With all those Pokémon series, movies, and video games, it is hard to know where to start and this is why we have made this ultimate Pokemon watch order guide.
In this article, we are going to give you the chronological (and release at the same time) watch order for the whole Pokémon franchise, including the anime series, anime movies, and all the animated specials. We’re also going to explain how some specials and other materials fit into the chronology!
Pokémon Watch Order at a Glance
Since the Pokémon animated franchise is a very complex and large franchise, it is best to give you a brief overview before we actually get to the complete (detailed) guide.
The franchise consists of the main anime series (which is currently in its 23rd season), a total of 23 related anime movies, and several spin-off animated series which explore stories not directly related to the main narrative continuity.
Here is the summarized Pokémon watch order that contains all seasons and movies:
- Indigo League (episodes 1-82)
- Adventures in the Orange Islands (episodes 83-118)
- The Johto Journeys (episodes 119-159)
- Johto League Champions (episodes 160-211)
- Master Quest (episodes 212-276)
- Advanced (episodes 277-316)
- Advanced Challenge (episodes 317-368)
- Advanced Battle (episodes 369-421)
- Battle Frontier (episodes 422-468)
- Diamond and Pearl (episodes 469-520)
- Diamond and Pearl: Battle Dimension (episodes 521-572)
- Diamond and Pearl: Galactic Battles (episodes 573-625)
- Diamond and Pearl: Sinnoh League Victors (episodes 626-659)
- Black & White (episodes 660-707)
- Black & White: Rival Destinies (episodes 708-756)
- Black & White: Adventures in Unova (I) (episodes 757-781)
- Black & White: Adventures in Unova and Beyond (II) (episodes 782-801)
- XY (episodes 802-849)
- XY: Kalos Quest (episodes 850-894)
- XYZ (episodes 895-941)
- Sun & Moon (episodes 942-984)
- Sun & Moon: Ultra Adventures (episodes 985-1033)
- Sun & Moon: Ultra Legends (episodes 1034-1087)
- Pokémon Journeys (episodes 1088-1135)
- Pokémon Master Journeys (episodes 1136-ongoing)
Now that we’ve given you a rough overview of the animated franchise, we can start our detailed Pokémon watch order guide.
Pokémon Watch Order – The Complete Guide
Arc 1: Kanto
The Kanto arc consists of two seasons and chronicles Ash’s adventures with his friends during their journeys through the Kanto region and the Orange Islands. This is the introductory season to the whole anime and it presented the framework that the show was going to follow during each of the following seasons.
The first season, dubbed Indigo League, consists of 82 episodes and it aired from April 1, 1997 to January 21, 1999. The second season, Adventures in the Orange Islands, aired from January 28, 1999 to October 7, 1999 and it consisted of 36 episodes in total.
Two episodes from this arc never aired outside Japan, the first one (episode 35) due to a gun being pointed at Ash and the second (episode 38) because it caused epileptic seizures in Japanese children when it was originally broadcast. Episode 18 was also initially not broadcast in the United States, but was later included as a “lost episode”.
Arc 2: Johto
The Johto arc saw Ash Ketchum and his friends leave Kanto after Ash’s defeat in the Pokémon League. Ash wanted to become even stronger, so he set out for another region, where he would meet and catch new Pokémon, as well as battle new trainers and become a better trainer himself. The Johto arc encompasses a total of three seasons.
The first, The Johto Journeys, aired from October 14, 1999 to July 27, 2000 with a total of 41 episodes; Johto League Champions, the second season, aired from August 3, 2000 to August 2, 2001 and had a total of 52 episodes; the third and final Johto season, Master Quest, had 65 episodes that aired from August 9, 2001 to November 14, 2002. The arc had a total of 158 episodes.
Only one episode from this arc was removed from international broadcasts (episode 252), most likely due to the appearance of the controversial Pokémon Jynx. Every other episode was broadcast normally.
