After 26 years of Pokémon anime adventures with the perpetually youthful Ash Ketchum, The Pokémon Company is embracing change in Pokémon Horizons by allowing its new protagonists, Liko and Roy, to mature slightly.

A recent CoroCoro announcement for the upcoming Mega Voltage arc in Pokémon Horizons revealed a three-year time skip, aging Liko and Roy. The main cast, including Liko, Roy, and Dot, sports updated designs, appearing taller and more mature:

All the new arch 5 pages from coro coro today!
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Since Liko and Roy share the same universe as Ash Ketchum, this time skip implies that Ash, along with Misty, Brock, May, Dawn, Serena, and others, has also aged three years off-screen. Will fans see an older Ash Ketchum in this arc or beyond? It’s uncertain, but speculation is rife about his potential return in this or a future season.

The Mega Voltage arc will reintroduce Mega Evolutions, aligning with their return in the game Pokémon Legends: Z-A. Notably, Liko’s Floragato has evolved into Meowscarada, and Roy now commands a shiny Mega Lucario.

However, the absence of Friede, captain of the Rising Volt Tacklers, raises questions. His Pikachu appears wearing Friede’s goggles, which seem to have visible cracks, hinting at a possible misfortune for Friede.

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The Mega Voltage arc premieres in Japan on April 11, with the English dub trailing behind for U.S. audiences. Pokémon Horizons Season 2 earned a 5/10 rating for not fully leveraging its potential. Fans hope this time skip will bring fresh vitality to the Rising Volt Tacklers.