Pokémon Horizonstook over after the Ash era of thePokémonanime came to an end in March 2023. Many fans were upset by the departure of Ash, and didn’t give the show a fair shake. There’s also those who love thePokémongames, but never gave the anime much consideration, largely because it was aimed at kids. Now thatHorizonshas had a chance to prove itself, though, things have changed.
Pokémon Horizonsis a very different show than its predecessor. While it does, of course, still have plenty of Pokémon and battles and characters from the games making appearances, it’s overall a far more story-driven series than Ash’s ever was. Although it’s still aimed at children, the series is developed in a very different way that makes it far more appealing to adult fans, provided they’re willing to give it a chance first.
10A Fresh New Start for Pokémon
A New Story Free of the Constraints of Continuity and Character
As a brand-new series starting over with new characters from the very beginning, there’s never been a better time to leap into thePokémonanime than withHorizons.With over 1,200 episodes of Ash’s era, the thought of watching it from the beginning can be daunting, and it can be confusing trying to find alternative starting points, especially withthePokémonanime’s limited availability on streamingat the moment.Horizonsrequires absolutely zero knowledge of Ash’s era to enjoy, and it doesn’t even expect you to have any familiarity with the games.
This kind of fresh beginning is something that the anime desperately needed, opening the series up to new fans and finally giving the tired Ash a rest. With new settings, new heroes, and new Pokémon,Pokémon Horizonshas everything a fan could want in a series.
9A Slice of the Poké-Life
Horizons Isn’t Afraid to Take Things Slow When It Needs To
WhilePokémon Horizonshas a story (and a great one at that, but hold that thought), it also isn’t afraid to let its narrative breathe a little with slow-paced episodes that basically just give an idea of what everyday life in the Pokémon world is like.There are several episodes set while the characters are traveling from location to location, for example, which just explore what life is like aboard the Rising Volt Tacklers’ airship, theBrave Olivine. While some might consider this “filler,” for others, this is exactly the sort of thing they’re looking for.
These more casual episodes help with the pacing of the story, offer opportunities for character insight, and just generally let fans enjoy the Pokémon world for what it is, even outside the context of catching and battling these creatures.
8The Series is Modernized for Today’s Children
Horizons Updated the Anime for a Modern Audience
There’s no arguing that thePokémonanime with Ash was starting to feel a bit dated in certain ways. The series featured little in the way of modern technology, and while there were futuristic devices related to Pokémon themselves, it just felt like the world of Pokémon was beginning to diverge from the real world.Horizonstook the initiative to update things in inventive ways.Liko, for example, attends school remotely, using her Rotom Phoneto attend class from wherever she is. She’s also a fan of influencers, such as Nidothing, who creates a YouTube-like show.
These might not seem like a big deal, but little touches like this help the show feel relatable to children, to whom these sorts of things have always been around. It’s also interesting to see how the Pokémon world evolves over time, mirroring our own.
7The Animation Has Dramatically Improved
Horizons' Average Level of Animation is Higher
ThePokémonanime has never been known for its animation quality. As a series produced non-stop year-round, there’s simply no extra time to give each episode the polish that would make it great. There have been instances of great animation, for sure, but overall it wasn’t anything special.Horizons, on the other hand, has demonstrated a generally higher level of animation quality than anything that came before it,with the possible exception of certainPokémonshorts. This increased animation quality is easily on display with Pokémon battles, but is also reflected in the credits sequences.
WhileHorizonsis still unlikely to be winning any awards for its animation, it’s a situation where improvement should always be welcomed, and it gives the show a more polished and professional feel that really helps to set it apart from what came before.
6Horizons' Cast is Far Larger
More Characters with More Diverse Backgrounds
During the Ash era, from the very beginning to the end, Ash typically traveled with one to three traveling partners, and together with Team Rocket, they made up the core cast of the show.Horizonshas its core cast of three characters, Liko, Roy, and Dot, but it also has a number of recurring characters in the form of the other crewmembers on theBrave Olivine.Characters like Friede, Murdock, Mollie, and Orla offera new perspective on the Pokémon world, particularly because they’re adults, and actually behave like adults.
