Highlights
- Pokemon Horizons, the latest addition to the Poke-universe, has faced a delay in its English release, causing disappointment among fans.
- Fans expressed frustration on Twitter, noting the long wait and the fact that UK fans already had access to episodes since December 2023.
- Despite the delay, fans who have watched Pokemon Horizons have praised the series, particularly the art style, physical comedy, and new characters.
Pokemon Horizons, known as Pocket Monsters: Liko and Roy’s Departure and Pocket Monsters: The Sparkling of Terapagos in Japan, is one of the newest series in the Poke-universe. With the series scheduled to debut on February 23 in the US and Ash Ketchum finally becoming a Pokemon Master after almost 30 years, fans were intrigued and excited to see a world without the Pallet Town native.
However, seeing this world would take a little longer than anticipated and excitement turned to disappointment with the announcement of the Netflix release, as recently, the official Pokemon account stated that there would be a new release date. Fans took to Twitter to air out their grievances.
What is Pokemon Horizons?
Pokemon Horizons centers around two new characters, Liko and Roy, members of the Rising Volt Tacklers—a team of adventurers led by Pokemon Professor Friede and his Pokemon, Captain Pikachu. Liko, an aspiring Pokemon trainer and student at Indigo Academy in the Kanto region, receives a mysterious pendant from her grandmother, revealed to be a hibernating Terapagos. Roy, also a Pokemon trainer living on a remote island in the Kanto region and attending an online school, is given a mysterious ancient Poke Ball by his grandfather.
Frustration Peaks as Pokemon Horizons Faces Delay
The announcement from the official Pokemon account was made on January 12 and fans were not shy about voicing their frustration, with one commenter noting, “Basically a year after it premiered in Japan.” And although not quite a year, with the series originally released in Japan in April 2023, the delay in the English release added a substantial waiting period for fans eager to experience the new Pokemon narrative. To add salt to the wound, many UK fans bragged about having had episodes available to them since December 2023.
Additionally, some fans seemed to be upset about more than just the later release date, with one commenter stating, “Replacing the original music to save money, no sub release, is a year late, on Netflix…” This commentary highlights several issues that contributed to the disappointment within the fan community. The mention of replacing the original music to save money suggests a change in the soundtrack, a decision that often sparks dissatisfaction among viewers who appreciate the unique musical identity of a series. In a 2019 fan Q&A with Eric Stuart, the original dub voice of Brock and James, he claimed that 4Kids altered the background music to receive higher royalties by not having to pay out to the license holders of the original Japanese music. While this is not confirmed as what is happening with Pokemon Horizons, it does potentially provide some insight into the industry practices that fans may be wary of. The prospect of altering music to cut costs and increase profits raises concerns among fans who value the authenticity and cultural elements embedded in the original soundtrack of a series. Additionally, the remark about the series being on Netflix adds another layer to the discontent. While Netflix is a popular streaming platform, the exclusivity of the release might limit accessibility for some viewers who may not have a subscription to the service.
However, not all comments were negative, as fans who have had the opportunity to watch Pokemon Horizons have spoken very highly of the series. One commenter expressed their anticipation, stating, “Can’t wait to see how the dub compares to the sub. People will enjoy this one once they get their hands on it.” Many fans have praised the art style and the physical comedy, a trademark of Pokemon. The introduction of new characters and the overall storyline have also received positive feedback.
This positive reception amidst the disappointment further emphasizes the heightened anticipation and eagerness of fans to experience more of their favorite pocket monsters. Despite the wait, Pokemon Horizons appears to be a wonderful addition to the Pokemon universe and fans in US will just have to hold out a little while longer.
Pokemon Horizons will be available for streaming on Netflix on March 7, 2023.
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