POCKET MONSTERS

DESCRIPTION

CAST

ANIME ActionPocket Monsters Advanced Generation
MOVIE ActionPocket Monsters: Mewtwo no Gyakushuu
MOVIE ActionPocket Monsters: Maboroshi no Pokémon Lugia Bakutan
MOVIE ActionPocket Monsters: Kesshoutou no Teiou ENTEI
MOVIE ActionPocket Monsters: Celebi Toki wo Koeta Deai
MOVIE ActionPocket Monsters: Mizu no Miyako no Mamorigami Latias to Latios
OVA AdventurePikachu no Fuyuyasumi
OVA AdventurePikachu no Fuyuyasumi 2000
OVA AdventurePichu to Pikachu no Fuyuyasumi 2001
SPECIAL ActionPocket Monsters: THE ORIGIN
ONA ActionPokémon Generations
MOVIE ActionPocket Monsters: Kimi ni Kimeta!
SPECIAL ActionPokémon Masters: Trainer Daishuuketsu Special Animation
MOVIE ActionPocket Monsters: Mewtwo no Gyakushuu EVOLUTION
MANGA ActionDengeki Pikachu
MANGA AdventureSatoshi to Pikachu
MUSICI LOVE Koiking
MUSICTorikaekko Please
SPECIAL ActionPocket Monsters: Mewtwo! Ware wa Koko ni Ari
SPECIAL ActionPocket Monsters Crystal: Raikou Ikazuchi no Densetsu
MUSIC AdventureGOTCHA!
ONA ActionPokémon Evolutions
ONA AdventureA Ripple in Time
NOVEL ActionPocket Monsters: The Animation
MOVIE ComedyToho Cinemas x Pokémon GO
MANGA ActionPocket Monsters Zensho
MANGA ActionPocket Monsters SPECIAL
MANGA ComedyPocket Monsters

REVIEWS

• 

  VirginiaKae

  86/100
  A good start for Pokemon under a rose-tinted frame.

  This show is known by many the world over, regardless of whether you played the video games, trading card game, or neither. It is also one that many older fans look back to with longing nostalgia. I myself have watched this anime and its many seasons that followed, and have enjoyed each incarnation of Ash Ketchum's journeys even to this day for various reasons. But does this Kanto and Johto journey still hold up even to this day? Well, if the music and humor are any indication, it's that this show is likely the only version of Pokemon that could appeal to all kinds of anime and cartoon fans...depending on your expectations going in.

  To preface, I grew up watching the English dub, so I won't have much perspective on how much better or worse the original Japanese actors and edits make this show. I am aware 4kids made many edits back in the day, such as cutting episodes for violence or health issues. And I'm sure NOBODY thought those rice balls were jelly donuts. But I'd say they did a great job in getting a great voice cast.

  Looking back at this show, the music is I think the best part that's stood the test of time. The orchestral remixes of the Game Boy tracks are awesome! Every battle theme pretty much carries the action, despite the limited animation frames at times. Of course, the English opening theme from the first season is pretty much one of the best anime openings of all time, though I must say all the other four English openings are really great. The Japanese opening "Aim to be a Pokemon master" has also slowly grown on me as the years have gone by.

  The humor from the show is probably best compared to the type you'd see in most shonen anime of the 90s. There is a lot of physical comedy you don't seen in Pokemon anymore, or at least to the violent extent you may see here. The English writers and voice actors did pretty well to sell the ridiculousness of some senarios. The Team Rocket trio in particular gets the funniest lines.

  The first season in Kanto region is the most streamlined when it comes to plot, but also the most ridiculous (see spoiler portion below). The second season is essentially one giant filler arc, but does have developing moments for some of Ash's Pokemon. The third to fifth seasons follow Ash in the Johto region has some of the best story beats, but also has more filler episodes that kind of drag at times.

  All-in-all, if you are not much of a Pokemon fan, this show will likely be your best (and only) point of entry to this franchise, particularly Season 1. I say that mainly because the first season doesn't exactly follow the "logic" of the Pokemon games. Type advantages are laughably non-existent, and battles are resolved in mostly unconventional ways. There are also a lot of "real-world" props and references you never really see in future Pokemon shows. So knowing almost nothing about Pokemon won't hinder you from enjoying the characters, humor, and fights the way the anime presents them.

