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It's been a few years since the Pokémon franchise finally decided to retire its long-time protagonist Ash Ketchum (voiced by Rica Matsumoto in the original Japanese and by Veronica Taylor/Sarah Natochennyin the English dub). Ever since last year, a new generation of characters has been introduced to the anime series and, even though fans are getting used to them, there is a slate of old-timers that still miss the Og Pokémon trainer. The good news is, Netflix is bringing a huge slate of Pokémon episodes to its catalog, so you can get your Ash Ketchum fix next month.

This week, the streamer announced that Pokémon Xy, Kalos Quest, and XYZ are all returning to the platform on June 1. The three segments represent over 100 episodes from the series, which is a pretty good way to revisit some of Ash's best moments. It's hard to believe, but Pokémon Xy is already a decade old.

If there is one thing that Pokémon fans had issues with in the original anime series was the fact that protagonist Ash Ketchum (Rica Matsumoto in the original Japanese and Veronica Taylor/Sarah Natochenny in the English dub) never aged. Over the course of over 1,200 episodes spread across 25 seasons, the boy remained a 10-year-old Pokémon trainer, and even went through a redesign that made him look even younger in the final seasons. For the franchise's new iteration Pokémon Horizons, though, it looks like this isn't going to happen. A poster was unveiled for the series' new segment, titled Pokemon Horizons: Mega Voltage, and it had a distinct difference: the three protagonists look like they were aged up at least a couple of years.

First airing in 1998, the Pokémon anime offered a new way to enjoy the budding franchise about catching, training, and befriending elementally-themed creatures. For most of its run, it followed Ash Ketchum (Rica Matsumoto/Veronica Taylor and Sarah Natochenny) as he traveled the various regions of the Pokémon world to become a Pokémon master. Beginning with Pokémon Horizons: The Series, the anime has started following other characters in the newest region, Paldea.

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Halfway through season 1 and "Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man" has been gladly drafting its supporting characters and villains from all corners of Marvel Comics. Peter Parker's (Hudson Thames) best friend Nico Minoru (Grace Song) is from "The Runaways," and his schoolboy crush isn't Mary Jane Watson or Liz Allan -- it's Pearl Pangan (Cathy Ang). In the comics, Pearl is a recently-introduced water-themed superhero named Wave. Time will tell if her animated self takes on that identity, or if Nico will become a sorcerer.

The people who do have super-abilities are the series villains, the latest one being Unicorn/Mila Masaryk. True to her name, she can blast an energy beam from a helmet she wears. In this version, the weapon is supplied by Doctor Otto Octavius (Hugh Dancy). Complementing the Unicorn imagery, Mila wears her hair in a mane-like mohawk.

The holidays might be over, but there are still plenty of Pokémon collectibles for fans to indulge themselves with until 2025 and beyond. Jewelry maker U-Treasure is releasing a yellow-gold necklace based on Captain Pikachu from the latest Pokémon anime TV series on Netflix.

According to the PR Times, U-Treasure has released a brand-new piece of Pokémon collectible jewelry based on Pikachu. This yellow-gold necklace is modeled after Captain Pikachu from Pokémon Horizons: The Series. The new anime TV series is loosely based on Pokémon Scarlet and Violet, the most recent mainline games on the Nintendo Switch.

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Pokémon is taking franchise fans back to the early '90s for a healthy dose of childhood nostalgia, dropping over 50 episodes of its original anime series for free streaming right in time for the holidays.

The Pokémon TV YouTube channel is now streaming the anime's first season, Pokémon: Indigo League, adding over 50 episodes since the series' debut on the channel just 10 days ago. Not only are fans set to have the entire first season in mere days, but Indigo League is also streaming in multiple languages, including English, Arabic, Danish, Dutch, Finnish, German, Hebrew, Italian, Polish, Portuguese (Brazil), Portuguese (Portugal), Spanish (Latin America), Spanish (Spain), and Swedish subbed and dubbed. Readers can check out Pokémon: Indigo League Episode 1 below.

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The anime industry is revered for its vivid storytelling and new ideas that send shockwaves across the internet, from Akira Toriyama’s Dragon Ball to Eiichiro Oda’s One Piece, and new-gen series like Dandadan have elevated its allure in recent years.

