Pokémon (1997)

The Pokémon anime that began its first broadcast in Japan in April 1997 is not simply a dated old cartoon. New episodes are still being made, games and cards and merchandise are still selling worldwide, and this series sits at the root of a franchise loved across multiple generations spanning decades. The original series directed by Hidaka Masamitsu ran 276 episodes through 2002, covering the Kanto and Johto arcs. Rating: ★5.0. The reasons why this work remains valid are particular.

What it’s about — The 25-year myth of Ash and Pikachu

Ten-year-old Ash, a boy living in Pallet Town in the Kanto region, dreams of becoming a Pokémon Master and sets off on his journey. The Pikachu he receives from Professor Oak initially refuses him, but after surviving a crisis together, a bond forms between the two. Along the way they are joined by Misty, who dreams of flight, and Brock, who dreams of becoming a Pokémon doctor, and the journey of these three begins in earnest.

The basic structure of Pokémon is simple. Arrive in a new town, battle the Gym Leader, drive off Team Rocket’s interference. This repetition continues for all 276 episodes. And yet this simple structure became one of the show’s strengths. There’s no barrier to entry at any episode, children and adults can watch together, and battles, Pokémon introductions, and small character stories blend naturally throughout.

Direction — Emotional arcs that resolve within a single episode

Director Hidaka Masamitsu concentrates on making each episode feel complete. He gives each Pokémon that appears enough screen time and meaning to let viewers form an emotional connection to it. The episodes that deal with the relationship between Pokémon and humans in particular — episodes like the early one where Pikachu chooses Ash, or self-contained episodes with complete emotional arcs like the Charmander story — are this show’s finest moments.

Team Rocket’s presence cannot be overlooked either. The trio of Meowth, Jessie, and James function as both per-episode obstacle villains and as complex characters with their own dreams and failures. The episode exploring Meowth’s backstory in particular handles emotions with an earnestness unusual for a children’s anime.

What the work says — Partners, not tools

At the center of Pokémon is Ash’s philosophy that Pokémon are partners, not tools. Not winning by having the most Pokémon or using only the strongest, but growing together through trust. This attitude is what distinguishes Ash from other Trainers. Of course, he doesn’t win every time. Making it only to the Top 8 at the Kanto League was a shock to many viewers at the time, but that failure became the engine that carried Ash to the next region.

Another reason this show is remembered so long is the individuality of each Pokémon. Pikachu became an icon in its own right, and Charmander, Bulbasaur, Squirtle, Snorlax, and Mewtwo all have scenes that viewers remember. The process by which fans come to have affection for specific Pokémon was created in this original series.

Ratings & reception

Its IMDb rating stands at 7.6 from about 56,000 votes. The score itself is lower compared to other anime masterworks, but the influence of this series cannot be measured in rating figures. Pokémon grew alongside the Nintendo game franchise from the late 1990s to the present to become one of the most recognized media franchises worldwide. This original anime is where that began.

Verdict

Watching a children’s anime of hundreds of episodes again as an adult is no easy thing. But the original Pokémon series has reasons to make it worth doing. For people who watched it together as children, it is the excavation of a memory; for those watching it for the first time, it is the chance to see where this enormous franchise began. The first scene where Ash and Pikachu accept each other, the first Pokémon battle, Team Rocket’s first appearance. These scenes still reach something.

Recommended for

• People who have enjoyed the Pokémon games but have never seen the original anime
• Those who grew up alongside this show in the late 1990s
• Viewers who look for emotionally resonant episodes even within a repetitive structure
• Anyone curious about the starting point of a massive franchise