Since 2023, the Pokémon anime has turned a historic page: no more Ash, and Liko and Roy take center stage. Three seasons later, Pokémon Horizons has 136 episodes and is already preparing its fourth season, due on February 27, 2027. Whether you dropped off after the Ash era or just want to catch up before what comes next, here is the complete guide to the series: characters, seasons, Pokémon to watch and where to watch it in France.
A new era after Ash
Announced on December 16, 2022, Pokémon Horizons succeeds Pokémon Journeys, which concluded the adventures of Ash and his 
Pikachu. For the first time since 1997, the series changes its heroes completely and starts over with a brand-new story. It began airing on April 14, 2023 in Japan on TV Tokyo, then in France on December 9, 2023 on Canal J, before moving to Gulli from February 28, 2024.
The premise changes too. It is no longer about collecting Badges to become a Pokémon Master: the series follows a crew of adventurers traveling the world aboard an airship, against a backdrop of mystery surrounding two ancient objects. The storytelling is more serialized, with real story arcs and recurring villains, which makes watching in order much more important than before.
The characters to know
Liko and Roy, the hero duo
Liko is a reserved young girl from Paldea who arrives in Kanto to study at the Indigo Academy. There she receives her starter Pokémon, 
Sprigatito, with whom things get off to a rocky start. Above all, she wears a pendant given to her by her grandmother, which makes her the target of a mysterious organization.
Roy comes from a small island in Kanto. Full of energy, he dreams of living the adventures of the hero from the legends of his childhood. He also has a mysterious object: an ancient Poké Ball entrusted to him by his grandfather, which he has never managed to open. When it finally opens, it releases a 
Rayquaza that is black, Shiny, and flies off right away. Roy teams up with 
Fuecoco.
Dot and Ult, the travel companions
Dot is a quiet young girl who at first prefers to stay shut in her room aboard the airship and has made a name for herself online as a video creator. She gradually opens up to the rest of the group. Her partner is 
Quaxly. Ult, whom Roy met in Kalos, joins the gang in season 3 and brings a welcome spirit of rivalry.
The Rising Volt Tacklers
The heroes travel with the Rising Volt Tacklers, a band of adventurers led by Friede, a Pokémon professor who saves Liko in the very first episode. The airship, the Brave Olivine, is piloted by Captain Pikachu, a Pikachu with a strong personality. The crew also includes Orla, the mechanic, Murdoch, the cook, Mollie, the healer, and Landon, the old sea dog.
The Explorers, the adversaries
On the other side, the Explorers covet Liko’s pendant and the secrets surrounding it. Amethio, one of their administrators, is the most memorable adversary of the early episodes. In season 3, the organization is publicly led by Spinel, who makes the heroes out to be criminals.
The seasons at a glance
In Japan, the series is split into arcs, each with its own subtitle. Internationally, these arcs are grouped into seasons, which is why the two divisions do not quite match.
| Season | French title | Episodes | Airing in France |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | La série : Pokémon, les horizons (The Series) | 45 (LH001 to LH045) | December 9, 2023 to October 13, 2024 |
| 2 | À la recherche de Laqua (The Search for Laqua) | 44 (LH046 to LH089) | January 12 to November 2, 2025 |
| 3 | Les ailes de l’espoir (Rising Hope) | 47 (LH090 to LH136) | November 9, 2025 to October 4, 2026 |
| 4 | Wonders Ahead (French title to be announced) | from LH137 | French date to be announced |
Season 1: the departure
The first season lays out the whole universe: the meeting of Liko and Roy, the arrival aboard the Brave Olivine and the Explorers’ first attacks. It lifts the veil on the secret of Liko’s pendant, tied to the legendary 
Terapagos, and kicks off the quest for the black Rayquaza. It is the mandatory entry point.
Season 2: the search for Laqua
The second season follows the trail of Laqua, the mythical land spoken of in legends. The heroes learn to master Terastallization, cross paths with Legendary Pokémon tied to Laqua’s past and get closer to Roy’s Rayquaza. The stakes clearly go up a notch.
Season 3: Rising Hope
A year has passed. The Rising Volt Tacklers have been separated and falsely accused by the Explorers. A mysterious pink mist disrupts Pokémon behavior in several regions. The heroes reunite to clear their name, train at the Blueberry Academy in Unova, and discover Mega Evolution. This is also the season that sees Ult arrive.
The Pokémon to follow
- Sprigatito : Liko’s partner, a Grass type, who grows up with her throughout the series.
- Fuecoco : Roy’s greedy and loyal companion, a Fire type.
- Quaxly : Dot’s partner, a Water type, as polished as it is determined.
- Captain Pikachu: the leader of the airship, a Pikachu respected by the whole crew.
- Terapagos : the Legendary Pokémon at the heart of the mystery of Liko’s pendant.
- Black Rayquaza: the Shiny Rayquaza that came out of Roy’s ancient Ball, the common thread of the adventure.
Where to watch the series in France
In France, Pokémon Horizons airs on television on Gulli, which has hosted the Pokémon anime since 2008. To catch up, the free platform M6+ offers the episodes for streaming: seasons 1 and 2 were put online there for free on February 1, 2026, and season 3 got an early preview there.
In the United States and several other countries, the series streams exclusively on Netflix, which will host season 4 first. For the French version of this new season, we will have to wait for an official announcement.
The official Pokémon France YouTube channel also offers free content around the series, including the mini-series Pokémon: Paldean Winds, which accompanied the launch of Pokémon Scarlet and Violet.
What we know about season 4
Announced on October 6, 2026 by The Pokémon Company International, season 4, Wonders Ahead, arrives on Netflix on Saturday, February 27, 2027, Pokémon Day. According to the official synopsis, the heroes set off again to discover the world of Pokémon with fresh eyes, now that the threat of the previous seasons has been dealt with. On the menu: unusual Pokémon, sleep styles to discover and a race alongside Legendary Pokémon.
Two new characters make their entrance: Navie, a spirited young girl from Lumiose City, and a 
Ditto stowaway. In Japan, these episodes correspond to the Wonder Voyage arc, airing since May 22, 2026 with nods to Pokémon GO, Pokémon UNITE and Pokémon Sleep.
Key takeaways
- Watch the series in order: the story is serialized and each season builds on the previous one.
- In France, the series is on Gulli and streams for free on M6+.
- 136 episodes have been released across three seasons; season 4 arrives on February 27, 2027 on Netflix in the United States.
- The French date and title for season 4 are still to be announced.
With a more continuous story and a universe that opens up to the franchise’s other games, Pokémon Horizons has found its way after Ash. It is the perfect time to climb aboard the Brave Olivine.
Sources: The Pokémon Company International, Poképédia
