Pokémon Horizons has just finished its first major arc, leading into a timeskip, something that the anime has never done before. These changes and differences in how Horizons has delivered its story have me really reconsidering Ash's era, and some of the problems that the anime had to deal with prior.
Much of the difference between Horizons and the Pokémon anime as it was when it starred Ash comes down to how the writing is being approached. Horizons' characters have more distinct arcs, and the story has come together much more strongly than it ever did during Ash's era. While Ash was an iconic character, that fact was also a key part of what made him feel "boring" from time to time, as an icon can't change and grow the way a character can. With Horizons' first arc complete, it's safe to say that the story was far more successful than the anime has ever been.
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Pokémon Horizons' Writing is Just Better
The New Series is Better Structured for Long-term Storytelling
One thing that gives Horizons a big advantage over most other periods of the anime with Ash is that it was built from the ground up to tell the story it wanted to tell. Instead of having an existing character like Ash, who the story had to be built around, this anime was able to create its own protagonists that were a better fit for the story. Ash couldn't suddenly change to have Liko's lack of self-confidence, for example, nor could he be easily given the connections to family and the past that Liko has been provided. By starting fresh, the story was able to have the protagonist most fitting for it.
While Ash's character arc can be a bit messy and difficult to point out at times, Liko has had a very clearly defined arc in comparison. Liko starts out unsure of herself and having difficulty bonding with her partner Sprigatito, but the adventure itself helps her to build confidence and develop that bond. Horizons also makes use of evolution for story reasons very well, as a means of underlining the growth that the Pokémon and trainer have gone through. Contrast that with how evolution was often used merely as a power-up during Ash's era, and it begins to become clear.
That's not to say that Ash's anime never did these things, as it's definitely had story-driven evolutions and periods where Ash had a clearer character arc than others. However, Horizons has been able to employ these things consistently, and not just for Liko, but for other characters as well. The arcs in Horizons have aligned well with what's going on in the plot, and together they've been able to create a compelling storyline with characters that the viewer is truly invested in.
Ash's Iconic Status Stifled His Growth
Ash Became Too Much of a Mascot to Grow as a Character
Part of Ash's problem was that he and Pikachu became a mascot for Pokémon, similar to the way Mickey is a mascot for Disney. In order for a character to be a suitable mascot, they generally don't change very much and are quite stable in their characterization. As Ash became an enormously recognized figure, and face for the franchise, his negative traits (his hardheadedness, occasional mean-spirited comments, and utter recklessness) would be dialed down, making him a more "boring" character overall.
Without flaws to overcome, it became difficult for Ash to grow as a character, making the show duller as well. This made it possible to watch pretty much any episode out of context without causing any confusion, but robbed Ash of a lot of what made him unique and compelling as a protagonist. Character growth often fell to his female companion, who was typically just starting out on her journey for the first time, allowing Ash to work as a mentor character for her. This was repeated for every female protagonist after Misty, for example.
With Ash and Pikachu doing mascot duty, their roles in the show became more rigid. This no doubt contributed to the desire not to age Ash beyond 10, for example, for fear that major changes to his design would hurt his recognizability. The series was reluctant in general to do anything that would seriously upset the status quo, from an unwillingness to kill characters (even villains) to Ash's frequent losses in league tournaments. Horizons has shown no such fear of changing the status quo, and for that reason its characters have been much more able to grow and change.
Horizons Has Done What Ash's Anime Would Never Consider
Killing Off Characters and Using a Timeskip Sets Horizons Apart
Horizons has committed to storytelling instead of maintaining the status quo, and now, with the advent of a 1-year timeskip, the series is proving that it's not afraid to do what Ash's anime was too scared of for years. Liko and Roy are being allowed to age, changing their characters substantially. It's a shame that Ash never got the same opportunity, because he could've been very interesting as he got older as well.
has also been willing to do the unthinkable and kill off a major character. While fans may debate whether said character will return, the story is treating it as if he's dead, and that's a significant change in and of itself. The protagonists will have to deal with the consequences of a big character dying like that, and it's clearly going to weigh heavily upon them throughout the next series of the anime. This will further reinforce their character arcs and growth, giving added meaning to what they are able to accomplish from here on.
I still love the old Pokémon anime with Ash, and nothing is going to change that. However, the bold moves that Horizons has been willing to make are making it clear that the new series is far better written than Pokémon of days past. Pokémon Horizons is reinventing what it means to be the Pokémon anime, and that's a great thing for new and old fans alike.
Pokémon Horizons
- Release Date
- April 14, 2023
- Network
- TV Tokyo, TV Osaka, TV Aichi, TVh, TVQ, GBS, TSC, Nara Television
- Directors
- Fumihiro Ueno, Hiromichi Matano, Ayumi Moriyama, Yūichi Abe, Junya Koshiba, Hiroyuki Okuno, Masashi Tsukino, Makoto Ooga, Satoshi Saga
Cast
Daisuke NamikawaWelkamo / Lucius (voice)-
Mitsuki SaigaChili (voice)
WHERE TO WATCH
- Writers
- Kureha Matsuzawa, Naruki Nagakawa, Dai Sato, Michihiro Tsuchiya, Naohiro Fukushima, Deko Akao
- Franchise(s)
- Pokemon
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