JN001

← SM146 : Thank You, Alola! The Journey Continues!

New series

JN002 : Legend? Go! Friends? Go! →

Enter Pikachu!

JN001   EP1086 ピカチュウ誕生！ Pikachu is Born!

First broadcast Japan November 17, 2019 United States June 12, 2020

English themes Opening The Journey Starts Today Ending

Japanese themes Opening None Ending １・２・３

Credits Animation Team Kato Screenplay 吉田玲子 Reiko Yoshida Storyboard 浅田裕二 Yūji Asada Assistant director 牧野吉高 Yoshitaka Makino Animation directors 一石小百合 Sayuri Ichiishi 吉野真一 Shin'ichi Yoshino 太田都 Miyako Ōta No additional credits are available at this time.

Screenshots on Filb.de Preview thread on BMGf Closed Original review thread on BMGf Dub review thread on BMGf

Enter Pikachu! (Japanese: ピカチュウ誕生！ Pikachu is Born!) is the first episode of the new series, and the 1,086th episode of the Pokémon anime. It premiered in Japan at a special screening on November 15, 2019. It first aired in Japan two days later on November 17, 2019 as a one-hour special, in Canada on May 9, 2020, in the United Kingdom on May 25, 2020 as a sneak peek, and is scheduled to air in the United States on June 12, 2020.

Spoiler warning: this article may contain major plot or ending details.

Plot

Four years prior to when he began his Pokémon journey, a six-year-old Ash rushes downstairs to show his mother a poster advertising Professor Oak's Pokémon camp. Seeing her son's enthusiasm, Delia agrees to sign him up, but she admits he will have to get himself up since she has things to do. However, Ash is too excited to listen. Meanwhile, in the forested outskirts of Pallet Town, a young Pichu observes his surroundings before being attacked by a Ekans, though Pichu uses Thunder Shock to defend himself. Ekans slithers away, while the electrical discharge leaves Pichu exhausted.

Pichu quickly recovers and quickly notices, unlike all the other wild Pokémon, that he is alone. Just then, a group of Koffing floats by and unleashes an odor, leaving Pichu so disoriented that he falls over a cliff. However, he is caught by a Kangaskhan. Pichu is initially frightened by the large Kangaskhan mother, but he quickly takes a liking to her and her child. As the Kangaskhan herd prepares to leave, the mother places Pichu in her pouch. The herd later stops by some Oran Berry trees to eat, with both the Kangaskhan baby and Pichu each getting a Berry to enjoy. Having finally found a place where he belongs, Pichu continues to live with the Kangaskhan.

Several weeks later, Professor Oak's camp begins. While many of the attendees including Chloe and her friend Goh have arrived on time Ash is still sleeping as, in his excitment, has broken his alarm clock. Goh and Chloe are eager to begin their field trip, so Professor Oak decides to set off and stop waiting for Ash. Ash eventually wakes up, and in a panic, he rushes out of home still wearing his pajamas desperate to make it to the lab before everyone leaves. During the forest excursion, the kids and Oak observe a young Trainer catching herself a Caterpie. Throughout the day, Goh continues to showcase his Pokémon knowledge, identifying every Pokémon in sight and reciting facts about them. While the other kids are impressed, Chloe orders Goh to allow Professor Oak to do the talking instead. However, Goh continues to provide his input, even correcting Oak on his statement that all Pokémon evolve.

While Oak leads the group over a bridge, Goh and Chloe lag behind. Chloe tells Goh that he should focus on making friends instead, but Goh insists that he wants to find a rare and never-before-seen Pokémon. Chloe dismisses Goh's ambition as a dream, but Goh asserts that it is the future. The cry of a Nidoking attracts their attention, and Goh hones in on Nidoking's opponent, a Mew. Nidoking uses Earth Power, but Mew simply Teleports to evade. Mew replies with the same move, which easily hits the Nidoking. As Nidoking attempts a Sludge Wave, Mew Teleports away again before retaliating with the same move once again. Nidoking becomes frustrated and launches a Fire Blast at his shifty opponent, though Mew again evades and then proceeds to defeat Nidoking with its own Fire Blast. Chloe and Goh are impressed by the mysterious Pokémon, and they give chase as it flies away. In their search, the pair come across a Magmar, though Mew quickly Transforms to its regular form to reveal itself. Mew leaves yet again with Goh and Chloe in pursuit, transforming into a Tauros to run across the land before changing into a Lapras to travel downstream.

Elsewhere, Pichu continues to enjoy his time with the Kangaskhan family. He plays a game of hide-and-seek, but is quickly spotted by the Kangaskhan baby, ending the round. While searching for Pichu again, the young Kangaskhan spots a Lapras as it cruises down the river. Lapras reveals itself to be Mew, who quickly takes interest in the Kangaskhan baby. Mew overhears Goh and Chloe’s voices and flies away, though the Kangaskhan baby scales some ledges to follow its mysterious encounter. Meanwhile, the Kangaskhan mothers call their babies out for a Chansey egg meal. Pichu and the Kangaskhan mother soon notice the infant's absence and begin to search for it. The search party makes their way over to the stream, where they overhear the young Kangaskhan's cries. While chasing after Mew, the ledge underfoot gives way, sending the young Kangaskhan hurtling towards the water below. Chloe and Goh stop as they hear the young one's screams. Mew turns back and promptly uses Psychic to save the Kangaskhan baby from harm, and returning her to her mother’s arms. With the family united, Mew soars away. Afterwards, Professor Oak rushes towards the two kids, relieved to have finally found them. While returning to the rest of the group, Oak speculates they encountered a Mew, a Mythical Pokémon believed to contain the genes of all Pokémon. Hearing this, Goh sets his sights on catching Mew one day. Ash, meanwhile, sits on his bed at home, miserable at having missed the camp entirely.

