This Is The Correct Order To Watch Pokémon
There's something for everyone to love in "Pokémon." With adorable Pokémon, epic battles, hilarious characters, and heartfelt moments, the long-running show has it all.
The only problem is there are so many movies and seasons of the show that it's easy to get overwhelmed. While you can jump into the Pokémon World at any point and try to figure out what's going on, it's most enjoyable when watched in a specific order. There are some characters, Pokémon, regions, and special abilities that are only revealed later on, so if it's watched out of order, it can quickly become confusing.
But with a little guidance, a newcomer to the franchise can easily follow Ash's journey as he makes new friends, battles old rivals (we're looking at you, Gary), and uncovers secrets about Pokémon.
We've excluded some remakes and shorts from this list that aren't necessary to the main plot. Those can be watched at any time since they don't directly impact Ash's journey. Without further ado, let's go over the correct order to watch "Pokémon!"
Season 1: Indigo League
This is where the epic journey begins! In the first season of "Pokémon: The Original Series," we meet 10-year-old Ash Ketchum from Pallet Town. He's finally old enough to get his very first Pokémon, and as we all know, that Pokémon is the ever-reliable Pikachu, who will join him on countless adventures.
While training Pikachu and gaining his trust, Ash meets Water-type trainer Misty. Pikachu accidentally destroys her bike with an electric attack, so she travels with Ash until he can replace it. Shortly afterward, Ash battles the Pewter City Gym Leader Brock, who specializes in training Rock-type Pokémon. After their final battle, he decides to travel with Ash and Misty to pursue his dream of becoming a Pokémon Breeder.
While traveling across the Kanto region, Ash catches his first Pokémon, Caterpie, who later evolves into Metapod and then Butterfree. Several of his other Pokémon evolve as well, including Charmander, who becomes the disobedient Charmeleon and then Charizard. Ash contemplates using a Thunder Stone to make Pikachu evolve into Raichu, but Pikachu makes it clear he doesn't want that to happen.
Ash battles many Gym Leaders across the region, clashes with his rival Gary, and stops plenty of Team Rocket's evil plans. This is the perfect season to start off with since it introduces many important characters and explains how the Pokémon World works.
Pokémon: The First Movie – Mewtwo Strikes Back
This is the first Pokémon movie, making it a must-watch for every Pokémon fan. Giovanni, the leader of Team Rocket, creates a clone of the Mythical Pokémon Mew as part of his plot to conquer the world. This clone, Mewtwo, is so powerful and intelligent that it escapes the lab where it was created. Mewtwo believes humans are cruel and have made Pokémon their slaves, so it comes up with its own plan for world domination.
Mewtwo invites several people to an island under the pretense that they'll be battling a formidable Trainer. When Ash, Misty, Brock, and the other Trainers visit the island, Mewtwo clones their Pokémon and forms its own powerful team.
Mew senses something is wrong and follows Team Rocket to the island. Make sure you have a box of tissues nearby as Ash and Mew try stopping Mewtwo and its cloned Pokémon from taking over the world.
Season 2: Adventures on the Orange Islands
Ash finishes up his journey in Kanto by completing the Indigo Plateau Conference. Although he knows the Kanto region pretty well by now, there's still a lot more exploring to do.
Brock travels with Ash and Misty to Valencia Island, where he decides to stay with Professor Ivy to learn more about Pokémon. Ash and Misty continue exploring the Orange Islands as a dynamic duo, and it isn't long before they meet sketch artist Tracey. He's very impressed by Ash's Pikachu and takes some notes.
They all get to know each other better when they save an injured Lapras from Team Rocket. Professor Oak is Tracey's hero, and once he learns that Ash and Misty know the professor, he begins traveling with them in hopes of meeting him.
Ash stays busy collecting Gym Badges throughout the Orange Islands — He has already come a long way as a Trainer, but he'll need to keep catching new Pokémon and leveling up his team to reach the next stage of his journey.
Pokémon the Movie 2000
In "Pokémon the Movie 2000," the group is taking a boat from one island to another when a storm suddenly sends them way off course. They find themselves on Shamouti Island, in the center of the Orange Islands, and they attend a festival honoring the three Legendary birds: Moltres, Articuno, and Zapdos.
The islanders are thrilled when they find out that Ash is a Pokémon Trainer. They believe that legend predicted his arrival, and as a result, they deem him the chosen one. They give him the task of gathering elemental balls from various islands, a responsibility that turns out to be much more important than he initially realizes.
Meanwhile, a power-hungry trainer named Lawrence III is up to no good. He captures the three Legendary birds, throwing the weather out of balance. Having them isn't enough for him, though — he has his sights set on capturing the Legendary Pokémon Lugia next. Can Ash gather all the elemental balls and team up with Lugia to restore balance to the world?
Season 3: The Johto Journeys
Having entered the Orange League and defeated the Leader, Ash is ready for a new challenge. Luckily, there are plenty of exciting battles in store for him in the Johto region. This season introduces a ton of new Pokémon from the second generation, such as Houndour, Marill, and Girafarig, just to name a few. Two brand new types, Dark and Steel, are also introduced.
Ash manages to add some new Pokémon to his team, including Heracross, Chikorita, and Cyndaquil. It's a good thing he's always on the lookout for new Pokémon, because his Squirtle rejoins the Squirtle Squad and he leaves his Charizard in Charicific Valley to train for a while.
On top of all that, Ash, Misty, and Brock reunite in this season. Tracey was a fun addition to the team, but it's great to see the original trio exploring a new region together. During their travels, Ash faces off against some tough Gym Leaders. As he works towards competing in the Johto League, he realizes the importance of using strategy during battles rather than relying solely on brute force.
