Pokémon Journeys: The Series

This article is about the seventh series of the Pokémon animated series. For its eponymous first season, see S23.

This article is about the animated TV series. For its eponymous manga adaptation, see Pokémon Journeys: The Series (manga).

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English logo

Japanese logo for Pocket Monsters

Pokémon Journeys: The Series (Japanese: ポケットモンスター Pocket Monsters) is the seventh series of the Pokémon animated series in Japan and Asia and the eighth and final series of Pokémon the Series in the West. The series is based on all of the core series games, including the Generation VIII games Pokémon Sword and Shield. It follows Pokémon the Series: Sun & Moon and was succeeded by Pokémon Horizons: The Series. It premiered between November 17, 2019 and March 24, 2023 in Japan (although the first episode had a special screening two days earlier) and between June 12, 2020 and September 8, 2023 in the United States.

The series features "double protagonists" Ash Ketchum and Goh, along with their respective partners Pikachu and Cinderace. Similar to Pokémon the Series: Sun & Moon, Ash is based in a single location, alongside Goh, and together they travel around the world, specifically all regions that have appeared in the core series (from Kanto to Galar), and meet Pokémon living in each region while pursuing their respective goals. Ash continues his pursuit of becoming a Pokémon Master by entering the World Coronation Series, a competition used to decide the world's strongest Pokémon Trainer, with the hopes of one day having an official match with the reigning Monarch, Leon. Goh, having had a fateful encounter with Mew when he was six, dreams of one day catching the Mythical Pokémon, and aims to complete his Pokédex while participating in the Project Mew research project in the hopes that they will get him closer to his dream. The series also features as supporting characters a young girl named Chloe, and her father Professor Cerise, who runs the Cerise Laboratory in Vermilion City, which works as Ash and Goh's base of operations for most of the series.

As with the previous three series of the animated series, this series introduces a new art style. For instance, Ash's eyes (both the irises and the overall eyes) are drawn larger, and Team Rocket's eyes are drawn sharper than in Pokémon the Series: Sun & Moon. Overall, the characters are drawn more similarly based on Ken Sugimori's more recent character art. Characters are also consistently drawn with fingernails, like in Pokémon the Series: XY.

Pokémon Journeys: The Series features the return of many characters that have appeared over the course of Pokémon the Series, from main characters (like Brock, Iris, and Dawn, for example) to recurring characters (like Gary, Korrina, and Paul, among others), far more than any of the previous series. In addition to this, Pokémon Journeys: The Series concludes several storylines created over the years within the animated series, such as the story of Mohn, Butch and Cassidy's rivalry with Jessie and James, and Ash's story with Cynthia.

Pokémon Journeys: The Series is the first series to feature episodes split into two different story segments, something that started in Splash, Dash, and Smash for the Crown! / Slowking's Crowning! and continued with Pikachu Translation Check... / Up to Your Neck! and A Rollicking Roll… / Eyes on the Goal!. These episodes have a more comical and "loose" plot from the main story. This is also the first series to have special episodes released directly for streaming, with a four-part arc related to Pokémon Legends: Arceus, titled Pokémon: The Arceus Chronicles, released directly on Japan's Prime Video service.

After airing the first 136 episodes of Pokémon Journeys: The Series in Japan, on December 16, 2022, an eleven-episode miniseries focused on Ash and Pikachu which takes place after the events of those episodes called (Japanese: ポケットモンスター めざせポケモンマスター Pocket Monsters: Aim to Be a Pokémon Master) was announced worldwide. In the dub, this miniseries was combined with the special episode Distant Blue Sky! to form the final batch of Pokémon Ultimate Journeys: The Series, titled Pokémon: To Be a Pokémon Master. In this miniseries, Ash reunites with his old friends Brock and Misty on a tour to see the world while making new friends and reuniting with old ones.

Episodes in Pokémon Journeys: The Series are numbered with the prefix JN on Bulbapedia. For a complete episode listing, see the list of Pokémon Journeys: The Series episodes.

