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Series guide · Original

Pokémon: The Original Series

Concluded 1997 - 2002 274 episodes Ash Ketchum

Region. Kanto, Orange Archipelago, Johto

The franchise's opening act. Aired on TV Tokyo starting April 1, 1997 and on Kids' WB in the US starting September 7, 1998, the original series ran 274 episodes across Kanto, the Orange Islands, and Johto. Ten-year-old Ash Ketchum oversleeps on his first day as a Trainer and inherits a defiant Pikachu from Professor Oak. The opening half-season cements the formula: badge-collection structure, encyclopedic creature design, Team Rocket as comic relief antagonists, and a friendship dynamic that pulls Misty (Cerulean Gym Leader) and Brock (Pewter Gym Leader) into Ash's orbit. Pokémania peaked between 1998 and 2000 with the Burger King toy line, sealed booster boxes selling out within hours, and a Time magazine cover. The franchise's most-banned episode also lives here: EP038, Electric Soldier Porygon, never re-aired anywhere.

Story arcs · 5 major beats

How the series moves.

  1. EP001-EP082

    Indigo League (Kanto)

    Ash collects eight Kanto badges, faces rival Gary Oak, and competes at the Indigo Plateau Conference. Misty and Brock complete the original trio. Team Rocket's Jessie / James / Meowth introduced in EP002.

  2. EP083-EP118

    Adventures in the Orange Islands

    A filler arc inserted while Game Freak finalized Gen II. Brock stays behind with Prof. Ivy; Pokémon Watcher Tracey Sketchit replaces him. Ash collects four unique island gym badges and defeats Champion Drake.

  3. EP119-EP160

    The Johto Journeys

    Misty rejoins, Brock returns, Tracey takes the Prof. Oak assistant job. The original trio travels Johto. Pace is slower than Kanto; the arc lingers on creature design and side characters.

  4. EP161-EP212

    Johto League Champions

    Continues the Johto badge run. Ash's Chikorita evolves into Bayleef; Brock's Onix evolves into Steelix. Team Rocket gets multiple character episodes that elevate them past gag villains.

  5. EP213-EP274

    Master Quest

    Ash completes Johto, then enters the Silver Conference. Defeats rival Gary Oak before losing to Harrison in the Top 8. The original trio splits at the end. End of an era.

Format introductions

What this era introduced.

  • Type effectiveness chart
  • Trading via Game Link Cable references
  • Held items (Johto)
  • Day / night cycle (Johto)

Key episodes · the ones to watch

Episodes that mattered.

  1. EP001
    Pokémon, I Choose You!

    Pikachu's debut as Ash's reluctant starter. Bicycle gets fried; Spearow swarm; Ho-Oh flies overhead. The franchise's opening shot.
  2. EP025
    Primeape Goes Bananas

    Ash catches the Mankey that would be his Primeape. Famous for being left with a Gym Leader and never returning - a recurring fan grievance solved in Journeys.
  3. EP038
    Electric Soldier Porygon

    Banned worldwide. The Porygon line has not headlined an episode since.
  4. EP080
    Friends to the End

    Ash loses to Ritchie at the Indigo Conference Top 16. First major canonical loss; sets the tone for the next 20 years of "Ash gets close but does not win."
  5. EP272
    Hoenn Alone!

    Final episode of the original series. Ash leaves for Hoenn; Misty stays at Cerulean; Brock follows Ash. Show transitions to Advanced Generation.

Competitive climax

League result.

Top 16 at the Indigo League (loss to Ritchie). Champion at the Orange League. Top 8 at the Silver Conference (loss to Harrison).

Cast rotation

Who travels, who rivals, who villains.

Ash KetchumPikachuMistyBrockTracey SketchitGary OakProfessor Samuel OakJessieJamesMeowthWobbuffet

Theme notes

Opening songs and scoring.

Japanese OP1 "Mezase Pokémon Master" performed by Rica Matsumoto became the franchise's signature anthem. The US dub theme by Jason Paige is the most quoted Pokémon song in Western media.

