‘Pokémon’ Anime Pulls The Curtains On Story Of Ash And Pikachu After 25 Years

It’s the end. The Pokémon Company has officially announced that the final 11 episodes of Ash and Pikachu’s journey will air in January 2023, bringing to an end the iconic duo’s 25-year-long storyline. 

However, this won’t signal the conclusion of the entire series, as the company revealed a new show would continue after, set in the Paldea region featured in the recently-released Pokémon Scarlet and Violet. 

According to VCG, the Pokémon anime first aired its pilot episode in 1997 in Japan, before coming to screens in the United States a year later. As of this year, Ash and Pikachu have been partners in nearly 1,300 episodes. 

The trailer for the upcoming season has hinted as to special appearances that may make a comeback for the final arc of the pair’s journey. For example, classic characters from early on in the series, including Misty and Brock, look set to make a comeback alongside older Pokémon. 

As per The Nerd Stash, there’ll also be one last special episode focused on commemorating Ash Ketchum’s journey as a trainer over the past 25 years. The one-off episode, Pokémon—The Distant Blue Sky, will air on December 23, 2022.

Take a look at the trailer for Ash and Pikachu’s last dash together below. 

[via The Pokémon Company, VGC and The Nerd Stash, cover image via The Official Pokémon YouTube Channel]