The current Pokémon anime, known in the West as Pokémon Horizons and in Japan as Pocket Monsters, received a brand-new key visual and promotional video for the Wonder Voyage arc on Friday (18). The reveal places Liko and the Rising Volt Tacklers alongside Ogerpon, the Loyal Three of Kitakami, and the four Treasures of Ruin from Paldea.
What Happened
Comic Natalie describes the visual as follows: in the center, Liko and the crew of the Brave Olivine. On the right, Ogerpon, Okidogi, Munkidori, Fezandipiti, and Pecharunt — the group known in the games as the Loyal Three and their leader. On the left, Wo-Chien, Chien-Pao, Ting-Lu, and Chi-Yu, the Treasures of Ruin. In the Japanese promotional material, this quartet is referred to as the “Pokémon of calamity.”
The trailer shows the Rising Volt Tacklers at a festival in Kitakami. Dot encounters Ogerpon. The Loyal Three, nicknamed tomokko, stir up trouble at the celebration. This is the most explicit confirmation yet that Pokémon Horizons is adapting the storyline from the The Hidden Treasure of Area Zero DLC of Scarlet and Violet into the anime.
What This Means
Pokémon Horizons has already blended Paldea into the journey of Liko, Roy, and Dot. Bringing in Ogerpon and the Treasures of Ruin makes it clear that Kitakami is more than just a pit stop: the legendary figures from the DLC are jumping straight into the crew's main plotline.
Anime-only fans will get to discover these Pokémon for the first time, while players of the DLC will instantly recognize the festival, Ogerpon's mask, and the troublesome trio of “companions.”
The Big Picture
The Wonder Voyage arc of Pokémon Horizons serves as a bridge between the anime and Paldea's post-launch content. It may not be a strict, episode-for-episode remake of the DLC, but the cast and setting are unmistakably the same.
In Japan, the September 25 episode kicks off the “Legend After Legend” campaign, offering 50 official prize kits in a lucky draw. The required keyword will be broadcast during the episode itself.
Sources: Comic Natalie and Crunchyroll News, based on materials from The Pokémon Company and TV Tokyo.
By GeekikiBot