Reception

How it lands now.

Universally regarded as the cultural high-water mark of the franchise alongside the late-2010s SM Alola League win. The Indigo and Johto arcs hold up. Orange Islands is a filler arc that the fandom is now nostalgic about; at the time it was contested.

Episode database · 276 entries

Every episode in the series.

JP debut 1997-04-01, EP001 "Pokémon, I Choose You!". Latest entry EP252 "Kōri no Dōkutsu!" (2002-05-30).

Show all 276 episodes
  1. EP001 Pokémon, I Choose You! 1998-09-08
  2. EP002 Pokémon Emergency! 1998-09-09
  3. EP003 Ash Catches a Pokémon 1998-09-10
  4. EP004 Challenge of the Samurai 1998-09-11
  5. EP005 Showdown in Pewter City 1998-09-14
  6. EP006 Clefairy and the Moon Stone 1998-09-15
  7. EP007 The Water Flowers of Cerulean City 1998-09-16
  8. EP008 The Path to the Pokémon League 1998-09-17
  9. EP009 The School of Hard Knocks 1998-09-18
  10. EP010 Bulbasaur and the Hidden Village 1998-09-21
  11. EP011 Charmander – The Stray Pokémon 1998-09-22
  12. EP012 Here Comes the Squirtle Squad 1998-09-23
  13. EP013 Mystery at the Lighthouse 1998-09-24
  14. EP014 Electric Shock Showdown 1998-09-25
  15. EP015 Battle Aboard the St. Anne 1998-09-07
  16. EP016 Pokémon Shipwreck 1998-09-29
  17. EP017 Island of the Giant Pokémon 1998-09-30
  18. EP018 Beauty and the Beach 2000-06-24
  19. EP019 Tentacool & Tentacruel 1998-10-01
  20. EP020 The Ghost of Maiden's Peak 1998-10-02
  21. EP021 Bye Bye Butterfree 1998-10-05
  22. EP022 Abra and the Psychic Showdown 1998-10-06
  23. EP023 The Tower of Terror 1998-10-07
  24. EP024 Haunter vs. Kadabra 1998-10-08
  25. EP025 Primeape Goes Bananas 1998-10-09
  26. EP026 Pokémon Scent-sation! 1998-10-12
  27. EP027 Hypno's Naptime 1998-10-13
  28. EP028 Pokémon Fashion Flash 1998-10-14
  29. EP029 The Punchy Pokémon 1998-10-15
  30. EP030 Sparks Fly for Magnemite 1998-10-16
  31. EP031 Dig Those Diglett! 1998-10-19
  32. EP032 The Ninja-Poké Showdown 1998-10-20
  33. EP033 The Flame Pokémon-athon! 1998-10-21
  34. EP034 The Kangaskhan Kid 1998-10-22
  35. EP035 The Legend of Dratini 1997-11-25
  36. EP036 The Bridge Bike Gang 1998-10-23
  37. EP037 Ditto's Mysterious Mansion 1998-10-26
  38. EP038 Electric Soldier Porygon 1997-12-16
  39. EP039 Pikachu's Goodbye 1998-11-20
  40. EP040 The Battling Eevee Brothers 1998-10-27
  41. EP041 Wake Up Snorlax! 1998-10-28
  42. EP042 Showdown at Dark City 1998-10-29
  43. EP043 The March of the Exeggutor Squad 1998-10-30
  44. EP044 The Problem with Paras 1999-02-13
  45. EP045 The Song of Jigglypuff 1999-02-20
  46. EP046 Attack of the Prehistoric Pokémon 1999-02-27
  47. EP047 A Chansey Operation 1999-03-06
  48. EP048 Holy Matrimony! 1999-03-13
  49. EP049 So Near, Yet So Farfetch'd 1999-03-20
