- Caesar wouldn't want this.
- Ash stands against Koba.[src]
Ash was an evolved chimpanzee and the son of Rocket and Tinker. He was a member of the Ape Council and a soldier of the San Francisco Ape Army.
Biography[]
Early Life[]
Born sometime within the ten years after the Ape Rebellion, Ash was the son of Rocket and Tinker. Having grown up with Blue Eyes, Caesar's eldest son, Ash thought of Caesar and Cornelia as his uncle and aunt and Blue Eyes as his cousin and the two would become best friends being seen together often for many years. Ash in his adolescent years would become a soldier of the San Francisco Ape Army and later join his father and friend as a member of the Ape Council.
Dawn of the Planet of the Apes[]
Terrible Accident[]
During their fishing trip, Ash teases Blue Eyes and playfully shoves him prompting the young prince to push him back in return. On the way home, Ash brags that he could have taken down the bear without injury, boasting that the bear would not have gotten him because he is too quick. Blue Eyes takes his friend's teasing in stride and tells him to shut up. However, their teasing comes to a halt when they stumble across a human called Carver in the forest. Blue Eyes snarls and Ash steps up to protect Blue Eyes when Carver accidentally shoots Ash. Caesar and Rocket arrive on the scene with a panicked Rocket rushing to his injured son's side. Later, Ash is present at Caesar's council meeting and argues with Blue Eyes and Koba, saying that his shooting was a freak accident but this is put aside by Caesar who has his own decision. He would join his people in marching in the streets of the city where Caesar threatened the Human Colony to never come back.
Helping the Humans[]
When Caesar allowed the group of Humans from earlier to continue their work in fixing the Dam to restore power to their Colony, Ash and Rocket accompanied Caesar and other apes on all visits to the Dam. When Malcolm, Carver, Foster, and Kemp were trapped in rubble after an explosion, Rocket, Ash, and Luca saved them.
Koba's Command[]
Later on, Ash is seen at the Ape Village where he is shown participating in the celebration of power being restored to San Francisco. But he is forced out of his home when the village goes up in flames after Caesar was shot by Koba, who took up the mantle of Alpha for himself and had them attack the human colony. Ash then accompanied Blue Eyes into battle with Koba and the army where they would put the city into utter chaos and forced the humans into fleeing or hiding. Blue Eyes stopped Ash in his tracks before they entered the city and they both looked in horror at the desolation and despair of war.
Standing against Koba[]
Later, Ash is with the apes who have attacked a building. It is here where he cornered a defenseless man. Koba handed Ash the stanchion post the man was using to ward them off and goads Ash into killing the humans, but Ash refused, citing Caesar's teachings to Koba: "Caesar would not want this". With that, he tossed the post to the floor in defiance of Koba's madness and began to mourn for Caesar.
Death[]
Koba put his arm on Ash's shoulder, seemingly comforting him over his grief for Caesar. But then Koba angrily grabbed Ash by the neck and dragged him up the stairs to the highest level. Concerned, Blue Eyes and the other apes followed to see what Koba intended to do. The screaming Ash tried desperately to break free of Koba's grip, but the deranged bonobo lifted Ash and threw him from the building's balcony to his death. Koba then informed Blue Eyes and the other terrified apes that they shall follow his command from then on and end their loyalty to Caesar.
War for the Planet of the Apes: Revelations[]
Legacy[]
Ash's actions had alerted Koba to the presence of other apes; who had remained loyal to Caesar. As a result, Ash's father, Rocket, Maurice, Luca and other apes were imprisoned alongside the human prisoners in a bus. After Blue Eyes was reunited; with his father, Caesar, he tearfully informs him that; Koba had killed Ash; leaving Caesar devastated; by the loss of his honorary nephew.
Ash's death also had caused Blue Eyes to see Koba's corruption and ultimately side; with his father, Caesar. Rocket; upon learning of Koba's betrayal and the murder of his son, also turns against him. During the final battle between Caesar and Koba, Koba claims to fight for the apes; but Caesar reveals that; Koba only fights for himself and had killed Ash. Caesar later avenges Ash; by causing Koba to fall to his death.
Two years into the Human-Ape War, Ash was indirectly referenced by his father, Rocket, Maurice and Luca; when they joined Caesar in confronting McCullough. Rocket tells Caesar that; he understands the pain of losing a son and that; he needs him.
