Pokémon's Anime Just Made History With An Achievement Ash Never Reached

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Pokemon Ash and Pikachu looking shocked in front of a blurred Pokemon Horizons poster - Anime Featured Image

Published Jun 13, 2026, 9:01 AM EDT

Hannah is a senior writer and self-publisher for the anime section at ScreenRant. There, she focuses on writing news, features, and list-style articles about all things anime and manga. She works as a freelance writer in the entertainment industry, focusing on video games, anime, and literature.

Her published works can be found on ScreenRant, FinanceBuzz, She Reads, and She Writes.

For more than 25 years, the Pokémon anime built a familiar pattern around starter Pokémon, where one or two would reach their final forms, while others stayed unevolved to preserve a mascot-like appeal. Pokémon Horizons has now broken that pattern in a way no previous series ever managed.

With Liko's Meowscarada, Roy's Skeledirge, and Dot's Quaquaval, the current series became the first Pokémon anime to feature three fully evolved regional starter Pokémon owned by its main protagonists at the same time. That is a milestone that even Ash Ketchum's long-running era never achieved.

A First in Pokémon Anime History

Pokémon Horizons fully evolved start Pokémon

The achievement is notable because previous series usually stopped short of completing all three starter lines. In the original Pokémon anime, Ash's Kanto starters ended in different stages: Charizard fully evolved, Bulbasaur remained a Bulbasaur, and Squirtle stayed a Squirtle. Similar patterns appeared throughout later generations.

Even when multiple starters evolved, the anime rarely pushed all three to their final forms within the main cast. Pokémon Horizons changed that by allowing the Paldea trio to complete their evolutionary journeys while remaining central members of the story.

The timing also matters. The series did not rush these evolutions; instead, it developed each Pokémon's growth alongside its trainer. As a result, Meowscarada, Skeledirge, and Quaquaval feel like earned transformations rather than late-game power boosts.

Why Ash Never Reached This Milestone

Ash Ketchum traveled across eight major regions over more than two decades, but his teams were intentionally varied. Writers often preserved unevolved forms because they were visually distinctive, emotionally expressive, or easier to market as recurring companions.

Kanto Region · Trainer Exam The Ultimate
Pokémon Trivia Challenge “I want to be the very best, like no one ever was.”

🔥FireCharizard!

💧WaterBlastoise!

🌱GrassVenusaur!

⚡ElectricPikachu!

🔮LegendaryMewtwo!

I CHOOSE YOU →

Every Pokémon Trainer knows the Pokédex by heart. Which Pokémon holds the honor of being #001 in the National Pokédex?

APikachu BBulbasaur CCharmander DMew

✓ Correct! Bulbasaur is #001 — the very first Pokémon in the National Pokédex. Despite Pikachu’s fame as the franchise mascot, the Grass/Poison-type Seed Pokémon has always held the top spot since the original Red & Blue.

✗ Not very effective! The answer is Bulbasaur. While Pikachu is the franchise mascot (#025), it’s Bulbasaur — the Grass/Poison-type Seed Pokémon and one of the original Kanto starters — that has been #001 since the very beginning.

The original Pokémon Red & Blue games launched in 1996 in Japan and introduced the first generation of Pokémon. How many Pokémon existed in Generation I?

A100 B135 C151 D152

✓ Correct! Generation I featured exactly 151 Pokémon, from Bulbasaur (#001) to Mew (#151). Mew was famously a secret Pokémon that wasn’t officially acknowledged at launch, making the well-known count of 150 just one short.

✗ Not very effective! The answer is 151. The original 151 Pokémon run from Bulbasaur to Mew. The number 152 is a common trap — Chikorita (#152) is actually the first Pokémon of Generation II, introduced in Gold & Silver.

Some Pokémon require special items to evolve. If you want to evolve Pikachu into Raichu, which evolution item do you need to use?

AThunder Stone BMoon Stone CSun Stone DShiny Stone

✓ Correct! The Thunder Stone evolves Pikachu into Raichu. In the anime, Ash’s Pikachu famously refuses to evolve, choosing to beat Lt. Surge’s Raichu on his own terms — one of the most iconic moments in the series.

✗ Not very effective! The answer is the Thunder Stone. The Moon Stone evolves Pokémon like Clefairy and Jigglypuff, while the Sun Stone and Shiny Stone are for other species. For Electric-type Pikachu, only the Thunder Stone will do.

Deep within the Pokémon Mansion on Cinnabar Island, journal entries describe a terrifying experiment. Scientists used Mew’s DNA to create an immensely powerful Pokémon. Which Pokémon was the result?

ADeoxys BMewtwo CArceus DGenesect

✓ Correct! Mewtwo was cloned from Mew’s DNA by scientists on Cinnabar Island. Known as the “Genetic Pokémon,” Mewtwo’s creation is one of the darkest storylines in the franchise, explored further in Pokémon: The First Movie.

