Pokemon to continue without Pikachu, Ash; show to introduce new protagonists
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The iconic anime series Pokemon will go on without its protagonist Ash Ketchum and his devoted electric mouse Pikachu, according to an announcement made by the show's creators on Friday. Since the show's premiere 25 years ago, the characters have been a part of it. According to the Pokemon official website, the new-look series will feature well-known Pokemon including the original partners Sprigatito, Fuecoco, and Quaxly from the video games Pokemon Scarlet and Pokemon Violet, NDTV reported.
The upcoming story will make its debut after the current season of the Pokemon animation, "Pokemon Ultimate Journeys: The Series," which sees Ash Ketchum, Pikachu, and his other Pokemon win the Masters Eight Tournament of the Pokemon World Coronation Series, is over. The BBC predicts that it will start in April 2023.
Actress Sarah Natochenny has provided the English voices for Ketchum and other characters since 2006. She called the opportunity "a wonderful privilege." "It's been an extraordinary privilege to have been the English voice of Ash Ketchum for what will be 17 years. No matter what lies beyond his final chapter, he'll live forever in the hearts of many generations to come. I'll keep him present for all of us in every way I can," she tweeted.
The company claims that as Pokemon Ultimate Journeys: The Series comes to an end, fans will be able to commemorate Ash's journey with a selection of special episodes that will give them a glimpse of what the protagonist's future might hold following his historic victory as Pokemon World Champion, which marks the conclusion of his adventures spanning 25 seasons. "The forthcoming special episodes not only celebrate our hero's monumental achievement, but they also serve as an expression of gratitude from Pokemon to all the fans who have joined Ash and Pikachu along the way," the company stated.
According to a video uploaded on their Twitter account, Ash and Pikachu's story will come to a close on January 13 of next year with "Pokemon Journeys in the West," an 11-episode epilogue series to the current run.
The series will introduce two new protagonists, a boy named Roy and a young girl named Liko, in the spring of 2023. They will both be joined by three Paldea starter Pokemon.