Pokémon Anime Updates Cast After Decades

After 26 thrilling years as the face of Pokémon anime, Ash Ketchum has finally hung up his cap while miraculously maintaining his eternal youth at age 10. Breaking tradition with Pokémon Horizons, The Pokemon Company surprised fans by allowing its new protagonists Liko and Roy to visibly mature—a revolutionary shift for the franchise.

The exciting development emerged through CoroCoro's Mega Voltage arc preview, confirming a three-year time jump that dramatically transforms Liko and Roy's appearances. Fresh character designs showcase noticeably taller, more mature versions of the main trio—Liko, Roy, and Dot—marking Pokémon's first major visual aging of protagonists:

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Interestingly, these events unfold in Ash's universe despite his current absence. This implies iconic characters like Misty, Brock, and Serena have also naturally aged three years off-screen. While fans speculate about potential appearances from an older Ash, Pokémon Horizons instead focuses on its fresh protagonists.

The Mega Voltage arc reintroduces Mega Evolution mechanics, strategically aligning with Pokémon Legends: Z-A's gameplay features. Notable evolutionary changes include Liko's Floragato evolving into Meowscarada, while Roy proudly displays a gleaming Mega Lucario.

Friede's mysterious absence raises eyebrows—though his Pikachu appears wearing damaged goggles, sparking fan theories about potential peril for the Rising Volt Tacklers' captain.

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Japanese audiences will experience Mega Voltage starting April 11, though English-speaking fans face delays due to localization gaps. While Pokémon Horizons Season 2 previously earned mixed reviews for inconsistency, this ambitious time skip could reinvigorate the Rising Volt Tacklers' adventures.