The Pokémon Anime Is Finally Aging Up Its Main Cast After Almost 30 Years

After 26 years of adventures in the Pokémon anime, the perpetually 10-year-old Ash Ketchum has finally hung up his hat. However, after steadfastly refusing to age its protagonist for most of the show’s run, The Pokémon Company is finally embracing change in Pokémon Horizons, allowing its new protagonists, Liko and Roy, to grow up.

This news comes from a recent CoroCoro magazine reveal of the next Pokémon Horizons arc, "Mega Voltage," which confirms a significant time skip. Liko and Roy will age approximately three years, sporting new, noticeably taller and more mature designs, along with Dot. A Reddit post showcasing the CoroCoro reveal highlights these updated character designs:

All the new arch 5 pages from coro coro today!
byu/BikeOk4256 in pokemonanime

Interestingly, these characters share a universe with Ash Ketchum, meaning he's also aged three years off-screen, along with Misty, Brock, May, Dawn, Serena, and the rest of the supporting cast. Will we see the grown-up Ash? Only time will tell, but fan speculation is already running rampant.

The "Mega Voltage" arc also marks the return of Mega Evolutions, likely coinciding with their return as a mechanic in Pokémon Legends: Z-A. We see Liko's Floragato has evolved into Meowscarada, and Roy boasts a shiny Mega Lucario.

One notable absence is Friede, captain of the Rising Volt Tacklers. However, his partner Pikachu is present, sporting Friede's goggles which appear cracked, hinting at a potential mishap for Friede.

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The "Mega Voltage" arc premieres in Japan on April 11th, but the English dub will likely lag behind. Given our previous lukewarm reception of Pokémon Horizons Season 2 (5/10 rating for its inconsistent strengths), we're hoping this time skip revitalizes the Rising Volt Tacklers.