Pokémon Anime Ages Up Main Cast After Nearly 30 Years

After 26 years of thrilling adventures in the Pokémon anime, Ash Ketchum, the series' iconic protagonist, has finally retired at the perpetual age of 10. However, The Pokémon Company is breaking new ground with Pokémon Horizons by allowing its new protagonists, Liko and Roy, to grow up. This significant shift was unveiled in the recent CoroCoro magazine, which introduced the next arc, Mega Voltage, and confirmed a time skip that will age Liko and Roy by approximately three years.

This development brings new designs for the main characters, showcasing Liko, Roy, and Dot as noticeably taller and more mature. These changes mark a refreshing departure from the tradition of keeping characters perpetually young.

Interestingly, Liko and Roy share the same universe as Ash Ketchum, implying that Ash and his companions, including Misty, Brock, May, Dawn, and Serena, have also aged by three years off-screen. While it's uncertain if we'll see a grown-up Ash Ketchum in this arc or in future episodes, fans are buzzing with speculation about potential appearances.

The Mega Voltage arc will reintroduce Mega Evolutions, aligning with the return of this mechanic in the upcoming game, Pokémon Legends: Z-A. Liko's Floragato has evolved into Meowscarada, and Roy now boasts a shiny Mega Lucario, adding new layers of excitement to the series.

One notable absence from the reveal is Friede, the captain of the Rising Volt Tacklers. His partner Pikachu is shown wearing Friede's goggles, which appear to be cracked, hinting at a mysterious or unfortunate event involving Friede.

The Mega Voltage arc is set to premiere in Japan on April 11, though fans in the United States will have to wait longer due to the lag in the English dub. Previously, we rated Pokémon Horizons Season 2 a 5/10, noting its failure to fully embrace its potential. With this time skip and new developments, there's hope that the Rising Volt Tacklers will gain a fresh burst of energy and direction.

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