  Spoilers may follow

  Now, as a Pokemon fan, I'd like to mention in more detail what I liked and disliked, so if you don't wish to know about what I think of the character arcs and gym battles, you may stop reading here.

  Ash Ketchum: As the rookie trainer he is, he acts much in the mold of most shonen protagonists: acts like a kid even by comparison of his peers, cares for his friends, gets hungry often, and is often unorthodox in fighting style. But thanks to the writing of this time, he is enjoyable to watch in a goofy way. He does get slightly better in terms of maturity and learning from experience in the Johto seasons, so if you are worried about him staying as such a kid for so long, fear not!

  Ash's Pokemon: I won't really mention Pikachu in my Pokemon reviews much, because I often think of him as an extension of Ash himself. If you enjoy Ash, you'll enjoy Pikachu. I do like how the first few episodes get Ash and Pikachu to gradually trust each other, though. This show also has the most captures made by Ash, which can be categorized into three parts: starters, powerhouses, and gimmicks. The starter Pokemon Ash capture from Kanto and Johto have notable personalities and character arcs of their own throughout the seasons. Especially when it comes to Ash's Charmader as it evolves and trains into a Charizard. The powerhouse Pokemon, like Snorlax and Heracross, don't appear much, but when they do, they are often involved in some of the most spectacular and exciting fights in the show. The more gimmicky captures, like Krabby and Phampy, don't do much other than being diversity for the team, or used for particular scenarios. This series also sees a lot of Ash's Pokemon get released or sent away to train, which can be somewhat tearful if you stuck around for their development.

  His traveling companions: Misty and Brock play the short-tempered female lead and kooky wise mentor roles on their sleeves. So if coming from watching other shonen anime, they'd be familiar in that way. They don't have much of an arc in any of the five seasons, but mainly serve to cheer on Ash, or prop up reoccurring jokes. Brock's failed attempts to get the ladies to date him are hilarious. Misty's Psyduck and Togepi have some great funny gags when they are given the spotlight.

  Reoccuring characters: Jessie, James, and Meowth are hilarous, and practically steal the show with each failed attempt to capture Ash's Pikachu. They are the lovable idiots many fans site as their favorite part. Gary Oak I personally liked better as that over-the-top jerk rival compared to when he mellows out by the end. But despite that, his final showdown against Ash was really great.

  The battles: In the Kanto region, Ash rarely ever "wins" his gym battles. Brock and Misty's sisters just give their badges, Erika gives her badge after Ash saves her Gloom from a fire, Sabrina gives her badge when a wild Haunter finally makes her laugh, and Team Rocket hijack the eighth gym battle for their boss in the shadows. Only Surge, Koga, and Blaine give badges to Ash in a way fans would deem "fair and square", so it's kind of a shame those gym battles overall aren't really memorable in a good way. The Johto battles are much better, with the likes of Whitney, Morty, and Clair as my personal favorites. The Kanto League had some funny wins for Ash, using some of his neglected Pokemon to pull those hilarious wins. Though his losing battle, while understandable his Charizard would cause it, was kind of deflating to end that arc. The orange islands league is mainly memorable because it introduced the first 6v6 battle to the series (which was really great in all honesty). The Johto league had many great fights that properly showcased Ash strategizing with his Pokemon, and using everything he learned from his prior fights in the series to get as far as he did. And a good tease for what was to come in Hoenn.

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• 

  Pawn

  60/100
  Nostalgia and Thunder - An episodic kids' show

  Pokémon has, for the longest time, been the quintessential anime for kids. It follows Ash Ketchum on his journey to become a Pokémon Master, meeting new friends, both human and Pokémon, along the way. In this review, I’ll be looking at how well it holds up in the grand scheme of things. It’s a kodomo anime, meaning it’s aimed at kids between the ages of 5 and 12, so I’ll be judging it by the standards you'd expect for that age range. I’m not about to pit it against something like Vagabond or Berserk.

  The Original Series
  The first part of Pokémon consists of episodes 1 to 116, starting with “Pokémon, I Choose You!” and ending with "The Rivalry Revival". It’s a pretty unusual series compared to what comes later, mostly because Pokémon hadn’t yet solidified itself as the well-oiled media empire it would eventually become. That early uncertainty gave the show room to be more experimental with its storytelling. This gives the first season a certain charm, as it was free to do some pretty wild stuff, like fusing a Venusaur and a Blastoise in “The Ghost of Maiden’s Peak” or showing Pokémon having subtitled conversations in “Island of the Giant Pokémon.” At the same time, it’s clear they hadn’t quite nailed the formula yet. Most of the season is made up of one-off episodic adventures without much continuity, which means that it’s hard to be invested when rewatching it compared to the newer seasons.

