After an impressive 26-year run in the Pokémon anime, Ash Ketchum—forever frozen at the age of 10—has stepped aside as the central figure of the series. However, The Pokémon Company is now making a bold move by allowing the new protagonists of *Pokémon Horizons*, Liko and Roy, to grow up—a decision that marks a significant shift in the franchise's storytelling approach.
According to a recent CoroCoro magazine reveal, the next arc titled “Mega Voltage” will include a time skip that ages Liko and Roy by approximately three years. This development also brings updated character designs showing Liko, Roy, and their companion Dot with a more mature look and taller stature:
All the new arc 5 pages from CoroCoro today!
Posted by u/BikeOk4256 in r/pokemonanime
Interestingly, this time skip applies not only to Liko and Roy but also extends to the broader Pokémon universe, meaning Ash Ketchum—and his longtime friends Misty, Brock, May, Dawn, and Serena—have aged off-screen as well. Whether or not we’ll see a grown-up Ash in this arc (or ever) remains unknown, but fans are already theorizing about the possibility of future appearances.
The “Mega Voltage” arc will also bring back Mega Evolutions, likely in tandem with the upcoming game mechanic revival in *Pokémon Legends: Z-A*. In the latest update, it’s revealed that Liko’s Floragato has evolved into Meowscarada, and Roy has obtained a shiny Mega Lucario—both exciting developments for longtime fans of the evolution mechanic.
One notable absence in the reveal is Friede, the captain of the Rising Volt Tacklers. While Pikachu appears to still be around and even wears Friede’s signature goggles, some fans have noticed what appear to be cracks on the sides of the goggles—hinting that something unfortunate may have happened to him. Let’s just say the mood got serious quickly.
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The “Mega Voltage” arc is set to debut in Japan on April 11 this year. Unfortunately, English-speaking audiences will have to wait longer, as the dubbing process typically lags behind the original release. While reception for *Pokémon Horizons* Season 2 was lukewarm—with critics giving it a 5/10 for "refusing time and again to commit to its strengths"—this time skip might be exactly what the series needs to reinvigorate the adventures of the Rising Volt Tacklers.
