For more than 25 years, the Pokémon anime built a familiar pattern around starter Pokémon, where one or two would reach their final forms, while others stayed unevolved to preserve a mascot-like appeal. Pokémon Horizons has now broken that pattern in a way no previous series ever managed.
With Liko’s Meowscarada, Roy’s Skeledirge, and Dot’s Quaquaval, the current series became the first Pokémon anime to feature three fully evolved regional starter Pokémon owned by its main protagonists at the same time. That is a milestone that even Ash Ketchum’s long-running era never achieved.
A First in Pokémon Anime History
The achievement is notable because previous series usually stopped short of completing all three starter lines. In the original Pokémon anime, Ash’s Kanto starters ended in different stages: Charizard fully evolved, Bulbasaur remained a Bulbasaur, and Squirtle stayed a Squirtle. Similar patterns appeared throughout later generations.
Even when multiple starters evolved, the anime rarely pushed all three to their final forms within the main cast. Pokémon Horizons changed that by allowing the Paldea trio to complete their evolutionary journeys while remaining central members of the story.
The timing also matters. The series did not rush these evolutions; instead, it developed each Pokémon’s growth alongside its trainer. As a result, Meowscarada, Skeledirge, and Quaquaval feel like earned transformations rather than late-game power boosts.
Why Ash Never Reached This Milestone
Ash Ketchum traveled across eight major regions over more than two decades, but his teams were intentionally varied. Writers often preserved unevolved forms because they were visually distinctive, emotionally expressive, or easier to market as recurring companions.
For example, Ash’s Bulbasaur famously refused to evolve, becoming a defining trait of the character. His Totodile, Snivy, and several other starters also remained in earlier stages. The anime prioritized personality and recognition over completing every evolutionary line.
That approach created memorable characters, but it also meant Ash never simultaneously owned all three fully evolved starters from a single generation. The closest comparisons still fell short because at least one member of the trio remained unevolved or partially evolved.
What This Means for Pokémon Horizons
The Paldea trio’s completion reflects a bigger shift in how Pokémon Horizons treats progression. Liko, Roy, and Dot are portrayed as developing trainers whose partners mature with them, creating a stronger sense of forward momentum than many earlier series.
Importantly, the evolutions did not erase the Pokémon’s personalities. Meowscarada still carries the playful traits established as Sprigatito, Skeledirge retains Fuecoco’s warmth and enthusiasm, and Quaquaval still reflects Quaxly’s expressive, energetic nature. The series treats evolution as growth, not replacement.
That balance is why the milestone has resonated with longtime viewers. Fans have spent years watching starters evolve only partway or remain unchanged. Seeing all three Paldea starters reach their final forms together feels like a payoff to decades of unrealized expectations.
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To round out the significance of this milestone, it also shows how far the Pokémon anime has evolved in its storytelling structure. Earlier eras often prioritized long-term mascots and episodic status quos, while Pokémon Horizons embraces a more serialized approach where growth is expected and visually reflected. The decision to fully evolve all three Paldea starters signals a willingness to let change stick, reinforcing that this generation of protagonists is meant to progress in real time rather than reset for the sake of tradition.
Whether Pokémon Horizons will be remembered as one of the franchise’s best anime eras is still an open question. What is already clear is that it accomplished something historically unique: it became the first Pokémon anime series to give its three main protagonists fully evolved starters from the same region. After more than a quarter-century of Pokémon animation, that is a genuinely historic achievement.
- Release Date
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April 14, 2023
- Network
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TV Tokyo, TV Osaka, TV Aichi, TVh, TVQ, GBS, TSC, Nara Television
- Directors
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Fumihiro Ueno, Hiromichi Matano, Ayumi Moriyama, Yūichi Abe, Junya Koshiba, Hiroyuki Okuno, Masashi Tsukino, Makoto Ooga, Satoshi Saga
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Daisuke Namikawa
Welkamo / Lucius (voice)
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Mitsuki Saiga
Chili (voice)
