New characters Friede and Captain Pikachu revealed in the latest announcement for the upcoming Pokemon anime series.

The Pokémon Company has recently disclosed that the new anime in the Pokémon franchise will introduce two new characters, namely Friede and Captain Pikachu. As a Pokémon professor and his trusty Pokémon partner, the duo will join Liko and Roy in their adventures and battles.

Taito Okiura, the Vice President of Marketing for The Pokémon Company International, further confirmed that Pikachu will maintain a prominent role in the animated series and continue to represent the brand.

The anime will debut on April 14 and will air on Fridays at 6:55 p.m. While the English press release mentioned that the anime will premiere in 2023 and beyond, the show will include popular Pokémon like Sprigatito, Fuecoco, and Quaxly from the Pokémon Scarlet and Pokémon Violet video games. Fans can also expect to see the Legendary Pokémon Rayquaza in its Shiny form.

In Japan, the final 11 episodes of Pokémon Ultimate Journeys: The Series, titled Pocket Monster Mezase Pokémon Master (Aiming to be a Pokémon Master), premiered on January 13. The show marks the “final chapter” for Ash and Pikachu.