Culture – 23 hours ago

Photo Credit: Pokémon Channel

Ash Ketchum and Pikachu bring all the feels in their final Pokémon episode. After announcing that the pair would have one final episode of the 26-year running series, “Rainbow and the Pokémon Master!” has aired in Japan, showing Ash and Pikachu taking a walk along a new path after a storm. Behind them are Team Rocket floating in their hot air balloon.

As the anime is tied in a Netflix deal that releases new episodes periodically, the English version will have a future air date. For those who want spoilers, read more on Kotaku.

And that’s the conclusion of the anime. The final steps of Ash and Pikachu after 26 years!

Enjoy. 🥲#anipoke #anipokespoilers pic.twitter.com/pSqtLy55XP

— Braysh Gaming 🇬🇧 (@brayshgaming) March 24, 2023

In response to the news that Ash would no longer be on the show, the character’s English voice actor, Sarah Natochenny, gave a statement in December.

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, 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

“It’s been an extraordinary privilege to have been the English voice of Ash Ketchum for what will be 17 years,” Natochenny wrote on Twitter. “No matter what lies beyond his final chapter, 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.”

While Ash and Pikachu’s journey together may be over, the latter will proceed as part of spinoff series Pokémon Horizons: The Series with characters Liko, “the girl with the awe-inspiring pendent,” and Roy, “the boy with the mysterious Poké Ball.” The new series will premiere in Japan with an hour-long special on April 14.