Pokémon Horizons is kicking off a new era for the anime by introducing a timeskip for its new series, Mega Voltage, something that’s never been done before. The timeskip has some intriguing consequences for the story, but even wilder ones for the Pokémon world in general.
The new Pokémon anime series was revealed in Coro Coro Magazine in Japan (as shared by X (formerly Twitter) user @Centroleaks), showcasing the new, aged-up designs for Liko, Roy, and Dot, the three heroes of Pokémon Horizons. The magazine provided a closer look at some of the new designs inside, and relayed some information about the new series, which will seemingly involve Roy capturing a Shiny Lucario and obtaining a Mega Ring. The Mega Ring can clearly be seen on Roy’s wrist as part of his new character design, and the characters appear to be 2–3 years older than they were during Horizons.
Pokémon’s New Timeskip is the First Major Passage of Time
The Timeskip Represents a Big Leap Forward for the Anime’s Pokémon World
What’s most interesting is how, despite the anime having run for over 25 years, this is the first instance of a timeskip within the series. During the Ash Ketchum era of the anime, time never seemed to flow at all; Ash was eternally 10 years old, despite there being more episodes than there are days in a year. Events would sometimes happen in the background suggesting the passage of time, such as the completion of a rail system that was said to take a year to build, but Ash and his friends never aged a day. The fact that Horizons is embracing the passage of time and allowing its protagonists to age is a major shift.
However, the passage of time has implications for more than just Liko, Roy, and Dot. It means other characters in the universe will have aged as well, from Gym Leaders to rivals to, potentially, Ash Ketchum himself. There have been strong hints that Horizons is set in the same world as the previous anime, such as the inclusion of Nurse Joy in the series, so if Ash ever were to make a return, he’d logically have to be a few years older in his next appearance as well. This could also mean some of the other changes seen in the games, like new Gym Leaders such as Janine in Kanto, could also finally appear as well.
Will Fans Finally See An Older Ash Ketchum?
Letting Ash Age Has Been a Fan Request for Years
It is, of course, not clear when (or if) Ash Ketchum will appear in the new series, but if he does, long-time fans may finally get to see Ash age, the way they’ve always wanted him to. It would be interesting to see how an older Ash has changed during his time off-screen, and many fans are eager for Ash to return, even though he’s only been gone for about two years. The new anime seems connected to Kalos, an area which Ash Ketchum is deeply tied to as well, so if ever there was an opportunity, this is it. Pokémon Horizons has definitely made a radical shift, so hopefully fans will get what they’ve waited for.
Pokémon Horizons
- Release Date
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April 14, 2023
- Directors
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Saori Den
- Writers
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Dai Sato