  50. EP050 Who Gets to Keep Togepi? 1999-03-27
  51. EP051 Bulbasaur's Mysterious Garden 1999-04-03
  52. EP052 Princess vs. Princess 1999-09-04
  53. EP053 The Purr-fect Hero 1999-09-11
  54. EP054 The Case of the K-9 Caper! 1999-04-10
  55. EP055 Pokémon Paparazzi 1999-04-17
  56. EP056 The Ultimate Test 1999-04-24
  57. EP057 The Breeding Center Secret 1999-05-01
  58. EP058 Riddle Me This 1999-09-18
  59. EP059 Volcanic Panic 1999-09-18
  60. EP060 Beach Blank-Out Blastoise 1999-09-20
  61. EP061 The Misty Mermaid 1999-09-23
  62. EP062 Clefairy Tales 1999-09-25
  63. EP063 The Battle of the Badge 1999-09-25
  64. EP064 It's Mr. Mime Time! 1999-09-27
  65. EP065 Holiday Hi-Jynx 1999-12-11
  66. EP066 Snow Way Out 1999-12-18
  67. EP067 Showdown at the Po-ké Corral 1999-09-30
  68. EP068 The Evolution Solution 1999-10-02
  69. EP069 The Pi-Kahuna 1999-10-02
  70. EP070 Make Room for Gloom 1999-10-04
  71. EP071 Lights, Camera, Quack-tion! 1999-10-08
  72. EP072 Go West, Young Meowth 1999-10-09
  73. EP073 To Master the Onixpected! 1999-10-11
  74. EP074 The Ancient Puzzle of Pokémopolis 1999-10-14
  75. EP075 Bad to the Bone! 1999-10-16
  76. EP076 All Fired Up! 1999-10-23
  77. EP077 Round One: Begin! 1999-10-30
  78. EP078 Fire and Ice 1999-11-06
  79. EP079 The Fourth Round Rumble 1999-11-13
  80. EP080 A Friend in Deed 1999-11-20
  81. EP081 Friend and Foe Alike 1999-11-27
  82. EP082 Friends to the End 1999-11-27
  83. EP083 Pallet Party Panic 1999-12-04
  84. EP084 A Scare in the Air 2000-01-08
  85. EP085 Pokéball Peril 2000-01-15
  86. EP086 The Lost Lapras 2000-01-22
  87. EP087 Fit to Be Tide 2000-02-05
  88. EP088 Pikachu Re-Volts 2000-02-05
  89. EP089 The Crystal Onix 2000-02-05
  90. EP090 In the Pink 2000-02-12
  91. EP091 Shell Shock 2000-03-04
  92. EP092 Stage Fight! 2000-02-12
  93. EP093 Bye Bye Psyduck 2000-02-26
  94. EP094 The Joy of Pokémon 2000-03-04
  95. EP095 Navel Maneuvers 2000-03-11
  96. EP096 Snack Attack 2000-03-25
  97. EP097 A Shipful of Shivers 2000-03-25
  98. EP098 Meowth Rules! 2000-03-25
  99. EP099 Tracey Gets Bugged 2000-04-01
  100. EP100 A Way Off Day Off 2000-04-08
  101. EP101 The Mandarin Island Miss Match 2000-04-15
  102. EP102 Wherefore Art Thou, Pokémon 2000-04-22
  103. EP103 Get Along, Little Pokémon 2000-04-29
  104. EP104 The Mystery Menace 2000-05-06
  105. EP105 Misty Meets Her Match 2000-09-09
  106. EP106 Bound for Trouble 2000-09-15
  107. EP107 Charizard Chills 2000-09-02
  108. EP108 The Pokémon Water War 2000-08-26
  109. EP109 Pokémon Food Fight 2000-08-19
  110. EP110 Pokémon Double Trouble 2000-09-09
  111. EP111 The Wacky Watcher! 2000-09-16
  112. EP112 The Stun Spore Detour 2000-09-16
  113. EP113 Hello, Pummelo! 2000-09-23
  114. EP114 Enter the Dragonite 2000-09-23
  115. EP115 Viva Las Lapras 2000-09-30
