Pokémon the Series: Difference between revisions

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Revision as of 00:33, 14 December 2008

The Pokémon anime, often just referred to as just the anime by Pokémon fans, is a collective term referring to currently 265 main series episodes, 11 movies, and a number of side-story episodes focusing on Pokémon— mostly about Ash Ketchum and his quest to become a Pokémon Master. He travels around the Pokémon world to earn badges by defeating Gym Leaders or gaining the respect from them, in order to participate in the Pokémon Leagues. The main protagonist of the show is Ash Ketchum who was joined by his first Pokémon and best friend, Pikachu, and various companions.

Description

The anime is a driving force for the sale of Pokémon games, and it is based on it. However the anime takes many concepts from the games and puts a unique spin on them, most famously, Ash beginning his journey with his Pikachu. Ash travels to various regions to catch new Pokémon, earn badges from Gym Pokémon battles, and compete in regional competitions. However it does contain anime-exclusive elements like the the Orange League. Along the way, Ash battles his rivals and continues to refine his battle prowess. Team Rocket continually tries to steal Pikachu because of its strength exceeds that of a normal Pikachu by far. Team Rocket themselves are a source of comedy and are the routine "bad guys" who show up every episode and inevitably get defeated.

Like many cartoons, there are many moments of humor and action within the anime. Ash's friends have varied over the series and continue to show up after their departure from the main cast. Both May and Dawn are Pokémon Coordinators and participate in Pokémon Contests, which focus more on beauty and precision as opposed to Pokémon Battles that focus on strength and speed. Other friends of Ash have slightly less defined goals. Misty is training to become the strongest Water Pokémon trainer, and Brock desires to become an excellent Pokémon Breeder. Tracey pursues a job as a Pokémon Watcher while Max currently has no goal at all, as Max is too young to own Pokémon, however, he does desire to be a great trainer as well.

The series is produced in Japan, and the Japanese version is considered the "true version", meaning that whatever is said in it is more true that a "dubbed" or translated version. "Dubs" are produced in various languages and they are translated after the English dubbed version is produced. The Japanese version is split into three series, but in English, the episodes are broken into roughly 52-episode "seasons", which doesn't exist in Japan, where the series has aired near continuously since its premiere.

The show is mainly aimed at children and as such, does not explore mature topics such as death, although there are some references meant for adult fans. The show generally tries to instill a sense of compassion for others in its viewers, as many characters within the show can be seen lecturing on that topics. The anime is also a large reason for the popularity of the games and the fact that Pokémon is currently the second-best selling game series in the world.

TV series

Japan US
Theme song First episode Title Theme song First episode
ポケットモンスター
Pocket Monsters
Aim to Be a Pokémon Master EP001 April 1, 1997 Pokémon: Indigo League Pokémon Theme EP001 September 8, 1998
The Rivals EP081 January 28, 1999 Pokémon: The Adventures in the Orange Islands Pokémon World EP082 January 8, 2000
OK! EP117 October 14, 1999 Pokémon: The Johto Journeys Pokémon Johto EP117 October 14, 2000
Aim to Be a Pokémon Master (Whiteberry Version) EP192 April 5, 2001 Pokémon: Johto League Champions Born to Be a Winner EP158 August 18, 2001
Ready Go! EP239 March 7, 2002 Pokémon: Master Quest Believe in Me EP210 September 14, 2002
ポケットモンスター アドバンスジェネレション
Pocket Monsters: Advanced Generation
Advance Adventure AG001 November 21, 2002 Pokémon Advanced I Wanna Be a Hero AG001 November 1, 2003
Challenger!! AG070 April 1, 2004 Pokémon: Advanced Challenge This Dream AG041 September 11, 2004
Pokémon Symphonic Medley AG105 December 2, 2004
Battle Frontier AG135 July 21, 2005 Pokémon: Advanced Battle Unbeatable AG093 September 17, 2005
Spurt! AG166 March 2, 2006 Pokémon: Battle Frontier Battle Frontier AG146 September 8, 2006
ポケットモンスター ダイヤモンド&パール
Pocket Monsters: Diamond & Pearl
Together DP004 September 28, 2006 Pokémon: Diamond and Pearl Diamond and Pearl DP001 April 20, 2007
Together2008 DP079 May 15, 2008 Pokémon Diamond & Pearl: Battle Dimension We Will Be Heroes DP053 April 12, 2008
High Touch! DP096 October 2, 2008
Staff


