After 26 years of adventures in the Pokémon anime, the perpetually 10-year-old Ash Ketchum has finally hung up his hat. However, The Pokémon Company, after steadfastly refusing to age its protagonist, is seemingly breaking tradition in Pokémon Horizons, allowing its new leads, Liko and Roy, to grow up.
Recent CoroCoro reveals about the upcoming Pokémon Horizons arc, "Mega Voltage," confirm a significant time jump. Liko and Roy will age approximately three years, sporting noticeably taller and more mature designs. This is evidenced by newly released artwork showcasing the main cast's updated appearances.
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Interestingly, this new arc takes place in the same universe as Ash Ketchum, implying that off-screen, he, Misty, Brock, May, Dawn, Serena, and the rest of the familiar faces have also aged three years. Will we see the older Ash? Only time will tell, but fan speculation is already running wild.
Mega Voltage also marks the return of Mega Evolutions, a timely coincidence given their resurgence as a mechanic in Pokémon Legends: Z-A. We see 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, seemingly wearing Friede's goggles which appear cracked, leading fans to worry about Friede's fate.
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The Mega Voltage arc premieres in Japan on April 11th, but US viewers will have to wait longer due to the English dub's delay. While previous reception to Pokémon Horizons has been lukewarm (a 5/10 rating for Season 2, citing a failure to consistently leverage its strengths), this time skip offers a glimmer of hope for renewed energy within the Rising Volt Tacklers storyline.