Pokémon 3 the Movie: Spell of the Unown
Molly is a little girl who often feels lonely — her mom disappeared years ago, and her dad stays busy researching the long-lost Unown Pokémon. Molly and her dad are playing around and having fun when he gets a message about some newly discovered ruins. He goes to explore the ruins, but while there, he mysteriously disappears into the Unown Dimension.
Molly is lonelier than ever until the Unown start taking care of her, using their powers to grant her wishes. Some kids might wish for a giant bowl of ice cream or a new puppy, but not Molly. The Unown create intricate illusions for her that include a huge crystal castle and the Legendary Pokémon Entei.
Entei is the new father figure in her life, but she still wishes she had a mother, causing the Unown to take Ash's mom. Ash, Misty, and Brock must break the Unown's spell to save Ash's mom and help create a better life for Molly that's actually real.
Season 4: Johto League Champions
From icy Snowtop Mountain to busy Goldenrod City, Ash and his friends still have a lot more exploring to do in Johto. The Gym Leaders in this area are tougher than ever, so Ash has to continue training and overcoming challenges to collect new Badges. Although he doesn't win every battle, he learns from his losses so he can keep getting stronger.
He also tries his hand at the Pokémon Sumo Championship, which is unlike any competition he's entered before. His Snorlax is a skilled sumo wrestler and defeats many Pokémon, but Feraligatr proves to be a formidable opponent.
Of course, Team Rocket has been busy scheming up new plans, making it even harder for Ash to become a Pokémon Master. He'll have to deal with them if he wants to enter the Johto League next season. Luckily, Brock's Zubat evolves into Golbat just in time to stop Team Rocket from taking Pikachu. Later on, Golbat gets even stronger and evolves into Crobat.
Misty stays busy as well, entering a Seaking Fishing Competition, befriending a Teddiursa, and meeting Nurse Joy, who specializes in treating Water-type Pokémon. There's a whole lot to do in the Johto region, but things don't always go as planned!
Pokémon 4Ever: Celebi – Voice of the Forest
Decades before the events of the show, a poacher tried capturing the Mythical Pokémon Celebi, who has the power to travel through time. As the poacher and his Pokémon chased Celebi through a forest, they ran into a boy named Sammy. He attempted to rescue the Mythical Pokémon, and in the process, the pair time traveled to the present day.
Ash thinks the story of Celebi and Sammy isn't true — that is, until he meets them for himself while exploring the forest where they vanished. Celebi is still being hunted, this time by an elite member of Team Rocket called the Iron-Masked Marauder. He wants to capture the Mythical Pokémon with a Dark Ball and turn it evil, allowing him to control it and take over Team Rocket.
The ruthless villain is willing to destroy as much of the forest as it takes to capture Celebi. Ash and the Legendary Pokémon Suicune step in to save Celebi, protect the forest, and get Sammy back to the past.
Season 5: Master Quest
The gang finds themselves on the Whirl Islands, where they learn about the Whirl Cup, a competition for water-type Trainers. Both Ash and Misty join the competition with their strongest water Pokémon and end up battling each other, making for an interesting match.
Ash's Bulbasaur has been with him since Season 1, but when several Pokémon at Professor Oak's lab start fighting each other, Bulbasaur gets sent over to help. He diffuses the situation and turns out to be a skilled leader, so Ash and Professor Oak agree to have him stay at the lab for a while.
Ash goes on to earn more Gym Badges, but still makes time to save the Legendary Pokémon Lugia and its baby from Team Rocket. The excitement doesn't end there, though. He competes in a Pokémon race against his old rival Gary and wins an Egg that hatches into an energetic Phanphy. Misty also makes progress as a Trainer, with her Poliwhirl evolving into Politoed during a dramatic battle.
Later on, Ash goes up against skilled Trainers in the Silver Conference and has another run-in with Gary. Ash might be strong enough to defeat other Trainers in the competition, but can he defeat Gary?
This is the last season to feature the original trio traveling together. By the end of it, Brock and Misty return home and Ash has his sights set on the Hoenn region.
Pokémon Heroes: Latios and Latias
Ash and Misty are competing in a water Pokémon race in the city of Alto Mare. After the race, Ash rescues a girl from two members of Team Rocket, Annie and Oakley, and discovers she's actually the Legendary Pokémon Latias in disguise.
Latias and her brother Latios protect Alto Mare, and once Ash gains their trust, he finds out they're in danger. Annie and Oakley are attempting to catch the Legendary duo and steal a powerful crystal called the Soul Dew. If they succeed, they'll be able to activate a machine designed to keep the city safe, instead using it for their own nefarious plans.
Ash, Latios, and Latias have to work together to stop the thieves and save the city before it's too late. It won't be easy, especially since the machine starts going out of control during the ordeal.
Season 6: Advanced
During the first season of "Pokémon the Series: Ruby and Sapphire," Ash leaves Johto behind and starts traversing Hoenn with his old friend Brock. Remember when Pikachu accidentally destroyed Misty's bike with an electric shock back in Season 1? That happens again, except this time around, Pokémon Coordinator May is the one whose bike gets fried. That leads her and Torchic to join the group, and shortly afterward, her little brother Max starts traveling with them as well.
There are lots of new Pokémon for our heroes to catch in Hoenn. Taillow and Treecko join Ash's team, while Lotad and Mudkip join Brock's. Ash also competes against new Gym Leaders and wins multiple Badges. He doesn't earn quite enough to qualify for the Hoenn League, but will keep working towards that goal in the next season.
