The Pokemon Company International has officially revealed information about the next season of the Pokemon anime, which will be airing in April 2023. More importantly, however, the next Pokemon anime special has been confirmed to officially serve as the send-off for Ash Ketchum.
After becoming the World Champion, Ash Ketchum will no longer be the anime’s main protagonist. In short, this marks the official end of Ash’s 25-year Pokemon journey.
Pokemon: So Long, Ash Ketchum and the Start of a New Beginning
The Pokemon Company has confirmed that the next upcoming episodes of Pokemon Ultimate Journeys will officially mark the end of Ash Ketchum’s journey. Ash has been the main protagonist of the Pokemon anime since the first episode – Pokemon, I Choose You! – aired on April 1, 1997.
Fittingly, the next chapter of the series will also premiere in April of next year and will feature brand new dual protagonists – Liko and Roy – as they set off on their own new Pokemon journey in the region of Paldea. They will choose amongst the three starter pokemon from Pokemon Scarlet and Violet – Sprigatito, Fuecoco, and Quaxly – on a brand new Pokemon journey.
The start of the anime’s 26th season will follow up with one last special that will serve to commemorate Ash Ketchum’s journey over the last 25 years. The special episode – Pokemon – The Distant Blue Sky – will officially air in Japan on December 23, 2022.
Following up on that, an 11-episode series of episodes under the moniker Aim to Be a Pokemon Master will begin airing on January 13, 2023. The Pokemon special will feature several fan-favorite characters like Misty and Brock as a celebration of Ash Ketchum’s achievement of becoming the world’s top Trainer and serve as the final chapter of his story before the new series airs in April.
Pokemon Ulitmate Journeys is currently available to stream on Netflix in the US.
