Ash will end off his story with an eleven-episode finale titledPokemon Journeys: Aiming to be a Pokemon Master,paving the way for Liko and Roy to take over from 08 June 2025 “and beyond.” New visuals for the latestPokemonprotagonist, Liko, were released on 10 February, where the lucky lady is seen holding a conspicuous, yet “mysterious pendant.”
So far, Liko and Roy have been seen alongside thePokemon Scarlet and Violetstarters, Fuecoco, Quaxly, and Sprigatito, with hints of the Legendary Rayquaza on the horizon. As sad asfans may be about Ash’s departure,the next generation has certainly set up an intriguing and exciting take-over.
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The Enigmatic Liko
The Pokemon masterminds have only leaked titbits of information about the newest additions to the franchise, building the suspense and interest quite effectively. First and foremost, the leading lady’s name. There is a dispute among the fandom regarding Liko, which has been verified to be her name, according tothe Japanese version. It is not uncommon to see an anime name change after translations occur, wherethe “L” is often replaced with an “R,“which would subsequently make her Riko. That being said,the name officially released is Liko,which is what will be used for the time being.
Another direct reference toPokemon Scarlet and Violetconcerns Liko’s hometown, situated in the Pardea region, which has only appeared in-game so far. Even the almighty Ash hasn’t taken anime fansexploring the Spanish-Portugese-inspired Paldea, which will help Liko and Roy to begin their adventures on a clean slate. The only other tell-tale signs surrounding Liko’s debut is that she is well accessorized, with her bold jewel necklace and familiar-looking clip (which bares resemblance to the first cap Ash wore when he started out.) She will be partnering up with Sprigatito and possibly Quaxly too, although, at this point, it is unclear to whom the Water-Type belongs.
Sussing Out Sprigatito
This Grass-Type kitty is a relatively new addition to the franchise, making its debut amongst the Generation IX Pokemon, and is due to invade Team Rocket’s radar inan upcoming anime special. Sprigatito has two possible evolutions, the battle-ready flower-wieldingFloragatoandMeowscarada, a breathtaking humanoid duel Grass/Dark-Type. In terms of power, this cute cat can use Overgrow, whichenhances all its Grass-type moves,but only when Sprigatito’s HP drops past a certain point.
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Furthermore, this foliaged feline can also produce an alluring scent, which seemingly works similarly to Comfey’s fragrance or Sylveon’s aura, by producing a calming, almost hypnotic effect. Liko’sPokemonalso boasts a Hidden Ability called Protean, which changes the Sprigatito’s base-type to match its move-type, with the options of Dark, Fairy, Flying, Bug, Psychic, Ground, and Ghost on the table.
Liko and Roy’s Rumours and Speculations
The limited information surrounding the newPokemonfigureheads has spurred a wide array of fan theories, many of which involve Ash (as people struggle to come to terms with the Pokemon Master’s retirement.) A common train of thought is that this new generation will adoptthe Ash and Misty dynamic,or even worse, an Ash and Goh set-up, which isn’t terribly popular with fans. WhilePokemoncan often be predictable, there is still enough wiggle room to giveThe Pokemon Companythe benefit of the doubt; deciding to drop Ash from the roster was a serious decision to make, and simply recycling old content would be a waste of potential.
Another major theory doing the rounds is that Liko is somehow related to Ash, either as a devoted fan, or maybe even a direct descendant. Conspiracy enthusiasts are having a field day with Liko’s awfully familiar hair clip, especially when considering who else is famous for her hair accessories, which thenadds Serena to the mix(as the potential mom.) However, taking a ten-year-old who seemingly never ages and suddenly plunging him into fatherhood is rather implausible, even byPokemonstandards. Liko being a fan of Ash is a much cleaner connection, that doesn’t open up a distracting can of worms. The official announcement clearly states “theendof Ash’s journey;” move on, let go, and allow Liko to forge her own, unique path in life!
Thy Mysterious Pendant Easter Eggs
While the truth regarding Liko’s necklace will likely only come to light during the anime, expectant viewers can still guess the significance and purpose of the pendant in the interim. It could potentially be some kind of Evolution stone specific to the Paldea region, as it almost resembles a combination of the Sun, Dawn, and Shiny Stones; which would obviously open up more evolutionary opportunities. It may have some kind of connection toRayquaza and unlocking its Legendary Shiny form, as an epic way to leave a lasting impression on skeptical viewers longing for Ash’s return.
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Another concept involves The Terastal Phenomenon, an in-game mechanic introduced toPokemon Scarlet and Violet,which is localized to Paldea. While most use a Tera Orb to Terastallize theirPokemon, Liko could maybe possess what lies inside that Orb, fueling its powers, or the pendant could be made froma chunk of Tera Raid crystal.Terastallizing is a new initiative that alters thePokemon’sappearance to a more crystalline structure while swopping its Tera-type form and enhancing the corresponding type-based move set. Ironically, Sprigatito’s Special Move, Protean, is nullified by the effects of Terastallizing, so Liko wouldn’t be able to use both skills simultaneously.
It would appear that Liko may receive more attention as the lead protagonist of the series, over-and-above Roy, especially when considering the character placement in the visual reveals. The redhead, who recedes into the background ever-so-slightly, has also not been honored with his own set of imagery yet, and even less is known about Roy than Liko. It may be safe to assume that Liko is essentially the Ash replacement, whereas Roy will be more of a side character.
This change of pace (if true) is a noteworthy event inPokemonhistory, especially regarding its sordid past concerning female representation. many of Ash’s female friends have been stereotypically underwhelming, often portrayed as overly aggressive, annoying, or damsel-in-distress types, without much deviation or independent development. Their roles have rarely explored climbing thePokemonranks from a female’s perspective, and if they do, it’s a rather lackluster effort (Misty, Iris.) Alternatively, the girls oftensway toward the pretty performanceside of things (May, Serena, Dawn) or are just dazed and confused in general, with no real purpose in life (Chloe, Lillie, and to an extent, Lana.)
Even thePokemongames were ruthlessly biased when they were first released, forcing players to assume the male trainer role for four years straight, only giving the option for girl avatars inPokemon Crystal(2000.) Having a lead femalePokemonprotagonist who is serious about competing and battling with ‘the big boys’ will be a game-changer for the franchise, which has suddenly realized thatgirls do have a place in thePokemon Universe(likely spurred on by Cynthia’s massive popularity in the World Coronation Series.)