Arc 3: Hoenn
After his experiences in Johto, Ash and Pikachu left for Hoenn, the third region in the world of Pokémon. This time, he is accompanied by Brock, but not by Misty, who went back home after their Johto adventures; Ash and Brock are soon joined by May and her brother Max.
The Hoenn arc encompasses three Hoenn-based seasons – Advanced, which ran from November 21, 2002 to August 28, 2003, with a total of 40 episodes; Advanced Challenge, which ran from September 4, 2003 to September 2, 2004, with a total of 52 episodes; and Advanced Battle, which ran from September 9, 2004 to September 29, 2005, with a total of 54 episodes – and a Kanto-based season – Battle Frontier, which ran from October 6, 2005 to September 14, 2006, with 47 episodes – that we put in this arc because it featured the same characters from the three previous seasons, changing only the setting, but not the tone. The Hoenn arc thus contains a total of 193 episodes.
Two episodes from this arc were not shown globally, with the first not being shown anywhere, not even in Japan (intended to be episode 377), because it coincided with an earthquake that happened around the time, while the second (episode 396) not being aired outside Japan.
Arc 4: Sinnoh
With the conclusion of the Hoenn arc, Ash, Brock and Pikachu headed for the Sinnoh region, where they were joined by Dawn, a young Pokémon Coordinator, who joined them on their journeys.
Diamond and Pearl (which is another name for the Sinnoh arc) consists of a total of four seasons: Diamond and Pearl, which aired its 52 episodes from September 28, 2006 to October 25, 2007; Diamond and Pearl: Battle Dimension, which aired its 52 episodes from November 8, 2007 to December 4, 2008; Diamond and Pearl: Galactic Battles, which aired its 53 episodes from December 4, 2008 to December 24, 2009; and, finally, Diamond and Pearl: Sinnoh League Victors, which aired its 34 episodes from January 7, 2010 to September 9, 2010. The arc has a total of 191 episodes.
A total of two episodes were not aired globally. Episodes 516 and 588 were not aired outside Japan because they were retrospective (flashback) episodes that summarised the events up to that point; such episodes were generally not aired outside Japan.
Arc 5: Unova
The Unova arc featured several changes from the earlier arcs, as Ash and Pikachu left Sinnoh for the new region. Brock and Dawn left the group, but Ash was soon joined by Iris and Cilan, who accompanied him on his journeys.
The whole arc was divided into three larger seasons – Black & White, which aired from September 23, 2010 to September 15, 2011 with a total of 50 episodes; Black & White: Rival Destinies, which aired from September 22, 2011 to October 4, 2012 with a total of 49 episodes; while the third large season was divided into two smaller segments, Black & White: Adventures in Unova, whose 25 episodes aired from October 11, 2012 to April 18, 2013, and Black & White: Adventures in Unova and Beyond, whose 20 episodes aired from April 25, 2013 to September 26, 2013. A total of 144 episodes were aired as part of the Unova arc.
This season had several unaired episodes, either globally or just outside Japan, but also some special episodes that were aired exclusively in Japan.
Arc 6: Kalos
After completing his journey in Unova, Ash and Pikachu set way for the Kalos region, where they, once more, meet new friends who accompany them no their journeys; they are siblings Clermont and Bonnie, as well as Ash’s childhood friend, Serena. This arc introduced Mega Evolutions to the anime series.
The Kalos arc consists of three seasons: XY, which aired from October 17, 2013 to October 30, 2014 with a total of 48 episodes; XY: Kalos Quest, which aired from November 13, 2014 to October 22, 2015 with a total of 45 episodes; and XYZ, which aired from October 29, 2015 to October 27, 2016 with a total of 47 episodes. This arc has a total of 140 episodes.
All of the episodes from this arc have been aired globally, but the arc contains a total of seven special episodes, only one of which was not broadcast outside of Japan.
Arc 7: Alola
The Alola arc was based on the Sun and Moon video games, and followed Ash’s and Pikachu’s adventures on the Alolan Islands. He was once more stripped of his old companions and went through an educational journey on these islands. This is also the first arc of the anime that used a noticeably different character animation style, which was not received well by all of the fans.