Monkey D. Luffy. Credits: Toei Animation

Despite such glory, the industry tends to get overshadowed by a glaring issue surrounding its female voice actors in particular. It is quite ironic for the industry to showcase strong and empowered voices, as voice actors tend to have a different reality to see for themselves as compared to their male colleagues.

However, these archetypes and limitations of some women in the industry have become synonymous with the iconic characters that they have voiced. Their talent and service to the industry have been so commendable that even Crunchyroll’s Vice President has become vocal about their contribution.

Emiko Iijima sheds light on...

Significant changes to how the Pokémon anime can be watched have occurred throughout 2024. While the Pokémon TV app once served as a free means to watch full episodes, movies, clips and more, it was shut down and de-listed from all platforms this past March -- until now.

The Pokémon TV app had been active for over a decade, first launching in 2010 and gaining a significant following since then, with a reported 467,000 active users at the end of 2023. Prior to March 2024, fans had the option to download it from their choice of the App Store, Google Play, Roku Channel Store, Pokémon.com, the Nintendo Switch eShop or the Amazon Appstore. However, following its previously announced closure, The Pokémon Company has announced that as of Dec. 6, 2024, Pokémon TV will be relaunched as a YouTube channel.

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It's been time to duel for the Yu-Gi-Oh! franchise for 25 years, and since then, numerous magical monsters have become synonymous with the property. In celebration, the Japanese postal service is activating its trap card with a series of Yu-Gi-Oh! stamps.

These stamps are based on the iconic Blue-Eyes White Dragon, which has long since become a veritable mascot for the brand. Sold as a sheet of monster stamps, the collection will come complete with a truly Japanese take on the monster's card. Available for a limited time, the set is the ultimate way to mail home a victory in a Duel Monsters match.

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The first 22 seasons of the popular Pokmon anime series find a new streaming home for free in the United States, set to be followed by Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia and New Zealand.

Via a press release, Wildbrain and The Pokmon Company International's new Pokmon Fast (Free Ad-Supported Streaming Television) channel went live on Oct. 22 via Pluto TV, featuring select episodes from the first 22 seasons of the popular anime series. Fans in North America can now stream seasons from Pokmon: Indigo League, Pokmon: Adventures in the Orange Islands, Pokmon: The Johto Journeys, Pokmon: Johto League Champions, Pokmon: Master Quest and more.

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Rica Matsumoto, the official Japanese-language voice actor of the anime's Ash Ketchum (Satoshi in Japan), has denied a recent report that she was at odds with the Pokmon anime staff and Pikachu voice actor Ikue Otani. The alleged behind-the-scenes information comes from a security data breach of developer Game Freak.

Matsumoto denied the allegations based on the recent Game Freak leak on X (formerly Twitter). "Lol, someone is making this up," Matsumoto said. "Don't worry, nothing like this has happened. I've been friends with Iku-chan since she was a newbie, and she even came as a guest on Rika's fan club tour. For those of you who don't know me, I wonder if you enjoy writing something like this. No one is happy about it. I think it's in poor taste and childish."

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Animation film director Satoshi Kon , who passed away in August 2010 at the age of 46, was born on October 12, 1963 in Hokkaido, Japan. Ikebukuro Humax Cinemas, operated by Humax Entertainment, will hold a special screening event of the director's works as “Satoshi Kon Birthday Celebration" from October 11, 2024. In conjunction with the screening, there will be special bonus gifts for visitors, original drinks, and merchandise for sale that can only be available there. Ticket prices and sales dates will be announced shortly. Screening Schedule: October 11 (Fri) - 17 (Thu) “Tokyo Godfathers” (2003), “Paprika” (2006) October 12 (Sat / Satoshi Kon's Birthday) “Perfect Blue" (1997) October 18 (Fri) - 24(Thu) “Millennium Actress" (2002) October 18 (Fri) “Paranoia Agents” (2004) - all-night screening on Blu-ray Tokyo Godfathers and Paprika will receive their first Dcp (Digital Cinema Package) screenings in Japan, and the system will allow for very high resolution images to be displayed and high quality, clear sound to be enjoyed. Additionally, the two main...

In a new partnership between The Pokmon Company International and WildBrain, the first 22 seasons of the Pokmon anime series are heading to North America, alongside four other territories, for free streaming.