May focuses on a different type of challenge: raising Pokémon to win various contests. These are different from battles, since Pokémon are judged on their condition and moves rather than their fighting abilities. Winning contests might sound easier than winning battles, but May quickly finds out how difficult they are.
Meanwhile, Team Magma, Team Aqua, AND Team Rocket all have some tricks up their sleeves. They weren't kidding when they said, "Prepare for trouble..."
Pokémon: Jirachi – Wish Maker
The Millennium Comet is about to streak through the sky, an exciting event that only lasts for seven days every 1,000 years. The gang attends the Millennium Festival to celebrate, where they watch a performance by a magician called the Great Butler. His assistant, Diane, carries a crystal during the show, and Max hears a voice coming from inside of it.
After the performance, Max asks Butler and Diane about the crystal, and they explain that it contains the Mythical Pokémon Jirachi. Jirachi only awakens when the Millennium Comet is in the sky and it's in the presence of the chosen one. Since Max seems to be the chosen one, Diane gives him the crystal.
When the Millennium Comet appears, the Mythical Jirachi awakens. Jirachi has the power to grant wishes and becomes fast friends with Max. Unfortunately, Butler plans to use its powers to bring back the Legendary Pokémon Groudon and conquer the world. Will Ash and his friends be able to save Jirachi and stop this evil plan?
Season 7: Advanced Challenge
There are many ups and downs as the group continues traveling through the Hoenn region. On the plus side, Ash wins some new Gym Badges and May wins her first three Pokémon Contest Ribbons. This means Ash is closer to entering the Hoenn League, and May is closer to competing in the Hoenn Grand Festival. Still, Team Magma and Team Aqua continue to come up with new schemes, causing all sorts of trouble for our heroes.
Both Ash and May make progress with their Pokémon. Ash captures a Torkoal, his Treecko evolves into Grovyle, and his Taillow evolves into Swellow. May catches a Bulbasaur, and her Torchic becomes strong enough to evolve into Combusken. When Ash's Bulbasaur visits, he quickly becomes friends with May's Bulbasaur. While these new members of the team are strong, they might present some unexpected challenges as well.
Let's not forget about Brock, though! His Lotad evolves into Lombre, making it strong enough to help a nearby village.
Pokémon the Movie: Destiny Deoxys
A comet containing the Mythical Pokémon Deoxys crash lands on earth, almost hitting the Legendary Pokémon Rayquaza in the process. They battle each other and Rayquaza beats Deoxys with a Hyper Beam attack, traumatizing a nearby boy named Tory.
Four years later, our heroes are visiting LaRousse City. It's filled with high-tech wonders, but to the surprise of no one, Ash is more interested in the Battle Tower. He's ready for an action-packed battle, but things don't go as planned since his battle partner turns out to be Tory, who is scared of all Pokémon.
Things go even further off the rails when Deoxys fully heals and wreaks havoc on LaRousse City. It shuts down the machinery and holds everyone captive, angering Rayquaza, who views the city as its territory. The two powerful Pokémon clash, and Ash, Tory, and their friends have to do what they can to save the day.
Season 8: Advanced Battle
Ash wins his final two Badges in the Hoenn region, qualifying for the Hoenn League at last. This tournament is definitely a challenging one, and the stakes are raised since Ash has two rivals, Morrison and Tyson, who are also set on winning.
Morrison and Ash have battled, raced, and competed against each other in an eating contest before. During the tournament, Morrison's Swampert proves to be a tough opponent for Ash's Corphish. After battling Morrison, Ash faces off against Tyson. He has a very well-dressed Meowth who puts Pikachu's strength to the test.
Ash isn't the only one reaching new milestones in his journey — May also overcomes challenges to earn her final Contest Ribbon in the Hoenn region. This means May can attend the Grand Festival, where she goes up against two rivals of her own, Harley and Drew. Harley pretends to be May's friend so he can give her bad advice during the competition. Drew is cocky and enjoys pushing May's buttons, but he isn't all bad.
After all that excitement, the group returns to the Kanto region, and May continues reaching new heights as she wins her first Kanto ribbon. Our heroes have accomplished a lot this season, but by the end of it, Ash already has his sights set on a new challenge: entering the Battle Frontier.
Pokémon: Lucario and the Mystery of Mew
The group visits Cameran Palace and attends a festival held in honor of Sir Aaron, who saved the kingdom hundreds of years ago. Ash is much more interested in entering their Pokémon competition than brushing up on history, though!
After winning the competition and becoming the Aura Guardian, Ash discovers how important Aaron really was. He is given Aaron's staff, and the ancient Pokémon Lucario emerges from it after being dormant for centuries.
Lucario doesn't trust humans since Aaron, his previous master, betrayed him hundreds of years earlier. When an enemy army was about to overtake the kingdom, Aaron started flying away on his Pidgeot. Lucario was shocked and asked him to stay, but Aaron trapped Lucario in the jewel on his staff and then abandoned the palace.
Ash and his friends help Lucario find out the truth about his previous master. Meanwhile, the plot thickens as the Mythical Pokémon Mew takes Pikachu and Meowth to a spot only Lucario can find. Will Lucario be able to trust humans again and help Ash reunite with Pikachu?
Season 9: Battle Frontier
Ash is exploring his home region of Kanto again, but he's in for a lot of surprises! This time around, he's set on winning the Battle Frontier, so he works on collecting all the Frontier Symbols from the Frontier Brains. This is similar to collecting Badges from Gym Leaders, except the Frontier Brains are much stronger than the Gym Leaders he's faced so far.
