Prepare Your Tissues, As Ash And Pikachu's Last Pokémon Episode Will Feature The Return Of Gary

The Pokémon anime is drawing to a close, marking the end of Ash and Pikachu's 25-year-long journey with a series of farewell episodes. Throughout these episodes, the pair have been reconnecting with old acquaintances from the world of Pokémon. However, it seems that the ultimate episode before the show passes the baton to new protagonists Liko and Roy will highlight Ash's rivalry with Gary. The return of Gary, who embarked on his own journey on the same day as Ash and Pikachu in the show's pilot episode in 1998, is definitely something to look forward to.

 

Regarding the final episode of Ash and Pikachu, what is it about?

The Japanese TV guide shared a synopsis of the final episode of the Pokémon anime titled "Rainbow and the Pokémon Master!". Ash and Pikachu return to Pallet Town, where they reunite with Gary, Ash's longtime rival. Gary asks Ash about his journey and if he feels closer to becoming a Pokémon Master after winning the championship earlier in the season. This question has been Ash's dream since he first started his journey with Pikachu. Can Ash find the answer to this question with Gary's help?

Throughout its 25-year run, the Pokémon anime has introduced several rivals for Ash and Pikachu to face, including Paul from the Diamond and Pearl seasons and Leon from the most recent Journeys seasons. However, Gary, based on Blue from the original Pokémon Red and Blue games, remains the original and most memorable. Despite not being a prominent character in the anime for some time, Gary's heavy involvement in the finale acknowledges his importance as Ash's primary rival, which older viewers especially recognize. Although Gary and Ash used to have a hostile rivalry, they now have a relationship of mutual respect. This change was evident when Ash defeated Gary in a Pokémon battle 20 years ago in the episode "Can't Beat the Heat!" Since then, Gary has made a few cameo appearances, and while he and Ash still argue, their relationship is less contentious. Thus, it is fitting that Ash will reflect on his 25-year journey with Gary, his original companion.

When is the final episode of Ash and Pikachu airing in the US?

The Japanese airing date for the final Ash and Pikachu episode is March 24, but there is currently no confirmed date for its English dub release. In the US, the Pokémon anime's English dub is tied to a Netflix deal that releases episodes in batches throughout the year, with the latest batch being added on February 24. Netflix is currently 25 episodes behind Japan, so if they continue to release episodes in batches of around a dozen, the final episode will likely be available in the latter half of 2023.

In addition to Gary, other characters from the early seasons are making a comeback in the final episodes featuring Ash and Pikachu. Misty and Brock, who were the pair's companions in the first seasons, have been traveling with Ash and visiting old friends. Although the story has taken our heroes through various regions, the anime is heavily leaning into the nostalgia of the first generation of Pokémon. While Ash's Pikachu is retiring, The Pokémon Company is introducing Captain Pikachu to accompany new protagonists Liko and Roy on their own adventures. 

Eiichiro Oda Asked ChatGPT To Write A New Manga Chapter!

The Twitter account of the One Piece staff shared a video of Eiichiro Oda, the creator, taking a plunge into the unknown by requesting ChatGPT, the world's most popular AI chat software, to write a new chapter for the manga series. The tweet described Oda's daring request as "the taboo question," as per Anime News Network. According to a translation by Animehunch, Oda asked the AI for assistance, saying, "I'm stuck on what to do for next week's One Piece chapter, can you come up with a humorous story for me?" In response, ChatGPT crafted a new chapter that features Nico Robin going up against a new antagonist known as the "King of Shadows." This villain possesses the ability to manipulate shadows due to being a Devil Fruit user, and has kidnapped the crew's doctor and mascot, Tony Tony Chopper.

