Every good thing must eventually come to an end. And on Pokémon, that means saying goodbye to the beloved hero Ash. After 25 years, Ash left the world of Pokémon. But that doesn’t mean the show is ending. On the contrary, a new story is beginning. And we still don’t know how Ash will play into it, if at all. Maybe someday, we’ll see our favorite protagonist again, but for now, Pokémon Horizons: The Series, a “new animated Pokémon series” is dawning. Meet Liko, Roy, their Pokémon, and the rest of the gang that will step in as Pokémon’s new heroes. Those are bigger sneakers to fill, but we’re excited to see what happens next. Especially since this new Pokémon show has now released in the US.
What Is Pokémon Horizons US Release Date, and Where Will It Stream?
Pokémon Horizons: The Series has officially arrived in the United States. This new Pokémon series premiered in the US on March 7, 2024, and is streaming exclusively on Netflix. A release shares, “As the first new mainline Pokémon animated series released in more than 25 years, “Pokémon Horizons: The Series” features an all-new storyline that follows dual protagonists Liko and Roy — and their partner Pokémon, Sprigatito and Fuecoco, respectively — as they set off on action-packed adventures, encounter unique characters and uncover the mysteries of the Pokémon world.
A new batch of episodes will arrive on Netflix on May 10. You can check out a sneak peek at the episodes below.
Additionally, Pokémon Horizons: The Series has set some international release dates as well. The series “will be releasing in Canada on Cartoon Network and Télétoon beginning March 2, 2024, and in Australia on 9Go! beginning Feb. 27, 2024.”
That’s very exciting for all the Pokémon trainers out there.
Pokémon Horizons: The Series‘ Theme Song
“I wanna be the very best… Like no one ever was.” What could ever top those iconic lyrics? Well, probably nothing. But Pokémon Horizons: The Series does also have a catchy theme song and we’re glad to hear it. As you get ready to dive into the new series, you can enjoy Pokémon‘s latest opening theme below.
More about Pokémon Horizons: The Series
In a trailer for the new iteration of Pokémon, fans learned the official name for the post-Ash adventures. The new Pokémon series is called Pokémon Horizons: The Series, and it’s teasing mysterious adventures linked to a special pendant that shares a bond with our new heroes.
The official synopsis for the show shares:
A new adventure is beginning within the wide world of Pokémon! Arriving at Indigo Academy, a girl named Liko receives her first partner Pokémon, Sprigatito. But she soon finds herself pursued by the Explorers, a mysterious group that’s determined to take the pendant necklace she wears. Liko isn’t on her own, though, as Friede, Captain Pikachu, and the other Rising Volt Tacklers offer her protection aboard their airship. Meanwhile, a boy named Roy dreams of becoming a Pokémon Trainer, unaware of the secret hiding within the Ancient Poké Ball he carries. As Liko, Roy, and the Rising Volt Tacklers set sail for new horizons, what kind of discoveries await?
Pokémon Horizons‘ New Heroes
We also know a little bit more about who we’ll meet in Pokémon Horizons: The Series, thanks to a different trailer for the new Pokémon show. There’s Liko, “the girl with the awe-inspiring pendent.” We bet evil will be trying to snag that. And Roy, “the boy with the mysterious Poké Ball.” Surely, a match made in heaven. These two will be our new Pokémon protagonists in the series.
Joining them are Friede and Captain Pikachu. Friede, we learn, is a Pokémon professor. Captain Pikachu is clearly a boss. We also see a lot of the Gen. 9 starters we met in Pokémon Scarlet and Violet in this new series trailer. Sprigatito, Fuecoco, and Quaxly were instant fan favorites, so we’re not surprised they show up. And we’re excited to see them in action. Liko, whose partner Pokémon appears to be Sprigatito, and Roy, whose partner Pokémon is Fuecoc, may have a more traditional start to their Pokémon journey than Ash did, but we know we have twists in store. We wonder, for instance, what role Quaxly will have to play.
Additional new characters for Pokémon Horizons have also been revealed.
Per Comicbook, these images include Orla and her Metagross, Murdock and his Rockruff, Mollie and her Chansey, and Ludlow.
We may even meet some mysterious new Pokémon on the journey.
And it seems like they’ll cross over into the Pokémon games, like the Pokémon Scarlet and Violet DLC expansion The Hidden Treasure of Area Zero.
Pokémon‘s New Villains
Okay, so we can’t say for sure these are the villains, but they certainly do seem villainesque. According to Crunchyroll, this new post-Ash Pokémon trailer introduces us to Amethyo and his Pokémon Ceruledge, as well as Zir, whose Pokémon is Rhydon and Conia, whose Pokémon is Golduck. It sounds like these three belong to a new organization called “The Explorers.” Since Team Rocket has officially waved goodbye to Pokémon, we will need someone to stir up trouble.
There’s also a fourth mysterious Pokémon character called Gurumin, who wears a Nidorina kigurumi. Makes total sense to us!
If these are Pokémon’s newest villains, we can’t wait to learn more about them soon. We’ll have to wait to learn their identities and goals.
But for now, time has come to set off on new Pokémon adventures, and we couldn’t be more ready.
Originally published March 3, 2023.
