JN001

This article is about an episode of the Pokémon animated series that has not been dubbed into English. As such, its coverage may contain romanized Japanese names, rather than dub names.

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SS001 File:SS001.png

SS001   EP1086 ピカチュウ誕生！ Pikachu is Born!

First broadcast Japan November 17, 2019 United States

English themes Opening 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

(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 at a special screening on November 15, 2019, two days before it first aired in Japan on November 17, 2019 as a one-hour special.

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

Plot

A young 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 right away. Delia admits he will have to make his own way as 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 surrounds. A group of Butterfree surround Pichu, causing him to twirl in excitement. Suddenly a Ekans launches forward, though Pichu delivers a Thunder Shock to defend himself from the predator. Ekans slithers back to its burrow to recover from the shock, while the electrical discharge leaves Pichu exhausted.

Pichu quickly recovers, and quickly notices, unlike all the other wild Pokémon, that he is all alone. As he contemplates his situation, a group of Koffing float by and unleash a horrid odor. The bad smell causes Pichu to become disorientated, and he falls over a cliff. After crashing through a tree, a Kangaskhan manages to catch Pichu from his fall. Pichu is initially frightened by the large Kangaskhan mother but quickly takes a liking to her and her child. As the Kangaskhan herd prepare to leave, the mother places Pichu in her pouch. The herd stops at some Oran Berry trees for a feed, with both the Kangaskhan baby and Pichu each getting a whole Berry to enjoy. Having finally found a place where he belongs, Pichu continued to live with the Kangaskhan.

Several weeks later, the day of Professor Oak's camp has arrived. While many of the attendees including Koharu and her friend Go have arrived on time, Ash is still sleeping. Go and Koharu 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. During the forest excursion, the kids and Oak observe a young Trainer catching herself a Caterpie. Throughout the day, Go continues to showcase his Pokémon knowledge, identifying every Pokémon in sight and reciting facts about them. While the other kids are impressed, Koharu orders Go to allow Professor Oak to do the talking instead. However, Go continues to provide his input, even correcting Oak on his statement that all Pokémon evolve.

While Oak leads the group over a bridge, Go and Koharu lag behind. Koharu tells Go that he should focus on making friends instead, but Go insists that he wants to find a rare and never-before-seen Pokémon. Koharu dismisses Go's ambition as a dream, but Go asserts that it is the future. The cry of a Nidoking attracts their attention, and Go 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. Koharu and Go 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 Go and Koharu 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 Go and Koharu’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. Koharu and Go 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 speculated to contain the genes of all Pokémon. Hearing this, Go sets his sights on catching Mew one day. Ash, meanwhile, sits on his bed at home, 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. 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.

Years later, Professor Oak gives this very Pikachu to Ash Ketchum, 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

• Go, Koharu, and Professor Sakuragi are introduced.
• A young Go and Koharu encounter a Mew at age six, and Go 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

• Go
• Koharu
• Professor Sakuragi (fantasy)

Characters

Humans

File:Dare da SS001.png

Dare da?

• Ash
• Go
• Koharu
• Professor Oak (flashback)
• Delia (flashback)
• Professor Sakuragi (fantasy; flashback)
• Girl Trainer (flashback)
• Children (flashback)
• Classmates

Pokémon

Who's That Pokémon?: Pichu (Japan)

• 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 (flashback)
• Charizard (Mew's transformation)
• Magnemite (Mew's transformation)
• Gengar (Mew's transformation)
• Magmar (Mew's transformation)
• Tauros (Mew's transformation)
• Lapras (Mew's transformation)
• Ditto (Mew's transformation)

Trivia

File:SS001 illustration.png

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.
• Professor Sakuragi, Ash, unnamed Trainers, Go, and Pikachu narrate the preview for the next episode.

In other languages

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New series

SS002 →

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