Nintendo and The Pokémon Company announced Ash Ketchum, otherwise known as Satoshi in Japan, and Pikachu will finally come to an end after 25 years. This is a massive event, especially as someone who remembers when the anime original started, and all the time I spent discussing it on the playground.
Their journey will conclude after the current season, Pokemon Ultimate Journeys: The Series, which features Ash and Pikachu winning the Pokémon World Coronation Series legendary Master Eight Tournament. Following Ash’s win, the series will conclude with a variety of special episodes, including fan-favorite Pokemon, and iconic characters like Brock and Misty, who appeared throughout the series run.
The press release describes the upcoming episodes as follows:
The forthcoming special episodes not only celebrate Ash’s monumental achievement, but they also act as an expression of gratitude from Pokémon to all the fans who have joined him and his partner Pokémon Pikachu along the way. Fans can also look forward to what’s to come in the new animated series, which will represent everything they love about Pokémon animation, including action, adventure, friendship and Pokémon.
Press Release
While fans speculated Ash’s journey would conclude with the latest arc, given the conclusive subject matter, this is not the end for the Pokemon anime series.
Sometime in 2023 a new series called Pokemon: Twilight Wings will premier. This series will follow dual protagonists named Liko and Roy, as they adventure through the world of Pokemon Scarlet and Violet. The press release notes their names are from the Japanese version, suggesting they might change when the series releases in other regions. Very little else was said about the upcoming series, but the latest set of starters, Sprigatito, Fuecoco and Quaxly, are confirmed, as well as Shiny Rayquaza.