Each of these characters has had at least one spotlight episode, exploring their past and personality, and they give adult viewers someone to relate to. It also really changes the dynamic of the series for the children to have access to responsible adults, giving it a distinct feel from Ash’s era.
5The Series Has Excellent Villains
The Explorers Are Far More Dangerous Than Team Rocket
The originalPokémonanime was generally known for having weak villains; Team Rocket’s general incompetence made them more of a joke than a real threat, and while villains adapted from the games could work, there was little mystery to them, as fans were already familiar with the villain’s motives and plans from the games.The Explorers ofHorizons, on the other hand, are quite dangerous. They start out with a devious plot to steal Liko’s pendant, and escalate to stealing Pokémon, infiltrating organizations, and even building fake bases as a trap.
The Explorers are more competent and dangerous than anyPokémonvillains before, and as original characters to theHorizonsanime, fans have no idea where this storyline is going for once. Better still, members like Amethio have been shown to have a depth to them that makes them very compelling to watch on screen.
4Horizons Does Away With the Old Formula
Ash’s Repetitive Badge Challenges Are a Thing of the Past
While Pokémon could be enjoyable to watch, there’s no denying that it could get a little repetitive from season to season. Each time, Ash arrives in a new region, leaving behind his old Pokémon; he challenges eight gym leaders for badges, each tougher than the last, as he gathers a new team of Pokémon, finally culminating in a tournament arc. Somewhere in there, Ash will deal with the evil team of the region, and that’s that.
Horizonshas completely done away with that, however.Liko and Roy are on a different sort of quest, seeking out the path ofa mysterious figure known as the Ancient Adventurer. Liko and Roy do eventually battle some gym leaders and get to know others, so they still play a role, but the old shtick of gathering badges and challenging a league tournament are long gone.
Horizons Features Less Battling Overall, But Better Battles When They Happen
As an extension of the higher-quality animation, many of the battles seen inPokémon Horizonsare truly spectacular. On several occasions, the heroes must battlea powerful Black Rayquaza, which they are often ill-equipped to deal with. These battles are among the best that the anime has ever had, visually speaking, and often involve many Pokémon fighting at once. The series almost never uses stock footage, the way Ash’s era often did, so each battle is unique. Liko and Roy are a bit less skilled as trainers than Ash, but that’s something that improves with time.
This is a trait of the series which has gotten better as it has run as well, with recent showdowns being real visual treats. With the introduction of Mega Evolution to the series, one can only hope that this trend continues.
2Horizons' New Heroes Are More Interesting Than Ash
Liko and Roy Have Quickly Set Themselves Apart From Ash
After 25 years of following Ash Ketchum, there was only so much the writers could do with his character. By the time ofJourneys, nearly every conceivable idea had been done already, which eventually resulted in Goh being designated a “co-protagonist,” taking over a lot more screen time than previous companions and receiving hate as a result.
Liko and Roy are brand-new characters, however, and the series wastes no time showing what makes them different.Liko is a fairly introverted young girl with low self-confidence, so she often struggles with situations which Ash would barrel through unperturbed. Roy, on the other hand, features some beloved traits from Ash, like his love of battling, but is generally a lot less reckless.Both Liko and Roy have also grown substantiallyover the course of the series, something that’s a lot less true of Ash.
1Horizons' Original Story is Absolutely Captivating
The Series Tells a Brand New Story in the Pokémon World
The originalPokémonseries featuring Ash didn’t have much of a plot to it; it was simply the adventures of Ash Ketchum. There would occasionally be plots which would run from episode to episode, like Team Flare or Team Galactic, but generally it was very episodic. There’s nothing inherently wrong with that, but over 25 years, it began to get a little stale.
Horizons, on the other hand, features a completely original story centering onthe Ancient Adventurer and his powerful Pokémon, as Liko and Roy retrace his steps to the legendary Pokémon paradise of Laqua. It’s difficult to say much more about the story without spoilers, and spoilers were almost never a problem in the Ash era. It gets into their growth as they go on this journey, and features an excellent cast of supporting characters and devious villains. If these 10 reasons aren’t enough, then perhapsPokémon Horizonsisn’t for you, but if even one of them sounds appealing, then give the show a shot—you won’t regret it.
