The long-running Pokémon anime series has just returned from its four-month long hiatus, and recent episode titles hint at some intriguing changes to the show's status quo. The show’s twenty-third season was put on hold in its native Japan back in April due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Pokémon wasn’t the only series to be hit by the still-ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, as several popular anime and manga franchises were forced to halt production in the wake of the pandemic. Even the often-compared Digimon was affected, as both the current reboot of the original Digimon Adventure and the theatrical release of the Digimon Adventure: Last Evolution Kizuna movie were delayed until just recently. The good news is that things are looking to pick back up, with Pokémon’s next three episodes set to arrive in Japan next month.
A few days ago, Comicbook.com reported that a few new episode titles for the latest season of the Pokémon anime, titled Pokémon Journeys, were leaked online recently. These titles were then translated as “Pokémon Exchange?,” which is set to air on August 16 and is believed to involve main character Ash Ketchum trading one of his prized Pokémon, “The Solitary Fighter, Bea!,” which will air on August 23 and introduce Pokémon Shield’s Gym Leader Bea to the anime canon, and “Get Pikachu,” which is set for some time at the end of August and will likely feature Team Rocket making yet another failed attempt at stealing Ash’s beloved sidekick Pikachu.
Loosely following the events of Nintendo’s hit monster-collecting RPG franchise, the Pokémon anime became a breakout success on both sides of the Pacific when it debuted in 1997 and is credited as a major factor in the popularity of both Pokémon and anime in general in the West. The show follows the journeys of the perpetually 10-year-old Ash and his ever-changing roster of fellow Pokémon Trainers as they travel the world in search of the titular pocket monsters. Before its hiatus, Pokémon Journeys served as an adaptation of last year’s Pokémon Sword and Shield and looked to provide Ash with his strongest Pokémon team yet, in addition to finally granting him his first championship victory after over two decades in real-time.
The Pokémon anime’s return will surely be welcome news for fans hoping to continue following Ash and company on their journey to be the very best, like no one ever was. The new batch of episodes looks to be exciting, with a Pokémon trade and a new Gym Leader rounding out the festivities. Would-be Pokémon Trainers will be able to tune in to new episodes of Pokémon Journeys when they begin airing again in Japan on August 16.
Source: Comicbook.com