As it was the case with other arcs, this one is also divided into three seasons: Sun & Moon, which had 43 episodes and aired from November 17, 2016 to September 21, 2017; Sun & Moon: Ultra Adventures, which had 49 episodes and aired from October 5, 2017 to October 14, 2018; and, Sun & Moon: Ultra Legends, whose 54 episodes aired from October 21, 2018 to November 3, 2019. The total episode count for this arc is 146.
This arc had only one episode that did not air outside of Japan, episode 1005, because Ash wore dark face paint that resembled a blackface mask, although he was just acting as a Passimian.
Arc 8: Galar
When Sun & Moon finished, the production team behind the anime series wanted to do something new; the result was Pokémon Journeys, the current season of the anime and the one that introduced the Galar region to the animated continuity. Ash and Pikachu are accompanied by a boy named Goh, as the three of them travel across all the regions of the world of Pokémon, introducing Galar in the process.
This show changed some stereotypes about the series’ structure but we’ll have to wait and see how it all plays out, since we’re still on the arc’s second season, which started airing on November 17, 2019. As of March 15, 2022, a total of 101 episodes have been announced in Japan.
So far, all of the episodes that aired in Japan have also – or are going to – been aired globally.
POKEMON MOVIES IN ORDER
Along with the already listed anime series and the spin-off series which are going to be presented in the next section of this article, the Pokémon franchise also has a series of 23 anime movies which are part of the same continuity, although they are not always directly related with the plot of the anime series itself.
This section is going to give you a guide on how to watch these animated movies (Detective Pikachu, as it is not part of the same continuity, is not going to be included) in chronological order and in relation to the aforementioned arcs. If you want a list of the movies based on their official release dates, you can check the table at the beginning of our article.
We are going to list each movie in the series, give you some basic production information on each movie, a short synopsis and where it fits into the continuity of the animated series. Before we commence, though, it is important that you know that the chronological viewing order of the movies is purely advisory, as the movie and anime continuities aren’t really matched up, despite being part of the same animated universe. This resulted in the movies almost never being referenced in the anime, which gives you certain liberties with the watching order.
Arc 1: Kanto movies
Officially, there are just three movies that fit into the Kanto arc, but since the third movie is just a 3D animation remake of the first one, it’s technically just one movie and its remake. This was the first-ever Pokémon movie and, interestingly enough, events from the movie were referenced in the anime, albeit in a very implicit way. The second movie was set during Ash’s and Pikachu’s adventures in the Orange Islands. These are the movies in question:
Pokémon The First Movie: Mewtwo Strikes Back
Release Date: July 18, 1998
Running Time: 75 minutes
Chronology: Set somewhere between episodes 64 and 74 of the original Indigo League season; Ash has all the badges, which happened in episode 63, but has not yet fought in the League, which started with episode 75. A scene where Giovanni used Mewtwo in his gym was present in the anime, as well as in the movie.
Pokémon: Mewtwo Strikes Back—Evolution
Release Date: July 4, 2019
Running Time: 98 minutes
Chronology: Set somewhere between episodes 64 and 74 of the original Indigo League season, just as the original movie it was based on.
Pokémon The Movie 2000: The Power of One
Release Date: July 17, 1999
Running Time: 82 minutes
Chronology: Set somewhere between episodes 86 and 115, during Ash’s adventures in the Orange Islands; despite foreshadowing Generation II Pokémon, this movie still belongs to the Kanto arc narratively. Since Ash had his Lapras in this movie, it had to be set during the aforementioned episodes, between which Lapras traveled with Ash and his friends.