Canadian media licensor and animation distributor WildBrain announced that it has become the sole distributor of the single-ip Pokmon Fast (free ad-supported streaming television) channel. What this means for viewers is that Pokmon will receive a channel devoted solely to the animated series, for which WildBrain will negotiate with its streaming partners to bring to households first in the United States, followed by Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia and New Zealand. These streaming partners include Samsung, LG, Roku Tubi, and Pluto. No specific date for the channel has been announced as of writing.

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Rachael Lillis, the voice actress best known for her contributions to the Pokmon franchise, passed away on August 10, 2024, at the age of 46, following a battle with breast cancer, according to Kotaku. Lillis was an iconic part of the Pokmon franchise, having voiced the characters of Misty, Team Rocket's Jessie, and many of the Pokmon, including fan-favorites Jigglypuff, Vulpex, and Gold. Veronica Taylor, the original voice of Ash Ketchum on Pokmon, shared the news of Lillis' passing on social media. The full message can be read below:

It is with a very heavy heart that I share the news of the passing of Rachael Lillis on Saturday evening, 10 August 2024. Rachael was an extraordinary talent, a bright light that shone through her voice whether speaking or singing. She will be forever remembered for the many animated roles she played, with her iconic performances as Pokemons Misty and Jessie being the most beloved.

Ash's iconic quotes showcase his unwavering determination and belief in never giving up, inspiring fans worldwide. Meowth's message of accepting oneself and finding true happiness resonates deeply with viewers of all ages. Mewtwo's powerful lesson on how one's actions define their identity transcends the boundaries of the Pokmon world and offers universal wisdom.

Throughout the more than two decades that the Pokmon franchise has been a part of anime fans lives, many amazing and intriguing characters have been introduced. Each has their personality, life experiences, and wisdom to share with the audience, traits often conveyed through iconic quips and phrases.

While the Pokmon franchise has no shortage of profound, hilarious, or beloved quotes, few are considered the best by fans. The greatest lines found in the franchise are loved by fans due to how inspiring or recognizable they can be. Here are some of the most iconic quotes found in the Pokmon anime series.

Anime villains are some of the most popular characters. They do absolutely despicable things, and many of them don't get any kind of redemption arc. A character doesn't have to be admirable or relatable to be interesting and enjoyable, though.

A great villain elevates an anime, raising the stakes and giving the protagonist something to work against. They may be a foil to the hero of the story, or a once-heroic person who tragically loses their way. Some anime villains have reached true notoriety and fan favorite status. Some villains are so interesting and well-designed that fans often speculate if they are the mangaka's favorite character.

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Villains often serve as catalysts for gripping narratives, pushing protagonists to their limits and challenging viewers' perceptions of morality. Certain anime antagonists stand out not only for their malevolent deeds, but for the profound shockwaves their actions send through the storyline.

From ruthless betrayals to devastating displays of power, these characters leave an indelible mark on the audience, prompting reflection on themes of justice, power, and the human condition. Whether through calculated schemes or moments of unfettered brutality, these anime villains redefine the boundaries of what is expected in storytelling.

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In anime, few narratives evoke as much excitement and passion as those centered around battle tournaments. These thrilling spectacles offer a unique blend of adrenaline-pumping action, strategic confrontations, and character-driven narratives that captivate audiences worldwide. Tournaments represent the pinnacle of its genre, offering a masterclass in the art of combat animation and storytelling.

Garouden: The Way of the Lone Wolf is a recent fighting tournament anime for anime fans to check out, and it surely learned from the blueprints of its predecessors. From classic series that laid the foundation for the genre like Dragon Ball to modern masterpieces like My Hero Academia, the world of battle tournament anime is rich with fierce rivalries, epic showdowns, and unforgettable moments.

Ash Battles His Way to Being a Pokmon Master Now Streaming on Netflix Your browser does not support the video tag.

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Despite the excessive length and numerous barriers to entry, long-running anime franchises hold a special place in the hearts of those fans who commit to sticking with them. Be it a shonen epic spanning decades or an iconic legacy franchise with a rich, complicated history, some of the best long-term storytelling can be found in series that take their time developing their worlds and characters. As such, its not unusual for long-running anime with a lot going on to branch out of their main plots into different mediums, including feature films.

