Episode 301 of THE FIRST TAKE, which airs in a bit over an hour from when this story is going up, will feature a special performance by Rica Matsumoto, Ash's Japanese voice actress, performing Mezase Pokemon Master -with my friends-, the arrangement of the first Japanese opening theme of the Pokémon anime that was originally made to commemorate the anime's 25th anniversary, and which is being used as the opening for the final epilogue arc that's currently airing in Japan. In addition to Rica Matsumoto herself, the performance will also feature a live band, electric violin, and chorus.

After the broadcast of the most recent anime episode in Japan earlier tonight, we finally have a name for the mysterious character for the new Pokémon anime series first seen in the background of the main visual released on March 3rd. Amejio (アメジオ) is a member of an organisation called the Explorers, who seem to have an agenda that puts them at odds with Liko and Roy. The new Pokémon series will begin broadcasting on TV Tokyo in Japan with a 1 hour special starting 6:55pm (JST) on April 14th.

The Pokémon Company has released a special music video in collaboration with Night Tempo, a maker of "aesthetic music" from South Korea. The video, which was uploaded simultaneously to the official English and Japanese Pokémon YouTube channels, presents a mashup remix of Aim to Be a Pokémon Master (めざせポケモンマスター Mezase Pokémon Master), the original Japanese theme song of the Pokémon anime, with its English counterpart, Gotta Catch 'Em All!.

We first heard about Friede, a new Pokémon Professor who will feature in the upcoming new Pokémon anime series, two weeks ago. In information released after the Pokémon anime episode that aired earlier tonight in Japan, we've now gotten our first look at his airship, as well as the four members of his crew, the Rising Volt Tacklers, and the voice actors who will be portraying these characters in Japan.

A new trailer for the upcoming new Pokémon anime series aired this evening in Japan after the end of the most recent anime episode. Shortly afterwards, the trailer was uploaded to the English language Official Pokémon YouTube channel, together with English subtitles. A new Japanese press also released a collection of concept art and cast information for the three main human characters in the new anime. The new series will begin broadcasting on TV Tokyo in Japan with a 1 hour special starting 6:55pm (JST) on April 14th.

In a surprise announcement as part of the Pokémon Presents video presentation for Pokémon Day, The Pokémon Company in partnership with Netflix and the animation team at dwarf studios have announced Pokémon Concierge, a new stop-motion animation series. At this stage, no date as yet been given for when we can expect this series to be released, though promotional material states that the series is "coming soon".

Friede (Japanese: フリード Furiido), a new Pokémon Professor who will feature in the upcoming new Pokémon anime series, was revealed after the Pokémon anime episode that aired earlier tonight in Japan, together with Captain Pikachu, his partner Pokémon. Titles and descriptions for the final four episodes of Ash and Pikachu's final chapter, Pocket Monsters: Aim to be a Pokémon Master, have also been formally announced in a Japanese press release, together with screenshots of scenes from each episode.

The Japanese voices of Ash and Pikachu, Rica Matsumoto and Ikue Otani, have been honoured in the 17th Seiyuu Awards, receiving the Kids/Family Award in recognition of their voice acting in the Pokémon anime.

Titles and descriptions for episodes four through seven for Ash and Pikachu's final chapter, Pocket Monsters: Aim to be a Pokémon Master (currently airing Fridays at 6:55pm on TV Tokyo) have been announced in a Japanese press release, together with screenshots of scenes from each episode. The titkes of episodes four and five were revealed earlier this month in the February issue of Animage magazine, however this is our first in-depth informatiomn about the plot of these episodes. This epilogue arc began airing in Japan earlier this month, starting on January 13th.

The Pokémon Company International has announced that new episodes of Pokémon Ultimate Journeys: The Series, the 25th season of the long-running Pokémon animated series, will premiere exclusively on Netflix in the United States on February 24th. This season will continue to follow Ash and Pikachu as they continue their fight up the World Coronation Series rankings, while Goh challenges his last Project Mew trial missions.

