The Pokémon anime will end the story of Ash and Pikachu after 25 years

The Pokémon anime will end the 25-year story of Ash and Pikachu’s journey next year with 11 new but sad episodes.

The Pokémon Company said on Friday that it will air the final 11 episodes of Ash and Pikachu’s journey before beginning a new chapter in the long-running series. The anime’s final arc will begin on January 13.

The new show, which will take place in the Paldea region of Pokémon Scarlet and Violet, will feature the protagonists Riko and Roy. It is currently unknown when these episodes will air outside of Japan.

The short clips from the final episodes, which can be seen in the trailer above, seem to confirm that classic characters from the early anime, like Misty and Brock, will be returning for the eleven-episode arc, as well as some classic Pokémon.

It’s been an extraordinary privilege to have been the English voice of Ash Ketchum for what will be 17 years. No matter what lies beyond his final chapter of him, he’ll live forever in the hearts of many generations to come. I’ll keep him present for all of us in every way I can. ❤️ pic.twitter.com/UZxPO4xD6E

—Sarah Natochenny (@sarahnatochenny) December 16, 2022

The Pokémon anime first debuted in 1997 in Japan and in 1998 in the United States. As of 2022, Ash and Pikachu have appeared in nearly 1,300 episodes.

While other leads have appeared in spin-offs, this marks the end of an ongoing story that will be over 25 years old when it concludes.