Over the years, Pokémon has become a true cross-genre phenomenon. There are many different ways to enjoy the Pokémon universe, and the anime has become just as popular as the games on which they’re based.
Pokémon is a strong example of what a video game anime can achieve and it’s been able to endure and evolve for over two decades. The Pokémon anime centers around its cheerful protagonist, Ash Ketchum, but there are some important details about his Pokémon record and the anime itself that most people don’t know.
Updated December 28, 2022 by Daniel Kurland: Pokémon remains one of the biggest multimedia franchises of all time and it definitely feels like the anime series will always be a constant presence. Pokémon fans have gotten used to minor makeovers as Ash and Pikachu travel to new regions and make new friends, but the broader strokes of the series remain the same. The recent news that Pokémon is finally ready to shake things up at the end of its current series has many fans excited for what’s to come and it’s never been a better time to take stock of the anime’s many accomplishments.
18 Who’s Replacing Ash As The New Protagonist?
Liko And Roy Will Be The Protagonists In The New Pokémon Anime
2023 will mark the start of a brand new Pokémon series, which, for the first time, will move away from Pikachu and the rest of Ash’s Pokémon in favor of completely new protagonists. Many fans are sad to see Sarah Natochenny's Ash go, but there are bold new things ahead for the classic show.
Liko and Roy will be the new face of Pokémon and while their respective Pokémon have yet to be confirmed, audiences at least know that all three Paldea Starter Pokémon–Sprigatito, Fuecoco, and Quaxly–will be along for the ride. Pokémon is no stranger to change, but Liko and Roy might have a completely different energy than Ash and Pikachu.
17 Does He Get To Say Goodbye To His Former Friends?
Yes, The Final Episodes Of Pokémon Ultimate Journeys: The Series Provide Closure
The final episode of the original Pokémon anime, "Satoshi and Go! Setting Off on a New Journey!!," is a satisfying celebration of Ash's Pokémon as well as Goh's accomplishments. With the Masters Eight Tournament now in Ash's past, this finale wraps up loose ends and provides cathartic closure.
Goh travels to the Kanto region and meets Misty at her gym, but there are also fulfilling updates provided for Gary and even Team Rocket. An especially emotional moment involves Ash reuniting with his released Butterfree, which is the first Pokémon that he ever caught on his journey. Ash also spots the Ho-Oh that helped kickstart his magical Pokémon adventure, too.
16 Are The “Aim To Be A Pokémon Master” Episodes Canon?
No, They’re Part Of An Alternate Universe
The core Pokémon series wrapped up at the end of 2022 with its 1223rd episode, "Satoshi and Go! Setting Off on a New Journey!!" However, an 11-episode interlude that's titled "Aim To Be A Pokémon Master" will begin on January 13 before 2023's new Pokémon series officially begins.
"Aim To Be A Pokémon Master" will still feature Ash and Pikachu. However, it appears that these episodes will either be set before the anime's final episode or be set in an alternate universe from the anime proper and instead tie into events from Pokémon's movies.
15 How Many Pokémon Does Ash Have?
Ash Owns 77 Unique Pokémon
Ash has learned a lot since the start of his Pokémon journey, and while catching Pokémon isn't always his priority, he's still obtained a fair number. Ash currently owns 77 Pokémon, but 30 of those are Tauros being kept at Professor Oak's Lab.
That's not a ton of Pokémon overall. When taking into account all the other Pokémon Ash has released or traded away, as well as different evolutionary forms, he reaches a more respectable, but still low, total of 97 Pokémon.
14 Did Pikachu Evolve From A Pichu?
Yes, His Origin Story Gets Explored
Pokémon Journeys: The Series starts off with one of the franchise's boldest experiments. "Enter Pikachu!" is set four years before the start of the anime and follows a lovable Pichu who ends up evolving into Ash's signature Pokémon.
This Pichu befriends a young Kangaskhan and, through a true sense of family and acceptance, evolves into Pikachu. Pikachu is so reluctant to evolve into a Raichu that it wouldn't be out of line to assume it's always been a Pikachu. It's enlightening to learn that the Pokémon has experienced evolution in the past.