Despite winning so many Contest Ribbons in Hoenn last season, May wastes no time resting on her laurels. She stays busy preparing for new Contests and earning new Ribbons in Kanto so she can enter this region's Grand Festival.
The group also crosses paths with Pokémon Ranger Solona. Since she's in the Ranger Union, an organization that protects people and Pokémon, she's determined to uncover the secrets of the two Mythical Pokémon, Celebi and Deoxys. Solona isn't the only one interested in these Mythical Pokémon, though — Team Rocket wants to capture and control them.
This is the last season that May and Max travel with Ash, but they appear in a handful of episodes later on.
Pokémon Ranger and the Temple of the Sea
Legend says that the People of the Water created the Sea Temple, where they keep the Sea Crown. Not very many people in the Pokémon World know about this story, but it soon takes on a whole new meaning for Ash and his friends.
Pokémon Ranger Jackie rescues a Manaphy Egg from an evil pirate called the Phantom. As you can probably guess, the Phantom isn't too happy about that. He's plotting to steal the Sea Crown, and he needs Manaphy to make it happen.
When Team Rocket tries stealing the Egg, Ash and Pikachu help Jackie get it back. They don't have much time to rest, though — the Phantom and his henchmen quickly show up to take the Egg for themselves.
Ash and his friends try to outrun them, with May carrying the Egg, when Manaphy suddenly hatches from it and forms a special bond with her. The gang has to keep the Mythical Pokémon safe and return it to the Sea Temple. If they don't, the Phantom will finish carrying out his plan, and Manaphy's home will be destroyed!
Season 10: Diamond and Pearl
Goodbye Hoenn, hello Sinnoh! This is the first season of "Pokémon the Series: Diamond and Pearl." Last season ended with all the members of the group parting ways. May went to Johto to compete in more Contests, Max returned to Hoenn to become a Trainer, Brock headed to Pewter City, and Ash went to Pallet Town.
Now Ash meets up with good old Brock again and it isn't long before they meet their next travel companion. Dawn is a 10-year-old girl who dreams of winning Pokémon Contests and becoming an accomplished Pokémon Coordinator. After she gets her starter Pokémon, Piplup, she mistakes Ash's Pikachu for a wild Pokémon and tries to catch him. She ends up joining the group so she can learn from Ash and Brock.
The trio travels through the Sinnoh region together, with Ash collecting Badges so he can enter the Sinnoh League, and Dawn entering Contests to try earning Ribbons. Ash meets a new rival, Paul, who he doesn't get along with because of their different training methods. Dawn has a much friendlier rival, Zoey, who challenges her to become a better Pokémon Coordinator.
Of course, there's no shortage of new Pokémon to meet, capture, and train along the way! Ash gets a Starly and Chimchar, Dawn captures a Buneary and Pachirisu, and Brock wins an Egg in a contest that hatches into a Happiny.
Pokémon: The Rise of Darkrai
Together, the Legendary Pokémon Palkia and Dialga control space and time. They were never supposed to meet, but they end up clashing in an alternate dimension and throwing Alamos Town into complete chaos. Entire buildings begin to shake, causing damage and worrying the townspeople.
Ash and his friends are visiting Alamos Town for a Pokémon Contest. As Palkia and Dialga continue to fight in the alternate dimension, they cause more disruptions in the Pokémon World. Our heroes notice the disturbances happening around town and want to get to the bottom of things.
The townspeople think Darkrai is causing all the mayhem, but is this Mythical Pokémon really as bad as its reputation? Ash doesn't think so — he believes Darkrai is misunderstood and might be the town's only hope of making it through this ordeal.
Season 11: Diamond and Pearl: Battle Dimension
Ash's Aipom seems interested in Contest training and Dawn's Buizel wants to battle, so Ash and Dawn trade Pokémon. Aipom goes on to evolve into Ambipom, and Dawn decides to enter it in a Contest.
Ash is on a good luck streak as he continues winning Badges, but things aren't going so well for Dawn. She loses two Contests in a row and struggles to regain confidence in her Pokémon Coordinator skills. She realizes needs to do a lot more training before entering the Wallace Cup, a multiregional Pokémon Contest that's held once a year.
On the bright side, Dawn captures a Swinub that later evolves into Piloswine. This is important for next season, since she will begin training it for Contests.
Ash and his friends decide to attend Professor Rowan's Pokémon Summer Academy to become better Trainers. They'll need to learn as much as they can at the Academy if they want to beat the scheming Team Galactic and Pokémon Hunter J. Team Galactic is plotting to steal some rare items and destroy Sinnoh with them, while Hunter J is set on stealing a special Riolu.
Pokémon: Giratina and the Sky Warrior
The Legendary Pokémon Giratina, who lives in a realm called the Reverse World, is upset that the Legendaries Dialga and Palkia are disrupting space and time. Giratina brings Dialga to the Reverse World to fight, but the adorable Pokémon Shaymin stops the confrontation. Shaymin might be small, but what it lacks in size, it makes up for in mystical power.
Shaymin enlists the help of Ash and his friends to help it perform a special ceremony in Gracidea garden, where lots of other Shaymin live. Gracidea flowers are abundant there, and when Shaymin is exposed to this special flower, it changes from Land Form to Sky Form. They agree to help and are brought to the Reverse World.