Some time passes, with both Pichu and the Kangaskhan baby having grown a lot. The Kangaskhan herd seeks refuge from a rainstorm in a cave, but Pichu notices that his adoptive mother is having trouble carrying both of them at once now. He tries to jump out to lighten her load, but the mother Kangaskhan picks him right back up. As the night falls, Pichu knows it is time to move on. While the Kangaskhan are fast asleep, Pichu leaves his adoptive mother's pouch. He takes a moment to observe his family as they sleep, and ventures outside with a tear in his eye. Grateful for their kindness and company, Pichu suddenly evolves into a Pikachu. Looking in a nearby puddle, Pikachu is initially startled by his unfamiliar reflection, before twirling around in excitement. Pikachu waves goodbye to his adoptive family, before leaving under the cover of nightfall.

Four years later, Professor Oak gives this very Pikachu to Ash, now an aspiring young Trainer. Pikachu, however, isn't too thrilled by his new master's enthusiasm and replies with an angry Thunder Shock. However, as time passes, Ash and Pikachu continue to become a formidable and inseparable duo with an unbreakable friendship.

Major events

• Goh, Chloe, and Professor Cerise are introduced.
• A young Goh and Chloe encounter a Mew at age six, and Goh decides to catch it one day.
• Ash's Pikachu is revealed to have evolved from a Pichu four years before the start of Ash's journey.

For a list of all major events in the animated series, please see the history page.

Debuts

• Goh
• Chloe
• Professor Cerise (fantasy)

Characters

Humans

Dare da?

• Ash
• Goh
• Professor Oak (flashback)
• Delia (flashback)
• Chloe
• Professor Cerise (fantasy; flashback)
• Girl Trainer (flashback)
• Children (flashback)
• Classmates

Pokémon

Who's That Pokémon?

Who's That Pokémon?: Pichu

• Pikachu (Ash's)
• Bulbasaur (Trainer's; flashback)
• Squirtle (Girl Trainer's; flashback)
• Caterpie (Girl Trainer's; new; flashback)
• Psyduck (Trainer's; flashback)
• Poliwag (Trainer's; flashback)
• Pichu (evolves; flashback)
• Bulbasaur (multiple; flashback)
• Caterpie (flashback)
• Butterfree (multiple; flashback)
• Weedle (flashback)
• Kakuna (×2; flashback)
• Beedrill (multiple; flashback)
• Pidgey (×5; flashback)
• Rattata (flashback)
• Spearow (×6; flashback)
• Ekans (flashback)
• Nidoran♀ (flashback)
• Nidoran♂ (flashback)
• Nidoking (flashback)
• Oddish (multiple; flashback)
• Gloom (×3; flashback)
• Vileplume (×2; flashback)
• Mankey (multiple; flashback)
• Diglett (flashback)
• Dugtrio (flashback)
• Poliwag (multiple; flashback)
• Poliwhirl (×2; flashback)
• Bellsprout (flashback)
• Victreebel (flashback)
• Farfetch'd (×2; flashback)
• Doduo (multiple; flashback)
• Dodrio (multiple; flashback)
• Exeggcute (flashback)
• Cubone (flashback)
• Tauros (×5; flashback)
• Magikarp (×2; flashback)
• Snorlax (flashback)
• Koffing (×3; flashback)
• Chansey (×3; flashback)
• Kangaskhan (multiple; flashback)
• Mew (anime; flashback)

Trivia

An illustration of Pikachu as a Pichu by Atsuko Nishida

• An illustration of this episode was drawn by Atsuko Nishida.
• This is the first episode to air in Japan after the release of Pokémon Sword and Shield.
• This episode serves as a prequel to the original series.
• This is the first episode of a new series that does not showcase a new Pokémon or region.
• This marks the first time in the anime where Ash is voiced by someone other than Rica Matsumoto in the Japanese version.
• This episode marks the first appearance of a number of Pokémon species in the main series after long absences:
  • Kakuna, who last appeared in Danger, Sweet as Honey!, 305 episodes ago.
  • Nidoking, who last appeared in Mystery on a Deserted Island!, 294 episodes ago.
  • Dodrio, who last appeared in From A to Z!, 193 episodes ago.
  • Beedrill, who last appeared in A Windswept Encounter!, 183 episodes ago.
  • A regular Diglett, who last appeared in Making Friends and Influencing Villains!, 170 episodes ago.
  • Weedle and a regular Rattata, both of whom last appeared in Seeing the Forest for the Trees!, 166 episodes ago.
  • Farfetch'd, who last appeared in Forming a More Perfect Union!, 151 episodes ago.
• One, Two, Three replaced Your Adventure as the Japanese opening theme.
• This is the season premiere of Pokemon Journeys: The Series, and The Journey Starts Today replaces The Challenge of Life as the English opening.
• This is the first episode to be dubbed by Iyuno Media Group, taking over from DuArt Media Services.
• This is the first episode to premiere on Netflix in the United States.
• Megan Hollingshead returns to voicing characters for the English dub.
• Professor Cerise, Ash, several Trainers, Goh, and Pikachu narrate the preview for the next episode.

Dub edits

• The opening theme is played and the title card is shown after Pichu meets Kangaskhan rather than at the end of the episode. The opening credits are therefore no longer shown over the beginning of the episode.
• The post-credits scenes featuring Chloe and Goh are moved before the ending credits.
• The "To Be Continued" text at the end of the episode is removed.

In other languages

Language		Title
Korean		피카츄 탄생!
Thai		กำเนิดพิคาชู!

← SM146 : Thank You, Alola! The Journey Continues!

New series

JN002 : Legend? Go! Friends? Go! →

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