Ash’s final 11 episodes will begin airing in Japan in January 2023, wrapping up the Pokémon Trainer from Pallet Town’s decades long journey. Of course, the Pokémon anime will continue - but with two fresh new faces, and the trio of new Starter Pokémon from the recently-released Scarlet and Violet. “Ash and Pikachu have had many encounters, many battles, and many exciting and memorable times,” a trailer confirming Ash’s departure stated today. “Every adventure is another step on the long path to becoming a Pokémon Master, a dream that never ends. “The final chapter in Ash and Pikachu’s story: 11 episodes to air starting Friday, 13th January 2023 in Japan.” And after that? “Across the world… a brand-new dream and adventure is about to begin,” the trailer concludes, showing a girl wearing a blue coat and a red-haired boy in a hat, alongside Sprigatito, Fuecoco and Quaxly. Ash’s tenure on the show has felt like it was drawing to a close for some time. After numerous sagas showing his journey to becoming a Pokémon Master, Ash finally won a regional league in 2019, and then became the ultimate world champion last month. For a kid who set out to become the very best, it felt as if there was little else to go. Still, it’s a momentous moment for the long-running anime and for the Pokémon franchise in general. All that said, it seems possible - if not certain at some point - that we’ll probably see Ash and Pikachu again.