After meeting the researcher Newton Graceland and learning more about the realm, they discover that a power-hungry man named Zero has a nefarious plan. He wants to gain control over Giratina and rule the Reverse World, even if that destroys the real world. It's up to Ash and the tiny but mighty Shaymin to stop Zero's evil plan.
Season 12: Diamond and Pearl: Galactic Battles
Team Galactic continues wreaking havoc throughout the Sinnoh region, interfering with Ash's goal of becoming a Pokémon Master. Ash and his friends manage to thwart Team Galactic's schemes, but that's not the only obstacle our heroes have to face this season.
From dealing with a disobedient Piloswine to a hesitant Piplup, Dawn encounters some roadblocks while raising her Pokémon. Piloswine would rather eat than train for Contests, and Piplup stops itself from evolving into Prinplup. Dawn will have to work on understanding them if she wants to become a great Pokémon Coordinator and Trainer.
Meanwhile, Ash confronts his rival Paul in a 6-on-6 battle to find out which Trainer is really the best. While 6-on-6 battles are pretty standard in the Pokémon games, they're not as common in the show, making this an epic battle!
Near the end of the season, the group is traveling through a forest when the Pokémon Gible chooses Ash as its Trainer. We'll have to wait until next season to see if Gible can master the move Draco Meteor.
Pokémon: Arceus and the Jewel of Life
This film completes the three-movie story arc and reveals why there have been so many disturbances in the Pokémon World lately. It started in "Pokémon: The Rise of Darkrai," when the fight between Palkia and Dialga nearly tore a hole in the space-time continuum. Then in "Pokémon: Giratina and the Sky Warrior," Giratina protected the Reverse World to maintain its balance with the Pokémon World.
Now Ash and his friends find themselves in Minicha Town, which has a complicated past with the Mythical Pokémon Arceus. Long ago, Arceus gave the townspeople some of its power in the form of the Jewel of Life, only for the people to betray it. Arceus has awoken from a long slumber and caused the recent disruptions in space and time, but the problems don't stop there. Now the Mythical Pokémon seeks to punish humanity for its perceived evils.
Dialga, Palkia, and Giratina try to stop Arceus, and our heroes get sent to the past during the conflict. It won't be easy, but they need to find out the truth about the past, fix what went wrong, and create a better future.
Season 13: Diamond and Pearl: Sinnoh League Victors
Team Galatic is no longer a threat, but there are still challenges to face! Ash continues battling tough Gym Leaders as he works towards qualifying for the Sinnoh League. He also helps Gible master the powerful move Draco Meteor. Dawn has been making progress of her own and is determined to win her final Contest Ribbon so she can enter the Grand Festival.
As many Pokémon fans know, Brock used to be the Gym Leader in Pewter City. He gave that title up to hone his skills as a Pokémon Breeder. However, in this season, he realizes he wants to work toward an even more ambitious goal: becoming a Pokémon Doctor.
Our heroes already have their hands full, but that doesn't stop Team Rocket from concocting devious plans. Aside from trying to steal people's Pokémon, like Dawn's Togekiss and Ash's Pikachu, they try to capture the Mythical Pokémon Shaymin. As the season comes to an end, Ash, Brock, and Dawn go their separate ways. Ash will be traveling with some new friends next time around, but as always, Pikachu will be right by his side.
Pokémon: Zoroark: Master of Illusions
The gang is eager to visit Crown City for a sporting event called the Pokémon Baccer World Cup. On their way there, they meet Zorua, a strange Pokémon that creates illusions and communicates via telepathy. Zorua is going to Crown City to save its mom, Zozoark, so they all travel there together.
Once they arrive, the gang notices some very strange occurrences. The Legendary trio Suicine, Entei, and Raikou are causing chaos in the streets, and the Mythical Celebi has appeared for the first time in decades.
While trying to figure out these mysteries, Ash crosses paths with the greedy businessman Grings Kodai and the shapeshifting Pokémon Zozoark. Both are involved somehow, but who's really behind all of the mayhem and why? Once Ash and the others find out, they have to do everything they can to restore peace to the city.
Season 14: Black & White
This is the first season of "Pokémon the Series: Black & White." Ash is heading off to the Unova region, where there are plenty of adventures in store for him. From new cities to new Gyms and new Pokémon, this chapter of his journey is an exhilarating one. Oshawott, Sewaddle, and Roggenrola are just a handful of Pokémon that join Ash's team.
Ash parted ways with Brock and Dawn at the end of last season, but he's great at making new friends wherever he goes. This time around, he meets Dragon-type Trainer Iris and her Axew. Team Rocket tries stealing Axew and Pikachu, and after they send Team Rocket blasting off again, Iris travels with Ash to guide him through Unova.
When they arrive at Striaton City, they challenge the trio of Gym Leaders, Cilan and his two brothers, to a battle. Besides being a Gym Leader, Cilan is also a Pokémon Connoisseur, so he evaluates the compatibility of Trainers and their Pokémon, then gives them advice on how to strengthen their relationships. After battling Ash and Iris, Cilan travels with them so he can improve his Connoisseur skills.
Ash goes on to challenge different Gym Leaders in the region, working towards his goal of entering the Unova League. He manages to earn several Badges, but will have to earn the rest of them next season.
Pokémon the Movie: Black – Victini and Reshiram / Pokémon the Movie: White – Victini and Zekrom
We're all familiar with the way the Pokémon games are released in pairs. This set of Pokémon films was released in the same way, so some viewers may choose to watch both of them, while others may only want to watch one.
