The next animated stage of the Pokémon franchise is almost ready to begin. With Ash's adventure coming to an end officially, there is concern about where the story goes next and who the next lead trainer will be. Pokémon: Scarlet and Violet serves as the inspiration for the next season, as there has not been an officially announced title as yet. This upcoming series will reboot the franchise and provide a new face for the future.
Pokémon began airing in Japan in 1997, releasing in English for North American audiences in 1998. Since then, there have been twenty-five seasons, with a twenty-sixth on its way. These seasons have all followed Pokémon trainer Ash Ketchum, who comes from Pallet Town in the Kanto region, and his partner Pikachu. There have been a few animated miniseries that have followed other iconic characters from the video games, but not within the primary show. This leaves many fans wondering who is taking over, what the next big goal will be, and what else to expect.
Latest Pokémon: Scarlet and Violet News
In December 2022, Pokémon's official site and social media accounts shared the announcement of Ash's journey ending. Also revealed was the new series, still unnamed as yet, and a still that didn't provide very much info. Previously all that was known was that it will follow a girl and boy within the Paldea region - the setting of the current Pokémon games, Scarlet and Violet.
More Recently, the Pokémon anime's official Twitter account revealed that the reboot will follow two trainers named Liko and Roy. While many had assumed that the reboot will stay within Scarlet and Violet's Paldea region, the new information confirms that Liko and Roy's journeys will take them across the Pokémon world.
Pokémon: Scarlet and Violet Release Date
At present, an official release date for the next anime series has not been announced for the US. However, on Twitter, Pokemon's official Japanese account shared the release as being April 15. This will come very shortly after the current series, Pokémon Ultimate Journeys: The Series Part 2, concludes in March. News about the dub will likely come at a later time, as Western audiences can occasionally be as much as a year behind Japanese releases. Pokémon Ultimate Journeys: The Series Part 2 has kept pace rather well thus far, being only a couple months behind.
Pokémon: Scarlet and Violet Story Details
Thus far, there haven't been a lot of details regarding the series. All that is known is that Liko and Roy will be the new protagonists and that they come from Scarlet and Violet's Paldea region. Brief glimpses of the two have been shared, but their dreams are presently unknown. Ash's dream was to be a Pokémon Master and his companions have also had big ambitions, from becoming a breeder to Contest Champion hopefuls. With so many occupations in this world, there's no telling what Liko and Roy are going to be striving for and achieving. It has been suggested that the new series will have more of a story focus. With Liko carrying a mysterious pendant possibly tied to Scarlet and Violet's Terastal Phenomenon, there is certainly no shortage of stories this new series can explore.
Pokémon: Scarlet and Violet Announcement Trailer
The announcement trailer released on Pokémon's official YouTube account has very few details regarding the new series. The first minute is focused on the last stage of Ash's journey, which is fitting considering it is such a huge milestone for the franchise. The remaining twenty seconds are then used to announce the new series while very briefly showing Liko and Roy in the initial promotional art.
Pokémon: Scarlet and Violet Cast and Characters
Voice actors for the series have not yet been revealed. However, based on recent episodes within Pokémon Ultimate Journeys: The Series Part 2, Team Rocket's iconic trio could be along for the ride, as they've been seen chasing Paldea's starter Pokémon in the region within post-credit sequences. Their potential inclusion has not yet been confirmed, though it seems highly possible since they have also been known to scout out previous regions for Team Rocket's operations. Additionally, with the exception of Ultimate Journeys, seasons have largely involved gym challenges, so it's likely fans will be seeing the Paldea region's gym leaders transfer from the games to the screen. This will depend on how much the series deviates from past patterns - something it is already doing with its brand-new leads.
Little is known about the new heroes, Liko and Roy, aside from the fact that they come from Paldea. Of the two, it seems like the focus is more on Liko than Roy, given her mysterious pendant and how she's centered in most of the promotional art featuring the two.
Check back to this page for any updates on the newest chapter in Pokémon Scarlet and Violet's upcoming, franchise-changing series.