aniIn response to the ongoing coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak, the Pokemon anime has suspended production. This marks the latest TV show to halt itself in the wake of the worldwide health crisis.News of this development comes from Anime News Network, which cites a tweet the official Twitter account for Pokemon's PR team. The tweet translates to read, "Received the 'Emergency Situation Declaration' due to the spread of new coronavirus infection, In order to produce programs with due consideration to safety, We decided to temporarily suspend some production work. Along with this, Pocket Monster will be rebroadcast from next week."
In its anime form, Pokemon has been running uninterrupted since April 1997. With over 23 seasons of airtime, this is the only time a prolonged shutdown has been implemented for the Pokemon anime. The series follows Ash Ketchum and a brand-new character called Go, as they travel across a variety of Pokemon regions both old and new.
This announcement may be brief, but what is far less clear is when production will resume. The tweet above includes no timeframe for when fans can expect a sense of normalcy to return for the Pokemon series. However, the producers more than likely don't want to commit to a return date only to back off of it once new unforeseen COVID-19 developments emerge.
However inconvenient this development may be to fans of the show, it's the only course of action to take to ensure the safety of all the individuals who make the Pokemon anime possible. Until a return date for the Pokemon anime is announced, devotees to this program will not be short on material to watch. There are 22 prior seasons of material to revisit, not to mention the 23 movies occupying the continuity of the anime. All of those properties should give fans plenty to enjoy while the Pokemon anime goes on a COVID-19-inspired hiatus.