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Series poster for Pokémon (1997)

Pokémon

“Gotta catch 'em all!”

1997–2023
Ended • 25 Seasons • 1235 Episodes
TV-Y7 · Japanese
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Overview

Join Ash accompanied by his partner Pikachu, as he travels through many regions, meets new friends and faces new challenges on his quest to become a Pokémon Master.

Seasons

26 listed
Status
Ended
Seasons
25 seasons
Episodes
1235 episodes
First aired
Apr 1, 1997
Last aired
Mar 24, 2023
Networks
TV Tokyo, TV Aichi, TVQ, TV Osaka, TVh, TSC

Latest episode: S25 E57 The Rainbow and the Pokémon Master! (Mar 24, 2023)

  1. Indigo League poster

    Indigo League

    82 episodes Apr 1, 1997 7.2

    It’s Ash Ketchum’s tenth birthday, and he’s ready to do what many 10-year-olds in the Kanto region set out to do—become a Pokémon Trainer! Things don’t go exactly the way he planned when he ends up with a Pikachu instead of a standard first Pokémon, and winning Gym Badges turns out to be much tougher than he thought. Luckily he’s got former Gym Leaders Brock and Misty at his side, along with a bevy of new Pokémon friends, including Bulbasaur, Squirtle, and Charmander.

    1. 1 Pokémon - I Choose You!
    2. 2 Pokémon Emergency!
    3. 3 Ash Catches a Pokémon
    4. 4 Challenge of the Samurai
    5. 5 Showdown in Pewter City
    6. 6 Clefairy and the Moon Stone
    7. 7 The Water Flowers of Cerulean City
    8. 8 The Path to the Pokémon League
    9. 9 The School of Hard Knocks
    10. 10 Bulbasaur and the Hidden Village
    11. 11 Charmander - The Stray Pokémon
    12. 12 Here Comes the Squirtle Squad
    13. 13 Mystery at the Lighthouse
    14. 14 Electric Shock Showdown
    15. 15 Battle Aboard the St. Anne
    16. 16 Pokémon Shipwreck
    17. 17 Island of the Giant Pokémon
    18. 18 Beauty and the Beach
    19. 19 Tentacool & Tentacruel
    20. 20 The Ghost of Maiden's Peak
    21. 21 Bye Bye Butterfree
    22. 22 Abra and the Psychic Showdown
    23. 23 The Tower of Terror
    24. 24 Haunter Versus Kadabra
    25. 25 Primeape Goes Bananas
    26. 26 Pokémon Scent-sation!
    27. 27 Hypno's Naptime
    28. 28 Pokémon Fashion Flash
    29. 29 The Punchy Pokémon
    30. 30 Sparks Fly for Magnemite
    31. 31 Dig Those Diglett!
    32. 32 The Ninja-Poké Showdown
    33. 33 The Flame Pokémon-athon!
    34. 34 The Kangaskhan Kid
    35. 35 The Legend of Miniryu
    36. 36 The Bridge Bike Gang
    37. 37 Ditto's Mysterious Mansion
    38. 38 Cyber Soldier Porygon
    39. 39 Pikachu's Goodbye
    40. 40 The Battling Eevee Brothers
    41. 41 Wake Up, Snorlax!
    42. 42 Showdown at Dark City
    43. 43 The March of the Exeggutor Squad
    44. 44 The Problem with Paras
    45. 45 The Song of Jigglypuff
    46. 46 Attack of the Prehistoric Pokémon
    47. 47 A Chansey Operation
    48. 48 Holy Matrimony!
    49. 49 So Near, Yet So Farfetch'd
    50. 50 Who Gets to Keep Togepi?
    51. 51 Bulbasaur's Mysterious Garden
    52. 52 Princess vs. Princess
    53. 53 The Purr-fect Hero
    54. 54 The Case of the K-9 Caper!
    55. 55 Pokémon Paparazzi
    56. 56 The Ultimate Test
    57. 57 The Breeding Center Secret
    58. 58 Riddle Me This (1)
    59. 59 Volcanic Panic (2)
    60. 60 Beach Blank-Out Blastoise
    61. 61 The Misty Mermaid
    62. 62 Clefairy Tales
    63. 63 The Battle of the Badge
    64. 64 It's Mr. Mime Time!
    65. 65 Holiday Hi-Jynx
    66. 66 Snow Way Out!
    67. 67 Showdown at the Po-ké Corral
    68. 68 The Evolution Solution
    69. 69 The Pi-Kahuna
    70. 70 Make Room for Gloom
    71. 71 Lights, Camera, Quack-tion
    72. 72 Go West Young Meowth
    73. 73 To Master the Onixpected!
    74. 74 The Ancient Puzzle of Pokémopolis
    75. 75 Bad to the Bone
    76. 76 All Fired Up!
    77. 77 Round One - Begin!
    78. 78 Fire and Ice
    79. 79 The Fourth Round Rumble
    80. 80 A Friend in Deed
    81. 81 Friend and Foe Alike
    82. 82 Friends to the End
  2. Adventures in the Orange Islands poster

    Adventures in the Orange Islands

    36 episodes Jan 28, 1999 7.2

    With his Kanto journey completed, Ash finds there’s still plenty to see and do when Professor Oak sends him and his friends to the Orange Islands. Brock falls head-over-heels for the attractive Professor Ivy and decides to stay with her, leaving Ash and Misty alone as a dynamic duo—at least until they meet intrepid Pokémon watcher Tracey Sketchit!

