The Pokemon Company has unveiled Captain Pikachu, a new character joining the upcoming Pokemon animated series alongside his partner Professor Friede. While this creature is not Ash Ketchum’s iconic Pikachu, the new Pokemon anime will still feature one of the most beloved pocket monsters in the franchise.
Pokemon fans are bidding farewell to Ash and Pikachu as their adventures in the anime coming to a conclusion. After 25 years of trying to become the very best trainer, Ash’s quest is over and the champion is making space for a new hero to emerge. The Pokemon Company announced a new Pokemon animated series that follows the story of Liko from the Paldea region and Roy from Kanto as they set off to explore the vast Pokemon world and discover the mysteries surrounding Liko’s pendant and Roy’s Poke Ball.
The Pokemon Company introduced two more characters joining the upcoming Pokemon animated series: Professor Friede and his partner Captain Pikachu. The duo will help Liko and Roy on their adventures and take part in battles alongside the two main protagonists of this new Pokemon anime. While few details were shared about Friede and Captain Pikachu, their artwork hint at two adventurous heroes as Friede wears an aviator jacket and glasses while Captain Pikachu sports a pilot hat.
Pikachu has been the face of the Pokemon franchise for over 27 years, so The Pokemon Company decided to keep this iconic pocket monster in the upcoming animated series. Vice President of Marketing for The Pokemon Company Taito Okiura, stated that The Pokemon Company wanted to keep Pikachu under the spotlights as a mascot of the Pokemon universe so that it remains “an icon for the brand.” Besides its appearance in the Pokemon anime alongside Ash, Pikachu was the starter Pokemon in Pokemon Yellow, as well as Pokemon Let's Go Pikachu. This fluffy hero was so popular that it got its own movie, with a Detective Pikachu sequel film allegedly in the works.
Pokemon lovers who would like to watch the adventures of Ash and Pikachu can head to Netflix, where a new batch of Pokemon Ultimate Journeys: The Series episodes are premiering in the US. These final episodes send an emotional farewell to Ash and Pikachu, as they finally win the Masters Eight Tournament of the Pokemon World Coronation Series. While Pokemon anime director Kunihiko Yuyama teased a potential comeback from Ash in the upcoming Pokemon animated series, an era is ending with new adventures to come.