Pokémon the Series

Pokémon Logo

Pokémon (ポケットモンスター, Poketto Monsutaa, Pocket Monsters) is an ongoing anime that follows the adventures of the series' main protagonist, Ash Ketchum, and his friends (Ash's Pikachu). The series is produced by OLM Inc. (formerly Oriental Light & Magic Inc.) in Japan. It premiered on TV Tokyo in Japan on April 1, 1997, and it later was dubbed in English in the United States and international television by 4Kids Entertainment until Season 8, when the dub transferred to TPCi. The anime is divided into series and storyline arcs, which are then dubbed into seasons, which are divided and aired according to the English opening of each episode (with the exception of Seasons 1 through 6, which were divided and aired by 52 episode segments).

There are also various films, including specials not included in the official count and a number of spin-off series. As it is based on the Pokémon game series, the anime deals with a lot of the same material such as locations, Pokémon battles, Gym Leaders, and Badges.

It is officially referred to by TPCi as Pokémon the Series, or as "the Pokémon animated series", "Pokémon TV series", "Pokémon animation" or "Pokémon cartoon".

Plot

Kanto and Orange Islands

Main article: Pokémon the Series: The Beginning

Johto

Main article: Pokémon the Series: Gold and Silver

Hoenn

Main article: Pokémon the Series: Ruby and Sapphire

Sinnoh

Main article: Pokémon the Series: Diamond and Pearl

Unova

Main article: Pokémon the Series: Black & White

Kalos

Main article: Pokémon the Series: XY and XYZ

Alola

Main article: Pokémon the Series: Sun & Moon (series)

All regions

Main article: Pokémon Journeys: The Series (series)

Episodes

Main article: Episode Guide

Trivia

• As of 2010, Pokémon's the 4th longest-running animated series, behind The Simpsons, Arthur and South Park.
• In 2005, the series ranked 73rd in Channel 4's 100 Greatest Kid's TV Shows vote.
• As of Pokémon Journeys: The Series, the formula of defeating people with authority, such as Gym Leaders and Island Kahunas, changed. The series follows Ash's journey to meet Leon at the finals of the World Coronation Series.