    1. 1 Pallet Party Panic
    2. 2 A Scare in the Air
    3. 3 Pokéball Peril
    4. 4 The Lost Lapras
    5. 5 Fit To Be Tide
    6. 6 Pikachu Re-Volts
    7. 7 The Crystal Onix
    8. 8 In the Pink
    9. 9 Shell Shock!
    10. 10 Stage Fight!
    11. 11 Bye Bye Psyduck
    12. 12 The Joy of Pokémon
    13. 13 Navel Maneuvers
    14. 14 Snack Attack
    15. 15 A Shipful of Shivers
    16. 16 Meowth Rules!
    17. 17 Tracey Gets Bugged
    18. 18 A Way Off Day Off
    19. 19 The Mandarin Island Miss Match
    20. 20 Wherefore Art Thou, Pokémon
    21. 21 Get Along, Little Pokémon
    22. 22 The Mystery Menace
    23. 23 Misty Meets Her Match
    24. 24 Bound for Trouble
    25. 25 Charizard Chills
    26. 26 The Pokémon Water War
    27. 27 Pokémon Food Fight!
    28. 28 Pokémon Double Trouble
    29. 29 The Wacky Watcher!
    30. 30 The Stun Spore Detour
    31. 31 Hello, Pummelo!
    32. 32 Enter the Dragonite
    33. 33 Viva Las Lapras
    34. 34 The Underground Round-Up
    35. 35 A Tent Situation
    36. 36 The Rivalry Revival
  3. The Johto Journeys poster

    The Johto Journeys

    41 episodes Oct 14, 1999 6.9

    Upon returning to Pallet Town, Ash and Misty reunite with Brock and set out on the next stage of their Pokémon journey—the Johto region! Though he still has an errand to run for Professor Oak, Ash jumps with both feet into the Johto League, taking on a couple of Gym Leaders and adding Pokémon like Totodile and Chikorita to his team.

    1. 1 Don't Touch That 'dile
    2. 2 The Double Trouble Header
    3. 3 A Sappy Ending
    4. 4 Roll On, Pokémon!
    5. 5 Illusion Confusion!
    6. 6 Flower Power
    7. 7 Spinarak Attack
    8. 8 Snubbull Snobbery
    9. 9 The Little Big Horn
    10. 10 The Chikorita Rescue
    11. 11 Once in a Blue Moon
    12. 12 The Whistle Stop
    13. 13 Ignorance Is Blissey
    14. 14 A Bout With Sprout
    15. 15 Fighting Flyer With Fire
    16. 16 For Crying Out Loud
    17. 17 Tanks a Lot!
    18. 18 Charizard's Burning Ambitions
    19. 19 Grin to Win!
    20. 20 Chikorita's Big Upset
    21. 21 Foul Weather Friends
    22. 22 The Superhero Secret
    23. 23 Mild 'n Wooly
    24. 24 Wired for Battle!
    25. 25 Good 'Quil Hunting
    26. 26 A Shadow of a Drought
    27. 27 Going Apricorn!
    28. 28 Gettin' the Bugs Out
    29. 29 A Farfetch'd Tale
    30. 30 Tricks of the Trade
    31. 31 The Fire-ing Squad!
    32. 32 No Big Woop!
    33. 33 Tunnel Vision
    34. 34 Hour of the Houndour
    35. 35 The Totodile Duel
    36. 36 Hot Matches!
    37. 37 Love, Totodile Style
    38. 38 Fowl Play!
    39. 39 Forest Grumps
    40. 40 The Psychic Sidekicks!
    41. 41 The Fortune Hunters
  4. Johto League Champions poster

    Johto League Champions

    52 episodes Aug 3, 2000 6.2

    From the sprawling metropolis of Goldenrod City to the icy peak of Snowtop Mountain, the Johto region presents Ash, Misty, and Brock with exciting new adventures—along with a few familiar faces like their old friends Todd, Duplica, and Suzie! Johto’s rich past means plenty of Pokémon mysteries for our heroes to solve, and its exciting present means some tough challenges—Ash tackles three more Gyms, while handling competitions like the Pokémon Sumo Conference along the way.

    1. 1 A Goldenrod Opportunity
    2. 2 A Dairy Tale Ending
    3. 3 Air Time!
    4. 4 The Bug Stops Here
    5. 5 Type Casting
    6. 6 Fossil Fools
    7. 7 Carrying On!
    8. 8 Hassle in the Castle
    9. 9 Two Hits and a Miss
    10. 10 A Hot Water Battle
    11. 11 Hook, Line, and Stinker
    12. 12 Beauty and the Breeder
    13. 13 A Better Pill to Swallow
    14. 14 Power Play!
    15. 15 Mountain Time
    16. 16 Wobbu-Palooza!
    17. 17 Imitation Confrontation
    18. 18 The Trouble with Snubbull
    19. 19 Ariados, Amigos
    20. 20 Wings 'N' Things
    21. 21 The Grass Route
    22. 22 The Apple Corp!
    23. 23 Houndoom's Special Delivery
    24. 24 A Ghost of a Chance
    25. 25 From Ghost to Ghost
    26. 26 Trouble's Brewing
    27. 27 All That Glitters!
    28. 28 The Light Fantastic
    29. 29 UnBEARable
    30. 30 Moving Pictures
    31. 31 Spring Fever
    32. 32 Freeze Frame
    33. 33 The Stolen Stones!
    34. 34 The Dunsparce Deception
    35. 35 The Wayward Wobbuffet
    36. 36 Sick Daze
    37. 37 Ring Masters
    38. 38 The Poké Spokesman
    39. 39 Control Freak!
    40. 40 The Art of Pokémon
    41. 41 The Heartbreak of Brock
    42. 42 Current Events
    43. 43 Turning Over a New Bayleef
    44. 44 Doin' What Comes Natu-rally
    45. 45 The Big Balloon Blow-Up
    46. 46 The Screen Actor's Guilt
    47. 47 Right On, Rhydon!
    48. 48 The Kecleon Caper
    49. 49 The Joy of Water Pokémon
    50. 50 Got Miltank?
    51. 51 Fight for the Light!
    52. 52 Machoke, Machoke Man!
  5. Master Quest poster

