For many anime fans, their first anime series was the first season of the original Pokemon animated series. in Pokemon: Indigo LeagueRookie Pokemon Trainer Ash Ketchum is overjoyed to finally be old enough to travel to his home region. However, an unexpected series of events occur on the day he begins his quest, resulting in one of Ash's most iconic adventures.
Over the course of the season, Ash learns the basics of being a trainer, from catching Pokemon to using the right moves in battle. Most of all, Ash learns how to work with Pokémon, becoming kinder to them all the time. This trait serves as the core of his success, along with his unwavering determination to be the best.
Bulbasaur and the Hidden Village
Ash meets a Pokemon that the trainers don't like
The most starter Pokemon in the Pokemon The world seems to favor trainers, happy for the chance to work with one and get stronger. However, as Ash and his friends quickly learn in the episode “Bulbasaur and the Hidden Village”, not every Pokémon, starter or otherwise, feels this way when they stumble upon the Hidden Village, a sanctuary for Pokémon abandoned by their trainers. The village's caretaker, Melanie, works hard to make sure the village's Pokémon recover properly before they leave to live in the wild. Helping him protect the village is Bulbasaur, who grew up in a hidden village.
As it has seen how cruel trainers can be to their Pokémon, Bulbasaur initially hates them, even attacking Ash and Misty to keep them away. However, when Team Rocket arrives and tries to steal all the Hidden Village Pokemon, Bulbasaur is impressed by Ash's selflessness. Therefore, Melanie advises Ash to include Bulbasaur in his team. The Seed Pokémon happily accepted Ash as its trainer and became a key part of its overall roster. The episode is notable not only for introducing the first of Ash's Kanto starter Pokémon allies, but also as the episode that featured the scene that would later become the “Surprised Pikachu” internet meme.
Here comes the Squirtle Squad
A group of abandoned squirrels causes chaos
After Squirtle is released by its trainer, it forms a group with other left-behind Tiny Turtle Pokémon known as the Squirtle Squad. Wearing their signature sunglasses, the water-type Pokémon began causing trouble in a small Kanto town, stealing items and pulling pranks on townspeople and passers-by. Their infamous actions soon caught the attention of Team Rocket's Meowth, who tricked the group into trying to capture Ash's Pikachu. Meanwhile, Pikachu is seriously injured by Golden's attack and needs treatment.
A surprise attack on the Squirtle Squad by Team Rocket causes a devastating forest fire, nearly killing Squirtle, the leader of the group. However, after Ash saves his life, the water-type is rewarded with the trainer's kindness. As such, it decides to join Ash's group, leaving the Squirtle Squad without a leader for a while. The rest of the Squirtle Squad decide to turn over a new leaf and help others instead of harming them, though they certainly retain their iconic aura that fans still love today.
Charmander – Stray Pokemon
A fire-type starter considers its course
As Ash and his friends know all too well, not every trainer is kind to their Pokemon, especially when meeting the Pokemon of the Hidden Village. While traveling, the group finds a calm charmer sitting on a rock, patiently waiting for his trainer to return. Since Pokemon are very loyal, he wholeheartedly believes his trainer's claim that he will return. Sadly, the heroes later run into Charmander's trainer, and learn that he has no intention of returning to his Pokémon, as the ruthless trainer has found him “weak”. Worse, it's starting to rain, a change in weather that can be deadly for a fire-type starter.
Thus, Ash and his friends run through the storm in the rain to reach Charmandar, who is thankfully alive but now very ill. Although the situation is scary at first, the Lizard Pokémon thankfully pulls through, and even scares Team Rocket with a powerful Flamethrower. When Damian, Charmander's trainer, arrives and tries to get him to join his team, the fire-type attacks him in the same way. Due to Ash's kindness, Charmander decides to join his roster, knowing full well that he would rather be friends with someone who likes him as much as he does.
Electric shock showdown
Pikachu fights with his evolved form
When Ash and Pikachu arrive in Vermilion City, they soon discover that Nurse Joy and her team at the local Pokemon Center are taking care of many Pokemon. The reason for the sudden increase in injured Pokemon is Gym Leader Lt. Serge, and his powerful Raichu, who show no mercy to any trainer who attempts their Gym Battle. Convinced of Pikachu's abilities, Ash decides to pit Pikachu against Lt. Serge's Raichu, which had already been developed as part of Lt. Serge's training system. Unfortunately, Pikachu is seriously injured and must recover at the Vermillion City Pokémon Center.
While at the Pokémon Center, Ash is given the Thunder Stone so that he can evolve Pikachu into Raichu, similar to Lt. Serge. However, Ash fully supports Pikachu's decision not to evolve, and they decide to make a new battle plan. During their rematch, Pikachu relies more on speed and stealth-related moves than electric-type moves, attacks that Raichu never learned because it evolved too quickly. With this new strategy, Ash and Pikachu win the game and help Lt. Serge gain a new perspective.
