Pokémon Horizons: The Series is an evolutionary fresh start for the anime (2024)

We were all sad to see Ash Ketchum go, but his still being the Pokémon anime’s 10-year-old main character after 25 years of adventures was a huge part of why the show seemed stuck in the past. Though Ash never really changed all that much, the larger Pokémon franchise did. And while the anime always took cues from the games, it also became very comfortable sticking to its own straightforward formula.

Considering how buggy the most recent generation of Pokémon games has been, it might be hard to imagine the anime faring all that much better with or without its old protagonist. But Pokémon Horizons: The Series — the franchise’s latest core animated series — has a surprisingly refreshing energy to it that makes it feel like the beginning of an exciting new era.

Pokémon Horizons has an unusually large cast of characters, but it primarily revolves around a trainer named Liko (Alejandra Reynoso) as she embarks on her first real Pokémon journey. As a native Paldean who never previously traveled outside of her home region, Liko feels a bit out of her element as a new student at the Kanto region’s Indigo Academy, where young trainers from across the world come to learn the basics of raising pokémon. But Liko knows that stepping outside of her comfort zone is good for her, and from the moment she meets her first partner pokémon Sprigatito (Kira Buckland), there’s no doubt in her mind that she’s on the right path.

The concept of children regularly attending school rather than being free to roam around at their leisure has been featured in the Pokémon anime before, but the emphasis Horizons puts on Liko being a student feels very much like the series expanding on the educational theme of the Scarlet and Violet games. At the Indigo Academy, studies come before anything else, and Liko’s keen on staying in all of her teachers’ good graces. But when Amethio (Daman Mills) — a menacing boy with a Ceruledge — shows up one day demanding that Liko hand over her grandmother’s mysterious pendant, she knows her life is in danger. And while Liko and Sprigatito put up a good fight, it’s only thanks to the arrival of pokémon professor Friede (Crispin Freeman) that she’s able to get away safely.

Though Horizons is set in the same world as previous seasons of Pokémon, there’s a complexity to its central story and an intensity to its battles that makes it feel like a drastically different kind of show that’s aiming for a slightly older, more action-oriented audience. Whereas Ash just wanted to make friends and battle for glory, Liko’s on the run and in the thick of discovering how many secrets her family has kept hidden from her. What feels most distinct about the new show, though, is how Liko’s story quickly becomes focused on her exploring the world with Friede and his crew — the Rising Volt Tacklers — on their massive airship.

By introducing so many distinct supporting characters like Mollie (Erica Mendez), a pink-haired doctor too cool for the Pokémon Center, and Orla (Mara Junot), the Rising Volt Tacklers’ resident engineer, Pokémon Horizons is able to shift gears between being a weekly one-off adventure series and one that’s telling a more drawn-out story. Once Liko’s with the crew, Horizons shifts its focus to other members like secret streamer Dot (Faye Mata) and her gourmand uncle Murdock (Major Attaway), with episodes that take the Rising Volt Tacklers to a number of different regions in quick succession.

The almost One Piece-like way the Rising Volt Tacklers race across the globe makes Horizons’ take on the Pokémon world feel more cohesive and connected than in previous seasons of the show or most of the games. But as different as the new show feels, you can still see Horizons paying homage to the original series through its second main protagonist, a very Ash-like boy named Roy (Anjali Kunapaneni) who has a special relationship with a legendary pokémon.

Pokémon Horizons: The Series is an evolutionary fresh start for the anime (1)

Pokémon Horizons: The Series is an evolutionary fresh start for the anime (2)

Because Liko’s kind of a wallflower and more of a team player compared to Ash — who was a stereotypical shonen protagonist focused on his own priorities — Horizons feels like a proper ensemble series that wants you to appreciate how much more there is to the world of Pokémon than battling. Of course, battles are still important here, and Liko’s character development is most clearly reflected in the way that she and Sprigatito become more powerful as they face new opponents. But the exciting thing about Horizons is how open it feels in terms of being able to take off in new directions as its characters evolve.

While Horizons’ potential to wander even further off the traditional Pokémon anime beaten path is great, it’s easy to imagine it also making the series a bit harder to jump into compared to the original series. But the show’s early episodes feel perfectly calibrated for newcomers to the franchise and diehard fans alike, and with the next big Pokémon game not dropping until 2025, Horizons should be just the thing to tide everyone over while we wait.

