A "special summer arc" of the "Pocket Monsters" anime TV series ("Anipoke" for short, airs on the TV Tokyo Network every Friday at 6:55pm) is going to air on July 23rd and 30th. Hikari and her partner Pokémon Pochama from "Pocket Monsters Diamond & Pearl" are going to appear for the first time in about 9 years.
In addition, key visuals focusing on Hikari and Pochama, as well as a promo video teasing a story centering on the Mythical Pokémon Darkrai and the Legendary Pokémon Cresselia, have been revealed. This story will involve Satoshi and Go learning that the inhabitants of a town in the Sinnoh region are being plagued by nightmares to the point they can't sleep, which leads to them suspecting Darkrai, a Pokémon with the ability to give others nightmares, as they head to the town to research the matter.
In the meantime, Koharu decides to take her partner Eievui with her and travel to the Sinnoh region by herself after the Sakuragi family's vacation there got canceled. Koharu and Eievui are really excited to be traveling alone for the first time ever as they head to Hakutai City, where a Pokémon Contest is going to be held. And on the way, they encounter Satoshi's former travelmates Hikari and Pochama.
In the promo video, we see a Darkrai on the night of a new moon seemingly being enticed by something or other, as well as a wounded Cresselia lying in a forest... It's time for Satoshi and Go's, as well as Hikari and Koharu's, adventures relating to these two Pokémon to begin.
Hikari's voice actress Megumi Toyoguchi is delighted over this return appearance, telling us that "We've already seen Iris and Shigeru, and this time it's Hikari and Pochama from "Pocket Monsters Diamond & Pearl"'s turn to appear in the "Pocket Monsters" anime! I was really nervous about whether or not I'd still be able to do Hikari's voice since it's 9 years since last time, but I had so much fun and felt so comfortable playing off my partner Pochama that I had a great time during the actual recording session."
"This is the first time those of you who started watching the anime with this series will encounter her, but I hope you'll like Hikari; She's as bright and cheerful as the sun and really loves Pokémon", she continued. "Her partner Pokémon Pochama is amazingly cute as well, so make sure to look forward to learning what this special summer arc is all about!"