After 26 years of adventures in the Pokémon anime, protagonist Ash Ketchum finally retired while staying forever frozen at age 10. However, in a surprising twist after refusing to age its hero for decades, The Pokémon Company seems to be breaking tradition in Pokémon Horizons by allowing its new protagonists Liko and Roy to grow older.
The announcement comes from CoroCoro's recent reveal of the upcoming Mega Voltage arc in Pokémon Horizons, confirming a "time skip" that will advance Liko and Roy's ages by approximately three years. The preview showcases redesigned characters showing noticeable growth in height and maturity:
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Interestingly, these characters inhabit the same universe as Ash Ketchum despite his current absence from the series. This implies Ash and his companions - Misty, Brock, May, Dawn, Serena and others - have also aged three years off-screen. While it remains uncertain whether we'll see an older Ash in this arc or future seasons, fan speculation about his potential appearance continues.
The Mega Voltage arc will also mark the return of Mega Evolutions, likely synchronized with Pokémon Legends: Z-A's revival of the game mechanic. The preview reveals Liko's Floragato has evolved into Meowscarada while Roy now possesses a shiny Mega Lucario.
Notably missing from the preview is Friede, captain of the Rising Volt Tacklers. His partner Pikachu appears wearing Friede's goggles, now apparently cracked - potentially ominous foreshadowing about Friede's fate.
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The Mega Voltage arc premieres April 11 in Japan, with the English dub following later due to localization delays. Our previous review awarded Pokémon Horizons Season 2 a 5/10 rating for failing to capitalize on its strengths - perhaps this time skip will revitalize the Rising Volt Tacklers' adventures.