Anime movies tied to long-running series can be anything from filler side adventures to canonical continuations. Yet, they rarely stand out enough to be perceived as worthwhile for anyone except diehard fans. Fortunately, some long-running franchises succeed in producing anime movies that complement their original series spectacularly, breaching gaps left open by the main work and even attracting new fans to the franchise.

TV Asahi aired a special program on April 21, 2024, dedicating nearly three hours to unveil the top 20 favorite anime songs as voted by non-Japanese anime fans. The program aimed to explore the widespread popularity of Japanese anime culture and its music overseas.

The program was hosted by comedy duo Bakusho Mondai along with Eiji Wentz and featured insights from various guests and voice actors, including Daisuke Sakuma from Snow Man, Miho Watanabe, Yuriko Tiger, Megumi Han, Ryo Horikawa, Rica Matsumoto, and Yuko Miyamura.

After conducting a survey among 1,740 anime fans living abroad, the program revealed the highly anticipated rankings, shedding light on the most beloved anime songs among overseas fans.

Checkout the top 20 anime songs loved by foreign fans below:

20. “Guren no Yumiya” by Linked Horizon (Attack on Titan)

19. “Shinzo wo Sasageyo!” by Linked Horizon (Attack on Titan)

18. “Akuma no Ko” by Ai Higuchi (Attack on Titan)

17. “Tank! by Seatbelts (Cowboy...

New housing development in Las Vegas, Nevada, has named its streets after multiple popular Pokémon.

According to CBC Radio, the suburb features street names like Jigglypuff Place, Snorlax Lane, Squirtle Lane and Charizard Lane. One iconic pocket monster missing from the lineup is none other than Pikachu. "I didn't want to use Pikachu because I didn't want it to really stand out that the community was named after Pokémon," construction administration manager for Harmony Homes Andrea Miller explained. She also described how her oldest child suggested using Nintendo's adorable creatures as the inspiration for the development's street names.

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Pokémon fans in the U.S. will finally see the continuation of Ash's quest to become World Champion in June.

The Pokémon Company International has announced the next batch of Pokémon Ultimate Journeys: The Series episodes will launch exclusively on Netflix in the U.S. on June 23, 2023. A teaser trailer has also been released, featuring Ash's battles against the other trainers competing at the World Championships, including Steven, Cynthia and Leon. While the number of episodes for this third batch has not been confirmed, it is likely it'll contain approximately the same number as the first two rounds. Fans will also have the opportunity to watch a collection of special episodes commemorating Ash and Pikachu's journey at the end of Ultimate Journeys.

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The newest Pokémon anime opening has been revealed and it features Ash's many adventures. Since he has been the lead of the show from the beginning, Ash has traveled with several companions and competed in numerous battles. Now, a few early - and very recognizable highlights - are the central focus of his next chapter.

On Twitter, @AnipokeFandom shared the new opening, titled "Mezase Pokemon Master - with my friends", which is performed by Rica (Rika) Matsumoto. The music video features numerous highlights from Ash's Indigo League era, but it also has snippets from his other adventures, including a collage of photos featuring all of his primary companions. Misty, Brock, Tracey, May, Max, Dawn, Cilan, Iris, Clement, Bonnie, Serena, Kiawe, Lana, Lillie, Mallow, Sophocles, Chloe and Goh are all present. The video also features some of the Pokémon from Ash's debut team, alongside their Japanese names.

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Now that he’s officially become the very best, like no one ever was, Ash Ketchum is heading into retirement. The long-running and perpetually 10 year-old star of the beloved “Pokémon” anime will exit the series with an upcoming 11-episode run airing in Japan this January, the Pokémon Company announced Friday.

In his place, two new protagonists, Liko and Roy, will be introduced in a new series set in the Paldea region, first seen in this year’s Generation IX “Pokémon” games “Scarlet and Violet.” The series will premiere sometime later in 2023, and feature the starters from the game: Sprigatito (a grass cat), Fuecoco (a fire-breathing crocodile baby), and Quaxly (a water duck).

The news of Ash’s retirement from the anime comes a month after the Japanese airing of the 132nd episode of the “Pokémon Journeys” series, and the 1,217th episode of the anime overall, which saw Ash (voiced in...

