Well, it’s official: after 25 years, Ash Ketchum’s journey to becoming a Pokémon master is finally coming to a close. The Pokémon Company confirmed this announcement earlier today via a trailer highlighting some of the greatest moments in Ash’s adventure. But for fans saddened by this news, take heart, as there’s still one final chapter left in his quest.
Starting on January 13th, 2023, 11 new episodes of the Pokémon Ultimate Journeys anime will begin chronicling the conclusion of Ash’s story. After claiming the title of Pokémon Champion, Ash now must grapple with the ultimate dream of becoming a Pokémon Master. It appears that these episodes will take fans down memory lane, revisiting old friends, locations, and iconic moments from the series’ long history. Both Brock and Misty will appear, as well as Ash’s longtime rival, Gary Oak.
Once these episodes have aired, the next generation of the anime will begin in the Paldea region that was introduced in Pokémon Scarlet and Violet. And for the first time in franchise history, this new series will focus on two, brand-new protagonists.
This marks a major turning point for Pokémon, both as an IP and a cultural phenomenon. Ash and Pikachu have been the mascots of the brand for nearly its entire existence, and now those characters are being retired. Where the series goes next has never been more of a mystery, and for many, that’s an exciting prospect.
There’s one more episode of Pokémon Ultimate Journeys left for 2022 before it takes a month off, and then the final episodes begin on January 13th, 2023. The new series will being sometime after the end of Ash’s final chapter, but no specific release window was given at the time of this writing. Until then, we still have a few more hours left to spend with Pokémon’s greatest duo.