Blurb

Pokémon Trainer Ash Ketchum has a new plan: see the world! But first, he and his partner Pikachu are headed to the opening of the Cerise Laboratory, a research facility dedicated to uncovering the mysteries of Pokémon in every region. Ash meets Goh, another boy with boundless curiosity about Pokémon, and both are overjoyed when Professor Cerise asks them to become official research fellows. With Ash as determined as ever to become a Pokémon Master, and Goh aiming to catch one of every Pokémon (including the Mythical Mew), our heroes are in for adventure and excitement as they explore the wide world of Pokémon!

Japanese seasons

Pokémon Journeys: The Series has been divided into multiple parts in the Japanese release:

• Pocket Monsters (ポケットモンスター) (JN001 - JN136)
• Pocket Monsters: Arceus, the One Called God (ポケットモンスター 神とよばれし アルセウス) (JNS01 - JNS04)
• Pocket Monsters: The Distant Blue Sky (ポケットモンスター 遥かなる青い空) (JNS05)
• Pocket Monsters: Aim to Be a Pokémon Master (ポケットモンスター めざせポケモンマスター) (JN137 - JN147)

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  Pocket Monsters logo

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  Pocket Monsters: Arceus, the One Called God logo

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  Pocket Monsters: The Distant Blue Sky logo

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  Pocket Monsters: Aim to Be a Pokémon Master logo

Dub seasons

When Pokémon Journeys: The Series came to be dubbed into English and other languages, it was divided into three seasons:

• Pokémon Journeys: The Series (JN001 - JN048)
• Pokémon Master Journeys: The Series (JN049 - JN090)
• Pokémon Ultimate Journeys: The Series (JN091 - JN147, JNS05)
  • Pokémon: To Be a Pokémon Master (JN137 - JN147, JNS05)

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  Pokémon Journeys: The Series logo

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  Pokémon Master Journeys: The Series logo

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  Pokémon Ultimate Journeys: The Series logo

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  Pokémon: To Be a Pokémon Master logo

Movies

Main article: Pokémon movie

• Secrets of the Jungle

Home video releases

Japanese DVD releases

• List of Japanese language new series home video releases

Gallery

For more images, please see artwork from Pokémon Journeys: The Series on the Bulbagarden Archives.

Posters

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  First Japanese poster

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  First Japanese main artwork

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  Second Japanese main artwork

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  Third Japanese main artwork

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  Second Japanese poster

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  Third Japanese poster

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  Fourth Japanese poster

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  Fifth Japanese poster

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  Sixth Japanese poster

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  Seventh Japanese poster

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  Eighth Japanese poster

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  Ninth Japanese poster

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  Tenth Japanese poster

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  Pocket Monsters: The Distant Blue Sky Japanese poster

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  Pocket Monsters: Aim to Be a Pokémon Master Japanese poster

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  Key visual

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  Golden Fridays poster

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  English poster for Pokémon Journeys: The Series

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  English poster for Pokémon Master Journeys: The Series

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  English poster for Pokémon Ultimate Journeys: The Series

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  English poster for Pokémon: To Be a Pokémon Master

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  English poster for Distant Blue Sky!

