Pokemon’s eighth generation titles,PokemonSword and Shield, saw plenty of characters introduced from the game’s UK-based Galar region, with several becoming among the most popular characters from the franchise. While the games saw significant backlash from fans due to a number of exclusions fromthe Pokedexand complaints about the animations, characters like Nessa and Sonia have become fan favorites since their debuts. Now, one of Galar’s most popular characters is preparing to make her debut in the ongoingPokemon Master Journeysanime.
PokemonMaster Journeyshas continued whereJourneysleft off with Ash and his new companion Goh traveling throughout the world ofPokemon, visiting a variety of regions fromPokemon’s past. The series has also re-introduced many of Ash’s past traveling companions with characters like Dawn and Brock making appearances among plenty others. Now, a recent preview trailer for an upcoming episode ofPokemon Master Journeyssees Ash and Goh returning to Galar with the pair set to encounter the fan-favorite Marnie in Galar’s city of Spikemuth.
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The trailer posted to the official JapanesePokemonYouTube channel sees Ash and Goh paying a visit to Galar’s Spikemuth. The trailer shows offSpikemuth’s punk-rock Gym Leader Piersand his band featuring Pokemon like Toxtricity, Rillaboom, and his signature Obstagoon. The second half of the preview officially introduces Marnie with a battle between Ash’s Gengar and Marnie’s Grimmsnarl at Galar’s Wyndon Stadium, also teasing Marnie’s Grimmsnarl entering its Dynamax form during the battle.
Marnie’s starring role inPokemon Journeys' upcoming episode will be the first appearance of the character inPokemon’s main series anime, but she has appeared before in the series' animated spinoffs. Marnie appeared multiple times inthePokemon: Twilight Wingsanimated mini-series, a collection of short anime episodes centering around the many unique characters of the eighth generation’s Galar region. The character also made appearances in both ofSword and Shield’s DLC releases, appearing as a cameo in the Isle of Armor update and participating in the Galarian Star Tournament in the Crown Tundra update.
Pokemonhas hit the ground running in 2022 with the franchise seeing plenty of major releases and events since the start of the new year. January’sPokemon Legends: Arceuswas a huge success for the long-running monster-catching franchise with thenewestPokemongame topping sales chartsin January andPokemon GOgearing up for its annualPokemon GOTour event set to begin in a week. WithLegends:Arceuschanging up the classicPokemonformula and many fans speculating at DLC to come for the game,Pokemonwill look to build on the success of the franchise’s newest entry.
