After 26 years of adventures in the Pokémon anime, the perpetually 10-year-old Ash Ketchum has finally hung up his hat. However, The Pokémon Company, after steadfastly refusing to age its iconic hero, is seemingly embracing change in Pokémon Horizons, allowing its new protagonists, Liko and Roy, to grow up.

This news comes from a recent CoroCoro reveal of the next arc, "Mega Voltage," confirming a significant time jump. Liko and Roy will age approximately three years, sporting noticeably taller and more mature designs, along with Dot. A Reddit post showcasing the CoroCoro images highlights these changes: > All the new arch 5 pages from coro coro today! byu/BikeOk4256 in pokemonanime

Intriguingly, these characters share Ash's universe. This implies an off-screen aging process for Ash, Misty, Brock, May, Dawn, Serena, and the rest of the familiar cast. Will we see an older Ash? Speculation is rife among fans.

Mega Voltage also marks the return of Mega Evolutions, likely coinciding with their reintroduction in Pokémon Legends: Z-A. Liko's Floragato has evolved into Meowscarada, and Roy boasts a shiny Mega Lucario.

One notable absence is Friede, captain of the Rising Volt Tacklers. His partner Pikachu is present, wearing Friede's goggles, which appear cracked, hinting at a potential setback for Friede.

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The Mega Voltage arc premieres in Japan on April 11th, with the English dub expected later. Previous reviews of Pokémon Horizons Season 2 (5/10) criticized its inconsistent strengths. This time skip might inject much-needed energy into the Rising Volt Tacklers storyline.