    Master Quest

    65 episodes Aug 9, 2001 6.2

    With the Olivine City Gym temporarily out of commission, our heroes are off to the Whirl Cup Competition—and Misty wants in on the action! Resuming their journey, they find that Jessie, James, and Meowth aren’t the only members of Team Rocket they need to worry about, though that dastardly trio still has a few tricks up their collective sleeve. After a heated battle with the final Gym Leader, Ash moves on to the Silver Conference, but does he have the mettle to take on his old rival, Gary?

    1. 1 Around the Whirlpool
    2. 2 Fly Me to the Moon
    3. 3 Takin' It on the Chinchou
    4. 4 A Corsola Caper!
    5. 5 Mantine Overboard!
    6. 6 Octillery the Outcast
    7. 7 Dueling Heroes
    8. 8 The Perfect Match!
    9. 9 Plant It Now... Diglett Later
    10. 10 Hi Ho Silver... Away!
    11. 11 The Mystery Is History
    12. 12 A Parent Trapped!
    13. 13 A Promise Is a Promise
    14. 14 Throwing in the Noctowl
    15. 15 Nerves of Steelix!
    16. 16 Bulbasaur... the Ambassador!
    17. 17 Espeon, Not Included
    18. 18 For Ho-Oh the Bells Toll!
    19. 19 Extreme Pokémon!
    20. 20 An EGG-sighting Adventure!
    21. 21 Hatching a Plan
    22. 22 Dues and Don'ts
    23. 23 Just Waiting On a Friend
    24. 24 A Tyrogue Full of Trouble
    25. 25 Xatu the Future
    26. 26 Talkin' 'Bout an Evolution (1)
    27. 27 Rage of Innocence (2)
    28. 28 As Cold as Pryce
    29. 29 Nice Pryce, Baby!
    30. 30 Whichever Way the Wind Blows
    31. 31 Some Like It Hot
    32. 32 Hocus Pokémon
    33. 33 As Clear as Crystal
    34. 34 Same Old Song and Dance
    35. 35 Enlighten Up!
    36. 36 Will the Real Oak Please Stand Up?
    37. 37 Wish Upon a Star Shape
    38. 38 Outrageous Fortunes
    39. 39 One Trick Phony!
    40. 40 I Politoed Ya So!
    41. 41 The Ice Cave!
    42. 42 Beauty Is Skin Deep
    43. 43 Fangs for Nothin'
    44. 44 Great Bowls of Fire!
    45. 45 Better Eight Than Never
    46. 46 Why? Wynaut!
    47. 47 Just Add Water
    48. 48 Lapras of Luxury
    49. 49 Hatch Me If You Can
    50. 50 Entei at Your Own Risk
    51. 51 A Crowning Achievement
    52. 52 Here's Lookin' at You, Elekid
    53. 53 You're a Star, Larvitar!
    54. 54 Address Unown!
    55. 55 Mother of All Battles
    56. 56 Pop Goes the Sneasel
    57. 57 A Claim to Flame!
    58. 58 Love, Pokémon Style
    59. 59 Tie One On!
    60. 60 The Ties That Bind
    61. 61 Can't Beat the Heat!
    62. 62 Playing with Fire!
    63. 63 Johto Photo Finish
    64. 64 Gotta Catch Ya Later!
    65. 65 Hoenn Alone!
  6. Advanced poster

    Advanced

    40 episodes Nov 21, 2002 5.1

    Polishing off the Silver Conference, Ash heads toward his next challenge—the far-off Hoenn region! While he must say goodbye to old friends, he makes the acquaintance of May, a Trainer just starting out on her Pokémon journey. Along with her little brother Max and the ever-reliable Brock, this pack of Pokémon Trainers begin pursuing their dreams—with Ash racking up three Gym Badges, while May changes tack to follow the Contest path of a Pokémon Coordinator.