As the Straw Hats struggled against the King of Shadows, Robin remembered an encounter with the legendary "Shadow Tribe" and sought their aid. With their assistance, the Straw Hats emerged victorious and rescued Chopper, bringing an end to the conflict. When Oda expressed his disappointment with the chapter's dullness, ChatGPT took a bold new approach and crafted a Studio Trigger-esque storyline. In this narrative, the Straw Hats helped an extraterrestrial, battled an evil witch, and restored the star of the alien's home planet. Oda was delighted with the creative storyline and exclaimed, "Thank you! That's exactly what I'll do!" However, with the prospect of Lord Eneru's return, the future remains uncertain.

This isn't Oda's first interaction with AI; in December of the previous year, he had an AI "draw" an illustration of Cipher Pol agent Rob Lucci. The outcome was amusingly unexpected as the AI reimagined Lucci as an adorable anime girl. Oda found this hilarious and even drew an illustration of protagonist Monkey D. Luffy reacting to the "new" Lucci.

The One Piece Creator Has Disclosed That He Retcons Storylines Rather Than Pre-planning Them.

According to a recent tweet quoting one of Eiichiro Oda's interviews, the creator of One Piece has revealed that some of the manga's most memorable plotlines were not pre-planned, but rather retconned later on. Despite the series being known for its interconnected storytelling, Oda admitted that major character reveals, such as Ace's identity as Gol D. Roger's son and Rob Lucci's villain status, were not initially planned.

Additionally, seemingly insignificant story elements, like the Worst Generation Supernovas, were not intended to have a significant role in the saga. Similarly, the character of Trafalgar Law was not meant to play as large of a role in Luffy's journey as he ultimately did. Despite some criticisms and inconsistencies, many of the retcons in One Piece have been successful, such as the resolution to the Marineford arc featuring the beloved yonko Shanks. However, some fans have noticed flaws, including Shanks losing an arm to a sea monster and the sudden increase in characters with awakened Devil Fruits during and after the Wano arc. This may be due to Oda changing the story on the fly or writing himself into a corner. Despite these faults, One Piece is still praised for its masterful foreshadowing. The East Blue saga established the dangers of the Grand Line, while the Egghead Arc showcased Oda's skill in setup and payoff. With the manga ongoing and no signs of slowing down, Oda has ample opportunity to surprise fans with callbacks to overlooked or forgotten moments throughout the series.

The Airdate, Trailer, And Visual For Demon Slayer Been Unveiled!

Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba has revealed a new trailer and visual for its upcoming Swordsmith Village arc, which is set to premiere in Japan on April 9 as a one-hour special. Fans in Japan will also have the opportunity to enjoy a specially edited version of the Entertainment District arc on April 1 and 8. Created by Koyoharu Gotouge, the series follows the story of Tanjiro, a kind-hearted charcoal seller whose family is attacked by demons, and his dangerous journey to avenge his family and restore his sister's humanity. The announcement for the new arc came after the final episode of Season 2 aired on February 13, which was screened in advance in over 80 countries as part of a "world tour" that began on February 3, 2023, with locations including Los Angeles, Paris, Berlin, and Taipei. The Swordsmith Village arc is highly anticipated and will debut on April 9, 2023.

 

Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba trivia:

•  The series was originally a manga created by Koyoharu Gotouge and was first serialized in Weekly Shonen Jump in February 2016.
•     The series has won several awards, including the 64th Shogakukan Manga Award for the shonen category in 2019 and the Anime of the Year award at the 2020 Crunchyroll Anime Awards.
•     The series takes place during the Taisho period in Japan, which is from 1912 to 1926.
•     The protagonist, Tanjiro, was inspired by a real-life historical figure named Tanjiro Kamado, who was known for his skill in charcoal making.
•     The series' popularity led to a surge in tourism to the real-life locations that inspired the settings in the story, such as the Kamado Shrine in Tokyo and the Kitayama Cedar Grove in Kyoto.
•     The series' creator, Koyoharu Gotouge, has stated that the design for the character Nezuko's demon form was inspired by the traditional Japanese folklore creature, the oni.
•     The series has been adapted into a popular anime series, a feature film, and a stage play.
•     The series' opening theme song, "Gurenge," performed by LiSA, has become one of the most popular anime songs of all time.
•     The series has a wide range of merchandise, including action figures, plushies, clothing, and accessories.
•     The series' title, "Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba," is a direct translation of the Japanese title, which is "Kimetsu no Yaiba," and means "Blade of Demon Destruction." 
• 
  