Pokémon Horizons: The Series is streaming on Netflix now.

Pokémon Horizons: The Series is an evolutionary fresh start for the anime (2024)

FAQs

Why is Pokémon Horizons not on Netflix? ›

Originally set to premiere on Netflix on February 23, 2023, Pokémon Horizons: The Series faced a delay, with the new release date scheduled for March 7, 2024. Although not available globally, the United States and the United Kingdom, where the BBC acquired broadcasting rights, are confirmed carriers.

Will Pokémon Horizons have a season 2? ›

In Part 2 of Pokémon Horizons: The Series, now available on Netflix, the Rising Volt Tacklers are charting a course toward the Galar region, seeking the truth about the legendary Ancient Adventurer and his Pokémon known as the Six Heroes. How will Liko and Roy continue to evolve as Pokémon Trainers?

Is Pokémon Horizons a good anime? ›

If you're a teen or adult checking the anime out again, it'll naturally feel like a kids' show, but the quality story and aforementioned adventure-y vibe might just keep you sticking around. Maybe I'm biased since I'm a fan of Pokémon myself (the games, not the anime), but it really is a refreshing, interesting change.

Where can I watch Pokémon Horizons in the US? ›

New Horizons & New Adventures on Netflix.

Where can I watch Pokémon Horizons other than Netflix? ›

Streaming on Roku. Pokémon Horizons: The Series, an action series starring Alejandra Reynoso, Anjali Kunapaneni, and Crispin Freeman is available to stream now.

How old is Liko in Pokémon? ›

She is a little girl and you can see it. But she is most likely 10 years old. If she was older than 10 she would have already received a pokemon at her previous school in a ceremony. There are older children at the school in Paladea who have already received Pokemon.

Is Cap Ash's Pikachu? ›

Swayed by this, Pikachu was then caught by the trainer, who was inspired to finish his boat (the Brave Olivine) and form the Rising Volt Tacklers with his friends and his new Pokémon. This all clearly establishes Captain Pikachu as being a separate member of the species compared to Ash's Pikachu.

Is Ash going to be in Pokémon Horizons? ›

After 26 years with Ash as the face of its anime series, “Pokémon” introduced Liko and Roy in “Horizons,” which began airing in Japan last year and is now available on Netflix in the U.S. “Pokémon” said goodbye to Ash (for now) in the final episode of “Ultimate Journeys,” the previous season.

How old is Ash in Pokémon Horizons? ›

We were all sad to see Ash Ketchum go, but his still being the Pokémon anime's 10-year-old main character after 25 years of adventures was a huge part of why the show seemed stuck in the past. Though Ash never really changed all that much, the larger Pokémon franchise did.

Is Pokémon kid appropriate? ›

The point is, Pokémon is perfectly fine for ALL AGES. The show's practically made for little kids.

Is Pokémon anime good for my child? ›

Perfectly fine and entertaining for all ages

(Before I tell you what I think, I first want you people to know that this show (and the whole franchise in general) has been around since YOU guys were kids. Teenagers or young adults, at most. (1996) Also, the second thing, Pokémon is NOT Cartoon Network.

Where can I watch Pokemon Horizons Part 3? ›

Pokémon Horizons: The Series Part 3 Coming to Netflix on August 9.

How many seasons are in Pokémon Horizons? ›

"Pokémon Horizons: The Series" marks the 26th season of the beloved Pokémon anime and inaugurates the captivating Pokémon Horizons narrative.

Is season 25 of Pokémon the last? ›

It is the third and final season of Pokémon Journeys: The Series. The season follows Ash and Goh as they travel around the world, based at the Cerise Laboratory in Vermilion City in Kanto.

Where are Pokémon Horizons? ›

It premiered in Japan on TV Tokyo on April 14, 2023, and was further distributed by Netflix in the United States on March 7, 2024.

Is Pokémon leaving Netflix in 2024? ›

This coincides with removal dates currently planned for Pokémon Ultimate Journeys and Pokémon To Be A Pokémon Master, which will also leave Netflix in 2024, but not until later in the year.

Is Pokémon removed from Netflix? ›

Pokémon Journeys and Pokémon Master Journeys are leaving Netflix as of March 4. Pretty much what the title says. Personally, I find it to be ridiculous utterly ridiculous since they're both Netflix originals. (I'm so sorry if this post is low-effort, I just thought I'd get the message out there.)

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