With the English dub of “Pokemon XY&Z” (or “Pokemon XYZ”) having recently wrapped up its final episode, fans can now anticipate the 20th season tying into the Pokemon Sun and Moon game to debut soon this year.
“The Legend of X, Y, and Z!” concluded the nineteenth season of the popular cartoon series on January 28. This will mark the last time that “Pokemon“ will appear on Cartoon Network. Due to network changes, the twentieth season has been handed off to Disney XD. Disney aired the first two episodes of “Pokemon Sun and Moon“ on December 5 and the rest of the season is expected to air sometime this year.
The Japanese version of “Pokemon Sun and Moon“ is currently on its 13th episode. Subtitles of the episodes are available online and there are quite a few surprises in store for avid “Pokemon” fans. As we gear up towards series’ true western release, here are some new things to anticipate from “Pokemon Sun and Moon”:
‘Pokemon Sun And Moon,’ New Animation Style
Avid “Pokemon” watchers know that the series has experimented with different animated styles over the years. Ash particularly has gone through various changes, in outfits, eye color and even in his voice actor. It’s no different with the latest series, which will feature a more fluid style than seasons past. This shift might indicate a larger reboot for the animated series, mirroring the recent gameplay changes in the “Pokemon Sun and Moon” game. The new animated style can be seen in the trailer for the English release below.
‘Pokemon Sun And Moon,’ A Look Into The Alola Region
“Pokemon Sun and Moon” takes place in the Alola region, a tropical island paradise drawing inspiration from Hawaii. Alola is derived from “aloha,” the Hawaiian word for “hello” and “goodbye,” and “ola,” the word for “life.” The region consists of four main islands and one man-made island. It is one of the most diverse areas in the world in terms of Pokemon species. Along with its own unique species, Alola also has regional variants of Pokemon common to other regions, such as an ice-type version of Vulpix and a dragon-type version of Exeggutor.
Similar to how other regions have Legendary Pokemon watching over them, Alola has a guardian spirit on each island (except for the man-made island). The very first season of Pokemon established that Ash has links to Legendary Pokemon. The Sun and Moon anime continues this tradition by having him encounter Tapu Koko, the Guardian Spirit of Melemele Island.
Where Are The Gym Leaders?
The Alola region differs from other regions in that there are no gym leaders. How can that be? Well, it has to do with the Alolan culture and the unique bond between people and Pokemon in the region. Instead of a gym challenge, there’s an Island Challenge that tests young trainers. Instead of gym leaders, there are Trial Captains that specialize in a certain Pokemon type. And instead of gym badges, there are Z-crystals which can be used to teach Pokemon Z-moves (but more on that later). This is all information taken from the “Pokemon Sun and Moon” game, and which will likely be expanded upon in the cartoon.
Ash in Class? School Is In Session in ‘Pokemon Sun and Moon’
This is another departure from tradition. Instead of wandering around a region, meeting new friends, capturing Pokemon, and battling for gym badges, Ash finds himself enrolled in a Training School. That’s right! Disney XD’s two-part premiere begins with Ash, his mother and Pikachu vacationing in Alola. After a series of events, Ash eventually encounters Tapu Koko. The guardian spirit gifts Ash with a Z-ring and inspires him to stay on the island and learn about Z-moves. Ash decides to attend Training School to find out more about these moves.
What Are Z-rings and Z-moves?
For those worried if a cartoon centered around a school will still be engaging, don’t worry. The series still promises a lot of the action and battle sequences it’s known for. In the game, Pokemon in the Alola region are capable of Z-moves, which are like upgraded versions of moves. The Z-ring that Ash received from Tapu Koko in “Sun and Moon” allows him to teach his Pokemon Z-moves, so long as they are holding the right Z-crystal. This new mechanic might seem hard to understand at first, but the anime will definitely be expanding upon it.
Despite all these differences from previous seasons, the first look at “Pokemon Sun and Moon” shown on December 5 reveals a show unchanged in essence. At its heart, “Pokemon” is a lighthearted series exploring the bond between a (forever youthful) boy and his Pokemon. “Pokemon Sun and Moon” is simply the next chapter of that story.