Following hot on the heels of last week's press release, which provided titles and descriptions for the first three episodes of the upcoming Aim to be a Pokémon Master arc of the Pokémon Anime, the February 2023 issue of Animage magazine has provided titles for an additional two episodes airing in the beginning of February.

At the end of last week, the titles of the first three episodes for Ash and Pikachu's final chapter, Pocket Monsters: Aim to be a Pokémon Master, were revealed in a Japanese press release along with scenes from each episode. The epilogue arc will begin airing in Japan from this Friday, January 13th, in the Pokémon anime's current 6:55pm weekly timeslot on TV Tokyo.

At the beginning of this month, a regular monthly press conference from TV Tokyo confirmed that Ash's anime adventures would be continuing, and said that more information would be released with a future anime broadcast. With new videos released today together with the most recent anime episode, and uploaded to both the official Japanese and English Youtube channels for Pokémon, we now know that those adventures won't actually be continuing for much longer!

On November 12th, Ash Ketchum defeated Leon to win the Masters Eight Tournament and be crowned world champion. With Ash having seemingly finally achieved his dream of becoming a Pokémon Master, many fans have been understandably concerned about the future of the Pokémon Anime and of their favourite characters. During a regular monthly press conference held earlier today, by TV Tokyo President Ishihara Ichiro (石川一郎), we now finally have confirmation that Ash's anime adventures will be continuing into the future.

History has been made at Wyndon Stadium, where Ash Ketchum from Pallet Town has secured a decisive victory over the Galar region's Champion Leon, in the finals of the Masters Eight Tournament. The latest episode of the Pokémon anime series, entitled The Finals IV: "Partner" (ファイナルⅣ「相棒」) aired in Japan in the evening of November 11th. This episode was the conclusion of the thirteen-part Masters Eight Tournament arc of Pokémon Journeys: The Series, as well as the climax of Ash's battle versus Leon, the number-one ranked Pokémon Trainer and the Monarch of the Pokémon World Coronation Series.

The Pokémon Company International has announced that Pokémon Ultimate Journeys: The Series, the 25th season of the long-running Pokémon animated series, will premiere October 21st, exclusively on Netflix in the U.S. This season will continue to follow Ash Ketchum and his Pikachu, as well as Goh and Chloe, as they embark on their latest adventures in the Pokémon world.

A limited-time distribution of Lucario was announced for Pokémon Sword and Pokémon Shield during the September 16th broadcast of Pokémon Journeys: The Series (Pocket Monsters) in Japan. This Lucario is based on the Lucario used by Ash Ketchum in the World Coronation Series. Players can redeem this Lucario using the code「HAD0UW0CATCH」. This code can only be redeemed until September 29th.

A limited-time distribution of Sirfetch'd was announced for Pokémon Sword and Pokémon Shield during the September 9th broadcast of Pokémon Journeys: The Series (Pocket Monsters) in Japan. This Sirfetch'd is based on the Sirfetch'd used by Ash Ketchum in the World Coronation Series. Players can redeem this Sirfetch'd using the code「H1SSATSUNEG1」. This code can only be redeemed until September 22nd.

A limited-time distribution of Gengar was announced for Pokémon Sword and Pokémon Shield during the September 2nd broadcast of Pokémon Journeys: The Series (Pocket Monsters) in Japan. This Gengar is based on the Gengar used by Ash Ketchum in the World Coronation Series. Players can redeem this Gengar using the code「GENNGER0GE94」. This code can only be redeemed until September 15th.

A limited-time distribution of Dragonite was announced for Pokémon Sword and Pokémon Shield during the August 26th broadcast of Pokémon Journeys: The Series (Pocket Monsters) in Japan. This Dragonite is based on the Dragonite used by Ash Ketchum in the World Coronation Series. Players can redeem this Dragonite using the code「UM1N0KESH1N」. This code can only be redeemed until September 8th.