Bonus segment
The subject of this article has no official name. The name currently in use is a fan designator; see below for more information. |
Most episodes of the Pokémon anime have various bonus segments, which are used to to show information outside the episode's continuity.
Types
Bonus segments can be classified into two types, mid-episode segments and post-episode segments.
Mid-episode segments are used during the middle of the episode, generally on either side of a commercial break. The most famous mid-episode is Who's That Pokémon?, a question-and-answer segment asking the audience to guess the Pokémon shown as a silhouette or outline, or a magnified body part. A similar segment is Pokémon Trainer's Choice, which tests the audience's knowledge about type effectiveness or evolutionary lines. Other mid-episode segments include eyecatches, which is a simple translational feature to separate the episode from the commercial break.
Post-episode segments are used after the main story of the episode ends, generally after the ending theme. Post-episode segments are generally used for bonus shorts or for giving more information about the world of Pokémon. Examples include Professor Oak's Pokémon Lecture, where Prof. Oak teaches the audience about a new Pokémon species each episode, and Pokémon Trivia Quiz which contained minigames about not only the anime, but Pokémon species as well. Most post-episode segments are not retained outside the Japanese version of the anime.
List of English bonus segments
Name | Image | Episodes | Description |
---|---|---|---|
Mid-episode segments | |||
Who's That Pokémon? (list) |
EP001 - EP274 AG001 - AG040 BW001 - BW142 XY001 - XY140 SM001 - SM146 JN001 - JN147 |
A silhouette of a Pokémon is shown, and the audience are asked to guess the Pokémon. The answer is shown during the second half. During Pokémon Johto League Champions, Pokémon Master Quest, and Pokémon Advanced, a short trivia about the Pokémon is also shown. During Pokémon Journeys: The Series, the audience is shown a magnified part of the Pokémon's body instead of a silhouette. | |
Pokémon Trainer's Choice (list) |
AG041 - AG145 | Pokémon Trainer's Choice presented viewers with a question about Pokémon type matchups or evolution trivia and three possible answers, | |
Post-episode segments | |||
Kanto Pokérap | EP001 - EP057 | The original Kanto Pokérap was a song recapping the original 150 species of Pokémon that existed at that time. Two verses would be played at the end of each episode, and by the end of a five-day week, all the verses would have been sung. | |
Pikachu's Jukebox | EP052 - EP116 | Pikachu's Jukebox featured a small piece of one of six different songs from the Pokémon 2.B.A. Master CD played over scenes from the opening theme. | |
Pokémon Karaokémon | EP117 - EP157 | Pokémon Karaokémon featured one minute snippets of songs from the Totally Pokémon CD. The music videos featured video clips from the anime series and lyrics at the bottom of the screen to sing along. | |
Where Are You Going, Eevee? | SM093 - SM098 | Each segment contains a part of a wild Eevee's journey until it meets Ash and his classmates in Alola |
List of Japanese bonus segments
Name | Image | Episodes | Description |
---|---|---|---|
Mid-episode segments | |||
Dare da? (list) |
EP001 - EP191 BW061 - BW140 SM001 - SM142 JN001 - JN147 |
In the original Japanese version, Who's That Pokémon? was used from EP001 to EP191, almost always featuring a Pokémon with a major role in that episode. In Pokémon the Series: Black & White, along with an updated design, the segment also listed all the types that the Pokémon is weak against. The segment was slightly altered in Pokémon Journeys: The Series, where instead of seeing the silhouette of a Pokémon, the viewer is shown a magnified part of their body. | |
Pocket Monster TV (list) |
EP192 - EP274 | The Japanese Who's That Pokémon was rebranded as Pocket Monster TV from EP192. There was no functional difference aside from the updated visuals. In EP211, the segment was revamped again, and the previous episodes were updated to this new version for VHS releases. | |
