Pokémon Horizons' Rise Again (JP) Thoughts- The Second Most Conflicted I've Ever Felt About HZ

Hey everyone- been a wild birthday week; and I’m thankful my new Switch 2 is helping through it. I will be ready for the prospective Generation X and a whole new way to experience my existing games. So, I thought I would give my belated thoughts on this story arc based on the first eight episodes I’ve seen of it. Here are my thoughts on Pokémon Horizons’ "Rise Again” arc; and why it’s the second most conflicted I’ve ever felt about this anime.

First and foremost, I will say that it’s better than Mega Voltage; though the change in creative leads has been clearly felt. I’m actually glad the dub is using a variation on this title instead, given how divisive the last arc was and the steps this one is taking to correct it. No disrespect intended to the English VA; but I am not a fan of Ult at all. Fortunately, the episode of him utterly failing Lacey’s trivia challenge was as necessary as it was satisfying.

I also mentioned this about “Terastal Debut” a year ago (have more to tell you another day), and this arc does have a very different issue. With “Terastal Debut,” it was easily the adaptation of Pokémon Scarlet and Violet they should have been doing all along; barring some creative license. Here, it’s reversed- they gloss over so many aspects from Indigo Disk; including reducing Kieran, Crispin and Amarys to cameos with no lines like Arven (despite how useful they could be and how much me and others love their characters). I also don’t buy the claim it would have been a repeat, as the academy in Mesagoza and the Blueberry Academy are different schools by design.

Even when they’re trying to portray the Explorer admin Chalce (Agate in JP) as a threat, the worst thing she does in the museum heist (data collection aside) is try to take Dot’s mobile. That’s something a schoolmarm would do, not a supervillain. At the very least, it does make the curb-stomp battle from Gholdengo that much more satisfying. Penny does also strike me as someone who would develop countermeasures with her team as well, don’t even mind their “I’m just a civilian” disguises.

As for Friede’s return- though I’m not a fan of things done in relation to it, I am glad he’s back and has more intel to bring down Exceed. They also finally addressed the Great Tusk in the room of the tribe that was living at the base of the mountain when it got wrecked at the end of Rayquaza Rising. Still not a fan of the “I forgot to mention” running gag, though I am liking how they’re phasing back in more “out there” aspects of the franchise, especially with the memetic Mega Starmie. Also enjoy how their spiritual advisor Landau used to be in movies, even having a mock kaiju movie with Mega Charizard Y (shock of all shocks- the creatives of the franchise are big kaiju fans).

Now comes a mention of a couple details that floored me- I am not at liberty to confirm or deny these; but there are rumblings that this anime could end as soon as this coming April, possibly having been canceled altogether. Though I will personally need more information to know how to feel, neither outcome would surprise me if I had to say right now. 

However, even ahead of the persistent talk of the next anime (I don’t expect to hear any details before February 27); it’s clear to me that the HZ cast will not be a part of it. Whether they bring back characters from the video games; the previous anime or create entirely new ones, the show will be very different for Generation X. 

With this, I would like to say that my rough draft of “The Departure of Liko and Roy” review is done, my goal for the final draft is to get it done and out within the next 40 days. That is all for now- take care, and seek out all Pokémon.