13 Does Ash Ever Become A Pokémon Master?
Yes, He Finally Becomes The World Championship Pokémon Master
Pokémon has made Ash's path to become a Pokémon Master quite believable in the sense that he's faced perpetual losses during his Pokémon League Finals. It wouldn't feel earned if Ash immediately conquered this hurdle, but it's taken him 25 years to finally ascend to this revered milestone.
It's not until Pokémon Journeys: The Series' 1,219th episode, "The Finals IV: Partner," where Ash's Pikachu defeats Leon's Charizard in the Masters Eight Finals and becomes the definitive World Championship Master. It’s one of the anime’s most powerful moments, and one that’s shared by many of Ash’s family and friends after more than two decades of dedicated work.
12 Why Does Pokémon Journeys: The Series Have So Many Recap Episodes?
The Animation Studio Lacks Animators
Many anime are held to rigorous production schedules that hold their staff to unreasonable deadlines. Pokémon faces restricting limitations that force corners to get cut and compromises to be made. Pokémon has occasionally had recap episodes that are made up of old footage.
Pokémon Journeys has four of these episodes that are prominent towards the end of the series during the Masters Eight Finals. Audiences presumed this was because of budgetary restrictions and production issues, but OLM Animation Studio confirmed that they were understaffed and struggled to finish the workload.
11 Are Ash And Pikachu In Every Episode?
No, There Are Episodes Where Ash And Pikachu Are Absent
Pokémon’s anime has changed over the years, particularly when it comes to the human companions and Pokémon partners that accompany Ash and Pikachu on their journeys. Ash and Pikachu are the constants in the series and it feels like at least one of them is always present in an episode.
This was largely the case until the Pokémon Journeys: The Series episode, “Time After Time!”, finally broke this tradition after 1,129 episodes. “Time After Time!” instead focuses on Goh and his childhood friend Horace, who wants to find a Celebi. It’s an appreciated change of pace.
10 Is Pokémon's English Dub Produced In Multiple Regions?
Yes, The Dub Is Finally Shared Between New York City And California
Some fans of the Pokémon anime completely disregard its English dub, but there’s a passionate corner of the fandom who exclusively know the series in its dubbed form. Pokémon fans have had to accept several recastings over the course of the series, which is sometimes the result of production moving to a different area of the world.
Since Pokémon’s start, the talent for their English dub has always operated out of one region, but this finally changed as of Pokémon Journeys: The Series. Instead of one destination or the other, Pokémon Journeys has its voice acting talent come out of both Los Angeles and New York City.
9 How Many Episodes Of Pokémon Are There Between Series?
There Will Be 1,223 Episodes By The End Of Journeys
Pokémon’s anime started in 1997 to capitalize on the growing success of the video game series. At the time, no one anticipated Ash would still be on his adventures over 25 years later. The Pokémon anime has been broken up into seven different larger series that cover the growing scope of the games.
These series are divided into 23 different seasons and to date, there are 1223 episodes that have aired across the lot. It’s a staggering achievement, and that doesn't count the recent Pokémon Chronicles spin-off anime, which looks at smaller and more tangential Pokémon stories.
8 Was Pikachu Always Supposed To Be Ash’s Starter?
No, Ash's Starter Was Originally Going To Be Clefairy
Pikachu is Pokémon's monumentally famous mascot and is recognizable and adored by even those who have never watched an episode of the anime or played one of the video games. The public's fascination with Pikachu stems from how he's Ash's first Pokémon. But this nearly wasn't the case and the future of the series could have been very different as a result.
Clefairy was set to be Ash’s first Pokémon and his signature companion through his adventures. However, at the last minute, Clefairy was swapped with Pikachu due to the Pokémon’s growing popularity and how it has greater appeal to boys as well as girls. That being said, Clefairy is still the protagonist’s companion in the Pokémon Adventures manga, but this failed to trigger a public Clefairy obsession.
7 Have Any Pokémon Episodes Ever Been Banned?
Yes, Three Are Banned In Japan And Even More In North America
It's rather bittersweet that an anime meant to appeal to kids has had so many episodes banned or censored. The biggest offenders are "Electric Soldier Porygon," which caused seizures from the episode's lighting effects. "Shaking Island Battle!" and the "Team Rocket vs Team Plasma" two-parter were all canceled from airing because of natural disasters like earthquakes and tsunamis.
