Ash and Pikachu are leaving Pokemon after 25 years

Grab a box of tissues and prepare to weep as the Pokémon company has announced that for the first time in 25 years the main storyline in the anime won’t feature Ash and Pikachu.

Fans will also see the three Paldea starter Pokémon in the upcoming series: Sprigatito, Fuecoco and Quaxly.

So, what’s next for Ash Ketchum you ask? After recently becoming the world’s great Pokémon trainer by defeating all of his opponents in the Pokémon World Coronation Series Eight Tournament, fans will have to wait a little while to see his next journey.

The current anime, Pokémon Ultimate journeys: The Series will wrap up with a collection of special episodes celebrating Ash and Pikachu’s achievements over the last 25 years.

Ash, known as Satoshi in Japan, had his first appearance in 1997. He has gone on to become one of the most recognisable fictional characters of all time due to his huge popularity and the success of Pokémon.

One of the criticisms about his character had been his inability to win any major Pokémon leagues, but this all changed in the 22^nd season of the anime.

He finally become the world’s top Pokémon trainer last month after two decades of promising he would be the very best.

And the perpetual 10-year-old's persistence finally paid off.

Ash and Pikachu can now put their feet up and relax after winning the Masters Eight Tournament of the Pokémon World Coronation Series, which aired in November.

Ash and his team were put to the ultimate test, facing off against the some of the world's most highly-skilled trainers, but they came out the other side victorious.

Ash used Pokémon like Dragonite, Gengar, Lucario, Sirfetch’d, and Dracovish on his side, but in the end Pikachu was the last one standing.

Pokémon fans will know that Ash has been a champion before, but it was only after defeating raining champion Leon that he could call himself the world champion.

Taito Okiura, the vice president of marketing for The Pokémon Company International celebrated Ash’s long-awaited victory: "Ash Ketchum’s determination and perseverance to achieve his goal of becoming the world’s top Pokémon Trainer over the course of 25 seasons represents the very best of what it means to be a Trainer.

"We cannot wait to celebrate this moment with Pokémon fans when the newest season of Pokémon Ultimate Journeys: The Series and this adventure-defining episode air around the world in the coming year. This is a season fans won’t want to miss!"

This is going to be a tough goodbye.