Characters

Protagonists

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  Ash

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  Goh

Antagonists

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  Jessie

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  James

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  Meowth

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  Wobbuffet

Rivals

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  Gary

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  Volkner

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  Raihan

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  Marnie

Masters Eight

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  Leon

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  Cynthia

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  Steven

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  Lance

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  Diantha

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  Alain

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  Iris

Supporting characters

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  Misty

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  Brock

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  Dawn

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  Professor Oak

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  Chloe

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  Professor Cerise

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  Chrysa

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  Ren

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  Danika

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  Quillon

Staff

Created by 原案	Satoshi Tajiri Jun'ichi Masuda Ken Sugimori	田尻智 増田順一 杉森建
Executive director 総監督	Daiki Tomiyasu (from JN001 to JN117, from JNS01 to JNS04) Kunihiko Yuyama (from JN137 to JN147)	冨安大貴 湯山邦彦
Directed by 監督	Maki Kodaira (from JN001 to JN054) Jun Ōwada (from JN055 to JN117) Yūji Asada (from JNS01 to JNS04) Daiki Tomiyasu (from JN118 to JN147) Kunihiko Yuyama (JNS05)	小平麻紀 大和田淳 浅田裕二 冨安大貴 湯山邦彦
Deputy director 副監督	Jun Ōwada (from JN118 to JN136)	大和田淳
Creative supervisor クリエイティブスーパーバイザー	Kunihiko Yuyama (from JN001 to JN136)	湯山邦彦
Series construction シリーズコンストラクション	Shōji Yonemura (from JN001 to JN136) Atsuhiro Tomioka (from JN137 to JN147)	米村正二 冨岡淳広
Character design キャラクターデザイン	Shūhei Yasuda Sayuri Ichiishi (JNS05)	安田周平 一石小百合
Written by 脚本	Reiko Yoshida Shōji Yonemura Deko Akao Jun'ichi Fujisaku Michihiro Tsuchiya Tōko Machida Yuka Miyata Aya Matsui Atsuhiro Tomioka Akemi Omode Yūko Kakihara	吉田玲子 米村正二 赤尾でこ 藤咲淳一 土屋理敬 待田堂子 宮田由佳 松井亜弥 冨岡淳広 面出明美 柿原優子
Sound director 音響監督	Masafumi Mima	三間雅文
Music 音楽	Yūki Hayashi (from JN001 to JN147, from JNS01 to JNS04) Shinji Miyazaki (JNS05)	林ゆうき 宮崎慎二
Animation producer アニメーションプロデューサー	Hiroyuki Katō	加藤浩幸
Animation production アニメーション制作	OLM TEAM KATO	OLM TEAM KATO
Executive production 製作	TV Tokyo 55th (from JN001 to JN019) → TV Tokyo (from JN020 to JN147, from JNS01 to JNS05) MediaNet ShoPro	TV TOKYO 55th → TV TOKYO MEDIANET ShoPro