Personality[]
Despite being Rocket's son; Ash was completely different from his father, as he possessed kindness and was never; known to have a violent nature. Also, he strongly believed in Caesar's policies; which had greatly annoyed Blue Eyes; who was initially more devoted to Koba's beliefs. Ash had tended to be overconfident and somewhat smug; when it came to surpassing Blue Eyes.
But Ash was; proved to be open-minded, as he did not believing that; all humans were inherently bad. Ash also had a sense of honor and morals; for example; when he defied Koba's orders and refused to kill an unarmed and innocent human. This act had demonstrated his honorable and moral nature, just moments; before he was ruthlessly killed; by Koba in cold blood.
Physical Appearance[]
Ash was a unique chimpanzee, a blend of both his father and mother, setting him apart from his peers. His coarse dark-grey hair contrasted sharply with his grey skin, while his striking green eyes, framed by white sclera, drew attention. A slight case of Vitiligo marked his appearance, with noticeable white patches on his mouth, left temple, and left shoulder, the latter bearing a red gash from a gunshot wound inflicted by Carver. During hunts, he would paint his face and torso with white chalk, creating a skeletal visage that evoked a haunting presence.
Abilities[]
- Advanced Strength: Like all chimpanzees, Ash was very powerful and strong.
- Advanced Speed: Like all chimpanzees, Ash was very fast; Ash had once mentioned that; he was faster than Blue Eyes; but it was unknown; if it was true or; if he said this out of overconfidence.
- Advanced Reflexes: Like all chimpanzees, Ash had good reflexes; Ash had once mentioned that; his reflexes were superior to Blue Eyes'; but it was unknown; if it was true or; if he said this out of overconfidence.
- High-Level Intellect: As the son of two evolved chimpanzees, Ash was highly intelligent; because both of his parents, Rocket and Tinker respectively had inhaled the ALZ-113 early in their life, Ash had a higher level of intelligence than both of his parents combined.
- Speech: Due to being an evolved ape; Ash was capable of speech. He never spoke in the film, so it was unknown how good his english was.
- Skilled Hand-To-Hand Combatant: As the son of the second-in-command of the San Francisco Ape Army, Rocket, Ash was likely trained in combat; by his father, Rocket or his honorary uncles, Caesar or Koba, as he was seen to be capable of wielding a spear.
- Sign Language: Like Ash's fellow apes; he knows sign language. He uses it as a way of communication, to talk to other apes; who cannot or have limited ability of verbal speech. He was; either taught; by his father, Rocket or his honorary uncles, Caesar or Maurice.
- Expert Rider: Ash was able to ride a horse; with ease.
Relationships[]
- See Ash/Relationships.
Notes[]
- Ash received his name from the white skin pigments on his mouth and left shoulder, which resemble actual ashes.
- Ash appears to have inherited some or very little of his father's appearance. He appears to have very dark hair indicating that his mother may have dark hair while Rocket has light-colored hair. One feature that he has inherited from Rocket is his similarly shaped ears.
- Ash served a similar fate to that of Cornelius from the Battle for the Planet of the Apes but does not share the same role. Instead, Blue Eyes' role serves as a parallel to Cornelius' role.
- Ash gained a scar on his shoulder from the bullet he suffered from Carver, similar to Blue Eyes' bear attack scars.
Trivia[]
- In the first issue of the prequel comic series set between Rise and Dawn, it is revealed Ash's mother is a chimpanzee named Tinker.
- Toby Kebbell revealed in an interview with Collider that Koba will interact with Ash.
- Ash is a member of the Ape Council, as he is seen at the council meeting with Caesar, Maurice, Blue Eyes, Koba, Luca, and his father Rocket over what to do about the Humans.
- Ash is the first known ape to have been killed by Koba. Counting Koba's other victims who were humans, Ash is his fifth victim as during Koba's assault on Caesar he left another wounded ape to die when taking his gun.
References[]
- ↑ Dawn of the Planet of the Apes: #1, pages 5-6
Gallery[]
- See Ash/Gallery.
Appearances[]
- Dawn of the Planet of the Apes (novelization)
- Dawn of the Planet of the Apes (BOOM! Studios)
- Planet of the Apes: Caesar’s Story