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The major characters of Pokemon anime, together (Image via OLM Studios)

In what order should you watch Pokemon?

Stuart RayBy 10 Mins Read Anime

Going strong since the 1990s, Pokemon has been the biggest media franchise in the world. If you were a millennial kid growing up in the 90s, your entry into the Pokemon-verse might have occurred through video games, trading cards or the anime series. The story of a boy wanting to be the very best, his close bond with his electric mouse-like companion Pikachu (the official mascot of the series), and their adventures across the world have remained close to our hearts.

However, you might have dropped the series mid-way while growing older, and want to get back to get a taste of their childhood. Others might have come across that one social media post gushing over Ash’s victory on the world stage in the latest season and hope to derive closure for their nostalgia regarding the series. Yet others might just want to pick up a series at random after being introduced to the games. To all of you, we say – do not worry. We have you covered, and our carefully curated list of Pokemon seasons and the best way to follow it will help you delve right into it.

The Pokemon seasons have the settings of fictionalized cities that are based on a real-life places

Each season roughly covers a particular region of the fictional world in which Pokemon live, although every region corresponds to a simultaneous place on our Earth. The animals inhabiting each region are also based on similar creatures inhabiting corresponding geographical zones of Earth. For instance, the fauna of the Galapagos and island territories in our world have loosely inspired Alolan Pokemon, which are themselves based on islands. 

Among these, the first four seasons and regions are based on different parts of Japan while the fifth to ninth explore different parts of the world. 

Outline of the Pokemon plot

Ash Ketchum, a child who embarks on his quest to become a Pokemon master at the age of 10, is the main character of the primary Pokemon anime. His journey begins when Professor Oak, the foremost expert on Pokemon, gives him his first Pokemon – a Pikachu. After Ash defends Pikachu from a flock of flying crow-like pokemon named Spearow, the two become friends and embark on Ash’s mission to beat the gym leaders and the Elite 4 of the Kanto area. Initially, the duo don’t get along, with Pikachu repeatedly utilizing his thunderbolt attack on Ash. But they eventually get on good terms to the point that they become each other’s best friend.

Misty, the head of the water-type gym in the Kanto area, and Brock, the head of the rock-type gym in the same region, join Ash after he defeats them in a Pokemon battle. They are the first (and probably most well-known) pair to accompany him on his trip. Brock, in particular, has the longest experiences with Ash, but they eventually part ways. The protagonist then goes on adventures with other groups of friends as he travels across the various parts of the Pokemon world. Both return often, and especially in the newest season, they have been featured prominently. 

Recurrent antagonists in the series are the three members of Team Rocket – Jessie, James and the talking Pokemon, Meowth, who has learned to use the human tongue. More of a running gag than serious adversaries, the team is hell-bent upon capturing Pikachu, often ending the series by blasting off into the sky after being defeated by Ash and his companions. It is funny to see them come up with new contraptions and devices to defeat Ash, although they have teamed up with the protagonist several times too. As opposed to them, there are more serious villains that come up over time.

Each Pokemon season in order

  • Pokemon: The Beginning/ Indigo League in the Kanto (loosely based off Kanto of Japan) region (1997 – 1999) 

The first season deals with the introduction, introducing Ash, Misty, Brock, Jessie, James, Meowth, Ash’s rival Gary and more. Over time, he slowly exposes us to the world of Pokemon and the Legendary Pokemon. Ash participates in the Indigo League and reaches the top 16 before losing to his friend Richie.

Ash is instructed to visit Professor Ivy in the Orange Islands to obtain a GS Ball, a strange Poké Ball that cannot be opened, by Professor Oak when he returns to Pallet Town. Ash intends to overcome the Orange Islands’ Gym Leaders in order to enter the regional competition while Brock stays with Professor Ivy as her assistant.

Artist Tracey Sketchit, who longs to meet Professor Oak, joins Ash and Misty. After obtaining gym badges from Orange Islands, Ash challenges and defeats tournament champion Drake. Brock meets up with his pals, Tracey stays on as Professor Oak’s assistant, and the group heads back to Pallet Town.

  • Pokemon: Gold and Silver in the Johto (loosely based off Kansai of Japan) region (1999 – 2002)

After discovering that Gary has also visited the Johto area, Ash, Misty, and Brock also travel there. Ash competes in the Johto League after defeating the Johto Gym Leaders. Gary is defeated by Ash, who also makes him reevaluate his life’s goals.

Ash loses to Harrison in the quarterfinals after making it that far, and Harrison tells Ash about the Hoenn area. Misty learns from her sisters that they are travelling on a world tour and have given her control of the Cerulean City Gym while Ash returns to Pallet Town. Additionally, Brock’s family has requested his return. Ash travels to Hoenn alone after leaving all of his Pokémon (except from Pikachu) in Professor Oak’s lab. 