The movies have similar plots with slight differences. In both of them, Ash tries to rescue some Deerling from a cliff, only to find himself in danger of falling. The Mythical Pokémon Victini saves him, but Ash gets separated from Iris and Cilan in the process. Victini helps him get to Eindoak Town, where he reunites with his friends.
Ash takes part in a competition, and ends up winning thanks to Victini unexpectedly lending a hand. He befriends the Mythical Pokémon, learning the secrets of its past and its special connection to Eindoak Town.
Unfortunately, a man named Damon is planning to capture Victini and use its powers to restore a lost kingdom. He's spent years figuring out how to do this, even finding a Legendary Pokémon (either Reshiram or Zekrom) under a castle and convincing it to help him. This plan could spell disaster for Eindoak Town and the rest of the world, so Ash has to put a stop to it!
Season 15: Black & White: Rival Destinies
The group has many ups and downs as they continue traveling through Unova. Ash finishes collecting Badges in the region, only to discover that the Unova League conference won't be held for three months. That's practically a lifetime away for a 10-year-old boy!
Ash is eager to challenge the Champion of the Region, Alder, so when he hears that the winner of the Pokémon World Tournament Junior Cup earns a battle with Alder, he's all in. Iris and Cilan join the tournament as well, but with so many skilled Trainers competing, who will come out on top?
That's not the only competition our heroes enter. They also put their Trainer skills to the test in Clubsplosion, a tournament that showcases Fighting-type Pokémon, but is open to all types. Ash enters with Scraggy, Cilan with Pansage, and Iris with Excadrill.
Those who have watched "Pokémon the Series: Diamond and Pearl" will recognize some familiar faces this season. Dawn and Piplup meet up with the group so Dawn can practice her Coordinator skills and take part in battles. And if that's not exciting enough, Ash and his friends also team up to save an island from a destructive battle between two Legendary Pokémon.
Pokémon the Movie: Kyurem vs. the Sword of Justice
Terrakion, Virizion, and Cobalion — a Legendary trio also known as the Swords of Justice — protect Pokémon and humans all over the world. The Mythical Pokémon Keldeo is training to join the Swords of Justice, but needs to defeat the Legendary Kyurem to make that happen. The Swords of Justice don't think Keldeo is ready, but it sneaks off to challenge Kyurem anyways.
The battle doesn't go as planned for the overzealous Keldeo. Kyurem overpowers it and breaks its horn, then The Swords of Justice arrive to help, only for Kyurem to freeze them. Keldeo is so scared that it flees, but Kyurem quickly gives chase.
The gang is taking a train to their next destination when Keldeo falls off the mountain and lands on the train. They notice that it's injured and try to help it, but are attacked by Kyurem.
Once Ash and the others manage to escape, they learn that Keldeo wants to rescue the frozen Swords of Justice from the raging Kyurem. That's easier said than done since Kyurem is gaining power from the Legendary Pokémon Reshiram and Zekrom, but Ash is determined to help his new friend stop the Legendary Pokémon's rampage.
Season 16, Part I: Black & White: Adventures in Unova / Season 16, Part II: Black & White: Adventures in Unova and Beyond
Ash now has eight Gym Badges from the Unova region, so he's ready to take on the Unova League. He's in for a ton of tough battles as he faces off against old rivals, including Trip and Stephan. Trip often taunts Ash, but can be helpful when the mood strikes, so Ash might be able to learn a thing or two from him. Stephan's battle style is similar to Ash's since they're both headstrong and reliant on offensive moves, making them evenly matched in many ways. Ash also takes on some skilled new Trainers, such as the energetic Cameron, whose team includes Hydreigon and Lucario.
Iris has her own obstacles to overcome as she struggles to train her stubborn Dragonite. He doesn't fully trust Iris, so he often makes his own choices during battles without waiting for her commands. As an aspiring Dragon Master, she's not giving up, so she visits the Village of Dragons to figure things out.
The group better prepare for trouble (and make it double) because Team Rocket and Team Plasma are both up to no good. Their nefarious plans always keep Ash and his friends on their toes.
Ash has had a lot of fun traveling with Iris and Cilan, but it's time for them to part ways at the end of the season. Iris and Cilan head to Johto while Ash plans on visiting the Kalos region.
Pokémon the Movie: Genesect and the Legend Awakened
After arriving in New Tork City, our heroes check out Pokémon Hills park. They notice that lots of Pokémon live there, including some Genesect, a species that humans brought back to life from fossils after they went extinct 300 million years ago.
A group of five Genesect takes over the center of Pokémon Hills, driving away the other Pokémon, disrupting the power supply, and threatening the substation beneath the park. The Legendary Pokémon Mewtwo notices and sympathizes with them because its creation involved human tampering as well.
Unfortunately, Mewtwo and the Genesect's leader, the Red Genesect, don't see eye to eye. Mewtwo tells it not to attack the other Pokémon in the park, but it refuses, and they start battling throughout the city. Things escalate even further when Mewtwo Mega Evolves into the agile Mega Mewtwo Y.
Can Ash find a way to stop their fight, prevent the city from being destroyed, and help the Genesect find a better home?
Season 17: XY
As the first season of "Pokémon the Series: XY," Ash bids farewell to Unova and begins traversing the Kalos region. Along the way, he meets Electric-type Trainer Clemont and his little sister Bonnie. They all try to stop Team Rocket from stealing Pikachu, and after a nearby Froakie sends Team Rocket blasting off again, they begin traveling together.
From there, they cross paths with Pokémon Performer Serena and her Fennekin. In addition to being kind and fun to be around, Serena happens to be Ash's childhood friend, so they all ask her to travel with them and she accepts.