Japan UK
Title First Last Title First Last
ポケットモンスター
アンコール
Pocket Monsters
Encore
October 19, 1999 September 17, 2002
週刊ポケモン放送局 Weekly Pokémon
Broadcasting Station

Shūkan Pokémon Hōsōkyoku
October 15, 2002 September 28, 2004 Pokémon Chronicles May 13, 2005 September 28, 2005
ポケモン☆サンデー Pokémon Sunday October 3, 2004 Current

Movies

Main article: Pokémon movie

The movies are produced annually by a company called ピカチュウプロジェクト (Pikachu Project) which in America goes by Pikachu the Movie.

Japanese title Premiere English title Premiere
劇場版 ポケットモンスター
Theatrical Edition Pocket Monsters
Pikachu Project 1998 ミュウツーの逆襲
Mewtwo Strikes Back!
Mewtwo's Counterattack July 18, 1998 Pokémon: The First Movie Mewtwo Strikes Back November 12, 1999
ピカチュウのなつやすみ Pikachu's Summer Vacation Pikachu's Vacation
Pikachu Project 1999 幻のポケモン ルギア爆誕
Revelation - Lugia
Phantom Pokémon: Lugia's Explosive Birth July 17, 1999 Pokémon the Movie 2000
The Power of One
July 21, 2000
ピカチュウたんけんたい Exploration Party Pikachu Pikachu's Rescue Adventure
Pikachu Project 2000 結晶塔の帝王 ENTEI
Lord of the 'UNKNOWN' Tower
Emperor of the Crystal Tower: Entei July 8, 2000 Pokémon 3: The Movie
Spell of the Unown
April 6, 2001
ピチューとピカチュウ Pichu and Pikachu Pikachu & Pichu
Pikachu Project 2001 セレビィ 時を超えた遭遇
Celebi A Timeless Encounter
Celebi: An Encounter Through Time July 7, 2001 Pokémon 4Ever October 11, 2002
ピカチュウのドキドキかくれんぼ Pikachu's Nervous Hide-and-Seek Pikachu's PikaBoo
Pikachu Project 2002 水の都の護神 ラティアスとラティオス Guardians of the Water Capital: Latios and Latias July 13, 2002 Pokémon Heroes May 16, 2003
ピカ★ピカ星空キャンプ Sparkling Starlit Camp Camp Pikachu
Japanese title Premiere English title US DVD release
劇場版 ポケットモンスター アドバンスジェネレション
Theatrical Edition Pocket Monsters: Advanced Generation
Pikachu Project 2003 七夜の願い星 ジラーチ Wishing Star of the Seven Nights: Jirachi July 19, 2003 Jirachi: Wish Maker June 1, 2004
おどるポケモンひみつ基地 Secret Base of the Dancing Pokémon Gotta Dance!!
Pikachu Project 2004 裂空の訪問者 デオキシス The Visitor of the Space Fissure: Deoxys July 17, 2004 Destiny Deoxys February 15, 2005
Pikachu Project 2005 ミュウと波導の勇者 ルカリオ Mew and the Wave-Guiding Hero: Lucario July 16, 2005 Lucario and the Mystery of Mew
Pikachu Project 2006 ポケモンレンジャーと蒼海の王子 Pokémon Ranger and the Prince of the Sea July 15, 2006 Pokémon Ranger and the Temple of the Sea
劇場版 ポケットモンスター ダイヤモンド&パール
Theatrical Edition Pocket Monsters: Diamond & Pearl
Pikachu Project 2007 ディアルガVSパルキア Dialga VS Palkia VS Darkrai July 14, 2007 The Rise of Darkrai February 24, 2008
Pikachu Project 2008 ギラティナと氷空の花束シェイミ Giratina and the Sky's Bouquet: Shaymin July 19, 2008 Giratina and the Sky Warrior February 27, 2009
Pikachu Project 2009 超克の時空へ To the Conquering of Space-Time July 18, 2009

Trivia

  • Animator Masāki Iwane 岩根正明 once stated that the series was originally slated for a 1½-year run, which corresponds approximately to the length of the Kanto region saga (had it not been delayed due to the Porygon incident). Due to its popularity during the run, however, the show was extended and continues to be one of the longest running video game based anime.

Related articles

External links

On Bulbagarden forums

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