There's an old saying that all good things must come to an end and true to form, that's the case with Pokemon's Ash Ketchum and Pikachu, who are both set to exit the franchise next year to pave the way for the 9th generation of the franchise's anime. The Pokemon Company revealed the startling news that the anime's iconic duo is ending their historic 25-year run with 11 new episodes that will officially wrap up Ash and Pikachu's story.
The news comes nearly a month after Nintendo released the long-awaited Pokemon Scarlet and Violet, the ninth-generation title in the gaming series. On Twitter, the official Pokemon handle announced that a new anime featuring two new characters from the Paldea Region, Liko and Roy will headline the yet-to-be-titled anime. As it stands, we're not quite sure if this new anime will actually be canon to the ongoing series but chances are, it will be and that leaves the door wide open for Ash and Pikachu to return down the line.
Also Read: Why Doesn't Ash Age in Pokemon?
Considering Ash's decades-long quest to become a Pokemon Tournament Champion has reached its odyssey this year, it's only natural for the anime's creators to end his journey because frankly, there's nothing else for him to do. Still, this comes as a major shock because we've all gotten used to Ash and Pikachu's tandem.
Now, whether or not this drastic change in the anime series will deliver the same results remains to be seen but it's safe to say that it'll a lot of adjustment for fans to warm up to Pokemon's new flagship characters. It's the end of an era for sure.
Ash and Pikachu's 11-episode final arc will premiere this January.
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