EP001
Pokémon, I Choose You!
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First broadcast
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English themes
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Japanese themes
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Credits
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Pokémon, I Choose You! (Japanese: ポケモン! きみにきめた! Pokémon! I Choose You!), was the very first episode of the Pokémon anime ever shown in Japan. In the US, the first episode shown was Pokémon Shipwreck. It was first broadcast in Japan on April 1, 1997 and was first broadcast in USA on September 8, 1998
Synopsis
Ash Ketchum starts his Pokémon journey off to a rough start when he receives his first Pokémon, the reluctant Pikachu.
Important characters
- Ash Ketchum
- Gary Oak
- Professor Oak
- Delia Ketchum
- Misty
Important Pokémon
Episode guide
The Pokémon story begins with our hero, Ash Ketchum, in his hometown of Pallet, where 10-year-old boys and girls are not only eligible but encouraged to begin their own Pokémon journeys. Pokémon are creatures of various size and special powers that inhabit this world, coexisting with humans. Ash is a young boy with an insatiable curiosity about Pokémon. His knowledge of these mysterious creatures surpasses that of most of his peers. The day he has been waiting for has finally arrived; he can now begin his journey, leading him toward his destiny to become the greatest Pokémon Master of all time! Before fulfilling such an ambitious goal, however, Ash must receive his first Pokémon from Professor Oak, a researcher living in Pallet. Ash has decided beforehand which Pokémon will accompany him as he begins his travels, but oversleeps on the critical day of his departure and arrives after the appointed time. Three children, who began their journeys before Ash, have taken the Pokémon that he wanted. Inside the fourth remaining Poké Ball, Ash finds Pikachu, a Pokémon with the ability to literally shock Ash with its sometimes difficult but nevertheless Electric personality and power.
Ash and Pikachu set off on their journey, but as anticipated, Pikachu won't obey Ash. Soon, the duo is attacked by a huge flock of wild Spearow. During the attack, Pikachu is critically injured and Ash fights desperately to protect it from any further harm. Pikachu responds to Ash's selfless act by exerting all its remaining power, repelling the flock of Spearow with a huge electric shock. Thus, Ash and Pikachu's journey and friendship begins.
Character introductions
- Ash Ketchum
- Ash's Pikachu
- Professor Oak
- Delia Ketchum
- Misty
- Gary
Important events
- Ash and Gary begins their journeys.
- Ash gets a Pikachu.
- Ash meets Misty
- Ash steals Misty's bike
- Ash reaches Viridian City.
Pokémon debuts
Trivia
- The legendary bird Ash saw at the ending of the episode was Ho-Oh. This makes Ho-Oh the first Generation II Pokémon seen in the series.
- This is the first (but not last) time the Japanese title of a Pokémon episode is directly translated into English instead of rewritten.
- In the unedited/Japanese version, after Ash said to Misty, "I'm okay," she slapped him. This was cut from the English dub due to network standards.
- Beginning of Indigo episodes.
- The shadowed trainer shown at the very beginning of the episode with the Nidorino and Onix was Bruno.
- This is the only episode that does not have Team Rocket in it.
- Who's That Pokémon: Pikachu
- Ash has a Voltorb clock.
- This is the only episode where one can see Pikachu in its Poké Ball.
- The widescreen opening mimics the opening to Pokémon Red and Blue, which seamlessly moves into a Pokémon battle Ash is watching on television.
- Pikachu's Poké Ball has a lighning bolt on it.
- The Pokémon Gary chose in this episode (but isn't revealed until the Johto seasons) is Squirtle.
- The English voice actors started recording for the first season in April 1998.
- Ash tries and fails to capture a Pidgey.
- This is the only episode where a Pokémon doesn't speak human language. (since Meowth is absent)
- In the Who's That Pokémon for this season, 4Kids Entertainment always uses a Pokémon that is in that particular episode.
- The Spearow that Ash throws a rock at (and subsequently angers) in this episode makes a return appearance in the final Kanto-based episode, Pallet Party Panic, though it has evolved into Fearow.
- This episode can be found on the third GBA video.
Errors
- When Ash goes into Professor Oak's lab and looks at the Poké Balls, they are all labeled in Japanese. Later, when Ash picks up a Poké Ball, the labels are painted over.
- In the beginning, Pikachu's Poké Ball has a lightning bolt on it, but later the bolt is gone.