Remember that Froakie we mentioned earlier? Once it fully recovers from battle, it happily joins Ash's party, which will be important for the following seasons. Ash also captures two Flying-type Pokémon, Fletchling and Hawlucha.
This season has lots of fun new Pokémon, action-packed battles, and interesting places waiting to be explored — things all Pokémon fans know and love — but it also introduces Mega Evolutions to the show. Ash can't wait to learn more about these battle forms that some Pokémon can temporarily transform into. On top of that, the Fairy type is introduced, bringing us to the current total of 18 different types. The Pokémon World just got even more amazing!
Pokémon the Movie: Diancie and the Cocoon of Destruction
Sorry Marilyn Monroe, but we'd say Diancie is a girl's best friend. This Mythical Pokémon has the power to create diamonds and rules over a kingdom called the Diamond Domain, where many Carbink Pokémon live.
The Heart Diamond that powers the kingdom is losing strength, putting them all in jeopardy, and Diancie is the only one who can replace it. She tries to make another one, but isn't strong enough yet. She needs to find the Legendary Pokémon Xerneas, whose Fairy Aura will awaken her inner power.
While traveling to Xerneas for help, she runs into Ash and his friends. They help her escape from some jewel thieves, who want to use her diamond-making power for their own selfish gain, but another danger lurks on the horizon. The thieves accidentally awakened the Legendary Pokémon Yveltal, so our heroes need to keep Diancie safe from it until she finds Xerneas, they make a new Heart Diamond, and save her kingdom.
Season 18: XY: Kalos Quest
Ash continues earning Gym Badges across the Kalos region, meeting new Pokémon, and defeating foes along the way. He also competes in a race for Flying-type Pokémon called the Pokémon Sky Relay, which is interrupted by the devious Team Rocket.
Meanwhile, Serena enters Pokémon Showcases (which are similar to beauty pageants in real life) in hopes of winning Princess Keys and competing in the Pokémon Showcase Master Class. Clemont puts his knowledge of electronics to good use by repairing a generator in a Pokémon Center. Bonnie continues looking for someone to care for her big brother and rescues a Tyrunt that's stuck between some rocks.
On top of all that, several of the group's Pokémon become strong enough to evolve. Clemont's Luxio evolves into Luxray, Ash's Goomy evolves into Sliggoo and then Goodra, and Serena's Fennekin evolves into Braixen. Perhaps most notably though, Ash's Froakie evolves into Frogadier, who plays a big role in this season and the next.
Pokémon the Movie: Hoopa and the Clash of Ages
Ash and his friends are pulled through interdimensional rings and find themselves in Dahara City. The rings were created by the Mythical Pokémon Hoopa, who has the power to summon people and Pokémon. Hoopa can be mischievous, but it really means no harm. Unfortunately, the shadow of Hoopa — which has been confined in the Prison Bottle for a century — is much more destructive and ends up getting released from the bottle.
Hoopa and its shadow become embroiled in an epic battle, with each summoning multiple Legendary Pokémon to join the fight. Hoopa summons Lugia, Latios, Latias, and Rayquaza, while its shadow summons Dialga, Palkia, Kyurem, Kyogre, Groudon, and Giratina. Hoopa's team of Legendaries might be outnumbered, but several of them Mega Evolve to increase their strength and agility.
Having so many Legendary Pokémon in the same place creates a space-time warp, putting everyone in danger. Ash and his friends are caught in the middle of all this chaos, so they do everything they can to help Hoopa control its shadow self, which is their only chance of getting back to safety.
Season 19: XYZ
As Ash's adventures in Kalos continue, he seeks answers to some fascinating Pokémon mysteries, like the new power that his Greninja gains after evolving from Frogadier. They need to work together to master this new ability and use it to win battles. Our heroes also uncover secrets about a strange Pokémon that Bonnie nicknamed Squishy, which she has been taking care of since finding it in her bag.
Ash's rival Alain is still determined to discover the source of Mega Evolutions, and he crosses paths with our heroes during his journey. Can he help Ash understand more about Mega Evolutions or will they get too caught up in battling? Both Team Flare and Team Rocket have their sights set on capturing the Legendary Pokémon Zygarde. This Pokémon can change into different forms, which could be disastrous if used for the wrong reasons.
At the end of the season, the group prepares to go their separate ways, with Ash heading back to Kanto and Serena going off to Hoenn. Before they say goodbye, Serena gives Ash a kiss and reveals her feelings for him. Several girls have kissed Ash on the cheek throughout the show, but this is his first real kiss.
Pokémon the Movie: Volcanion and the Mechanical Marvel
After the Mythical Pokémon Volcanion falls from the sky, it meets Ash and the two become bound by a mysterious force. Although Volcanion hates humans, it has to bring Ash on its mission to rescue the artificial Pokémon Magearna.
Magearna was invented 500 years ago and is currently in danger because a corrupt councilor named Alva stole it, planning to use its powers to gain control over the Azoth Kingdom. Ash and Volcanion manage to save Magearna, but Alva isn't giving up without a fight. He enlists the help of Team Rocket to retrieve Magearna, giving them Mega Wave bracelets that force their Pokémon to Mega Evolve.
The stakes are raised higher as the conflict puts Volcanion and Magearna's home, the Nebel Plateau, in harm's way. Ash and Volcanion will have to put their differences aside and work together if they want to protect Magearna, the Azoth Kingdom, and the Nebel Plateau.
