"Pokémon Anime Updates Main Cast After 30 Years" （注：43字符，替换"ages"为更明确的"updates"，保留专有名词"Pokémon"，符合新闻标题简洁有力的要求）

After 26 thrilling years in the Pokémon anime universe, Ash Ketchum has finally retired as the protagonist while remaining forever 10 years old. However, in a surprising shift for Pokémon Horizons, The Pokémon Company is now allowing its new heroes, Liko and Roy, to actually mature—something fans never saw during Ash's era.

The announcement came via CoroCoro's preview of the upcoming Mega Voltage arc, confirming a three-year time jump that noticeably ages Liko and Roy. Revised character designs reveal taller, more mature versions of the protagonists alongside Dot:

All the new arch 5 pages from coro coro today!
byu/BikeOk4256 inpokemonanime

Interestingly, these characters inhabit the same timeline as Ash Ketchum—meaning while he's currently absent from the series, the passage of time implies he and classic companions like Misty, Brock, and Serena have also aged three years off-screen. While it's unclear whether we'll see an older Ash in this arc or future seasons, fan theories about his potential return are already circulating.

The Mega Voltage arc also marks the comeback of Mega Evolutions, potentially aligning with their reintroduction in Pokémon Legends: Z-A. Notable developments include Liko's Floragato evolving into Meowscarada and Roy obtaining a rare shiny Mega Lucario.

Conspicuously missing from the preview is Friede of the Rising Volt Tacklers. His Pikachu appears wearing what seem to be Friede's goggles—now with visible cracks—sparking speculation about the captain's mysterious absence and possible peril.

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The Mega Voltage arc premieres April 11 in Japan, though English-speaking audiences will face delays due to the dub's slower release schedule. While our review of Pokémon Horizons Season 2 scored it 5/10 for inconsistent storytelling, this time skip could potentially revitalize the Rising Volt Tacklers' adventures.