The Pokemon Company group announced the details for the next new Pokemon animated series, confirming some shocking news — Ash Ketchum and Pikachu will not be at the forefront of the story. The new series will instead follow a never-before-seen storyline and characters by the names of Liko and Roy (in the Japanese version).
The new series, which is set to premiere in 2023 after Pokémon Ultimate Journeys: The Series, will feature the three Paldea starter Pokémon: Sprigatito, Fuecoco, and Quaxly. Fans will undoubtedly recognize these names from the recent Pokemon Scarlet and Pokemon Violet video games for Nintendo Switch.
Back in November, Ash finally became a Pokemon World Champion after 25 years (and 1,200 episodes) of trying. He defeated every one of his opponents in the Pokemon World Coronation Series Masters Eight Tournament.
So what's next for Ash? While he won't be featured in the next Pokemon animated series, he is set to receive a set of special episodes that will provide a glimpse of what his future will hold.
Pokémon Ultimate Journeys: The Series is about to wrap up in Japan, but the Pokemon Company also announced a collection of special episodes that will conclude the series. These episodes will feature fan-favorite Pokemon and characters, including Misty and Brock, and "will provide a glimpse at what the future may hold for the world’s strongest Trainer in this final chapter for Ash and his Pikachu."
In the press release, the Pokemon Company stated:
The forthcoming special episodes not only celebrate Ash’s monumental achievement, but they also act as an expression of gratitude from Pokémon to all the fans who have joined him and his partner Pokémon Pikachu along the way. Fans can also look forward to what’s to come in the new animated series, which will represent everything they love about Pokémon animation, including action, adventure, friendship and Pokémon.
More details on these special episodes plus the new Pokemon animated series will be revealed in the future. In the meantime, Pokemon Ultimate Journeys: The Series is currently streaming exclusively on Netflix in the United States. There are also the two newly released Pokemon Scarlet and Pokemon Violet video games, which you can play now on Nintendo Switch, that could introduce yo to the Paldea region as well as the three partner Pokemon (Sprigatito, Fuecoco and Quaxly).