Pokémon Horizons Is Bringing Friede's Past to the Anime

Pokémon Horizons is teaming up with Pokémon GO for Episode 150, but the biggest surprise may be the story of how Friede first met his Charmander.

Pokémon Horizons is about to reveal a part of Friede's past that fans have never seen before.

The anime has announced a special collaboration with Pokémon GO for its upcoming 150th episode, but the crossover is bringing more than just game references.

The episode will also take viewers back to the beginning of one of Friede's most important relationships.

Friede and Charizard.

And this time, Charizard was still a Charmander.

Episode 150 Goes Back to Friede's Childhood

The upcoming episode is titled "A Wider World, Let's Go Together!"

It will air in Japan on September 18, 2026.

The story sees Liko and the others joining Professor Willow for field research.

During the investigation, the group learns about Friede's past.

Specifically, they hear the story of how a young Friede first encountered the Pokémon that would eventually become his Charizard.

That gives the episode a completely different angle from a normal crossover.

[IMAGE 1 — Add screenshot of young Friede and Charmander]

We Finally Get to See Young Friede

One of the biggest surprises in the newly released footage is young Friede.

The series has already established Friede as an experienced Pokémon trainer and researcher.

He is confident, knowledgeable and usually one of the people the younger characters can rely on.

But the upcoming episode will show him before he became the Friede fans know today.

That means viewers will finally get to see what his life was like when he was still growing up.

And more importantly, we will see how Charmander entered that story.

Charmander Was There Before Charizard

Friede's Charizard is one of the most recognizable Pokémon connected to Pokémon Horizons.

But the new episode will show the Pokémon at a much earlier stage.

Charmander.

The newly released footage shows the young Friede alongside Charmander, teasing the story behind their eventual partnership.

That could give their relationship considerably more emotional weight.

Instead of simply being a powerful Charizard that Friede has trained for years, viewers will get to see where that bond actually began.

[IMAGE 2 — Add screenshot of Charmander wearing Friede's goggles]

Professor Willow Is Entering Pokémon Horizons

The crossover also brings Professor Willow from Pokémon GO into the anime.

Willow is joining Liko, Roy and the others for a fieldwork expedition.

This is one of the clearest ways the anime has connected its world with the Pokémon GO universe.

PokéStops and other recognizable elements from the mobile game will also appear during the episode.

But the collaboration does not completely take over the story.

The Friede flashback remains one of the most interesting parts of the episode.

The Pokémon GO World Is Coming Into the Anime

This crossover is unusual because the connection works in both directions.

The anime is incorporating elements from Pokémon GO.

At the same time, Pokémon GO is receiving Pokémon based on the anime.

From September 16 to September 22, players will be able to encounter Charmander, Charmeleon and Charizard wearing Friede's goggles.

That means Friede's signature look is effectively becoming part of the Pokémon GO world.

[IMAGE 3 — Add screenshot of Friede's goggle-wearing Pokémon from the promotional material]

Friede's Goggles Are Getting Their Own Pokémon

This might sound like a small detail.

It isn't.

Friede's goggles are one of the character's most recognizable visual traits.

Now they are being transferred directly onto his Pokémon.

Charmander, Charmeleon and Charizard will all be available wearing the goggles during the Pokémon GO collaboration.

The game event will also include opportunities to encounter these Pokémon through different methods, including wild encounters and Field Research.

Even Kecleon Is Getting Involved

The collaboration is not limited to Friede's Pokémon.

During the event period, players will also have an increased chance of encountering Kecleon at PokéStops.

There will also be special interactions through GO Snapshots, where characters and Pokémon from Pokémon Horizons can appear in the photos.

It is a surprisingly extensive crossover rather than a simple promotional tie-in.

Why Friede's Story Is the Real Attraction

The Pokémon GO crossover is obviously the headline.

But the Friede flashback may be the part that has the most lasting impact on the anime itself.

Friede has spent much of Pokémon Horizons acting as a mentor and protector.

We know the experienced version of him.

Now the anime is showing us the person he used to be.

That gives the writers an opportunity to explain why Charizard became so important to him.

The Episode Could Change How We See Charizard

Charizard is already an extremely powerful Pokémon.

But power is not what makes this particular Charizard interesting.

It is the history between the Pokémon and Friede.

Seeing them together when Charmander was still young could explain how their trust developed.

It could also reveal what kind of trainer Friede was before becoming the experienced adventurer we know today.

Sometimes a character's past says more about them than another battle ever could.

Pokémon Horizons Has Been Expanding Friede's Character

Friede started out as one of the older members of the Rising Volt Tacklers.

As the story has progressed, however, the anime has gradually given him more personal history.

His relationship with Charizard is particularly important because the Pokémon is both his partner and one of his strongest allies.

Episode 150 now gives the anime a chance to explore that relationship from the beginning.

That could make the episode surprisingly emotional.

Liko and Roy Get to Hear the Story Too

The flashback is not happening completely outside the main storyline.

Liko and the others are there while Friede's past is being discussed.

That means the younger characters get to learn something about the person who has been guiding them throughout their adventures.

It also gives viewers a chance to experience the story through their perspective.

They are discovering Friede's history at the same time.

A 150th Episode Is a Good Place for This

The timing is fitting.

The collaboration arrives with Episode 150 of the current Pokémon anime.

Instead of simply celebrating the milestone with another large battle, the anime is using the occasion to revisit one of its established characters.

That makes the episode feel more personal.

And the Pokémon GO crossover gives it an additional layer that can reach fans outside the regular anime audience.

The Pokémon GO Event Starts Before the Episode

There is also a small timing detail fans should know.

The in-game collaboration begins on September 16.

The anime episode follows on September 18.

So Pokémon GO players will be able to encounter Friede-themed Pokémon before the episode actually airs.

The collaboration then continues through September 22.

The Biggest Thing to Watch

The obvious attraction is seeing Professor Willow appear.

But the moment I would watch most closely is the first meeting between young Friede and Charmander.

That scene could explain a lot about their relationship.

Was Friede already interested in Pokémon research?

Did Charmander choose him?

Did Friede rescue Charmander?

Or was their meeting the result of something completely unexpected?

The anime has not revealed the entire story yet.

And that is exactly what makes the flashback interesting.

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The Pokémon Horizons and Pokémon GO collaboration is much more interesting than a simple crossover.

Yes, Professor Willow is appearing.

Yes, PokéStops are coming into the anime.

And yes, Friede's goggles are being put on Charmander, Charmeleon and Charizard in Pokémon GO.

But the real reason to pay attention is Friede's past.

For the first time, viewers will see young Friede alongside the Charmander that eventually became his Charizard.

After 150 episodes, that is a surprisingly good way to explore one of the anime's most important characters.

Episode 150 airs September 18, 2026.