The Pokémon Franchise
Pokémon is one of the biggest entertainment franchises in the world, and its anime has run almost without pause since it first aired in 1997 (1998 in North America). Unlike most long-runners it tells one continuous story: trainer Ash Ketchum and his Pikachu travelling region after region, with each block of dub seasons rebranded for a new generation of games. Alongside the main series sit a long line of theatrical films and the game-based Mystery Dungeon specials.
Where to start with Pokémon
It is one long journey, so the natural way in is the very beginning, though the films stand on their own if you would rather just sample it.
Pokémon (Seasons 1-5)
The original Indigo League era, where Ash leaves Pallet Town with a stubborn Pikachu and falls in with Misty and Brock. This is the Pokémon most fans grew up on.
Start here for the whole journey in order. Five seasons carry Ash across Kanto and Johto, gym badge by gym badge, toward the regional leagues.
Pokémon: The First Movie
Mewtwo Strikes Back, the 1999 theatrical debut. A cloned legendary turns on the trainers who made it, building to a famous showdown between originals and copies.
A self-contained pick if you would rather not commit to the series. The films assume only the basics, so almost any of them works as a one-off.
TV Series
The television run is one ongoing story, split into dub "seasons" that follow Ash through a new region each generation. The Diamond & Pearl years (seasons 10 to 12) were broadcast under three separate dub titles.
Films
The theatrical films, released roughly once a year in the early run. Each is a standalone adventure built around a legendary Pokémon, so you can watch any of them without following the series.
Spinoffs
Specials based on the Mystery Dungeon video games, where the player is a human turned into a Pokémon. These sit outside Ash's storyline entirely.
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