Pokémon Horizons is ramping up for a timeskip, which will age its characters up and give them a fresh new look. That could apply to Ash Ketchum as well, if he were ever to return, and there's one easy way that could happen: a crossover movie.

Pokémon Horizons is nearing the end of its first major story arc, and will be entering the next with a timeskip, a first for the Pokémon anime. Since Horizons has been implied to be in the same world as Ash's adventures, that would mean Ash Ketchum should age some as well, rather than being eternally stuck at 10 years old. This would certainly make a return appearance by everyone's favorite Pallet Town trainer an exciting prospect, but Ash is so detached from what has been going on in Horizons that it would be difficult to bring him in. Unless, of course, the anime's creators decided to create a crossover film.

Pokémon Could Bring Ash Back in a Horizons Movie

A Crossover Movie Would Solve the Problems of Plot Derailment

It's been a while since the last Pokémon movie. Secrets of the Jungle, starring an alternate continuity Ash, was released in Japan in 2020, and there hasn't been one since. This is no doubt partially down to the change in protagonists, and it makes sense that the producers of Pokémon Horizons would want to give Liko and Roy some time to get established before giving them a movie of their own. Liko and Roy have had 2 years to get established now, though, so the time may finally be right for a new movie. But how can they ensure fans will turn out for a movie starring the new characters?

The simple answer is to include a character fans already know: Ash. By creating a crossover movie and bringing Ash in, both fans of Horizons and of the original series will be interested in seeing the film. It will also give the movie a more epic feeling, if the threat is so great that it requires a team-up. The film could make for a great "ing the torch" moment as well, as Ash officially hands the reins of the anime over to Liko and Roy, with his blessing.

Plus, just as the original series' movies rarely impacted the ongoing events of the anime, this film could also be relatively separate from the ongoing plot of Horizons. It also avoids having Ash overshadow Liko and Roy in their own show, which is a very real risk. It wouldn't be too hard to come up with a situation in which Ash and Liko could meet, either; some kind of trainer meet-up, like a tournament, would inevitably draw Ash's attention, and if such an event was threatened in some way, both would certainly step up to help deal with the threat.

A Horizons Movie with Ash Has a Lot of Potential

The Cool Scenes Practically Write Themselves

As is typical for Pokémon movies, it would no doubt revolve around a new Legendary or Mythical Pokémon who has become a problem in some way. As a Horizons movie, it would naturally have to focus on Liko and Roy primarily, with Ash taking a guest star role. Debuting Ash's new design would certainly be an exciting moment for long-time fans, who have clamored for years to have Ash aged up. It's not hard to imagine some cool scenes that could appear in the film: Ash's Pikachu and Captain Pikachu performing dual thunderbolts, for example, or Ash gushing over seeing the Terastal phenomenon in action.

Ash could also have a mix of old favorite Pokémon and new ones that he's caught offscreen, potentially including Pokémon from Paldea. That would cater to fans' desires to see Ash's classic Pokémon as well as prove that Ash has been busy since the end of his series. Ash's return could even open the door for other characters to return, such as Team Rocket, who would no doubt take an interest in Captain Pikachu as well.

There's certainly a lot to be gained from bringing Ash back in movie form, especially if it occurs in a crossover with Horizons. It could kickstart the Pokémon film series again, while simultaneously ing the torch from Ash to the Horizons cast. Such a film would draw in both new fans and old ones, and could put Pokémon movies back on top once more. Best of all, Pokémon Horizons' plot would remain unaffected by this one-off adventure, allowing that series' story to develop unimpeded.