The Pokémon The anime’s first San Diego Comic Con panel has revealed that the series’ original Ash, Brock, and Misty trio will be reunited in Ash’s final volume block, scheduled for release on September 8, 2023. The Pokémon companions haven’t appeared for hundreds of episodes, and their return offers full adventures for Ash as he tries to return to his dramatic post-war tournament.
The Pokémon Ultimate Journeys anime is coming to an end, but there’s still another 13-episode block that hasn’t been released globally. These episodes will focus on Ash, Brock, and Misty once again, as they go on to travel together for the first time in a massive 950 episodes. The trio appeared a lot in the early seasons of the Pokémon anime, but Misty and later Brock were dropped from the show to make way for new companions to help keep the series fresh. Although it’s been a long time since either character has been with Ash, fans have certainly not forgotten them and the announcement has received a standing ovation.
Brock and Misty bring Ash’s journey back to where it all began
Brock and Misty were Ash’s original companions, the trio that traveled together from the beginning of the anime until the end of the Johto era, 273 episodes in the series. Brock will stay on the show even longer, leaving after 657 episodes. As one can imagine, fans have become quite attached to these characters during that time, and they certainly hold a special place in their hearts because of the nostalgia. Brock and Misty’s return to Ash’s final days of adventure feels appropriate — they were there at the beginning of his journey, they should have been at the end of it.
This final series of episodes made up a miniseries called “Target to be a Pokémon Master” in its Japanese release. These episodes follow Ash with his rotating groups of old Pokémon as he travels around the world, trying to figure out exactly what it means to be a Pokémon Master and whether being a champion will help him achieve that goal. He catches up with old friends like Brock and Misty (Butterfree has been explicitly teased), meets new Pokémon, and even becomes close with Legendary Pokémon.
Fans who are eagerly awaiting the return of Brock and Misty can be ready for the finals Pokémon Episodes of Ultimate Journey will be released on Netflix in the United States and elsewhere on September 8, 2023.