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

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

The recent CoroCoro reveal of the next arc, "Mega Voltage," confirms a significant time skip, aging Liko and Roy approximately three years. New character designs showcase a noticeably taller and more mature Liko, Roy, and Dot.

This age jump extends to the wider universe, implying that Ash, along with Misty, Brock, May, Dawn, Serena, and the rest of the supporting cast, have also aged three years off-screen. Whether we'll see a grown-up Ash Ketchum remains a mystery, fueling fan speculation about future appearances.

Mega Voltage also marks the return of Mega Evolutions, likely coinciding with their reintroduction in Pokémon Legends: Z-A. 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. While his partner Pikachu is present, wearing Friede's goggles which appear cracked, suggesting a possible unfortunate event for Friede.

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The Mega Voltage arc premieres in Japan on April 11th, with the English dub expected later. Previously, we gave Pokémon Horizons Season 2 a 5/10 rating for its inconsistent execution. This time skip offers a promising opportunity to revitalize the Rising Volt Tacklers and inject new energy into the series.