  To continue, it makes sense to talk about the characters. The main character is Ash Ketchum, an impatient and bratty kid with a fiery determination to become the best. Because this is the first season, he’s allowed to be more dynamic than in later seasons, which gives him a surprisingly solid character arc. Over time, he learns to listen to others, becomes more understanding, and shows quite a bit of emotional growth as the journey progresses. There are also his companions: Misty, Brock, and Tracey. Misty is hot-headed and sarcastic, but she brings a sense of maturity to her dynamic with Ash. Brock is the dependable big brother type, constantly falling in love but always ready with advice or a hot meal. Tracey, who joins later in the season, doesn’t have as much depth, but his calmer personality offers a nice contrast and helps keep things balanced once Brock steps away. These companions serve as solid foils to Ash, but they don’t really get substantial character arcs of their own. At best, they get an episode or two that focuses on them, but for the most part, they’re there to support Ash’s journey. Their own goals are rarely the focus, which feels like a missed opportunity to add more variety to the series.

  Then there’s Team Rocket, who are easily some of the most iconic characters in the entire show. They’re technically the antagonists, constantly trying (and failing) to steal Pikachu, but their presence adds way more comedy than tension. What makes them stand out is that, despite being villains, they’re incredibly likable. They have strong personalities, great chemistry, and a surprising amount of heart. Episodes that focus on their backstories or motivations, like “Go West Young Meowth,” show that there’s more to them than just being comic relief. That said, they’re also extremely formulaic. Nearly every episode with them follows the same basic structure: show up, mess around, get blasted off again. It can get incredibly repetitive as they barely get other types of storylines. Then there’s Gary Oak, Ash’s rival, who plays, or rather should play, a crucial role in pushing Ash throughout the series. Gary is, in concept, a great foil to Ash—confident, smug, and always one step ahead—which naturally drives Ash forward. The problem, though, is that he barely gets any screen time, battles, or genuine moments with Ash. His potential as a rival is undercut by his lack of presence, making his rivalry with Ash feel less impactful than it should.

  This is accompanied by a random collection of episode-of-the-week characters, many of whom feel forgettable and lack the depth to leave a lasting impact. They fill a role, but they don’t get the chance to do anything else, as our main characters walk toward the sunset and quickly forget about them. The experimental nature of the season at least allows them to be more memorable than in later series. A lot of the important characters from the games also don’t get much development, considering they’ll at most get one episode.

  To continue, there are also the Pokémon—the main attraction of the show. These, too, are a mixed bag. There are three categories of Pokémon: the stars, the characters, and the animals. The stars are Pokémon like Pikachu and Charizard, who receive dynamic character arcs that progress them throughout the series. Then there are characters like Togepi, Psyduck, Squirtle, and Bulbasaur, who get some characterization and episodes dedicated to them but don’t exactly have the most intriguing journeys of their own. But that’s fine—sometimes a supporting character is just meant to be a supporting character. However, the more animalistic Pokémon like Goldeen, Onix, Geodude, Zubat, Pidgeotto, Staryu, and Krabby get the rough end of the stick. They’re just there to fill seats and don’t get much in terms of development or depth, which is a shame since the Pokémon is one of the main appeals of the series.

  The original series follows the familiar structure of any other Pokémon series. Ash and his companions travel through a region, collect Gym Badges, and face a League. These moments aren’t exactly groundbreaking, though, especially since Ash mostly progresses through luck and pity. He only really wins three out of eight Gym Battles—against Surge, Koga, and Blaine—making his victories feel less earned and more like a result of circumstance rather than skill. The League is also not particularly great, as Ash wins the first round purely by luck (Krabby dominates for some reason), and he loses in the end because Team Rocket interferes. This makes his eventual loss feel unearned. I get it, the message is that you can’t always win, but I would have liked to see something more from that moment—perhaps a loss that felt like it came from genuine growth rather than external factors.

