Recent Pokemon Anime Episode Features Surprise Appearance By Ritchie And His Pikachu

Ash and Goh’s adventures around the Pokemon world in Journeys have already seen plenty of fan-favorite characters from Pokemon’s past making appearances. Many of Ash’s traveling partners like Misty, Dawn, and Lillie have made return appearances in Journeys, as well as beloved members of Pokemon Sword and Shield’s cast like Marnie and Leon. Journeys’ break from Pokemon’s standard region-focused formula has brought back several of Ash’s past companions with the most recent episode featuring a cameo from one of Ash’s Kanto region rivals, Ritchie.

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The most recent episode of Pokemon Journeys features the continuation of the ongoing World Coronation Series tournament with Johto champion Lance squaring off against Kalos champion Diantha. One shot featuring a crowd watching the match being televised features the cameo appearance from both Ritchie and his Pikachu, Sparky. The surprise showing from Ritchie is the first time the character has appeared in Pokemon’s main anime since the final season of Pokemon’s Johto arc, Pokemon: Master Quest.

Ritchie’s cameo appearance in Pokemon Journeys marks the character’s first return to the franchise as a whole in over a decade. Ritchie’s last anime appearance outside the previously mentioned main series came in the Pokemon Chronicles spinoff in 2005, where he starred in a handful of episodes. Even with Pokemon Masters EX focusing primarily on the franchise’s anime, Ritchie has not been featured in a Pokemon game since the series’ early days. His only video game appearance came as an Elite Four member in the N64’s Pokemon Puzzle League.

Ritchie’s return to the Pokemon anime, if only for a moment, joins a large roster of returning characters that have featured throughout Ash and Goh’s globetrotting adventures. The Masters Eight tournament in the previously mentioned World Coronation Series sees the return of Pokemon’s many regional Champions in a massive tournament. Journeys has even re-united Ash with his past team members, with Pokemon like Charizard and Bayleef among others returning to the spotlight. Ritchie’s cameo marks another instance of Journeys paying homage to the franchise’s storied history.

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