The Pokémon Company has releasedthe official trailerand name of its upcoming series. The new series, now calledPokémon Horizons: The Series,introduces the protagonist duo, Liko and Roy. Liko has a mysterious pendant that holds a secret, and Roy has a strange, old-fashioned Pokéball with mysteries he wants to uncover. Together with Professor Friede and his partner Pokémon Captain Pikachu, maybe the two young trainers can discover those secrets. Filled with brand-new faces and a unique region, this will be a magical adventure for younger and older audiences.
Ash’s adventures came to an end on July 07, 2025, with the very last episode airing in Japan. Though seeing the curtains close for him is sad, the series is far from over. Fans are expecting great things forPokémon Horizons. It is easy to get lost in the past and be skeptical of the new heroes of this ongoing series. Still, fans are hopeful that it will exceed their expectations. After all, when one door closes another one opens. What willPokémon Horizonsbring to fans, both new and old? Here is what we hope to see within this fresh take on a show we all love.
New Pokémon and Battles
One of the most iconic and brilliant forms of animation throughout the Pokémon series has been the design of the Pokémon. As the animation style evolved throughout the show, so has the fluency of their expressions and actions.Pokémon Horizonswill take place in the Paldea region, so we will already see the new starters. Liko’s partner Pokémon is the cat grass type Sprigatito, Roy’s is the crocodile fire type Fuecoco, and we are bound to see the duck water type Quaxly. Pokémon Scarlet and Violet introduced us to a new regional Pokémon that we would love to see in this upcoming series. Maybe Liko and Roy will meet up with some ofAsh’s Pokémonthat have come and gone throughout the years. Just imagine seeing the adorable Fidough or Greavard. Ceruledge is anotherScarlet and VioletPokémon confirmed to be in the show.
We all know how different Pokémon battles are in the series compared to the games. We get to see them dodge certain moves and feel for them emotionally whenever they are injured.Scarlet and Violetcame out with a new type of special power called terastallize, where the Pokémon can become crystallized, and their power increases based on their tera types. For example, if an Eevee has a fairy move and their tera type is fairy, that move is twice as strong. Pokémon Journeys brought in Dynamax and Gigantamax from theSword and Shieldgames, so fans are interested in seeing terastallizing Pokémon inPokémon Horizons. There is something about rooting for your favorite Pokémon in a battle that makes the heart race with excitement.
Related:Pokemon: The Most Popular Fan Theories Surrounding the Upcoming New Series
Ash Ketchum and Companions Cameos
Despite Ash’s story officially ending, fans still hope he will somehow appear inPokémon Horizons. When the last episode aired in Japan, Ash said thathis journey to becoming a Pokémon Masterwas far from over. He still has a way to go if he wants to achieve that goal, which he believes is befriending all Pokémon. It is still unclear where Liko’s adventure starts in the timeline, but if it is during the same period as Ash’s journey, there is a chance that the two could meet. Ash could become a brief companion to both Liko and Roy if Ash ends up in the Paldea region.
While seeing Ash again in the new series would bring about a tidal wave of nostalgia, we cannot ignore the friends he made during his adventures. Fans are curious to know ifBrock or Mistywill make a cameo appearance in the new show. Or even some sort of mention of them and their journeys after parting with Ash. Liko and Roy could learn from companions like Serena or Dawn. They could meet up with the more comedic characters like Clemont. Companion cameos will also be a great callback to their past adventures and what leads them to where they are now. Having Ash’s friends appear inPokémon Horizonscan show us what they are doing with their solo journeys as Pokémon trainers.
Familiar Regional Pokémon
It is no surprise that some of the Pokémon we have seen throughout the series and the games can look different based on their region. Not only are they different in appearance, but also in what type of Pokémon they are. Not to mention thattheir storiesand Pokédex entries differ per game and region. Take Tentacool, for example. This water type Pokémon’s original region is the Kanto region, and it looks like a squid. In Scarlet and Violet, however, that is not the case. In the Paldea region, it is Toedscool, a ground/grass type Pokémon that looks like a walking mushroom. In its final evolution, Toedscruel’s look is similar to that of Tentacruel, but once again, it walks on land and is still ground/grass type. Fans would love to see those types of regional Pokémon in the new series.
That is not all. There are some familiar regional Pokémon that either have a different evolution entirely, or some can evolve. Johto region’s water/ground type Pokémon Wooper is a poison/ground type in the Paldea region. Instead of evolving into Quagsire, it evolves into Clodsire. Girafarig, another Johto region Pokémon, did not have an evolution for the longest time. Finally, it got one in the newest generation of Scarlet and Violet. It is called Farigiraf, and the ball on its tail travels up to its head, almost making it look like it is wearing a space helmet. Regional Pokémon like this bring uniqueness to the regions, which fans appreciate and would love to see more of.
Related:Detective Pikachu 2 Is Happening, Jonathan Krisel Tapped to Direct Pokémon Sequel
After 26 years of watching Ash grow (though not physically) and learn what it means to be a Pokémon trainer, we never thought his journey would end. After 25 seasons, it is a breath of fresh air with how his story ended, but not his goal. He may still have a long way to go before trulybecoming a Pokémon Master. It is Liko’s and Roy’s time to shine. We still do not know what exactly their goals are as far as Pokémon training goes. But we hope to see them grow just as strong as Ash did.Pokémon Horizons: The Serieswill premiere in Japan on Apr. 14.
