Even if you haven't been keeping up with the exploits of Ash Ketchum and Pikachu in the ongoing Pokémon anime, it probably didn't escape your attention that the eternal child of Pallet Town was recently, finally, deservedly crowned Pokémon League Champion after tearing through the Elite Four in the closing episodes of Pokémon the Series: Sun & Moon. It only took him 22 years, but we're all chuffed to bits for the lad.
Of course, where does one go after becoming League Champion? If Ash is anything like me when I'm playing the core RPGs, he'll have a half-hearted stab at completing his Pokédex before sacking it off to play The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt for the fifth time. That's probably not what's going to happen, though.
Advert
In truth, I kind of expected that the next series of the anime, which is going back to being called simply Pocket Monsters with no subheadings, would finally move on from Ash and Pikachu and follow the journey of a new character. It certainly sounded like it was going to be a reboot of sorts for the show, and leaving Ash at the top of his game would have been a nice way for his journey to finally end after two decades.
As it turns out, I was only half right. The upcoming series of Pokémon will indeed feature a brand new protagonist, but Ash and Pikachu also aren't going anywhere. My Navi News and Famitsu report that the new main character is called Go, and is a ten-year old with a Scorbunny for a partner who wants to catch 'em all, just like Ash.
My Navi News points out that unlike characters such as Misty, Brock, and May, Go is very much a co-lead with equal billing, rather than a supporting character. In an ideal world, Ash would be a mentor figure to this newcomer before passing the torch and bowing out for good, but if Ash isn't gone at this point, I don't think we'll ever see the back of him.
As was previously reported, the new series will be a globe-trotting adventure that spans regions. While I imagine the new Galar region will be the main focus (given the impending launch of Pokémon Sword & Shield), we also know that Johto, Kanto, Hoenn, Sinnoh, and the rest will feature, as evidenced from the gorgeous poster above.
Advert
Pocket Monsters airs in Japan on November 17.
Topics: Pokemon