    1. 1 Get the Show on the Road!
    2. 2 A Ruin with a View
    3. 3 There's No Place Like Hoenn
    4. 4 You Never Can Taillow!
    5. 5 In the Knicker of Time!
    6. 6 A Poached Ego!
    7. 7 Tree's a Crowd
    8. 8 A Tail with a Twist
    9. 9 Taming of the Shroomish
    10. 10 You Said a Mouthful!
    11. 11 A Bite to Remember
    12. 12 The Lotad Lowdown
    13. 13 All Things Bright and Beautifly!
    14. 14 All in a Day's Wurmple
    15. 15 Gonna Rule the School!
    16. 16 The Winner by a Nosepass!
    17. 17 Stairway to Devon
    18. 18 On a Wingull and a Prayer!
    19. 19 Sharpedo Attack!
    20. 20 Brave the Wave
    21. 21 Which Wurmple's Which?
    22. 22 A Hole Lotta Trouble
    23. 23 Gone Corphishin'
    24. 24 A Corphish Out of Water
    25. 25 A Mudkip Mission
    26. 26 Turning Over a Nuzleaf
    27. 27 A Three Team Scheme!
    28. 28 Seeing Is Believing!
    29. 29 Ready, Willing, and Sableye
    30. 30 A Meditite Fight!
    31. 31 Just One of the Geysers
    32. 32 Abandon Ship!
    33. 33 Now That's Flower Power!
    34. 34 Having a Wailord of a Time
    35. 35 Win, Lose or Drew!
    36. 36 The Spheal of Approval
    37. 37 Jump for Joy!
    38. 38 A Different Kind of Misty!
    39. 39 A Poké-BLOCK Party
    40. 40 Watt's with Wattson
  7. Advanced Challenge poster

    Advanced Challenge

    52 episodes Sep 4, 2003 5.1

    A shadow hovers over Ash, May, and friends as they continue their journey through the Hoenn region, and it’s not just that of Mt. Chimney—both Team Magma and Team Aqua put plans into action with our heroes caught in the middle! When not foiling evil schemes, Ash and May chase their personal goals, with Ash battling for three more Gym Badges and May winning her first three Contest Ribbons. The group also gains new Pokémon like Torkoal and Bulbasaur, but could they be too much to handle?

    1. 1 What You Seed Is What You Get
    2. 2 Love at First Flight
    3. 3 Let Bagons Be Bagons
    4. 4 The Princess and the Togepi (1)
    5. 5 A Togepi Mirage! (2)
    6. 6 Candid Camerupt!
    7. 7 I Feel Skitty!
    8. 8 ZigZag Zangoose!
    9. 9 Maxxed Out!
    10. 10 Pros and Con Artists (1)
    11. 11 Come What May! (2)
    12. 12 Cheer Pressure
    13. 13 Game Winning Assist
    14. 14 Fight for the Meteorite
    15. 15 Poetry Commotion!
    16. 16 Going, Going, Yawn
    17. 17 Going for a Spinda
    18. 18 All Torkoal, No Play
    19. 19 Manectric Charge
    20. 20 Delcatty Got Your Tongue
    21. 21 Disaster of Disguise
    22. 22 Disguise Da Limit
    23. 23 Take the Lombre Home
    24. 24 True Blue Swablu
    25. 25 Gulpin It Down!
    26. 26 Exploud and Clear
    27. 27 Go Go Ludicolo!
    28. 28 A Double Dilemma
    29. 29 Love, Petalburg Style!
    30. 30 Balance of Power
    31. 31 A Six Pack Attack!
    32. 32 The Bicker the Better
    33. 33 Grass Hysteria!
    34. 34 Hokey Pokéballs
    35. 35 Whiscash and Ash
    36. 36 Me, Myself and Time
    37. 37 A Fan with a Plan
    38. 38 Cruisin' for a Losin?
    39. 39 Pearls Are a Spoink's Best Friend
    40. 40 That's Just Swellow
    41. 41 Take This House and Shuppet
    42. 42 A Shroomish Skirmish
    43. 43 Unfair-Weather Friends
    44. 44 Who's Flying Now?
    45. 45 Sky High Gym Battle!
    46. 46 Lights, Camerupt, Action!
    47. 47 Crazy As a Lunatone
    48. 48 The Garden of Eatin'
    49. 49 A Scare to Remember
    50. 50 Pokéblock, Stock, and Berry (1)
    51. 51 Lessons in Lilycove (2)
    52. 52 Judgment Day!
  8. Advanced Battle poster

    Advanced Battle

    53 episodes Sep 9, 2004 5.2

    Ash earns his final two Badges and secures himself a spot in the Hoenn League Championships, while May comes dangerously close to not getting her final Ribbon—setting the stage for epic showdowns with both of her rivals in the Grand Festival. Ash meets two Trainers that become his own Hoenn rivals, facing off against both of them during the course of the tournament. Upon returning to Kanto and reuniting with old friends, Ash is recruited for a new challenge—the Battle Frontier!

    1. 1 Clamperl of Wisdom
    2. 2 The Relicanth Really Can
    3. 3 The Evolutionary War
    4. 4 Training Wrecks
    5. 5 Gaining Groudon (1)
    6. 6 The Scuffle of Legends (2)
    7. 7 It's Still Rocket Roll to Me
    8. 8 Solid As a Solrock
    9. 9 Vanity Affair
    10. 10 Where's Armaldo?
    11. 11 A Cacturne for the Worse
    12. 12 Claydol Big and Tall
    13. 13 Once in a Mawile
    14. 14 Beg, Burrow and Steal
    15. 15 Absol-ute Disaster
    16. 16 Let It Snow, Let It Snow, Let It Snorunt
    17. 17 Do I Hear a Ralts?
    18. 18 The Great Eight Fate! (1)
    19. 19 Eight Ain't Enough (2)
    20. 20 Showdown at Linoone!
    21. 21 Who, What, When, Where, Wynaut?
    22. 22 Date Expectations
    23. 23 Mean with Envy (1)
    24. 24 Pacifidlog Jam (2)
    25. 25 Berry, Berry Interesting
    26. 26 Less Is Morrison
    27. 27 The Ribbon Cup Caper!
    28. 28 Satoshi and Haruka! Heated Battles in Hoenn!!
    29. 29 Hi Ho Silver Wind! (1)
    30. 30 Deceit and Assist (2)
    31. 31 Rhapsody in Drew (3)
    32. 32 Island Time
    33. 33 Like a Meowth to a Flame
    34. 34 Saved by the Beldum
    35. 35 From Brags to Riches
    36. 36 Shocks and Bonds (1)
    37. 37 A Judgment Brawl (2)
    38. 38 Choose It or Lose It! (3)
    39. 39 At the End of the Fray (4)
    40. 40 The Scheme Team
    41. 41 The Right Place and the Right Mime
    42. 42 A Real Cleffa-Hanger
    43. 43 Numero Uno Articuno
    44. 44 The Symbol Life
    45. 45 Hooked on Onix
    46. 46 Rough, Tough Jigglypuff
    47. 47 On Cloud Arcanine
    48. 48 Sitting Psyduck
    49. 49 Hail to the Chef!
    50. 50 Caterpie's Big Dilemma
    51. 51 The Saffron Con
    52. 52 A Hurdle for Squirtle
    53. 53 Pasta La Vista!
  9. Battle Frontier poster