Pokémon Quiz | XY001 - XY140 | Each Pokémon Quiz features the silhouette of a Pokémon on a large card. Four smaller cards featuring silhouettes appear: One card has a silhouette identical to the larger card, two have silhouettes of similar Pokémon species, and the remaining Joker card has the silhouette of Team Rocket. The objective is for the viewers to find the matching card and remember its location. After the commercial break, the quiz reveals the solution, as well as the identities of the Pokémon species silhouetted. | |
Post-episode segments | |||
Professor Oak's Pokémon Lecture | EP061 - EP274 AG001 - AG104 |
Professor Oak will discuss a specific Pokémon species, using clips from the anime and also a live specimen in his laboratory. The lecture generally closes with Professor Oak reciting a Pokémon senryū. | |
Pokémon Trivia Quiz | AG105 - AG192 | The segment consists of minigames, about not only the anime, but Pokémon species as well. | |
Professor Oak's Big Pokémon Encyclopedia | DP001 - DP074 DP085 - DP097 |
Similar to Professor Oak's Pokémon Lecture, Prof. Oak will discuss a specific Pokémon species, often ending with a senryū. | |
Pikachu the Movie Memorial | DP075 - DP084 | This segment describes the powers and abilities of each Pokémon protagonist of the first movie to the tenth. | |
Professor Oak's Big Pokémon Examination | DP098 - DP191 | Similar to Professor Oak's Pokémon Lecture. | |
Professor Oak's Pokémon Live Caster | BW001 - BW142 | Similar to Professor Oak's Pokémon Lecture. In BW128, which featured this segment as part of the episode, it was retained in the English dub as Professor Oak's Who's That Pokémon. For initial airings of some episodes, it was presented by Team Rocket as Team Rocket Live Caster. | |
Professor Oak's Pokémon Holo Caster | XY001 - XY023 XY025 - XY041 XY052 XY055 - XY093 XY140 |
Similar to Professor Oak's Pokémon Lecture. In XY092, which featured James imitating this segment as part of the episode, it was retained in the English dub as Professor James's Mysteries of Kalos. | |
Mairin's Mega Evolution Journal | XY042 - XY051 XY024 XY053 - XY054 |
Features Alain and Mairin (sometimes Steven or the narrator) providing commentary about Mega Evolutions of various species. | |
Poké TV | XY094 - XY139 | The segment starts off by switching through channels until one is chosen for the episode. Each segment features a Pokémon from the selected program. Some episodes also feature extra scenes from the episode and clips from previous series. | |
Poké Problem | SM003 - SM145 | As opposed to previous segments of this format, the Poké Problem is presented in two parts; the question at the very beginning of the episode, before the cold opening, and the answer at the very end, after the ending theme. It is hosted by a student or staff member of the Pokémon School (or another main or recurring character), who presents a question which relates to a highlight or fact revealed in the episode itself. At the end of the episode, the host reveals the answer and reviews it. An extra scene will play after the review. | |
Where Are You Going, Eevee? | SM093 - SM098 | Each segment contains a part of a wild Eevee's journey until it meets Ash and his classmates in Alola. | |
Get Inspired! Let's Solve a Poké Riddle!! | JN003 - JN136 JN139 - JN147 |
Presented in two parts, this segment contains riddles, where the answer is a featured Pokémon. | |
Team Rocket Expedition which stands by the evils of love and truth | JN133 - JN138 | Each segment features the Team Rocket trio travels through the Paldea region, looking for Pokémon from said region for them to catch. The segment always ends with said Pokémon attacking Team Rocket trio directly or indirectly. | |
Professor Friede's Pokémon Seminar | HZ002 - HZ030 HZ034 - present |
Friede and Captain Pikachu present a question before the ending theme, with the answer revealed after the ending theme, along with a discussion and extra scene. | |
The Brilliant Terapagos Expedition | HZ031 - HZ033 | This series of shorts follows the antics of Terapagos. |
See also
This episode article is part of Project Anime, a Bulbapedia project that covers all aspects of Pokémon animation. |