  • Pokemon: Advanced Generation Ruby and Sapphire in the Hoenn (loosely based off Kyushu of Japan) region (2002 – 2006) 

Ash travels with Brock to Hoenn, where he meets two new friends: May, a Pokémon Coordinator, and Max, May’s younger brother. They embark on yet another journey together. May gathers five ribbons in order to compete in the Hoenn Grand Festival, but she loses against Drew there, dropping her to the Top 8.

Robert wins the Ribbon Cup for the Hoenn Grand Festival. Ash wins the Hoenn League and all eight Hoenn gym leaders, but he falls to Tyson in the quarterfinals, dropping him to the Top 8. Tyson is declared the Ever Grande Conference’s Winner.

  • Pokemon: Diamond and Pearl in the Sinnoh (loosely based off Russia and Hokkaido region of Japan) region (2006 – 2010) 

When Ash and Brock arrive in Sinnoh, they encounter Dawn, another Pokémon Coordinator, who joins them on their second expedition across the Sinnoh region. For Dawn to compete in the Sinnoh Grand Festival, she needs to obtain five ribbons. Dawn finishes second but loses to Zoey, who wins the Sinnoh Grand Festival Ribbon Cup. Ash overcomes each of the eight Sinnoh gym leaders to qualify for the Sinnoh League.

Paul loses to Ash in the quarterfinals, and Ash loses to Tobias in the semifinals, advancing Tobias to the Top 4. Ash returns to Pallet Town after saying his final goodbyes to Dawn in Sinnoh and Brock.

  • Pokemon: Best Wishes! / Black & White in the Unova (loosely based off New York) (2010–2013) 

On vacation in the remote Unova Region, Ash, his mother Delia, and Professor Oak meet and travel with Cilan, the Striaton City Gym Leader, Pokémon Connoisseur, and would-be Dragon Master Iris.

Ash, Iris, and Cilan travel to the eastern part of Unova to train for the Unova League after defeating Team Plasma and earning all eight Unova badges. However, Ash loses to Cameron in the quarterfinals, dropping him to the Top 8. On the other hand, Cameron loses to Virgil in the semifinals, dropping him to the Top 4.

  • Pokemon: XY in the Kalos (loosely based off France) region (2013 – 2016) 

Ash is eager to begin earning his Gym badges as soon as he and Alexa reach the Kalos region. But when Alexa tells Ash that Bonnie, a Gym Leader, is now absent, Ash decides to visit Lumiose City. There, he meets Clemont, a boy genius, and Bonnie, his younger sister. Ash is unaware that Clemont is the Gym Leader of Lumiose City, a fact that he makes every effort to conceal.

Serena, a young woman from Vaniville Town whom Ash had previously met, also meets up with Ash. For Serena to take part in the Pokémon Showcase, she needs three keys. Serena finishes second after losing against Aria. Ash competes and makes it all the way to the finals before losing to Alain and taking second place after defeating all eight of the gym leaders from Kalos.

  • Pokemon: Sun & Moon in the Alolan (loosely based off Hawaii) region (2016 – 2019) 

While on vacation in the Alola region, Ash, Delia, and her Mr. Mime run into Tapu Koko, the protector Pokémon of Melemele Island. Tapu Koko gives Ash the Z-Ring, a piece of equipment that, when combined with a special crystal, enables a Pokémon to unleash a potent move in time with its trainer.

As a result, he decides to remain in Alola and register at the regional Pokémon school. Ash’s new classmates Lana, Mallow, Lillie, Sophocles, and Kiawe decide to go along with him as he makes the decision to go through the trials required to master the power of the Z-Ring. Ash participates in the island challenges and eventually wins the Alola League for the first time.

  • Pokemon: Journeys in the Galar (loosely based off the United Kingdom) region (2019-2022) 

Goh serves as the research fellow when Ash and Pikachu visit each of the eight locations. Goh wants to capture every single Pokémon, including Mew, while Ash wants to vanquish Leon. On occasion, Chloe travels with Ash, Goh, and her recently captured, incapable-of-evolving Eevee. Goh participates in test missions for the research project “Project Mew” in an effort to track down Mew.

In the final match of the Pokémon World Coronation Series: Masters Eight Tournament, Ash triumphs over Leon, becoming Monarch. To locate Mew, Goh and other Project Mew members go to Faraway Island. When they run into Mew, Goh chooses to befriend it as opposed to trapping it. After achieving their objectives, Ash and Goh part ways.

  • Pokemon: Horizons in the Paldea (loosely based off the Iberian Peninsula) region (2023- ongoing)

A mystery pendant-wearing girl from the Paldea region named Liko and a mysterious Poké Ball-wielding boy from the Kanto region named Roy join the Rising Volt Tacklers as they embark on their quest.

Certain people were a little unhappy about the change of protagonists but it makes perfect sense considering the long-running journey of Ash and Pikachu, necessitating the mantle to be passed on to the new characters. What do you think, however? Do you agree with the change of main characters, or would you have preferred the old characters? What is your opinion about our list? Do you like it or would you have preferred some additional details? Let us know in the comments.

 

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Stuart loves anime, writing, and writing about anime. Someday, he hopes to illustrate his own manga from his novel!