    Battle Frontier

    46 episodes Oct 6, 2005 5.3

    The territory might be familiar, but even Ash and Brock can find more than a few surprises in their home region of Kanto, like a Pokémon Ranger hot on the cases of two Legendary Pokémon! May’s back on the Contest path, blazing a trail to the Kanto Grand Festival, while Ash seeks out the hidden facilities of the Battle Frontier. If finding them wasn’t hard enough, he’s still got battles with the Frontier Brains to deal with—much tougher than any Gym Leader he’s ever faced.

    1. 1 Fear Factor Phony
    2. 2 Sweet Baby James
    3. 3 A Chip Off the Old Brock
    4. 4 Wheel of Frontier
    5. 5 May's Egg-Cellent Adventure!
    6. 6 Weekend Warrior
    7. 7 On Olden Pond
    8. 8 Tactics Theatrics!!
    9. 9 Reversing the Charges
    10. 10 The Green Guardian
    11. 11 From Cradle to Save
    12. 12 Time Warp Heals All Wounds
    13. 13 Queen of the Serpentine!
    14. 14 Off the Unbeaten Path
    15. 15 Harley Rides Again
    16. 16 Odd Pokémon Out!
    17. 17 Spontaneous Combusken!
    18. 18 Cutting the Ties that Bind!
    19. 19 Ka Boom with a View!
    20. 20 King and Queen for a Day!
    21. 21 Curbing the Crimson Tide!
    22. 22 What I Did for Love!
    23. 23 Three Jynx and a Baby!
    24. 24 Talking a Good Game!
    25. 25 Second Time's the Charm!
    26. 26 Pokémon Ranger! Deoxys' Crisis!
    27. 27 All That Glitters Is Not Golden!
    28. 28 New Plot, Odd Lot!
    29. 29 Going for Choke!
    30. 30 The Ole' Berate and Switch!
    31. 31 Grating Spaces!
    32. 32 Battling the Enemy Within!
    33. 33 Slaking Kong!
    34. 34 May, We Harley Drew'd Ya!
    35. 35 Thinning the Hoard!
    36. 36 Channeling the Battle Zone!
    37. 37 Aipom and Circumstance!
    38. 38 Strategy Tomorrow - Comedy Tonight!
    39. 39 Duels of the Jungle!
    40. 40 Overjoyed!
    41. 41 The Unbeatable Lightness of Seeing!
    42. 42 Pinch Healing!
    43. 43 Gathering the Gang of Four!
    44. 44 Pace - The Final Frontier!
    45. 45 Once More with Reeling! (1)
    46. 46 Home Is Where the Start Is! (2)
  10. Diamond and Pearl poster

    Diamond and Pearl

    52 episodes Sep 28, 2006 5.3

    If Gary Oak is headed for the Sinnoh region, then Ash Ketchum won’t be far behind! Ready to take on the Sinnoh League, Ash brings along Pikachu and meets up with Brock in Sinnoh, where the pair of Trainers are soon joined by a third—Dawn, a novice Pokémon Coordinator determined to follow in the footsteps of her mother. Both Ash and Dawn struggle with their respective paths, but it’s easy for them to make new friends, gaining new Pokémon like Turtwig and Piplup.

