Pokémon: The Original Series
Series, 1997, Kanto and Johto, Set in Kanto, the Orange Islands and Johto
Pokémon: The Original Series is #1 of 32 in release order and #1 of 32 in chronological order in the Pokémon.
The story
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.
Pokémon: The Original Series recap
Ash Ketchum oversleeps on the day he turns ten and gets the last Pokémon at Professor Oak's lab, a Pikachu that refuses to go in its Poké Ball. After Ash shields it from a flock of Spearow, they become partners. Misty, a Water-type trainer from Cerulean City whose bike Ash wrecks, and Brock, the Pewter City Gym Leader, travel with him through Kanto as he collects eight badges. His rival is Gary Oak, the professor's grandson, always a step ahead. Team Rocket's Jessie, James and the talking Meowth chase Pikachu in nearly every episode. Ash releases Butterfree and Pidgeot, struggles with a disobedient Charizard, and loses in the Indigo League's top 16 to Ritchie when Charizard refuses to fight. In the Orange Islands, Brock stays behind with Professor Ivy and the artist Tracey Sketchit joins. In Johto, Brock returns, and Ash earns eight more badges, leaves Charizard to train in the Charicific Valley and lets Lapras go back to its pod.
Pokémon: The Original Series ending explained
Ash wins the Orange League by beating Drake, then reaches the top 8 of Johto's Silver Conference, defeating Gary along the way before losing to Harrison and his Blaziken. Back in Pallet Town, the group splits: Misty returns to run her Gym in Cerulean City and Brock goes home to Pewter City. Ash sets off for the Hoenn region alone with Pikachu.
Where to watch Pokémon: The Original Series
Pokémon: The Original Series is streaming on Netflix, Disney+, YouTube TV, and Tubi in the US. You can rent or buy it on Amazon, Apple TV, and Google Play.
Ratings
IMDb 7.6/10, MyAnimeList 7.43
Where it fits
- Release order: first, before Pokémon: The First Movie.
- Chronological order: first, before Pokémon: The First Movie.
What to watch before Pokémon: The Original Series
Nothing. Pokémon: The Original Series is the first of the Pokémon essentials, so it's the place to start.
Cast
- Rica Matsumoto as Satoshi (voice)
- Ikue Otani as Pikachu (voice)
- Megumi Hayashibara as Musashi / Rabifutto (voice)
- Shin-ichiro Miki as Galar Kamonegi (voice)
- Inuko Inuyama as Nyarth (voice)
- Unsho Ishizuka as Narrator (voice)
- Yuji Ueda as Takeshi (voice)
- Mayumi Izuka as Kasumi (voice)
- Yuko Kobayashi as Shigeru Oak (voice)
- Kenyu Horiuchi as Narrator (voice)
- KAORI as Haruka (voice)
- Kei Shindo as Joy (voice)