Pokemon to go on without Ash Ketchum and Pikachu

After 25 years, the anime series’ main character, Ash Ketchum, and his devoted Pikachu are scheduled to end.

Producers announced on Friday that a new-look series will debut in April 2023.

Since 2006, Ketchum and other characters have had the English voices of actress Sarah Natochenny, who described the opportunity as “a wonderful privilege.”

Whatever comes after his final chapter, he will continue to live on in the hearts of future generations.

Since 1997, when the main character Ash first encountered the electric mouse creature Pikachu on his tenth birthday, the Japanese anime series has followed Ash in his quest to become a Pokemon master trainer, which has also inspired several motion pictures.

And last month, after winning the Pokemon World Championship, he finally achieved his goal.

Beginning in the spring of 2019, the programme will feature two new protagonists, a boy named Roy and a young girl named Liko, who will both be joined by three Paldea Pokemon.

The creators promised that it would “reflect everything [fans] love about Pokemon animation, including action, adventure, camaraderie, and Pokemon.”

Before that, on January 13, an 11-episode Pokémon Journeys in the West epilogue series will wrap up the current run and explain Ash and Pikachu’s narrative.

Fans have been posting homages to Natochenny online since she took over Veronica Taylor’s vocal duties after series eight.

One wrote, “Thank you for all the adventures you and Veronica Taylor have provided us in seven regions.”

“For the innumerable Pokemon you have voiced alongside Ash, as well as for lending your voice to a figure who is just as well-known as Goku is to Dragon Ball Z, Ash’s goal of becoming a Pokémon champion and master has been accomplished.

The Pokemon franchise has expanded to include Pokemon Go, a groundbreaking mobile game that places the characters in actual locations using augmented reality and online mapping.

Since their release at the end of last month, the most recent Pokemon video games on the Nintendo Switch have already sold more than 10 million copies.