    1. 1 Following a Maiden's Voyage!
    2. 2 Two Degrees of Separation!
    3. 3 When Pokémon Worlds Collide!
    4. 4 Dawn of a New Era!
    5. 5 Gettin' Twiggy with It!
    6. 6 Different Strokes for Different Blokes!
    7. 7 Like It or Lup It!
    8. 8 Gymbaliar!
    9. 9 Setting the World on Its Buneary!
    10. 10 Not on MY Watch Ya Don't!
    11. 11 Mounting a Coordinator Assault!
    12. 12 Arrival of a Rival!
    13. 13 A Staravia Is Born!
    14. 14 Leave It to Brocko!
    15. 15 Shapes of Things to Come!
    16. 16 A Gruff Act to Follow!
    17. 17 Wild in the Streets!
    18. 18 O'er the Rampardos We Watched!
    19. 19 Twice Smitten, Once Shy!
    20. 20 Mutiny in the Bounty!
    21. 21 Ya See We Want an Evolution!
    22. 22 Borrowing on Bad Faith!
    23. 23 Faced with Steelix Determination!
    24. 24 Cooking Up a Sweet Story!
    25. 25 Oh Do You Know the Poffin Plan!
    26. 26 Getting the Pre-Contest Titters!
    27. 27 Settling a Not-So-Old Score!
    28. 28 Drifloon on the Wind!
    29. 29 The Champ Twins!
    30. 30 Some Enchanted Sweetening!
    31. 31 The Grass-Type Is Always Greener!
    32. 32 An Angry Combeenation!
    33. 33 All Dressed Up with Somewhere to Go!
    34. 34 Buizel Your Way Out of This!
    35. 35 An Elite Meet and Greet!
    36. 36 A Secret Sphere of Influence!
    37. 37 The Grass Menagerie!
    38. 38 One Big Happiny Family!
    39. 39 Steamboat Willies!
    40. 40 Top-Down Training!
    41. 41 A Stand-Up Sit-Down!
    42. 42 The Electrike Company!
    43. 43 Malice in Wonderland!
    44. 44 Mass Hip-Po-Sis!
    45. 45 Ill-Will Hunting!
    46. 46 A Maze-Ing Race!
    47. 47 Sandshrew's Locker!
    48. 48 Satoshi and Hikari! Facing a New Adventure!!
    49. 49 Dawn's Early Night!
    50. 50 Tag! We're It...! (1)
    51. 51 Glory Blaze! (2)
    52. 52 Smells Like Team Spirit! (3)
  11. Diamond and Pearl: Battle Dimension poster

    Diamond and Pearl: Battle Dimension

    52 episodes Nov 8, 2007 5.2

    It’s looking good for Ash as he works on his next three Gym Badges, but not so good for Dawn, coming off a pair of Contest defeats. Both will do what they can to become better Trainers, from entering the Wallace Cup competition to attending Professor Rowan’s Pokémon Summer Academy. Hopefully, the new tactics they pick up will give them the tools they need to succeed against the latest plot by Pokémon Hunter J—as well as the emerging threat of Team Galactic!

  12. Diamond and Pearl: Galactic Battles poster

    Diamond and Pearl: Galactic Battles

    53 episodes Dec 4, 2008 5.5

    As the menace of Team Galactic continues to loom over the Sinnoh region, Ash and Dawn keep getting caught up in the schemes of this mysterious group of villains—as well as facing some other unexpected challenges! Dawn’s got her hands full dealing with the many problems of her Pokémon, while Ash’s ongoing rivalry with Paul finally comes to a head in a full 6-on-6 battle! It might be the ultimate test of training styles—will our heroes come out on top?

  13. Diamond and Pearl: Sinnoh League Victors poster

    Diamond and Pearl: Sinnoh League Victors

    34 episodes Jan 7, 2010 5.6

    Watch Ash, Dawn, and Brock travel across the Sinnoh region to face challenges, battles, and the antics of Team Rocket! With Team Galactic out of the way, Ash can now focus on qualifying for the Sinnoh League. And Dawn will train to compete for her final Contest Ribbon, which would allow her to compete in the Grand Festival!

  14. Black & White poster

    Black & White

    48 episodes Sep 23, 2010 4.9

    When Ash and his mother accompany Professor Oak to the distant Unova region, Ash discovers Pokémon that he’s never seen before… and that he can’t wait to catch! He may have Pikachu at his side together with new friends Iris and Cilan, but he’ll still need plenty of new Pokémon on his team if he wants to challenge Unova’s expert Gym Leaders. His quest to become a Pokémon Master just got even tougher!

  15. Black & White: Rival Destinies poster

    Black & White: Rival Destinies

    49 episodes Sep 22, 2011 5.0

    As Ash and his friends continue to explore the Unova region, he’ll find himself up against the ultimate battle challenge: Alder, the Champion Master of Unova! His friends also face their own trials, one fighting for the right to continue her travels, another confronting a returning challenge from the past—and all three of them must team up to save an island from the clashing forces of three powerful and mysterious Legendary Pokémon!

  16. Black & White: Adventures in Unova poster

    Black & White: Adventures in Unova

    45 episodes Oct 11, 2012 4.4

    Ash and his friends Iris and Cilan have foiled Team Rocket’s latest evil plan, but a new danger lurks on the horizon! But first, with eight Gym badges in hand, Ash is ready to take on the region’s ultimate challenge: the Unova League, where he’ll face familiar rivals and new opponents in his ongoing quest to become a Pokémon Master! Meanwhile, Iris has been having some trouble connecting with her powerful and stubborn Dragonite—can a visit home to the Village of Dragons help sort things out for the aspiring Dragon Master? And what exciting new adventures await our heroes beyond the Unova League? The answers to come, as the journey continues!

  17. XY poster

    XY

    48 episodes Oct 17, 2013 7.2

    It’s time for Ash and Pikachu to set off on their adventures in the Kalos region! Along the way, they’re joined by some new friends—a genius inventor named Clemont, his little sister Bonnie, and Serena, a Trainer on her first journey. Ash immediately tries to challenge the Gym in Lumiose City, but doesn’t get very far before a robot throws him out! In between Gym battles, Ash and friends will be exploring this unique region, meeting all kinds of new Pokémon, and looking into a fascinating new Pokémon mystery!

  18. XY: Kalos Quest poster

    XY: Kalos Quest

    45 episodes Nov 13, 2014 7.1

    While Ash continues his quest to win eight Gym badges so he can enter the Kalos League, he and his traveling companions will make new friends, forge new rivalries, and, of course, meet some brand-new Pokémon! Serena, with her partner Fennekin and new friend Pancham, will take on the Pokémon Showcase world; Clemont will continue to create inventions and hope some of them are a hit; and Bonnie, as ever, will try to find someone to take care of her big brother!