  The Orange Islands, however, represent an improvement. While the structure still follows the familiar formula, there’s a refreshing change in the way the story unfolds. Instead of the typical Gym Battles, Ash faces a series of unique challenges that test his skills and determination in different ways. These challenges feel more meaningful, and Ash’s victories are based on his growth as a trainer rather than luck or interference. The arc builds towards a satisfying progression, with Ash showing genuine development by the end. The sense of achievement feels earned, and the conclusion of the Orange League provides a stronger, more rewarding payoff than the previous region’s League.

  To fill the time between the major plot points, we get a fair amount of episodic stories. These episodes don’t necessarily advance the story or Ash’s journey, but they help pad out the series. Some filler episodes are lighthearted and fun, while others introduce one-off characters or situations that don’t really add anything meaningful to the overall plot. These episodes are usually pretty great, though, because the series is willing to commit to developments like introducing new Pokémon, evolutions, and experimenting with fresh concepts. This gives each episode a unique and memorable identity, making even the filler episodes stand out in their own way. The reliance on Team Rocket for conflict is pretty grating, though. The balance between plot-episodes and filler-episodes is pretty great, allowing the series to have smooth pacing that makes it rewatchable.

  The first season of Pokémon is a fun and experimental start to the series, but it struggles with inconsistency and underdeveloped characters. While Ash’s growth is solid, his companions and rivals, like Gary, don’t get enough focus. The repetitive nature of Team Rocket and filler episodes slow down the narrative, though the Orange Islands arc provides a refreshing improvement with more meaningful challenges. Overall, the season has charm but falls short in some areas, earning a 6 out of 10.

  

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  The Johto Journeys
  The Johto region marks a key transition for Pokémon, moving beyond the Kanto region and introducing a whole new set of characters, Pokémon, and challenges. While the core structure of Ash’s journey remains the same—collecting Gym Badges and competing in the League—the series begins to solidify into a more predictable formula. This is where Pokémon establishes its rhythm, blending familiar elements from the original series with new twists.

  Ash’s growth continues in Johto, though he retains many of the characteristics from the original series: impulsive, determined, and sometimes a little brash. However, this season allows him to mature slightly, especially as he faces new challenges and works with new Pokémon. His development is subtler than in the original series, with Ash displaying more patience and strategic thinking. That said, he doesn’t drastically change as a character, and he still relies on his usual blend of determination and luck to win battles. This is where the childish and sassy Ash Ketchum from the original series evolves into a more balanced main character capable of carrying the series forward, as many of his quirks are smoothed out.

  Misty’s character in Johto remains largely unchanged, still fiery-tempered but showing some growth. While her relationship with Ash continues to be a key element of the dynamic, she starts to demonstrate more maturity, particularly as she becomes more involved in team decisions. Brock, too, continues his role as the dependable older brother, providing wisdom and comic relief through his ongoing crushes. While his character stays fairly consistent as the group’s moral compass and medic, his growth is less emphasized in Johto. Both characters make little progress toward their personal goals, with Misty receiving only a few scattered episodes about her and Brock having just one storyline (with Vulpix) that doesn’t revolve around his usual infatuations with women. While it’s a kids show and core personalities can’t change too much, the noticeable lack of meaningful development leaves both characters feeling somewhat stagnant.

  Team Rocket's role in Johto remains largely consistent with their portrayal in the original series, but with some interesting shifts in dynamic. Jessie, James, and Meowth are still the bumbling, comical trio whose main goal is to steal Ash's Pikachu, but they continue to provide lighthearted moments throughout the season. In Johto, Team Rocket's antics follow the same familiar formula: they show up, fail miserably, and get blasted off. However, there’s a slight shift in their characterization. Their failures become more relatable as their more human qualities are emphasized. They still engage in outrageous schemes, but they also show moments of vulnerability and even experience occasional wins that feel earned, even if only for a brief period.

  This series attempts to develop Gary into a more nuanced character by softening his earlier antagonistic traits, but again, there isn't enough time or focus to truly flesh him out. He barely appears throughout Johto, with his significant presence only felt during the League, where the anime feels the need to retroactively add a backstory for him and Ash through an old Pokéball. This attempt to create depth for their rivalry falls flat, as their dynamic is mostly centered around antagonism with little exploration of their relationship beyond that. While there are hints at Gary’s goal of becoming a Professor, it’s not developed enough to make it feel like a meaningful part of his character arc. The missed opportunity for more impactful development is evident. We also meet some other rivals like Kacey, Macy, and Harrison, who are introduced to add more competition to Ash’s journey. However, their impact is relatively limited. Kacey, for some bizarre reason, doesn’t appear during the Johto League, despite being a part of Ash’s journey up to that point. Macy and Harrison, who are part of the Johto League competition, are also fairly underdeveloped, serving more as temporary obstacles than fully realized characters.