Otaku and Kawaii

It feels like November has barely begun, and yet here we are three weeks in. Like most months on Horror Queers, we’ve been all over the place, including the dream-like pastel world of Jennifer Reeder’s women-centric Knives and Skin and the 25th-anniversary fascist machismo world of Paul Verhoeven’s Starship Troopers. Now we’re pivoting for a return trip to Japan with our second foray into animated fare (after ParaNorman) with Satoshi Kon‘s stunning first film, Perfect Blue.

In the film, Mima (voiced by Junko Iwao) is an Idol being groomed for a career jump from singing to acting. Despite the protests of her manager Rumi (voiced by Rica Matsumoto), Mima agrees to a controversial and confronting storyline on the derivative police procedural ‘Double Bind.’ But her shift into increasingly adult fare doesn’t sit well with all of Mima’s controlling fans, including...

The leaves are withering, the air is turning crisp, and film festival season is well underway — which means even more foreign-language movies to receive raves on the fall awards circuit before getting promptly buried on a streamer. But don't let that happen to "Athena," a staggering French drama that is in danger of falling into the Netflix abyss, crowded out by your "Gray Men" or "Kissing Booth's." Or check out one of last year's forgotten festival darlings in Céline Sciamma's "Petite Maman." And because spooky season is now here, we have a horror anime classic making their streaming debuts, alongside a cyberpunk anime classic. Plus, "Little Women," but make it crime?

Let's fire up those subtitles and get streaming.

Athena – Netflix

Country: France

Genre: Action drama

Director: Romain Gavras

Cast: Dali Benssalah, Sami Slimane, Anthony Bajon, Ouassini Embarek, Alexis Manenti.

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It’s the anime equivalent of LeBron winning his first ring or Scorsese winning his first Oscar. After 22 years on the air, the long-running “Pokemon” anime series gave fans what they’ve always wanted, as Ash Ketchum finally won his first Pokemon league title Sunday.

For decades, Ash has traveled through the various regions of the world of Pokemon with his buddy Pikachu, meeting friends and foiling the plots of Team Rocket. Along the way, he has caught dozens of Pokemon and competed in six regional league tournaments, but every time he has fallen short. He did bring a trophy back to his home in Pallet Town way back in 1999 by winning all four badges in the Orange League, but that league did not have a full tournament.

Ash’s constant setbacks have been praised for teaching kids how to learn and grow from failure, but longtime fans have been...

The Pokémon Company is having quite a year. Hot off the trails of Warner Bros.’ successful live action adaption Detective Pikachu, the next animated Pokémon film, Pokémon: Mewtwo Strikes Back Evolution, is headed straight to Japanese theaters next week. Though, no release date has been revealed stateside, fans at the 2019 Anime Expo were treated to a special screening last night, and reactions are slowly rolling in on social media.

The film, which is a nearly shot-for-shot CGI remake of Pokémon: The First Movie, finds Ash and his friends lured to a mysterious island, where the villainous Mewtwo has trapped them as a part of a larger villainous scheme. Updating the very first Pokémon movie, which broke box office records upon its 1998 release in the United States and is still beloved by ‘90s kids today, quickly drew the ire of many fans. After the first trailer debuted online, many of these...

Directed by: Satoshi Kon

Written by: Sadayuki Murai, Yoshikazu Takeuchi

Cast: Junko Iwao, Rica Matsumoto, Shinpachi Tsuji, Masaaki Ôkura, Yôsuke Akimoto, Yoku Shioya, Hideyuki Hori, Emi Shinohara, Masashi Ebara, Kiyoyuki Yanada, Tôru Furusawa, Shiho Niiyama, Emiko Furukawa

Diving headfirst into Kon Month, I’ll be starting off with Satoshi Kon’s very own directorial debut, Perfect Blue. An adaptation loosely based off a book of the same name written by Yoshikazu Takeuchi, Perfect Blue originally hit theaters in 1997 and was greatly received by many around the world, not just anime fans.

To this day, Perfect Blue has strong holding in the anime industry. Many people consider this movie to be Kon’s magnum opus among his many great films. I personally had not seen it and was skeptical of their opinions; even as I began watching the film I was skeptical of its greatness. However, by the end my opinion was greatly changed,...