Despite existing for 25 years, the classic Pokémon the anime only had one real spinoff of substance, but that spinoff helped prove the potential that the Pokémon world maintains. If Horizons If it ever gets a spin-off, it would do well to follow in its predecessor’s footsteps.
THE Pokémon spinoff series of the 2005 anime, Pokémon Chronicleswas actually an assembly of special and other Pokémon media series in the West, but was notable for not featuring Ash in any significant capacity. Instead of, Pokémon Chronicles focused on the many characters Ash knew and left behind, revealing what they’re up to now. This includes major figures like Brock and Misty, as well as secondary characters like Casey and even completely original characters. This decision helped reveal new corners of the Pokémon world and gave fans a taste of the series without Ash.
Pokémon Chronicles puts fan favorites in the spotlight
Without Ash, these fan-favorite characters could shine
Pokémon Chronicles cast Ash’s supporting cast in the lead role, and many of them flourished when given the chance to take on the lead role. The series was set in continuity with the main series, so events that occurred in Chronicles would eventually be present in the main anime, as Misty overcoming her fears and catching a Gyarados. It also allowed for different types of episodes; one episode, for example, is a flashback to Team Rocket’s training, revealing how the trio came together.
While it often echoed the main series’ plots and used Team Rocket’s Butch and Cassidy too often, simply having someone other than Ash in the spotlight made it a refreshing watch. The episodes deal with subjects that have never been covered before, such as the origin of Gym Badges or Pokérus, a mysterious Pokémon virus. It also changes the dynamic a lot not having Ash and Pikachu around, as the two tend to take the spotlight over other characters.. It’s a lot of fun to follow secondary characters who won’t appear again as Ash travels far and wide.
Pokémon Chronicles was a perfect testing ground for other spinoffs
Chronicles could have provided a place to debut potential new protagonists
Due to its episodic structure and focusing on different characters in each episode Pokémon Chronicles was an excellent way to test the marketability of certain characters. The first episodes of Chroniclesfor example, focus on a new character named Jimmy and his friend Marina as they try to stop Team Rocket from getting their hands on a Raikou. If Jimmy and Marina were substantially popular, it would have been easy to have them appear again and potentially even become the protagonists of a spin-off anime.
The series’ nature of having rotating protagonists ensured that things changed from week to week, so it never got stale. Although it only lasted 22 episodes, many of the events in this series would have a surprising impact on the progression of the main series when some of these characters finally reappeared. Chronicles I just felt a little less restrained by the formula than the main series, and that made it a joy to watch overall. This gave the writers a little more freedom than when writing about Ash, and it led to some excellent episodes.
A spinoff similar to Chronicles would also work great for Pokémon Horizons
Horizons’ format makes a Chronicles-style spinoff a brilliant idea
Pokémon Horizonswith its global premise, it constantly leaves the characters behind as not everyone can join them and travel on the ship. However, this arguably makes it even better for a Chronicles-like spinoff than even the original series. The series introduced and met a large number of characters that would be interesting to watch, from video game favorites like Nemona to original characters like Liko’s grandmother Diana. There could even be episodes that actually feature Lucius the Ancient Adventurer when he was active.
A spinoff like this would also help with the relative absence of Paldea and her Pokémon from the game. Horizonsallowing it to focus more on Liko’s home region, much in the same way Ash’s series could have handled it. Horizons should absolutely stick to its overarching plot, but a spinoff would not be tied to the plot of its parent series and would be free to explore the world however it sees fit. This would give him a chance to address some of the complaints about Horizons, while also giving these popular characters the focus they deserve. Pokémon Horizons is simply a perfect setup for a Pokémon Chroniclesstyle spinoff and would benefit immensely from its existence.