Arc 2: Johto movies
The Johto arc contains three feature-length movies and a special television movie aired as part of the second Johto season. Two of the feature-length movies tie directly into the Johto arc, while the third one foreshadows Generation III Pokémon. The special television movie is a sequel to the first Pokémon movie. The movies are:
Pokémon 3: The Movie – Spell of the Unown: Entei
Release Date: July 8, 2000
Running Time: 74 minutes
Chronology: Set somewhere between episodes 156 and 165, which places it between The Johto Journeys and Johto League Champions; we know that because Brock used his Zubat in the movie and in episode 165, his Zubat evolved into Golbat.
Pokémon: Mewtwo Returns
Release Date: December 30, 2000
Running Time: 74 minutes
Chronology: This special television movie was released between episodes 180 and 181, according to our list of The Johto Champions episodes; it is a direct sequel to Mewtwo Strikes Back, set some time after the original plotline.
Pokémon 4Ever – Celebi: Voice of the Forest
Release Date: July 7, 2001
Running Time: 79 minutes
Chronology: Set somewhere between episodes 201 and 209 of The Johto Challenges Season; we know this because Ash uses his Bayleef in the movie, and he obtained it in episode 201.
Pokémon Heroes: Latios and Latias
Release Date: July 13, 2002
Running Time: 71 minutes
Chronology: Set somewhere between episodes 247 and 257 of the Master Quest season; we know this because Misty obtained her Politoed in episode 247 (which appears in the movie), while Ash got the Larvitar egg in episode 257 (which does not appear in the movie). This movie foreshadowed Generation III Pokémon.
Arc 3: Hoenn movies
The Hoenn arc movies began in 2003, although the Pokémon from this Generation have already been announced in an earlier movie. The Hoenn arc encompasses a total of four feature-length animated movies, as well as a special television movie that continues the so-called “Mewtwo Saga”. Here are the movies:
Pokémon: Jirachi—Wish Maker
Release Date: July 19, 2003
Running Time: 81 minutes
Chronology: Set somewhere between episodes 280 and 323, which means that it might be part of either the Advanced or the Advanced Challenge season; we know this because May’s Torchic only knows Ember and Peck in the movie and not Quick Attack, which is learned in episode 323.
Pokémon: Destiny Deoxys
Release Date: July 17, 2004
Running Time: 81 minutes
Chronology: Set somewhere between episodes 334 and 342 of the Advanced Challenge season; in the movie, Ash is shown to have a Torkoal, which he obtained in episode 334, but not a Grovyle, into which his Treecko evolved in episode 342.
Pokémon: Lucario and the Mystery of Mew
Release Date: July 16, 2005
Running Time: 100 minutes
Chronology: Set somewhere between episodes 358 and 384, meaning that it could be part of either Advanced Challenge or Advanced Battle; in the film, Ash did not have Snorunt, which he obtained in episode 384, so the film had to be set before that event.
Pokémon: The Mastermind of Mirage Pokémon
Release Date: April 29, 2006
Running Time: 60 minutes
Chronology: Set somewhere after episode 426 of the Battle Frontier season, although the chronology is not completely clear (it is set, definitely, during that season, but it’s not clear at what point); in the movie, Ash’s Pikachu knows Volt Tackle, which it learned after that episode.
Pokémon Ranger and the Temple of the Sea
Release Date: July 15, 2006
Running Time: 105 minutes
Chronology: Set somewhere after episode 424 of the Battle Frontier season, but the chronology is likewise complicated; the only hint we have is Brock’s Marshtomp, who appears in episode 424, but when in the season this movie takes place and whether it is set before or after The Mastermind of Mirage Pokémon – we cannot determine.
Arc 4: Sinnoh movies
The Sinnoh arc has a total of four feature-length movies, three of which are focused on Generation IV Pokémon, while one movie foreshadows some Generation V Pokémon, which is a rule with each arc’s final movie. These are the movies:
Pokémon the Movie: The Rise of Darkrai
Release Date: July 14, 2007
Running Time: 90 minutes
Chronology: Set somewhere between episodes 506 and 523, meaning that it could be part of either the Diamond and Pearl or Battle Dimension seasons; we know this because Brock already hatched Happiny, but Buizel is still Dawn’s.
