The Pokemon anime now has a flying Pikachu
It took a while, but Pokemon Horizons: The Series has finally launched outside of Japan, and frankly, we couldn't be happier that we've got frequent Pokemon adventures back. Now that Ash and his trusty Pikachu have kicked back after the conclusion of their adventures, we now move to meet Liko and Roy.
Our brand-new protagonists are exploring Paldea and crossing paths with the various Gen IX 'mon, and while it's different, change is often good. Horizons seems to be an indicator that Pokemon isn't just a vessel for Ash and his Pikachu. That doesn't mean that we're devoid of Pikachu, as Captain Pikachu is here.
It wouldn't be Pokemon without a Pikachu at the helm, and while Captain Pikachu is an entirely different Pocket Monster to Ash's Pikachu, they look pretty similar...minus a hat. Still, Captain Pikachu is proving just how different they are, showcasing a pretty wild ability.
Pokemon Horizons reveals a flying Pikachu
Click to enlargeAs Pokemon Horizons continues to chug through its first season, we've got to know Captain Pikachu, Friede, and the Rising Volt Tacklers. While Captain Pikachu is packing all the great electric abilities that you'd expect of his kind, he also appears to have something of a mastery of the sky.
In his battles so far, Captain Pikachu has shown that he's pretty good at ducking and dodging in mid-air, something that Pikachu typically aren't very good at (you've seen how portly they can be, especially in their original sprites).
During Episode 17, Captain Pikachu showed off the bizarre ability to use his tail to bat at the air beneath him when landing from a jump, lowering him more carefully to the ground. If that wasn't enough, the synopsis for the upcoming Episode 18 teases that we'll see more of his flying abilities.
As shared by @Anipokefandom, the synopsis reads, "It seemed that Captain Pikachu was flying in the sky during their recent battle! Liko and Roy ask Friede about it, but he just dodges their question. However when Orla and the others also question him, he gives up and starts explaining.
"It's all related to Friede and Captain Pikachu's first meeting as well as the story of why the Rising Volt Tacklers got formed."
Captain Pikachu may be a flying Tera type
It's thought so far that these details are pointing towards a reveal that Cap is actually one of the first Pokemon with a Tera type that we'll see in the anime series. If this is the case, it's likely Captain Pikachu's Tera type is Flying.
It's a fair theory, and it would make sense, what with this Pikachu being so nimble. We'll have to wait to see if this comes to fruition, but with only a handful of episodes left, we're looking out for the big reveal. See, and we thought the funky hat would be enough to differentiate the anime's Pikachus.