Pokémon Horizons: A Fresh Take on Gym Leaders
The Pokémon anime has a long history of using Gym Leaders in a different way than the games. But Pokémon Horizons takes this concept to a whole new level. It utilizes these characters as Mentors for the main characters.
This has created much closer relationships between the main characters and these Gym Leaders than the traditional format of Ash's journey, which is ultimately a better outcome for both the fan-favorite characters and the narrative overall.
Mentorship for the Main Characters
The current story arc in Pokémon Horizons has Liko, Roy, and Dot travelling together as part of their "Terastal Basics" course. This requires each of them to meet with a different Gym Leader and battle them to prove their mastery of Terastallization. For Roy and Dot, this means working with Brassius and Iono, respectively. Roy had already battled Brassius once before and developed a friendly relationship with him, while Dot and Iono are streamer colleagues who have collaborated before.
These pre-existing relationships were leveraged for the Terastal course, reuniting Roy and Dot with their friends in a new role as instructors. They even ended up facing Hassel, an Elite Four member, in a double battle alongside their new mentor.
Gym Leaders Deserve More Than Just Battles
One thing that Pokémon fans often complain about is that, while Gym Leaders often have interesting designs and personalities, they rarely play a significant role in the story. They often end up on the sidelines. The anime has traditionally done a better job of fleshing out Gym Leaders than the games, but even then, they are often only featured for a few episodes at most, while Ash is nearby and preparing to battle them. Some exceptions include Bea and Korrina, who even travelled with Ash and Pikachu for some time. But for the most part, Gym Leaders were relegated to small parts and not explored much.
Since Pokémon Horizons isn't about collecting gym badges, there was some debate about when or even if certain Gym Leaders might show up. This Terastal course has given the series a chance to showcase some of these characters by pairing them closely with a protagonist, and using these Gym Leaders who'd appeared before was a great decision. It was interesting to see Roy and Brassius battling side-by-side against Hassel. Roy was able to showcase what he learned and, with Brassius' guidance, even performed well, despite ultimately losing.
Deepening Relationships
Dot and Iono were able to win their fight against Poppy, giving Dot a boost of confidence that she desperately needed. Iono encouraged Dot to act instead of freezing up, helping her overcome one of her biggest weaknesses in battle. Their existing friendship was evident throughout the battle, and their shared victory further deepened that relationship. This wouldn't have been as impactful if Dot had been paired with another Gym Leader; it's a meaningful win because it was fought alongside Iono, who Dot looks up to.
By giving the Gym Leaders real relationships with the heroes, particularly as Mentors, fans get to explore more of their characters and see what it takes to be a Gym Leader beyond just battling talent. Pokémon Horizons' three heroes are still relatively new to the world of battling and could use some help, unlike Ash who rarely needed guidance. It's safe to assume that Roy and Dot's relationships with Brassius and Iono will continue to grow throughout Pokémon Horizons, making them more important than almost any Gym Leader before them.
A New Direction for the Franchise
Pokémon Horizons is very different from previous iterations of the Pokémon Anime. But these differences have led to a high-quality series with more Character Development.
Pokémon Horizons is the sequel series to the 1997 original series. It follows the adventures of Liko and Roy, two aspiring Pokémon trainers from different backgrounds, as they explore the Paldea region. Equipped with new gadgets and strategies, they encounter a variety of Pokémon and face challenges that test their skills and courage. With each discovery and battle, Liko and Roy learn about the vast world of Pokémon and strive to make their mark in the Pokémon leagues.
