Pokémon Anime Recasts Heroes After Decades

After 26 years of adventures in the Pokémon anime, protagonist Ash Ketchum has finally retired, forever frozen at ten years old. While the series long resisted aging its hero, The Pokémon Company is now taking a bold step in Pokémon Horizons by allowing its new protagonists, Liko and Roy, to grow older.

This development follows CoroCoro's recent reveal of the next storyline, Mega Voltage, confirming a "time skip" that advances Liko and Roy’s ages by roughly three years. Updated designs for the main cast clearly depict Liko, Roy, and Dot as taller and more mature:

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Notably, these characters live in the same world as Ash Ketchum, even though he isn't currently part of the series. This means that off-screen, Ash has also aged three years along with them, as have familiar faces like Misty, Brock, May, Dawn, Serena, and the rest. Could a more mature Ash Ketchum appear in this arc or later? It's unclear, but fans are already speculating that such a return may happen soon or in upcoming seasons.

Mega Voltage also marks the return of Mega Evolutions, likely aligning with the comeback of this game mechanic in Pokémon Legends: Z-A. In addition, Liko's Floragato has evolved into Meowscarada, and Roy now has a shiny Mega Lucario.

One noteworthy omission from the reveal is Friede, captain of the Rising Volt Tacklers. His partner Pikachu is present, wearing Friede's goggles—fans have pointed out cracks along the sides, possibly hinting at some unfortunate event involving Friede.

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The Mega Voltage arc begins airing in Japan on April 11 of this year, though U.S. viewers will have to wait a while since the English dub lags behind. Our own review of Pokémon Horizons Season 2 gave it a 5/10, noting that it "refuses time and again to commit to its strengths." Hopefully, the time skip will inject new energy into the Rising Volt Tacklers' journey.