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Farewell to Pikachu
Mouse Pokemon meet others of their kind
At the point where the story of “Pikachu's Goodbye” begins, Ash and Pikachu have only been traveling together for a short time. However, they remain best friends and are rarely seen without each other, making the episode's story more sweet-natured and emotional. However, when Pikachu encounters a horde of other Pikachu (later revealed to be possibly his first interaction with others of his own kind), Ash begins to consider what would be best for the Mouse Pokémon. Meanwhile, Team Rocket is surprised to find such a large group of Pikachu and decides to try and capture them for Giovanni.
This crowd is initially fearful towards Pikachu, especially when he is traveling with humans. However, after rescuing a baby Pikachu and blasting Team Rocket again, the other mouse Pokémon accept Ash's Pikachu as a new friend. Seeing this display, Ash tries to release Pikachu back into the forest, running away before anyone can protest. Despite his actions, Pikachu, supported by the rest of the group, jumps into Ash's arms as the electric-type announces that he wants to continue training with his best friend.
Bye Bye Butterfree
Ash's first caught Pokémon falls in love
In the previous episode “Ash Catches a Pokemon”, Trainer Plucky first captures a bug-type Pokemon called Caterpy. Unfortunately for the kind Bug-type, Ash's new friend Misty finds bugs quite repulsive, and makes it very clear to the Worm Pokemon. That night, after Caterpy reflects on his thoughts of Misty, the Worm Pokémon also shares his dreams of becoming stronger with his new friend Pikachu, who wholeheartedly supports the Bug-type's goals. By the end of the episode, Caterpie has not only evolved into a metapod, but Misty's acceptance.
During the events of “Bye Bye Butterfree”, Ash's first caught Pokémon, which has just evolved into Butterfree, falls in love with the pink Butterfree during mating season. He is able to win her heart by rescuing her and several other Butterfrees from Team Rocket, who try to capture the bug/flying-types with a giant net. Always wanting to support his friends, Ash releases Butterfree so he can be with his new friend, and bids them both farewell. This episode is bittersweet not only because of the farewell of a beloved character, but also because of the emotional flashback shown at the end.
Pokemon – I Choose You!
Ash Ketchum begins his Pokémon journey
in the world of Pokemon Becoming an anime, pokemon master is the dream of many. The definition of Pokemon Master can vary; For some, it means being a master of a certain Pokemon type. However, for Ash Ketchum, becoming a Pokemon Master means being a powerful trainer who has become friends with all known species of Pokemon. At the beginning of the first episode, Ash is excitedly awaiting the day he will choose his starter Pokemon from Professor Oak and thus begin his journey. Unfortunately, as he falls asleep, the only Pokémon left is Pikachu, an Electric-type who would rather march to the beat of his own drum.
Upset that his new starter Pokémon refuse to work with him, Ash tries to catch the new Pokémon, only to anger the entire group of Sparrows who hurt the Mouse Pokémon. As the storm rages, Ash tries to escape but soon finds himself trapped and has to save Pikachu from an angry avian Pokemon. Honored by his new trainer's selflessness, Pikachu unleashes a legendary Electric-type attack that saves both him and Ash. Soon, the storm clears, and Ash and Pikachu discover that they will never be broken again, a friendship that lives on in anyone's memory. Pokemon Fans who have watched the anime.
Pokemon
- Release date
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1997 – 2023
- network
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TV Tokyo, TV Osaka, TV Aichi, TVh, TVQ, TSC
- directors
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Shigeru Omachi, Koji Ogawa, Fumihiro Ueno, Hideki Hiroshima, Maki Kodaira, Makoto Oga, Ayumi Moriyama, Keitaro Motonaga, Shigeru Ueda, Fumihiro Yoshimura, Minoru Ohara, Yoshitaka Makino, Kiyoshi Egami, Makotoi, Murki, Makotoi, Murkoi, Nako, Hey Nishida, Tomoe Makino, Masahiko Watanabe, Hiroaki Takagi, Tazumi Mukaiyama, Ryohei Horiuchi, Yoshihiro Oda, Hiromichi Matano
- The authors
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Junki Takegami, Atsuhiro Tomioka, Hideki Sonoda, Yukiyoshi Ohashi, Yuka Miyata, Takeshi Shudo, Shouji Yonemura, Shinzo Fujita, Michihiro Tsuchiya, Deko Akao, Reiko Yoshida, Aya Matsui, Junichi Fujisaku
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Rika Matsumoto
Satoshi (voice)
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Ikue Otani
Pikachu (voice)