Trivia

• The Japanese name for this series retains its original title: Pocket Monsters.
• The design for the Japanese logo of the series is shared with M20 and M21, which are not canon with the main series.
  • This also makes it the first series logo to not be colored in any shade of green, being completely blue instead. It is also the first one without any 3D perspective, having a flat 2D design.
• Netflix provides an epilepsy warning at the beginning of each episode after the TV rating chyron, thus marking the second time that the warning has been used outside of Japan, the first time being Mewtwo Strikes Back—Evolution.
• This is the first series:
  • To be dubbed by Iyuno (formerly known as Iyuno Media Group) and Goldcrest Post.
  • To be set in more than two game-original regions.
  • Since the original series to be put on an extended hiatus; in this case, it was brought on by a production shutdown due to concerns from the COVID-19 pandemic.
  • Since the original series to not have the names of the generation's first core series games in its title.
  • Since the original series where Ash travels with more than one main group of traveling companions, with Goh being swapped out for Misty and Brock during the Aim to Be a Pokémon Master arc.
  • Since Pokémon the Series: Ruby and Sapphire where Ash's outfit is not directly influenced by the male player character's outfit for the concurrent generation.
  • Since Pokémon the Series: Ruby and Sapphire where Ash has won more than one Full Battle.
    • This is also the only series where Ash participates in multiple Full Battles without losing any of them.
  • Since Pokémon the Series: Diamond and Pearl where Ash recalls any of the Pokémon at Professor Oak's Laboratory to his party.
  • Since Pokémon the Series: Diamond and Pearl where Team Rocket uses Pokémon they had caught in previous series aside from Wobbuffet.
  • Since Pokémon the Series: Diamond and Pearl to feature regular broadcasting clip shows.
  • Since Pokémon the Series: Diamond and Pearl to feature more than three English opening themes.
  • Since Pokémon the Series: Black & White where Pokémon have rejoined Ash's regular rotation after leaving it in a prior series.
  • Since Pokémon the Series: Black & White in which the final episode ends with the message "Next Time... A New Beginning!"
    • However, this message was removed in the English dub.
  • Since Pokémon the Series: Black & White to feature a generic eyecatch rather than a guessing segment.
  • In which a main character other than Ash catches all first partner Pokémon of the current generation.
  • In which the concurrent generation in the animated series concludes after the release of the following generation's initial games.
  • To feature main series episodes where none of the main characters make a physical appearance.
    • It is also the first series to feature main series episodes where Ash and Pikachu are completely absent.
  • To feature a movie that is released outside of July. This was due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
  • In which a main character catches a Legendary Pokémon.
  • In which two protagonists catch the same Pokémon; with Ash and Goh each catching a Farfetch'd, though Goh catches the Kantonian form, while Ash catches the Galarian form.
  • In which a main character owns both a Pokémon's regular form and its regional form.
  • To have a Japanese opening theme with more than two different versions.
  • In which Pokémon Eggs are given generic designs, contradicting their designs from previous series.
  • In which the concurrent generation's regional Professor does not debut in the first two episodes.
  • In which the Who's That Pokémon? segments from the original Japanese version are retained in the dub.
  • In which the "To Be Continued" text is removed in the dub; it is only maintained in the official YouTube upload of the first episode, but was retained on This Could be the Start of Something Big!.
  • In which an event-only location in the games is visited by the protagonists.
• This is the only series with Ash as the protagonist in which:
  • The first Pokémon Ash caught was not introduced in the current generation and was a pseudo-legendary Pokémon.
  • Ash catches a Ghost-type, baby, regional form, and Fossil Pokémon.
  • Ash does not acquire any Fire-type Pokémon.
  • Ash has Mega Evolved one of his Pokémon.
  • Ash does not have a new female traveling companion.
  • Ash does not have a new traveling companion that originates from the games.
  • One of Ash's friends catches a Pokémon before Ash does.
  • One of Ash's male traveling companions owns a Pokédex.
  • Ash doesn't catch any concurrent first partner Pokémon.
  • Ash does not participate in a Pokémon League.
  • Ash's journey does not tie in with the journey from the games.
  • Jessie doesn't catch any Pokémon.
  • Team Rocket owns a Pokédex.
  • Ash reunites with his traveling companions from more than one previous series.
  • Released Pokémon of Ash's appear outside of the series they were released in.
  • A released Pokémon re-joins Ash's ownership permanently.
  • Previous rivals of Ash besides Gary make appearances outside of the series they were introduced in.
  • Ash defeats an Elite Four member or a Champion.
• This is the only series featuring eyecatches where the eyecatches remain the same throughout without any variations.
• The first Japanese ending theme of this series was used for 70 episodes, longer than any other Japanese ending.

Ash's farewell from the animated series autographed by Kunihiko Yuyama

• Ash obtains less Pokémon that debuted in the generation that the animated series covers than any other series, obtaining two individual species from Generation VIII.
  • Additionally, Ash obtains more Pokémon species that debuted in previous generations than he did from Generation VIII.
• This series features the most of Ash's former traveling companions from previous series out of any series, with all the previous companions making a physical appearance.
• This series contains the least amount of movies out of any series, with only one.
  • This series also contains the least amount of endings introduced in a single series, with only two.
  • This is also the only series where the number of Pokémon movies is not equal to the number of seasons of the series.
• This series has the most regular broadcasting clip shows out of any series, at four.
  • It also has the shortest gap between clip shows, with only two weeks between JN119 and JN121.
• The last 12 episodes of this series were released in the United States on the 25th anniversary of the original airing of the animated series's first episode.
• This is the final series to feature Ash and Pikachu as main protagonists and the Team Rocket trio as main antagonists.
  • With the end of Ash's saga in the Pokémon animated series, the official Pokémon page on Twitter revealed an art containing the beginning of Ash's journey and his last scene in The Rainbow and the Pokémon Master! signed by Kunihiko Yuyama. The tweet was later retweeted by Sarah Natochenny herself.
  • On October 6, 2023, the official Pokémon YouTube channel released a video called A Timeless Journey that recalls some of the moments of Ash and his friends' journey.

