New Pokémon Horizons Anime PV Unveils Cast and First Look at Rayquaza Rising Arc

On Friday, September 20, 2024, The Pokémon Company released a trailer for the eagerly awaited Rayquaza Rising arc of the Pokémon Horizons anime series. Along with the trailer, the staff announced the addition of three cast members who will lend their voices to characters from the popular Pokémon Scarlet and Violet video games.

This latest trailer for the Pokémon Horizons anime primarily showcases the new characters, as well as a glimpse of one of the new Pokémon that will feature in the upcoming arc. The trailer also provides a sneak peek at the setting, which is expected to be the town of Kitakami, an area introduced in the DLC expansion “The Teal Mask” for Pokémon Scarlet and Violet.

New Cast for Pokémon Horizons Anime Featuring Voices from Popular Shows

The newly announced cast for the Pokémon Horizons anime includes Marika Kono as Sazare (known as Perrin in English), Yu Shimamura as Briar, and Misato Fukuen as Seille (Carmine in English). Marika Kono is well-known for her role as Petra Leyte in Re:ZERO -Starting Life in Another World-, while Yu Shimamura and Misato Fukuen are recognized for their performances as Annie Leonhart from Attack on Titan and Himiko Toga from My Hero Academia, respectively.

These characters are expected to be connected to Kitakami, as it has previously been confirmed that the new arc will introduce characters from this location. The preview features scenes from a town that presumably represents Kitakami. The trailer also gives a highlight of the Pokémon Kleavor, an alternate final evolution of Scyther, with the original evolution being Scizor.

The Rayquaza Rising arc will also showcase the Legendary Pokémon Rayquaza in its Shiny variant, which features a striking black body instead of its typical green. Shiny Pokémon are rare variants that can be encountered in-game, with odds of finding one in battles ranging from 1 in 64 to over 1 in 2,000, depending on various factors.

Scheduled to premiere in Japan on Friday, October 11, 2024, the fourth arc of the Pokémon Horizons anime will air in its regular timeslot at 6:55 PM Japan Standard Time. The anime initially debuted in April 2023 with a one-hour special episode. It is currently available for streaming on Netflix in the United States, with three parts available now and a fourth arriving on November 22.

This series marks a significant shift as it is the first installment without the iconic character Ash Ketchum as the main protagonist, introducing new dual leads Liko and Roy. The series includes the ninth-generation starter Pokémon from Scarlet and Violet: Fuecoco, Quaxly, and Sprigatito. However, franchise mascot Pikachu remains an integral part of the show, appearing as Captain Pikachu, who, along with trainer Friede, teams up with Liko and Roy in their adventures.

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