Even more episodes have been banned in North America for cautionary concerns like the use of guns, increased sexuality, or inadvertent allusions to 9/11. Several Jynx episodes are also the subject of controversy due to the Pokémon’s original depiction.
6 Has The Anime’s Ending Been Figured Out?
There Was Originally A Dark Ending In Mind About A Pokémon Revolt
Takeshi Shudo, Pokémon’s main scriptwriter, wanted to see the series eventually reach a surprisingly contemplative point where Pikachu helps lead a Pokémon revolution against humans. This cataclysmic event would eventually help Ash realize that Pokémon battles are inhumane, an idea that would also be explored to some extent in Pokémon: The First Movie.
This is certainly a different conclusion than what the anime chose to go out on. It's an ending where Ash matures and turns his back on his Pokémon passion, whereas Pokémon Ultimate Journeys: The Series finishes with Ash more enthusiastic about Pokémon than ever. Unsurprisingly, Game Freak wouldn't allow such a condemning conclusion.
5 Was A Fan-Favorite Episode Made As Damage Control?
Yes, "Pikachu's Goodbye" Wasn't Originally Planned
"Pikachu’s Goodbye" is one of the most popular episodes from the original run of the Pokémon anime is the episode. It’s an emotional story which teases that Pikachu may return to the wild and part ways with Ash. It’s the first Pokémon episode that makes an impact in this manner, but the powerful installment was never planned.
The anime went on a four-month hiatus following the “Electric Soldier Porygon” controversy and “Pikachu’s Goodbye” was made in this time to help course correct the anime’s reception. The episode marked the anime’s return and has become a classic.
4 How Many Networks Has Pokémon Aired On In America?
Pokémon Has Currently Spanned Five Different Networks
Pokémon has been airing for so long, it makes sense the landscape of television would change in that time. This leads to the anime moving around quite a bit. Many people associate Pokémon with Kids WB, but the series actually began in syndication on UPN affiliates briefly before its lengthy run on Kids WB.
Cartoon Network would then become the anime's new home from the ninth to 19th seasons. The Sun and Moon anime marked the start of the anime's run on Disney XD. Currently, the latest Pokémon Journeys anime streams on Netflix.
3 Was Pokémon Only Supposed To Last One Season?
Yes, Pokémon Was Supposed To End After Ash’s Kanto Adventures
Takeshi Shudo was the main creative force behind the scripts during the beginning of the Pokémon anime's run. It's common practice for any runaway success to get dragged out for as long as possible and it feels like they'll continue to make the Pokémon anime for as long as there are still games to cross-promote.
Despite this, Shudo's plan was for the anime to only span its first Kanto season and conclude with Ash's victory as a Pokémon master. Pokémon’s success and the release of the next generation of games pushed the anime to pivot and run indefinitely.
2 How Many Pokémon Movies Have There Been?
There Are 23 Pokémon Anime Movies
Pokémon: The First Movie - Mewtwo Strikes Back was released in 1998 in Japan and started a long tradition where the anime got to showcase the series' more incredible Legendary Pokémon through these cinematic showcases. To date, there are 23 Pokémon films and 2020's Pokémon the Movie: Secrets of the Jungle is the most recent.
There have also been two televised specials that tell larger stories, but aren't exactly movies. The success of Secrets of the Jungle means that another movie is likely right around the corner.
1 Did The Anime's Main Writer Leave The Series?
Yes, Takeshi Shudo Left Over Creative Differences With The Show's Direction
The Pokémon anime has changed in many ways over the course of its lengthy run and had multiple creative voices champion the series through different periods. Takeshi Shudo was Pokémon’s leading visionary and he wanted to create a more nuanced series that could entertain both children and adults.
Shudo grew increasingly frustrated over Pokémon's formulaic and episodic nature. Shudo was instrumental for the anime’s first 158 episodes as its story editor and remained on for nearly 100 more until the regressive mandates, and Shudo’s own health, pushed him out entirely.