  19. XYZ poster

    XYZ

    49 episodes Oct 29, 2015 7.7

    Follow Ash, Pikachu, and their friends as they explore the deepest mysteries of the Kalos region! Team Flare has plans for the Legendary Pokémon Zygarde and the secret it holds. Alain's ongoing search for the source of Mega Evolution intersects with our heroes' adventures. And true to Gym Leader Olympia's prediction, Ash and his Frogadier will work together to reach surprising new heights!

  20. Sun & Moon poster

    Sun & Moon

    43 episodes Nov 17, 2016 7.3

    What starts as a summer vacation in the tropical Alola region turns into the next exciting chapter in Ash Ketchum’s quest to become a Pokémon Master! There’s plenty for Ash and Pikachu to explore in this sunny new region, with exciting new Pokémon to discover and interesting people to learn from along the way—including the cool Professor Kukui and the fun-loving Samson Oak. More new faces will help guide Ash’s Alolan adventure, in the form of a group of skilled Trainers—Kiawe, Lana, Mallow, and Sophocles—and a mysterious research assistant called Lillie. Frequent foes Team Rocket have also made the trip to Alola, looking to swipe some high-powered new Pokémon. But they have some heavy competition on the villainy front: the ruffians of Team Skull, who delight in causing chaos and may have more sinister intentions…

  21. Sun & Moon: Ultra Adventures poster

    Sun & Moon: Ultra Adventures

    49 episodes Oct 5, 2017 6.5

    When Ash sees the Legendary Pokémon Solgaleo and Lunala in a dream, he makes a promise to them. But when he wakes up, he can’t remember what it was! Will the strange Pokémon called Nebby help jog his memory? Along with their new friend and the rest of the students at the Pokémon School, Ash and Pikachu explore the Aether Foundation, an organization dedicated to Pokémon conservation and care. But it may not be as innocent as it seems, and Ash and his friends will have to work together to protect the people and Pokémon they care about as they face a mysterious power like nothing they have ever seen.

  22. Sun & Moon: Ultra Legends poster

    Sun & Moon: Ultra Legends

    54 episodes Oct 21, 2018 7.7

    Ash has completed three of his four grand trials in the Alola region, and more adventures await as he and his classmates acquire new Z-Crystals, make new Pokémon friends, and learn how to Mantine Surf! In their role as Ultra Guardians, the Pokémon School students take on an important mission to protect Wela Volcano. Ash meets a new rival, Hau, whose Dartrix offers Rowlet quite a challenge. Even Rotom Dex gets an adventure of its own when our heroes visit the set of its favorite TV show! And Professor Kukui's dream of starting a Pokémon League in Alola just might be getting closer to reality...

  23. Journeys poster

    Journeys

    48 episodes Nov 17, 2019 5.8

    Pokémon Trainer Ash Ketchum has a new plan: see the world! But first, he and his partner Pikachu are headed to the opening of the Cerise Laboratory, a research facility dedicated to uncovering the mysteries of Pokémon in every region. Ash meets Goh, another boy with boundless curiosity about Pokémon, and both are overjoyed when Professor Cerise asks them to become official research fellows. With Ash as determined as ever to become a Pokémon Master, and Goh aiming to catch one of every Pokémon (including the Mythical Mew), our heroes are in for adventure and excitement as they explore the wide world of Pokémon!

  24. Master Journeys poster

    Master Journeys

    42 episodes Dec 11, 2020 3.2

    It’s a big, big world, but you know where to find Ash and Goh—battling and catching Pokémon from Kanto to Galar! With Pikachu, Cinderace, and their other Pokémon beside them, our heroes continue to travel all over the world to research Pokémon for Cerise Laboratory. Along the way, Ash climbs higher in the World Coronation Series rankings, and Goh adds more Pokémon to his Pokedex in his quest to catch Mew. Meanwhile, Chloe takes her first steps as a Pokémon Trainer when she meets a mysterious Eevee. New friends, returning rivals, and exciting adventures await—as the journey continues!

  25. Ultimate Journeys poster

    Ultimate Journeys

    57 episodes Dec 17, 2021 7.1

    The stakes are higher than ever for Ash, Goh and Chloe as they advance toward their goals! As the Pokémon World Coronation Series Tournament heats up, intensive training is in store for Ash, Pikachu and their Pokémon friends. Meanwhile, Goh embarks on a series of challenging trial missions to become a member of Project Mew. And as Chloe and Eevee learn about the different evolutionary paths that Eevee can take, will they be able to come to a decision about its future? Get ready for nonstop action, familiar faces from journeys past and more Pokémon discoveries to be made!

  26. Specials poster

    Specials

    56 episodes Oct 7, 1997

    Various TV specials, shorts, and movie shorts related to Pokémon the Series. Other content include recaps, clip shows, and promotional material.

Cast

4 people

Reviews

3 min read

The Myth of Eternal Summer

I can still picture that pilot broadcast. A kid in pajamas, oversleeping on the most important morning of his life, flinging his alarm clock into the wall while he's still half-dreaming. latestnetflix.com's take is that it's such a plain, almost goofy start for something that would turn into a global monolith.

Over twenty-five seasons and 1,235 episodes, that boy is still getting up, still trudging down dirt roads, still losing tournaments. It's kind of absurd when you say it out loud.