Pokémon: Giratina & the Sky Warrior
Release Date: July 19, 2008
Running Time: 96 minutes
Chronology: Set somewhere between episodes 553 to 568 of Battle Dimension; in this movie, Ash already has Gliscor, but his Turtwig still hadn’t evolved.
Pokémon: Arceus and the Jewel of Life
Release Date: July 18, 2009
Running Time: 94 minutes
Chronology: Set somewhere between episodes 600 and 631, meaning that it was set either during Galactic Battles or Sinnoh League Victors, although it is more probable that it is set during the former; namely, Ash already has a Monferno, which he got in episode 600 and it evolved in 631.
Pokémon: Zoroark: Master of Illusions
Release Date: July 10, 2010
Running Time: 95 minutes
Chronology: Set somewhere between episode 639 and the end of the whole Sinnoh arc; we know this because Dawn had her Togekiss in the movie and that was the last Pokémon she obtained.
Arc 5: Unova movies
With Zoroark, the Sinnoh arc was officially finished as far as the movies are concerned. The Unova arc contained a total of four movies, with the first two actually being two feature-length parts of one larger story; these two films follow a similar plot with some major and minor changes, notably the Pokémon that appear and where they appear. The two remaining movies are standalone stories set within the Unova arc. Here are the movies in question:
Pokémon the Movie: Black—Victini and Reshiram
Release Date: July 16, 2011
Running Time: 92 minutes
Chronology: Set somewhere between episodes 683 and 736, meaning that it part of either Black & White or Rival Destinies, but we reckon it is the former; we know this because Ash has his Scraggy in the movies, but also his Tepig, who had not yet evolved in the movie (he did it in episode 736).
Pokémon the Movie: White—Victini and Zekrom
Release Date: July 16, 2011
Running Time: 92 minutes
Chronology: Set somewhere between episodes 683 and 736, meaning that it is part of either Black & White or Rival Destinies, but we reckon it is the former; we know this because Ash has his Scraggy in the movies, but also his Tepig, who had not yet evolved in the movie (he did it in episode 736).
Pokémon the Movie: Kyurem vs. the Sword of Justice
Release Date: July 14, 2012
Running Time: 70 minutes
Chronology: Set somewhere between episodes 736 of Rival Destinies and episode 775 of Adventures in Unova, but the chronology is not completely clear; Ash does have his Pignite but probably doesn’t have Charizard (otherwise, he would’ve used it), but he could have kept it in the ball and there was no other evidence.
Pokémon the Movie: Genesect and the Legend Awakened
Release Date: July 13, 2013
Running Time: 71 minutes
Chronology: Set somewhere between episode 775 and the end of the whole Unova arc, meaning that it is part of the two part Adventures season; we know this because Ash has his Charizard with him, and that is the last addition to his team during the season.
Arc 6: Kalos movies
The Kalos arc contains a total of three feature-length movies set during the XY series. This is a decrease from the two previous arcs, but as it turned out – the Kalos movies were the last until 2021 (at least) that were part of the main narrative continuity. The two Generation VII movies, as well as the first Generation VIII movie, were part of a separate, alternative narrative continuity that had nothing to do with the anime series. These are the movies in question:
Pokémon the Movie: Diancie and the Cocoon of Destruction
Release Date: July 19, 2014
Running Time: 75 minutes
Chronology: Set somewhere between episodes 838 and 853, meaning that it is probably part of the XY season, although it could technically be part of Kalos Quest; we know this because Ash’s Froakie knows Cut but is still just a Froakie.
Pokémon the Movie: Hoopa and the Clash of Ages
Release Date: July 18, 2015
Running Time: 78 minutes
Chronology: Set somewhere between episodes 868 of Kalos Quest and 901 of XYZ; we know this because Serena has Braixen but Ash doesn’t have Greninja yet. Clemont is also traveling with Ash again in this movie, so wait until after their battle when he rejoins the before you watch the movie.