Season 20: Sun & Moon
This is the first season of "Pokémon the Series: Sun & Moon" and there's a whole new region for Ash to explore. He travels throughout the tropical islands of Alola, enrolls in the Pokémon School, learns more about Z-Moves, and takes on Island Trial Challenges. For a Trainer to win an Island Trial Challenge, they have to complete a trial, then battle against the island kahuna in a grand trial to earn a Z-Crystal.
Ash's classmates Lana, Kiawe, Sophocles, and Mallow help him get familiar with this sunny new region and the Alolan Forms of Pokémon. Not all Pokémon have Alolan Forms, but the ones that do often vary in appearance, abilities, and type.
Professor Kukui, Professor Oak's cousin Samson Oak, and the mysterious research assistant Lillie are also there to guide Ash during his journey. It's a good thing Ash has so many friends in Alola — he'll need their help to defeat Team Rocket and Team Skull.
Season 21: Sun & Moon – Ultra Adventures
Ash has a dream about the Legendaries Solgaleo and Lunala, which takes on a new meaning after he meets an unusual Pokémon nicknamed Nebby. Speaking of dreams, Ash continues making progress toward his dream of becoming a Pokémon Master. He trains hard and wins his third grand trial — and shows no signs of slowing down!
He and his classmates also check out the Aether Foundation, an organization dedicated to Pokémon care and conservation. Lusamine, Lillie's mother, is the president of the organization and devotes a lot of time to studying Ultra Beasts. These fearsome Pokémon live in Ultra Space, but sometimes appear in Alola by coming through Ultra Wormholes.
Ash and the others uncover secrets about Ultra Beasts and the mysterious Aether Foundation. They even join the Ultra Guardians, a group that defends Alola from powerful, aggressive Ultra Beasts. Ultra Beasts and the Ultra Guardians appear next season as well, so watching this season beforehand definitely makes it easier to understand these additions to the show.
Season 22: Sun & Moon – Ultra Legends
There might be some Ultra Wormholes on Wela Volcano, so Ash and his fellow Ultra Guardians go to investigate it. Ultra Beasts are tough opponents, but battling them is just one of the challenges that Ash faces this season. He has a new rival named Hau, who he's determined to defeat in battle. Hau is the grandson of the kahuna on Melemele Island, and Trainer skills clearly run in the family, seeing as Hau has strong Pokémon like Decidueye and Alolan Raichu. There's also a newly-formed Pokémon League in Alola, but Ash decides to take up knitting instead of entering the competition. Just kidding. He enters it and battles many skilled Trainers, including Professor Kukui!
Ash and his friends collect new Z-Crystals as well, which Trainers can use with a Z-Ring or Z-Power Ring to activate Z-Moves. Ash has had a ton of fun in Alola, but by the end of the season, he decides that it's time to move on. He plans on exploring the entire Pokémon World, but that will have to wait until "Pokémon Journeys: The Series."
Season 23: Journeys
This is the first season of "Pokémon Journeys: The Series," and viewers are in for a treat as Ash explores much more than one region. First, Ash and his trusty partner Pikachu attend the opening of Professor Cerise's new laboratory, which is dedicated to exploring the mysteries of Pokémon all over the world.
Professor Cerise analyzes the weather and predicts that a Legendary Pokémon is approaching. Sure enough, Lugia appears, much to the excitement of Ash and a new Trainer named Goh. They end up going for an exhilarating ride on Lugia, then return to the lab to tell everyone about it. Professor Cerise is so impressed that he asks them to become research fellows, which they happily accept.
The pair begins traveling the world, starting with the Galar region, where they discover that Pokémon can temporarily change into Dynamax and Gigantamax forms. During their travels, it becomes clear that Goh loves Pokémon just as much as Ash does. But unlike Ash, who wants to become a Pokémon Master, Goh wants to catch 'em all — even the Mythical Pokémon Mew!
Season 24: Master Journeys
As they continue researching Pokémon for Cerise Laboratory, Ash and Goh travel across different regions, from Kanto to Galar and everywhere in between. Ash also faces off with skilled Trainers in the World Coronation Series, a tournament that determines the best Trainer in the world. Trainers are judged after each battle and divided into four categories based on their rankings: Normal Class, Great Class, Ultra Class, and Master Class. As Ash continues winning battles, he climbs higher in the rankings and gets promoted to Ultra Class.
Meanwhile, Goh captures a ton of cool new Pokémon, like Arctozolt, the Legendary Suicune, and Grookey. That might be enough to satisfy some Trainers, but Goh is still determined as ever to catch Mew, leading him to join Project Mew. He needs to complete some trial missions before becoming an official member, though.
Last season, Goh's childhood friend Chloe wasn't exactly sure what her dreams were. This season, she's certain that she wants to be a Trainer, and things are off to an interesting start as she meets a unique Eevee that escapes from a research facility. Speaking of old friends, Ash meets up with some familiar faces and gets into all sorts of adventures — some involving Legendary Pokémon and an alternate universe!
Season 25: Ultimate Journeys
Ash and his Pokémon do some intense training to prepare for more World Coronation Series battles. Each battle is tougher than the last, so Ash has to make sure his team is ready, whether that means practicing Mega Evolutions or Z-Moves!
Goh is still set on becoming a member of Project Mew. Last season, he started doing trial missions for them in order to prove his Trainer skills. Now he works on completing more trials, including his final trial mission, which really puts his skills to the test. Chloe is working towards goals of her own, making sure she learns all the different evolutions of Eevee so she and her beloved Eevee can decide which path is best for it. Only time will tell what comes next for our heroes, but we're sure there are plenty of adventures in store — and we'll be here to watch 'em all!