The Pokemon anime looks like it’s found a new Team Rocket
Prepare for trouble, and make it double. Well, not for long. As the long-running Pokemon anime ushers in a new era, it's not just Ash and Pikachu we're waving goodbye to.
For the past 26 years, we've gotten to know the plucky boy from Pallet Town and his electric mouse, but what would Ash's journey be without Jessie, James, and Meowth constantly calling him "twerp"? Now, it looks like the series has found its new Team Rocket.
Does the Pokemon anime have a new Team Rocket?
Although the writing was on the wall, we refused to believe that just because Ash is heading off, Team Rocket would follow suit. Sadly, the Pokemon anime has wrapped its story in Ultimate Journeys.
In "Team Rocket's Counterattack," we saw the team disband, leaving questions over who will be the big bad of the next series. It's true that we've had villainous organisations like Team Galactic and Team Plasma prove they're more capable than Team Rocket, however, there's a big hole in our lives.
On March 17, the Japanese Pokemon Twitter showed off a brand-new anime trailer featuring four new characters. It didn't take fans long to pick up on the fact Amethyo, Zir, and Conia have a villainous look about them.
Amethyo fights with a Ceruledge, Zir a Rhydon, and Cir a Golduck. The trio form part of the "Explorers" organisation, while their fourth member is a mystery character dressed in a Nidorina onesie. But just who are they?
Who are the Explorers in the Pokemon anime?
Although it's currently unclear what the intentions of the Explorers are, we're guessing they have villainous intent. We've already been introduced to the rugged Friede and Captain Pikachu, with their airship suggesting we'll be taking to the skies this time around.
The new protagonists are called Liko and Roy, with their arrival also merging with the games to bring the Gen IX starters of Fuecoco, Sprigatito, and Quaxly to the anime. Every good hero needs a villain to fight, so this is where the Explorers come in.
There's also been a tease of the Rising Volt Tacklers, who presumably serve as some sort of heroic team. The Explorers are currently shrouded in mystery, but with Ash's exit looming and the next series arriving in April, there isn't long to wait to find out what's coming next.