By Pokemon

• On November 7, 2023 (approximately a year after Partners in Time! aired in Japan), they released a compilation of Ash's first battles and the climax of the battle against Leon in the aforementioned episode, and Ash's first and last interactions with Misty, Brock, Gary, and the Squirtle Squad.

By Pokemon

In other languages

Pokémon Journeys: The Series

Language		Title
Arabic		رحلة البوكيمون: المسلسل
Chinese	Cantonese	寶可夢 旅途 Pokémon: Léuihtòuh
	Mandarin	寶可夢 旅途 / 宝可梦 旅途 Pokémon: Lǚtú* 寶可夢 Pokémon*
Croatian		Putovanja Pokemona: Serija
Czech		Pokémon: Cesty – seriál
Danish		Pokémon på rejse: Serien
Dutch		Pokémon Reizen: De serie
Finnish		Pokémon: Matkat – Sarja
European French		La série : Pokémon, les voyages
German		Pokémon Reisen: Die Serie
Greek		Pokémon: Ταξίδια
Hebrew		פוקימון: מסעות – הסדרה
Italian		Esplorazioni Pokémon
Korean		포켓몬스터W Pocket Monsters W
Norwegian		Pokémon reiser: Serien
Polish		Pokémon: Podróże – Seria
Portuguese	Brazil	Jornadas Pokémon: A Série* Pokémon Jornadas: A Série*
	Portugal	Jornadas Pokémon
Romanian		Pokémon: Călătorii – Serialul
Russian		Покемон Сериал: Приключения Pokémon Serial: Prikliuceniia
Spanish	Latin America	La serie Viajes Pokémon
	Spain	La serie Viajes Pokémon
Swedish		Pokémon-resan: Serien
Thai		โปเกมอน เจอร์นีย์ Pokémon Journeys โปเกมอน เจอร์นีย์ เดอะ ซีรีส์ Pokémon Journeys: The Series*
Turkish		Pokémon Yolculukları: Dizi
Ukrainian		Покемон: Серіал. Мандри Pokémon: Serial. Mandry
Vietnamese		Hành trình Pokémon: Loạt phim

Pocket Monsters: Aim to Be a Pokémon Master

Language		Title
Chinese	Cantonese	寶可夢 目標是寶可夢大師
	Mandarin	寶可夢 旅途 目標是寶可夢大師
Indonesian		Bercita-cita menjadi Pokémon Master
Korean		포켓몬스터W: 내 꿈은 포켓몬마스터
Thai		โปเกมอน เจอร์นีย์ มุ่งมั่นสู่โปเกมอนมาสเตอร์
Vietnamese		Để trở thành bậc thầy Pokémon

External links

• Official site (Japanese)

References

Series and seasons of the Pokémon animated series Original series (list) Indigo League • Adventures in the Orange Islands The Johto Journeys • Johto League Champions • Master Quest Ruby and Sapphire (list) Advanced • Advanced Challenge • Advanced Battle • Battle Frontier Diamond and Pearl (list) Diamond and Pearl • Battle Dimension • Galactic Battles • Sinnoh League Victors Black & White (list) Black & White • Rival Destinies • Adventures in Unova and Beyond XY (list) XY • Kalos Quest • XYZ (Mega Evolution Specials) Sun & Moon (list) Sun & Moon • Ultra Adventures‎ • Ultra Legends Journeys (list) Journeys • Master Journeys • Ultimate Journeys (The Arceus Chronicles) Horizons (list) Horizons Specials (list) Pikachu's Winter Vacation • Side Stories • Pokémon Chronicles Planetarium specials • Pikachu shorts Mewtwo Returns • The Legend of Thunder! • Pichu Bros. in Party Panic The Mastermind of Mirage Pokémon • A Ripple in Time Complete list • Movies

This article is part of Project Anime, a Bulbapedia project that covers all aspects of Pokémon animation.