New information has been revealed about the popular anime Pocket Monsters (airs on the TV Tokyo Network every Friday at 6:55pm, officially abbreviated "Anipoke"). Episode 10, airing June 9th, 2023, will feature the debuts of the Paldea region Pokémon League Champion Nemo and Bowl Town Gym Leader Colza, with Eri Kitamura playing Nemo and Kazuya Nakai playing Colza. In addition, the title and synopsis for episode 10 has been revealed. The official Anipoke Twitter account also posted the interviews on June 2nd, 2023.

YouTube Clip - Pocket Monsters Episode 10 Preview

Original YouTube Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J7zWhicyczw

Friday, June 9th, 2023 / Episode 10 Nemo and Colza
When Liko and Roy arrive in Bowl Town, the two of them meet the Champion Rank Trainer Nemo who accompanies them to Gym Leader Colza, but it turns out his Gym is closed...?! What has happened to him...?!


A comment from Eri Kitamura, the voice of Nemo:
It was both fun and educational for me to bounce ideas off the anime staff as we fine-tuned Nemo's characterization based on both my personal interpretation of her characterization from when I played the Pocket Monsters Scarlet/Violet video game and the characterization they wanted to do.
The Pokémon battle fanatic Nemo you know from the video game is super intense in the anime as well! Everything she did was so filled with energy I was dripping with sweat while playing her!! I've played several Pocket Monsters characters before, both anime and video game ones, and I'm extremely honored I once again get to play such a wonderful character! I'm really looking forward to seeing what kind of expressions we'll get from Nemo in the anime myself, so please look forward to this episode!


A comment from Kazuya Nakai, the voice of Colza:
I was initially really worried about this role because Colza is a character that attracted so much attention from everyone that played the game, but when I first started playing him I had so much fun my worries were instantly blown away. Colza seems very gloomy and hard to please at first, but it's no surprise that the children that live nearby love him dearly. He's very picky, but also extremely open minded and tries to see the best in others. I just love his constantly swinging emotional state, he's such a good person. I myself am also really looking forward to seeing what Liko and Roy will get out of their encounter with him and what he'll get out of his encounter with them.

Japanese Press Release

テレビ東京系で毎週金曜よる6時55分から放送中のテレビアニメ「ポケットモンスター」に、パルデア地方ポケモンリーグチャンピオン・ネモと、ボウルタウンのジムリーダー・コルサが初登場！　注目のキャストは、ネモ役に喜多村英梨さん、コルサ役に中井和哉さんに決定！　さらに第10話のサブタイトルとあらすじを公開しました。
リコの父・アレックスの導きで、ボウルタウンのジムリーダー・コルサに会いにきたリコとロイ。ふたりはボウルタウンで、チャンピオンランクのトレーナー・ネモと出会う！ネモと一緒に、コルサの元を訪ねるリコとロイだったが、現在ジムは閉鎖中…！？　コルサの身に一体何が…。
ネモ役・喜多村英梨さん、コルサ役・中井和哉さんからコメントが到着しました！ 是非この機会にご紹介のご検討を頂けますようお願い申し上げます。

【ネモ役・喜多村英梨さんコメント】
ゲーム『ポケットモンスター スカーレット・バイオレット』をプレイしていた時に自分が解釈していたネモのキャラクター像と、アニメチームのスタッフの皆様が創り上げたいネモのキャラクター像との擦り合わせや微調整が、芝居への取り組みとして楽しくもあり勉強にもなりました。
ゲームでお馴染みの「ポケモンバトル大好き！」なネモの勢いは、アニメでもとにかく熱いです！　快活な彼女の行動全てがエネルギッシュで、演じている時は汗だくでした！！
これまでも、アニメシリーズやゲームなど『ポケットモンスター』では様々なキャラクターで参加させていただきましたが、今回も素敵なキャラクターを演じるご縁がありとても光栄です！アニメでのネモがどんな表情を魅せていくのか、私自身も楽しみにしています！　是非ご期待ください！

【コルサ役・中井和哉さんコメント】
ゲームをプレイしている皆様からの注目度が高いキャラクターということで、内心「ヤバい…」と思いましたが、いざ演じてみると、そんな不安も吹っ飛ぶくらいの楽しさでした。一見、暗くて気難しそうな彼が、周りの子供たちから慕われているのも納得です。こだわりが強いけど意外と視野も広い。他者を見る目が優しい。とにかくグラグラな情緒が愛おしい。いい奴じゃないですか。
彼がリコやロイから何を得て何を与えるのか、僕も楽しみにしています。