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"The Pendant That Starts It All: Part One" is the first episode of Pokémon Horizons: The Series, and the 1,235th episode of Pokémon the Series. It first aired in Japan on April 14, 2023, as a one-hour special alongside The Pendant That Starts It All: Part Two, in the United Kingdom on December 1, 2023, and aired in the United States on March 7, 2024. The first 11 minutes of the English dub of the episode were shown as a special preview at San Diego Comic-Con on July 20, 2023, and were subsequently uploaded to YouTube the same day. The episode marked the debut of various characters from the series such as Liko, Friede, Amethio, and Nidothing. It is the first episode not to star Ash Ketchum and Pikachu and also the season premiere of the anime's 26th season, Pokémon Horizons: The Series.
Plot[]
Liko, a shy girl from the Paldea region, arrives in Kanto to begin her studies at the Indigo Academy. Eventually, she selects Sprigatito as her first Pokémon, but the two of them struggle to see eye to eye. One night, Liko encounters Amethio, a man from a group called the Explorers, who hands her a letter that is supposedly from her grandmother, requesting her to bring her pendant. Feeling suspicious about the situation, Liko decides to run away instead. While she is pursued by Amethio and his henchmen, another man named Friede with a Charizard comes to her rescue. When Liko attempts to jump off a rooftop, her pendant begins glowing.
Gallery[]
Trivia[]
- In Japan, this is the first episode of the Liko and Roy's Departure chapter.
- The title text for this episode is shown over the background directly, instead of a separate title card segment. Hence, no one reads the title card for this epsiode.
- This is the first main series episode:
- Not to star Ash Ketchum, Pikachu and Team Rocket. However, Horizons had a different Pikachu named Captain Pikachu.
- To not feature a male protagonist in any capacity since Roy debuted in the third episode.
- Liko's capture of Sprigatito marks the first time:
- Where a female main character has obtained a Grass-type First partner Pokémon since May caught her Bulbasaur in Grass Hysteria!.
- That a female main character has obtained or caught her first Pokémon outside her home region.
- That a main character has received a Grass-type starter as their first Pokémon.
- That a main character obtains a Pokémon in the first episode of a new series since Dawn obtained her Piplup in Following A Maiden's Voyage!.
- As of this episode:
- A first partner Pokémon of all three type options has been obtained by a main character in the first episode of a new series at least once.
- All three types of the first partner Pokémon have been chosen by a female main character as their first Pokémon.
- The voice actors are listed in the credits in alphabetical order by their first names rather than their last names.
- Additionally, this is the first time Sarah Natochenny is listed in the "Additional Voices" credits.
- This episode introduces 11 named recurring characters, the most such characters introduced in a single episode since Showdown in Pewter City, which also introduced 11 named recurring characters.
- As of this episode, a Grass, Fire, and Water-type first partner Pokémon has been obtained in the first episode of a new series by a main character at least once.
- The relationship of Liko and her Sprigatito throughout the episode is reminiscent of Ash and Pikachu's during the very first episode of the anime, as both Pokémon Trainers struggle to deal with their first partner Pokémon.
External links[]
- The Pendant That Starts It All: Part One at Bulbapedia, the Pokémon wiki.
- The Pendant That Starts It All: Part One at the Internet Movie Database