  By the time the Johto series rolls around, the more animalistic tendencies of many Pokémon that were prevalent in the original series are thankfully toned down. In Johto, most Pokémon are given more personality and individuality, moving beyond being simple “animals” to becoming more integrated into the story with unique traits. There are still some leftovers, like Brock and Misty's Pokémon, who still carry over some of the more basic traits from the original series, but every new one gets more focus. Pokémon like Totodile, Chikorita, and Cyndaquil are given distinct personalities and play more active roles in the group dynamic. These Pokémon aren’t just tools for battle or slapstick comedy, but characters in their own right, which helps to deepen the connection between the trainers and their companions. No Pokémon gets as vivid of an arc as Charizard or Pikachu from the original series, but each one still feels like it has something to contribute, which is a massive step forward.

  A critique can certainly be made towards the way that old Pokémon like Charizard and Bulbasaur are integrated into the Johto series. These veteran Pokémon tend to steal the spotlight from the new ones, such as Heracross, which barely gets any time to shine or be featured prominently on the team. This becomes especially apparent towards the end of the series, where Charizard becomes Ash's ace for crucial battles against Clair, Gary, and Harrison. Meanwhile, Bulbasaur is given the spotlight in the battle against Jackson, and Squirtle takes on Macy in her battle. While these older Pokémon have earned their places on the team, it shows how new additions like Heracross, Totodile, and Chikorita are sidelined, preventing them from developing their own identities and roles within Ash's team. This imbalance ultimately detracts from the new Pokémon's potential to grow as characters.

  The story is essentially the same as the original series: Ash, Misty, and Brock travel from city to city, occasionally catch or evolve Pokémon, collect badges, and ultimately make their way to the League. However, the way it’s done in Johto is an improvement. The challenges and Gym Leaders are more varied, offering fresh twists on familiar concepts, and they’re given more than one episode, allowing them to be fleshed out beyond a single character trait. The League is among the best in the entire series, as we get a slew of new, compelling rivals and interesting matches. Overall, Johto takes the familiar structure of the original and refines it, making it feel like a more polished and engaging experience.

  However, this series has one big flaw: there are no subplots. While the main storyline of Ash collecting badges and progressing toward the League is engaging, the lack of secondary story arcs results in about 90% of the 150 episodes being mostly episodic adventures. The original series found a good balance between plot-driven episodes and filler, often using the filler to experiment with new ideas and creating interesting diversions. Unfortunately, Johto doesn’t manage this balance as well because it's longer, and the more consistent world-building means that the filler becomes very formulaic. We can go 20-30 episodes without any significant progress, where each episode follows the repetitive formula of "meet person and Pokémon -> bond with them -> Team Rocket shows up -> resolution." This lack of variation in structure leads to a feeling of stagnation that can be boring to anyone, child or adult. The series really drags its feet, even if we get some memorable storylines like taking care of Larvitar or the Whirl Islands.

  The Johto season of Pokémon marks an important step forward for the franchise, refining the process of writing the Pokémon anime into a more polished formula. It delivers some memorable episodes, characters, and moments, but ultimately suffers from a lack of meaningful secondary storylines and an over-reliance on episodic filler, resulting in a repetitive viewing experience. The formulaic structure of many episodes, combined with underdeveloped rivals and sidelined new Pokémon, prevents Johto from reaching its full potential. While it has its strengths, it falls short of being a truly standout season. Overall, it’s a 5/10 - the strengths and weaknesses balancing each other out.

  

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  To summarize, Pokémon is a show designed for kids, featuring simple characters, an easy-to-follow storyline, and a straightforward episodic structure — and that’s exactly what it needs to be. However, in some ways, it doesn’t quite live up to its potential, as it misses out on several opportunities to engage and hook its audience more deeply. It's a show that I'd happily show to a son or daughter, but I’m not sure if it could maintain their interest for the long haul.

  Total score: 5 + 6 ≈ 6

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