Pokémon the Movie: Volcanion and the Mechanical Marvel
Release Date: July 16, 2016
Running Time: 95 minutes
Chronology: Set somewhere between episodes 911 and 927 of the XYZ season; we know because Ash has Noivern but his Goodra hasn’t rejoined the group yet.
Arc 7: Alola movies
Despite Generation VII having two movies – I Choose You! and The Power of Us – they are not actually part of the Alola arc as it was presented in the anime series. These two movies actually launched an alternative reality of movies that does still follow Ash and Pikachu, but their stories are completely different. In that way, the Alola arc was left without official movies, thus becoming the first major narrative arc in the whole franchise to suffer such a fate.
Arc 8: Galar movies
As with the Alola arc, Galar still doesn’t have its own movies that are set within the narrative continuity of Pokémon Journeys. Certainly, there is a Generation VIII movie, but that movie is – just like the Generation VII movies – part of an alternative timeline established by the Generation VII movies; it is not part of the main narrative of the anime series. Alola was left without a movie alltogether, but whether that is going to happen with the recently started Galar arc, we have yet to see for ourselves.
Alternative continuity movies
As we have already explained, starting with Generation VII, Pokémon movies have started to diverge from the main narrative continuity. Beginning with I Choose You!, the movies follow the same protagonists – Ash and his Pikachu – but in an alternative timeline, where the events of their adventures happened a bit differently than in the anime. The movies started off from the beginning, just like the anime, but they weren’t so attentive in showing all of the events, which is expected from a movie series (an anime series has much more space to chronicle every part of the adventure, while films can only tell certain stories). Both Generation VII movies are part of this alternative timeline, as well as the first Generation VIII movie, and here they are:
Pokémon the Movie: I Choose You!
Release Date: July 6, 2017
Running Time: 97 minutes
Pokémon the Movie: The Power of Us
Release Date: July 13, 2018
Running Time: 100 minutes
Pokémon the Movie: Secrets of the Jungle
Release Date: December 25, 2020
Running Time: 100 minutes
Synopsis: TBA
POKEMON SPIN-OFF SERIES IN ORDER
Pokémon Chronicles
Pokémon Chronicles was a spin-off anime series that aired from December 3, 2002 to September 28, 2004. The series was set within the main anime continuity, but followed characters other than Ash Ketchum, who appears rarely in this show. The focus was to provide an insight into the world of Pokémon, but from a different perspective, showing adventures that well-known, but recurring characters had. The show had a total of 22 episodes, most of which were original episodes for the series, but it also contained already aired shorts combined into a single-episode format for Chronicles (listed in blue) as well as The Legend of Thunder! TV movie, which was broadcast as the first three episodes of the series (listed in yellow). This is the list:
| # | Episode Title | Air Date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | “The Legend of Thunder (Part 1)” (ライコウ 雷の伝説, Raikou – Ikazuchi no Densetsu) | December 30, 2001 |
