The Pokémon Company has shared the first English-language release window for Pokémon Horizons, revealing the highly anticipated series based on Scarlet and Violet's Paldea Region arrives in the UK in December 2023.
No release window for the U.S. was shared but previous Pokémon series have typically premiered at around the same time in both countries, if not a little ahead of time in the U.S., so a December release is perhaps likely for stateside fans, too. At the very least, an announcement for the U.S. release shouldn't be far away.
Pokémon Horizons, which is the mainline anime's first foray into a post-Ash Ketchum world, will premiere on BBC iPlayer and on linear TV channel CBBC, though no specific date was given.
It’s time for a new Pokémon adventure! ?
— Pokémon UK (@PokemonNewsUK) November 9, 2023
Get ready to meet Liko and Sprigatito, as well as Roy and Fuecoco in Pokémon Horizons: The Series. Coming to @BBCiPlayer and @cbbc this December! pic.twitter.com/ipsuXyztMb
"We are incredibly excited to be working with prestigious partners, the BBC, to bring our latest animation Pokémon Horizons: The Series to BBC iPlayer," said The Pokémon Company International senior marketing director Peter Murphy
"This is a truly special moment for the Pokémon animated series as we introduce fans to our brand-new protagonists Liko and Roy on their adventures across the world of Pokémon. We know our UK-based fans have been clamouring for the series’ release since it was first revealed, and we are delighted to finally share all the official release information. I have no doubt that Pokémon Horizons: The Series has been worth the wait, so we hope fans old and new will tune in and experience a Pokémon adventure like no other next month."
While the new series will be absent of long-time protagonist Ash, it will still have an iconic Pikachu. Though it's not the one we know, Captain Pikachu will feature heavily as the partner Pokémon of another new character called Friede.
Fans have also fallen in love with Pokémon Horizons Japanese opening theme, though it's unclear if it will remain at all similar when the series premieres in the west. At least there's not long to wait before fans find out.
Ryan Dinsdale is an IGN freelance reporter. He'll talk about The Witcher all day.