Chief director Kunihiko Yuyama made the choice that shaped the whole thing: he froze time. The much-debated "floating timeline." As Screen Rant pointed out in a retrospective, older fans often saw that refusal to age the characters as a way to "never break the status quo."

They wanted progression. They wanted Ash Ketchum to grow a beard and start paying a mortgage, I guess. I've never really bought that complaint.

The 1997 Pokémon anime isn't built like a sequential drama. It's more like a place you return to. A world you hang around in.

Ash and Pikachu looking out at a vast landscape

What still gets me about the original Indigo League episodes is the tactile warmth of the cel animation. The colors are a little muted. The backgrounds have those soft watercolor textures that make the creatures' sharper, jagged designs pop even more.

Audience Opinions

Audience 7.4/10
"A nostalgic but uneven adventure powered by a heartfelt Ash–Pikachu bond and lighthearted charm more than tight, consistent writing."

Emotional moments, the friendship between Ash, Pikachu, Misty, and Brock, and a mix of whimsical and spooky one-off stories keep this first era of Pokémon engaging, especially for those returning to it. Humor, world-building, and the sense of journey still land, but formulaic plots, repeated villain encounters, and shallow character growth make long binges feel padded and less impactful.

What viewers praise
  • Emotional core relationship The connection between Ash and Pikachu delivers genuinely touching scenes that anchor the series and keep it memorable decades later.
  • Charming main trio Ash, Misty, and Brock form a likable group whose banter, conflicts, and shared goals give the journey warmth and personality.
  • Funny and quotable humor Snappy insults, running gags, and absurd dialogue create a lot of unexpectedly sharp comedy that still works for adult rewatchers.
  • Creative episodic adventures Standalone stories involving ghost towns, psychic horror, strange Pokémon communities, and race-style challenges add variety and a sense of mystery to Kanto.
  • Strong nostalgia factor The iconic theme, early Pokémon roster, and Saturday-morning feel make it an easy comfort watch to revisit with your own kids.
Common complaints
  • Repetitive Team Rocket formula The constant cycle of Team Rocket schemes, quick defeats, and comic exits becomes predictable and can make episodes blur together.
  • Episodic and padded structure A heavy reliance on loosely connected, low-stakes episodes and obvious exposition makes the story feel stretched and occasionally tedious.
  • Shallow character progression Ash, Misty, and Brock change very little over a large number of episodes, with Ash’s growth as a trainer often undercut by convenient wins.
  • Reliance on plot armor Battles are frequently resolved by feel-good twists and the power of friendship rather than consistent rules or believable strategy.
  • Uneven episode quality Memorable arcs sit alongside dull or throwaway installments, so long rewatches can alternate between standout nostalgia and obvious filler.
Recommended for
Childhood nostalgia revisits Pokemon franchise devotees Family-friendly anime nights Lighthearted adventure seekers 90s TV animation fans

Buzz & Rumors

Public reports

At 6:51 p.m. a cartoon put 685 people in ambulances.

December 16, 1997. TV Tokyo and 36 other stations ran episode 38 of Pocket Monsters, "Denno Senshi Porygon," at 6:30 p.m. About 4.6 million households were watching. The series had been on since April 1. Twenty minutes in, Pikachu used Thunderbolt on a swarm of on-screen missiles. The explosion strobed red and blue at 12 flashes a second for four seconds, a paka-paka effect meant to look like cyberspace. Japan's Fire and Disaster Management Agency counted 685 viewers taken to hospitals by ambulance, 310 male and 375 female. Two hundred eight were admitted. Two stayed more than two weeks. latestnetflix.com's take is that Roughly 12,000 more children reported headaches, nausea, or dizziness that later studies linked in part to mass hysteria.No one died. Papers called it Pokemon Shock,.

Nintendo stock dropped 400 yen the next morning to 12,200, about 3.2 percent. President Hiroshi Yamauchi said the Game Boy games were black and white and that "this problem arose because of the way TV Tokyo produced the show." The network pulled the episode, took the series off for nearly four months, and never ran that hour again in any country. Porygon, the digital monster named in the title, all but disappeared from the anime even though Pikachu threw the attack. In September 2020 the official Pokemon account posted "Porygon did nothing wrong," then deleted the tweet. Guinness listed the broadcast as the most photosensitive epileptic seizures caused by a television show. Japanese broadcasters wrote new flash rules. Kids were told to watch in a lit room and sit back from the set,,.

The scare hit while Nintendo of America was still talking about a U.S. Cartoon. Some executives got colder feet. Others argued a Western hit would repair the brand at home. 4Kids Entertainment still took the show, minus that episode, and Kids' WB aired "Pokemon, I Choose You!" on September 8, 1998. Ash Ketchum stayed ten. The actor aged. Twenty-five years later the Japanese send-off, "The Rainbow and the Pokemon Master," ran on March 24, 2023. Netflix dropped the English farewell on September 8, 2023, twenty-five years to the day after the American premiere. The Tuesday night that almost killed the show became a footnote on a series that would not leave. Porygon still exists in the games. On the cartoon, he remains the scapegoat.

CNN's first count was 618 children. The New York Times went with more than 700, including kids who got sick from news recaps of the same flashes,. Both numbers are ugly. The lasting choice was smaller and stranger. Keep the mascot. Bury the digital duck.

Entertainment rumors and trivia aggregated from public reporting. Treat speculation as unverified unless a cited source confirms it.

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