| 2 | “The Legend of Thunder (Part 2)” (ライコウ 雷の伝説, Raikou – Ikazuchi no Densetsu) | December 30, 2001 |
| 3 | “The Legend of Thunder (Part 3)” (ライコウ 雷の伝説, Raikou – Ikazuchi no Densetsu) | December 30, 2001 |
| 4 | “Pikachu’s Winter Vacation”: 1) “Delibird’s Dilemma” (デリバードのプレゼント, Deribādo no Purezento) 2) “Snorlax Snowman” (ホワイトストーリー, Howaito Sutōrī) | December 22, 2000 |
| 5 | “A Family That Battles Together Stays Together!” (タケシ！ニビジムをすくえ!, Takeshi! Nibi Jimu wo Sukue!) | December 3, 2002 |
| 6 | “Cerulean Blues” (ハナダジムのリベンジマッチ!, Hanada Jimu no Ribenji Matchi!) | December 10, 2002 |
| 7 | “We’re No Angels!” (がんばれ！前向きロケット団, Ganbare! Maemuki Roketto-dan!) | December 17, 2002 |
| 8 | “Showdown at the Oak Corral” (オーキド邸だいけっせん!!, Ōkido-yashiki Daikessen!) | January 14, 2003 |
| 9 | “The Blue Badge of Courage” (カスミ！ブルーバッジをゲットせよ!, Kasumi! Burū Bajji o Getto se yo!) | February 25, 2003 |
| 10 | “Oaknapped!” (ポケモン捜査網！オーキド博士をさがせ!!, Pokémon Sōsa! Ōkido-hakase o Sagase!!) | April 8, 2003 |
| 11 | “A Date With Delcatty” (カスミ真剣勝負！命かけます!?, Kasumi Shinken Shōbu! Inochi Kakemasu!?) | September 2, 2003 |
| 12 | “Training Daze” (ロケット団 愛と青春の原点, Roketto-dan Ai to Seishun no Genten) | September 30, 2003 |
| 13 | “Celebi and Joy!” (もうひとつのセレビィ伝説, Mō Hitotsu no Serebī Densetsu) | October 7, 2003 |
| 14 | “Journey to the Starting Line!” (マサラタウン、ポケモントレーナーの旅立ち, Masara Taun, Pokémon Torēnā no Tabidachi!) | October 14, 2003 |
| 15 | “Putting The Air Back In Aerodactyl!” (ポケモン研究者シゲルと復活のプテラ, Pokémon Kenkyūsha Shigeru to Fukkatsu no Putera) | March 16, 2004 |
| 16 | “Luvdisc Is A Many Splendored Thing!” (カスミとラブカス！ラブバトル!, Kasumi to Rabukasu! Rabu Batoru!) | September 14, 2004 |
| 17 | “Those Darn Electabuzz!” (ナナコとリザードン！炎の猛特訓!, Nanako to Rizādon! Honō no Mōtokkun!) | September 21, 2004 |
| 18 | “The Search for the Legend” (天駆ける伝説 ヒロシとファイヤー!, Amakakeru Densetsu Hiroshi to Faiyā!) | September 28, 2004 |
| 19 | “Of Meowth and Pokémon” (出会いのミレニアムタウン, Deai no Mireniamu Taun) | March 4, 2003 |
| 20 | “Trouble in Big Town” (ぼくたちピチューブラザーズ·風船騒動, Bokutachi Pichū Burazāzu – Fūsen Sōdō) | March 4, 2003 |
| 21 | “Big Meowth, Little Dreams” (迷探偵ニャース参上!, Meitantei Nyāsu Sanjō!) | December 22, 2000 |
| 22 | “Pikachu’s Winter Vacation” 1) “Christmas Night” (クリスマスであそぼ!, Kurisumasu de Asobo!) 2) “Kanga Games” (雪であそぼ!, Yuki de Asobo!) | December 22, 1998 |
Pokémon Origins
Pokémon Origins, known in Japan as Pocket Monsters: The Origin (Japanese: ポケットモンスター THE ORIGIN, Poketto Monsutā Ji Orijin), is a Pokémon spin-off series that aired on October 2, 2013 in Japan. It was a four-part, 90-minute special focused primarily on the character of Red, who appeared in the original Pokémon games, Red and Blue (or Red and Green in Japan). This series combined the animation style of the anime series with the original game mechanics and narrative, giving the original story of the Pokémon franchise, the story that started all of it, a fresh look. The series follows Red on his journey through the Kanto region, where he obtains badges and yearns of becoming the best Pokémon trainer. These are the episodes:
| # | Episode Title | Air Date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | “Red” “Reddo” (レッド) | October 2, 2013 |
| 2 | “Cubone” “Karakara” (カラカラ) | October 2, 2013 |
| 3 | “Giovanni” “Sakaki” (サカキ) | October 2, 2013 |
| 4 | “Charizard” “Rizādon” (リザードン) | October 2, 2013 |
Pokémon Generations
