• News
  • Film and TV
  • Music
  • Tech
  • Features
  • Celebrity
  • Politics
  • Weird
  • Community
  • Advertise
  • Terms
  • Privacy & Cookies
  • LADbible Group
  • LADbible
  • SPORTbible
  • GAMINGbible
  • Tyla
  • UNILAD Tech
  • FOODbible
  • License Our Content
  • About Us & Contact
  • Jobs
  • Latest
  • Topics A-Z
  • Authors
Facebook
Instagram
X
Threads
TikTok
YouTube
Submit Your Content
Ash and Pikachu are leaving Pokemon after 25 years

Home> Film & TV

Updated 14:02 16 Dec 2022 GMTPublished 12:53 16 Dec 2022 GMT

Ash and Pikachu are leaving Pokemon after 25 years

Fans will have to say goodbye to Ash and Pikachu next year.

Gregory Robinson

Gregory Robinson

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.

The new series, which debuts next year, will include two new protagonists named Liko and Roy in the Japanese version.

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

Advert

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.

There will be a new protagonist in 2023.
TV Tokyo

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.

Advert

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

Ash and Pikachu became world champions this year.
TV Tokyo

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.

Advert

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.

Ash and Pikachu's 25-year journey is coming to an end.
TV Tokyo

Advert

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.

Featured Image Credit: TV Tokyo

Topics: Pokemon, Gaming

Gregory Robinson
Gregory Robinson

Gregory is a journalist for UNILAD. After graduating with a master's degree in journalism, he has worked for both print and online publications and is particularly interested in TV, (pop) music and lifestyle. He loves Madonna, teen dramas from the '90s and prefers tea over coffee.

Advert

Advert

Advert

Choose your content:

4 hours ago
8 hours ago
11 hours ago
  • 4 hours ago

    Netflix to pull '10/10' mini-series fans binged in one day labeled ‘best TWD spin-off’

    Fans aren't happy

    Film & TV
  • 8 hours ago

    Stephen King’s favorite disaster movie is 'hugely underrated' and free to stream in the US

    Fans say it's 'quintessential' 80s viewing

    Film & TV
  • 11 hours ago

    Brother of woman who went missing onboard ship makes brutal dig at cruise director after Netflix doc about her

    Cruise director Kirk Detweiler's reaction angered people on social media, too

    Film & TV
  • 11 hours ago

    Netflix viewers praise 'charming' comedy that has them doubled over laughing 'in first 45 minutes'

    The 'heartwarming' picture stars Hot Fuzz's Steve Coogan and Game of Thrones' Sir Jonathan Pryce

    Film & TV
  • Man took a photo every day for 25 years to see how he aged and the results are leaving people mind-blown
  • Pokemon's Ash Ketchum finally becomes world's top trainer after 25 years
  • Kadabra is finally returning to Pokemon after being banned for 18 years
  • Man shocked at what he found after spending $2,000 on abandoned storage unit