Physical 100 Rigged Finale and Contestant Controversy

After the finale of Physical: 100, a popular reality competition show on Netflix, allegations of a rigged competition have emerged. The South Korean show's final episode aired on February 25 and since then, viewers have claimed that the winner of the ₩300 million KRW (approximately $245,000 USD) grand prize, Woo Jin Young, may not have been the rightful winner. According to reports, viewers believe that Jung Hae Min should have won the grand prize instead. The controversy centers around the final game, in which contestants had to pull ropes. Viewers noted that Woo Jin Young's spool of rope appeared to be easier to pull, leading some to believe that the final quest was manipulated in his favor. When questioned by media outlets, Woo Jin Young refused to comment on the issue. In response to the allegations, Netflix released an official statement stating that they had confirmed with the production team at MBC that there were no technical issues with the game equipment. They also clarified that Jung Hae Min did not request a rematch. Despite Netflix's statement, the controversy surrounding the finale of Physical: 100 continues to generate discussion among viewers.

Reports have emerged regarding the final episode of the South Korean reality competition series, Physical: 100, which aired on February 25. Allegations have surfaced suggesting that the finale was rigged in favor of Woo Jin Young over Jung Hae Min, who many viewers believe should have won the grand prize of ₩300 million KRW (approximately $245,000 USD). Viewers have pointed out that in the rope-pulling game, Woo Jin Young's spool of rope appeared to be easier to pull, leading to suspicions of foul play. Furthermore, there are claims that the final quest was played in three rounds due to technical issues. According to sources, Jung Hae Min was winning the first round but the competition was stopped when Woo Jin Young raised concerns about his equipment. Despite production staff finding no issue, the competition was restarted after lubrication was added and the difficulty level was altered. In the second round, Jung Hae Min also emerged victorious, but audio issues forced staff to request a rematch. Although Jung Hae Min claimed to have no more strength left, production staff convinced and coerced him into another round with a shortened rope length, which he ultimately lost. These allegations have led to controversy surrounding the show, with an anonymous insider revealing that Jung Hae Min is reportedly discouraged and not associating with Physical: 100 after the show due to what happened on set. MBC, the network behind the show, has refuted the claims, stating that the final game was not done three times, and that the production team is considering legal action against the rumors. Aside from the finale allegations, several contestants on Physical: 100 are now embroiled in controversy. One former national team athlete who appeared on the show has been accused of assault, while another was prosecuted for threatening his ex-girlfriend. Former stunt woman Kim Da Young was accused of being a school bully and issued a formal apology for her actions. A press conference that was scheduled to be held in Seoul with producer Jang Ho Ki, the production team, and winner Woo Jin Yong was canceled due to the finale allegations and contestant controversies. The situation remains fluid as more information may emerge in the coming days.

Cody Rhodes and Roman Reigns Set for First Face-to-Face Confrontation

On this week's Monday Night Raw, Cody Rhodes emerged victorious against Chad Gable and took the opportunity to address his much-anticipated WrestleMania 39 match against Roman Reigns. Rhodes noted that despite the match being official, he and "The Tribal Chief" have yet to meet face-to-face in the ring. However, he promised that this was all about to change. With Reigns already having announced his appearance on the upcoming episode of Friday Night SmackDown to address Jey Uso's recent actions within The Bloodline, Rhodes announced that he would also be present on the Blue Brand this week.

