very emotional person, Greninja can almost always tell how Ash is feeling. Meanwhile, Greninja is more calm and reserved, so Ash only feels really severe emotions.

Although they don't share their senses all the time, Greninja can feel when someone's hugging Ash. It may or may not be intentional on Ash's part.

Greninja will often ask Ash about human behaviors. Greninja is always reminded that Ash is the last person you should ask about human behaviors.

The two of them always share a mental link, no matter how far they are from each other. They technically can do the bond evolution from anywhere, but doing it when they're not in the same place often ends up with Ash being overstimulated or frozen in place.

Ash doesn't need to give orders when they're bonded. He goes deathly quiet and just copies his moves.

Ash once tried to use a Z-move while bonded to Greninja. He fainted. (He probably could pull it off, it'd just take a lot of practice, and Greninja thinks he's plenty powerful already.)