Pokémon Generations was a Japanese original net animation (ONA) series that aired online from September 16, 2016 to December 23, 2016. Similarly to Pokémon Origins, Generations was inspired by the Pokémon video games, although it was presented in a much different format. Each of the episodes followed an episode from one of the numerous Pokémon video games, thereby giving the whole franchise a fresh look and not just its first two games. The episodes started off in the Kanto region (Red and Blue) and the narrative was completed in the Kalos region (X and Y). The episodes had a duration of 3-5 minutes and a total of 18 episodes was produced. They are:
| # | Episode Title | Air Date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | “The Adventure” “Bōken” (冒険) | September 16, 2016 |
| 2 | “The Chase” “Tsuiseki” (追跡) | September 16, 2016 |
| 3 | “The Challenger” “Chōsensha” (挑戦者) | September 23, 2016 |
| 4 | “The Lake of Rage” “Ikari no Mizūmi” (いかりの湖) | September 30, 2016 |
| 5 | “The Legacy” “Keishō” (継承) | October 7, 2016 |
| 6 | “The Reawakening” “Saisei” (再生) | October 7, 2016 |
| 7 | “The Vision” “Bijon” (ビジョン) | October 14, 2016 |
| 8 | “The Cavern” “Kaitei Dōkutsu” (海底洞窟) | October 21, 2016 |
| 9 | “The Scoop” “Sukūpu” (スクープ) | October 28, 2016 |
| 10 | “The Old Chateau” “Mori no Yōkan” (森の洋館) | October 28, 2016 |
| 11 | “The New World” “Atarashii Sekai” (新しい世界) | November 4, 2016 |
| 12 | “The Magma Stone” “Kazan no Okiishi” (火山のおき石) | November 11, 2016 |
| 13 | “The Uprising” “Hanran” (反乱) | November 18, 2016 |
| 14 | “The Frozen World” “Kogoeru Sekai” (凍える世界) | November 23, 2016 |
| 15 | “The King Returns” “Kikan” (帰還) | December 2, 2016 |
| 16 | “The Beauty Eternal” “Eien no Bi” (永遠の美) | December 9, 2016 |
| 17 | “The Investigation” “Sōsa” (捜査) | December 16, 2016 |
| 18 | “The Redemption” “Aganai” (贖い) | December 23, 2016 |
Pokémon: Twilight Wings
Pokémon: Twilight Wings is the most recent spin-off series, again an original net animation (ONA) that aired from January 15, 2020 to November 5, 2020. The series was inspired by the new Sword and Shield video games and serves as a form of promotion for them, as it was not tied to any of the previous animated series. Initially, the show was supposed to have only seven episodes, but an additional episode was aired in November to promote the DLC packs for Sword and Shield. All the episodes have a run time of around 6 minutes. They are:
| # | Episode Title | Air Date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | “Letter” “Letter” (手紙) | January 15, 2020 |
| 2 | “Training” “Training” (修行) | February 18, 2020 |
| 3 | “Buddy” “Partner” (相棒) | March 17, 2020 |
| 4 | “Early-Evening Waves” “Evening Waves” (夕波) | April 17, 2020 |
| 5 | “Assistant” “Secretary” (秘書) | June 5, 2020 |
| 6 | “Moonlight” “Moonlit Night” (月夜) | July 3, 2020 |
| 7 | “Sky” “Sky” (空) | August 6, 2020 |
| 8 | “The Gathering of Stars” “Expansion: Star Festival” (EXPANSION ～星の祭～) | November 5, 2020 |
Do you need to watch Pokemon in order?
You don’t need to watch Pokemon in order, because most of the episodes and movies are standalone stories. But, if you don’t know anything about the characters, I would suggest watching them in the order above.
Will there be more Pokemon series and movies?
There will be more Pokemon series and movies. They are a huge franchise and have a big fanbase, which means they won’t be stopping soon.