Rhodes secured his spot at WrestleMania by winning this year's Royal Rumble, but Reigns has been preoccupied with the ongoing drama involving his faction, Sami Zayn, and Kevin Owens. Reigns was able to successfully defend his Undisputed WWE Universal Championship against Zayn earlier this month at Elimination Chamber, but the loyalty of Jey Uso towards Reigns remained unclear even after the match. As the two rivals prepare to come face-to-face for the first time, fans eagerly await what promises to be an explosive confrontation on Friday Night SmackDown.

What to expect In One Piece Manga 1077

One Piece fans are eagerly anticipating the release of chapter 1077 following the official release of chapter 1076 over the weekend. However, they will have to wait a while longer as the series is on break this week. As a result, the spoiler process for chapter 1077 will also be delayed by a week, leaving fans with no reliable means of discovering what the upcoming issue will entail until its official release.

Despite the lack of reliable information, fans can still anticipate a few key plot points that may be covered in One Piece chapter 1077.

As One Piece fans eagerly await the release of chapter 1077, many are speculating that it may finally reveal the identity of the Vegapunk traitor. The chapter is expected to feature the activation of more Seraphim, which may lead to the unmasking of this mysterious character.

One Piece fans are eagerly anticipating the upcoming release of chapter 1077, which is expected to reveal the identity of the Vegapunk traitor. One piece of evidence pointing towards this reveal is Dr. Vegapunk's imprisonment alongside the missing Cipher Pol agents in a secret prison on Egghead Island. The fact that Dr. Vegapunk is unaware of their presence further supports the possibility of a traitor. In the previous issue, it was established that Dr. Vegapunk and the Cipher Pol agents can communicate with each other, which may lead to the disclosure of their captor's identity. Whoever the agents name as their captor is likely to be the Vegapunk traitor since Dr. Vegapunk is ignorant of the prison's existence. Alternatively, One Piece chapter 1077 may reveal the traitor in a different way. With all the Vegapunks either searching for Dr. Vegapunk or accounted for, the traitor could turn on their group, adding further complications and stakes to the Egghead Island arc's climax. This would be an exciting way to reveal the traitor while also adding an element of unpredictability to the story.

In One Piece chapter 1076, Nami was heard screaming in the opening section, leading some to speculate that the Vegapunk traitor may have already revealed themselves. While Vegapunk Edison, the Vegapunk Satellite with Nami, is considered an unlikely suspect, it is possible that another Vegapunk has broken away from their group and turned traitor.

In addition to the expected traitor reveal, One Piece chapter 1077 is also anticipated to introduce the remaining Seraphim. These recreations of former Shichibukai are based on only four out of the eleven total Shichibukai title holders in the series thus far.

However, not all eleven former Shichibukai are expected to be represented in Pacifista form. Fans predict that S-Bat Seraphim representing Gecko Moria, S-Mingo Seraphim representing Donquixote Doflamingo, and S-Croc Seraphim representing Crocodile will appear alongside the four already seen.

Fans have deduced that S-Mingo and S-Croc will likely be revealed as Seraphim models in One Piece chapter 1077, based on the fact that both Doflamingo and Crocodile were imprisoned in Impel Down before the events of the chapter. Dr. Vegapunk's experimentation with Devil Fruit recreation using Impel Down prisoners provides the perfect opportunity for him to recreate their respective Devil Fruits.

Gecko Moria's inclusion as a Seraphim model also makes sense, as he is one of the original seven Shichibukai and has an animal motif in his design. While some might argue that Buggy the Clown would also be a good candidate, his current status as a Yonko likely rules him out as a Seraphim.

Additionally, One Piece chapter 1077 may end with an update on the whereabouts of Kizaru's fleet in relation to Egghead Island, as the latest official release confirms that over 100 ships are on their way. However, all of these predictions are speculative, as there is no confirmed spoiler information available for the chapter at the time of writing.

Make sure to stay updated on all the latest One Piece news, including anime, manga, films, and live-action adaptations throughout the year 2023.