✗ Not very effective! The answer is Mewtwo. While Deoxys is a space virus Pokémon and Genesect was modified by Team Plasma, it’s Mewtwo (#150) — the Genetic Pokémon — that was artificially created from Mew’s DNA in the original games.

Understanding type matchups is essential for any Pokémon battle. Water, Fire, and Grass form the core type triangle. Which of these types is super effective against Water?

AFire BIce CElectric DRock

✓ Correct! Electric-type moves are super effective against Water. Grass is also super effective, but among these options, Electric is the one. This is why Pikachu’s Thunderbolt is devastating against Water-types like Starmie and Gyarados.

✗ Not very effective! The answer is Electric. Fire is actually weak to Water (not the other way around), Ice deals neutral damage, and Rock doesn’t have an advantage either. Electric and Grass are the two types super effective against Water.

In Pokémon Red & Blue, a renowned Pokémon researcher in Pallet Town gives you your first Pokémon and Pokédex, launching your journey. Who is this professor?

AProfessor Elm BProfessor Birch CProfessor Rowan DProfessor Oak

✓ Correct! Professor Samuel Oak is the Kanto region’s leading Pokémon researcher and the grandfather of your rival, Blue. His famous question — “Are you a boy or a girl?” — has become an iconic part of gaming history.

✗ Not very effective! The answer is Professor Oak. Each Pokémon region has its own professor (all named after trees): Elm is in Johto, Birch in Hoenn, and Rowan in Sinnoh. But the original — Professor Oak of Pallet Town — started it all.

Magikarp is widely considered one of the weakest Pokémon in existence. It’s famous for knowing a move that does absolutely nothing in battle. What is this notoriously useless move?

ASplash BTackle CFlail DStruggle

✓ Correct! Splash does absolutely nothing — “But nothing happened!” Despite being a Normal-type move (not Water!), it has zero effect in battle. The payoff? Train that useless Magikarp to level 20 and it evolves into the fearsome Gyarados.

✗ Not very effective! The answer is Splash. Tackle actually deals damage, Flail is a desperation move that gets stronger at low HP, and Struggle is used when a Pokémon runs out of PP. Only Splash does literally nothing — Magikarp’s signature futile flop.

After battling through the Elite Four in Pokémon Red & Blue, you discover someone has beaten them just before you. Who awaits you as the reigning Champion?

AProfessor Oak BLance CBlue (your rival) DRed

✓ Correct! Your rival Blue (known as Gary in the anime) is the surprise Champion at the end of the Pokémon League. He beat the Elite Four just moments before you arrived — making the final battle personal. Lance is the last of the Elite Four, not the Champion.

✗ Not very effective! The answer is Blue, your rival. While Lance is a powerful Dragon-type trainer, he’s the final member of the Elite Four — not the Champion. It’s your arrogant rival Blue who sits on the throne, having beaten everyone just before you.

REVEAL MY SCORE →

Exam Complete Your Trainer Record

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Are you a Pokémon Master — or still stuck on Route 1?

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For example, Ash's Bulbasaur famously refused to evolve, becoming a defining trait of the character. His Totodile, Snivy, and several other starters also remained in earlier stages. The anime prioritized personality and recognition over completing every evolutionary line.

That approach created memorable characters, but it also meant Ash never simultaneously owned all three fully evolved starters from a single generation. The closest comparisons still fell short because at least one member of the trio remained unevolved or partially evolved.

What This Means for Pokémon Horizons

The Paldea trio's completion reflects a bigger shift in how Pokémon Horizons treats progression. Liko, Roy, and Dot are portrayed as developing trainers whose partners mature with them, creating a stronger sense of forward momentum than many earlier series.

Importantly, the evolutions did not erase the Pokémon's personalities. Meowscarada still carries the playful traits established as Sprigatito, Skeledirge retains Fuecoco's warmth and enthusiasm, and Quaquaval still reflects Quaxly's expressive, energetic nature. The series treats evolution as growth, not replacement.

That balance is why the milestone has resonated with longtime viewers. Fans have spent years watching starters evolve only partway or remain unchanged. Seeing all three Paldea starters reach their final forms together feels like a payoff to decades of unrealized expectations.

Ash's 10 Strongest Pokémon

Ash has more than a few Pokémon which are truly forces to be reckoned with, but which of his rank as the strongest?

To round out the significance of this milestone, it also shows how far the Pokémon anime has evolved in its storytelling structure. Earlier eras often prioritized long-term mascots and episodic status quos, while Pokémon Horizons embraces a more serialized approach where growth is expected and visually reflected. The decision to fully evolve all three Paldea starters signals a willingness to let change stick, reinforcing that this generation of protagonists is meant to progress in real time rather than reset for the sake of tradition.

Whether Pokémon Horizons will be remembered as one of the franchise's best anime eras is still an open question. What is already clear is that it accomplished something historically unique: it became the first Pokémon anime series to give its three main protagonists fully evolved starters from the same region. After more than a quarter-century of Pokémon animation, that is a genuinely historic achievement.