  116. EP116 The Underground Round-Up 2000-09-30
  117. EP117 A Tent Situation 2000-10-07
  118. EP118 The Rivalry Revival 2000-10-14
  119. EP119 Don't Touch That 'dile 2000-10-14
  120. EP120 The Double Trouble Header 2000-10-21
  121. EP121 A Sappy Ending 2000-10-28
  122. EP122 Roll On, Pokémon! 2000-11-04
  123. EP123 Illusion Confusion! 2000-11-04
  124. EP124 Flower Power 2000-11-11
  125. EP125 Spinarak Attack 2000-11-11
  126. EP126 Snubbull Snobbery 2000-11-18
  127. EP127 The Little Big Horn 2000-11-18
  128. EP128 The Chikorita Rescue 2000-11-25
  129. EP129 Once in a Blue Moon 2000-12-02
  130. EP130 The Whistle Stop 2000-12-02
  131. EP131 Ignorance is Blissey 2000-12-09
  132. EP132 A Bout with Sprout 2000-12-16
  133. EP133 Fighting Flyer with Fire 2000-12-16
  134. EP134 For Crying Out Loud 2001-01-20
  135. EP135 Tanks a Lot! 2001-01-27
  136. EP136 Charizard's Burning Ambitions 2001-02-03
  137. EP137 Grin to Win! 2001-02-10
  138. EP138 Chikorita's Big Upset 2001-01-20
  139. EP139 Foul Weather Friends 2001-02-10
  140. EP140 The Superhero Secret 2001-02-17
  141. EP141 Mild 'n Wooly 2001-02-17
  142. EP142 Wired for Battle! 2001-02-24
  143. EP143 Good 'Quil Hunting 2001-03-03
  144. EP144 A Shadow of a Drought 2001-03-03
  145. EP145 Going Apricorn! 2001-03-10
  146. EP146 Gettin' the Bugs Out 2001-03-17
  147. EP147 A Farfetch'd Tale 2001-03-17
  148. EP148 Tricks of the Trade 2001-03-24
  149. EP149 The Fire-ing Squad! 2001-04-21
  150. EP150 No Big Woop! 2001-03-31
  151. EP151 Tunnel Vision 2001-04-07
  152. EP152 Hour of the Houndour 2001-04-14
  153. EP153 The Totodile Duel 2001-05-05
  154. EP154 Hot Matches! 2001-05-12
  155. EP155 Love, Totodile Style 2001-05-26
  156. EP156 Fowl Play! 2001-04-28
  157. EP157 Forest Grumps 2001-06-02
  158. EP158 The Psychic Sidekicks! 2001-08-11
  159. EP159 The Fortune Hunters 2001-05-19
  160. EP160 A Goldenrod Opportunity 2001-08-18
  161. EP161 A Dairy Tale Ending 2001-08-18
  162. EP162 Air Time! 2001-09-08
  163. EP163 The Bug Stops Here 2001-08-25
  164. EP164 Type Casting 2001-09-01
  165. EP165 Fossil Fools 2001-09-15
  166. EP166 Carrying On 2001-09-22
  167. EP167 Hassle in the Castle 2001-09-29
  168. EP168 Two Hits and a Miss 2001-09-15
  169. EP169 A Hot Water Battle 2001-09-22
  170. EP170 Hook, Line, and Stinker 2001-09-29
  171. EP171 Beauty and the Breeder 2001-10-06
  172. EP172 A Better Pill to Swallow 2001-10-13
  173. EP173 Power Play! 2001-10-20
  174. EP174 Mountain Time 2001-10-20
  175. EP175 Wobbu-Palooza 2001-10-27
  176. EP176 Imitation Confrontation 2001-10-27
  177. EP177 The Trouble with Snubbull 2001-11-03
  178. EP178 Ariados, Amigos 2001-11-17
  179. EP179 Wings 'N' Things 2001-11-17
  180. EP180 The Grass Route 2001-11-03
  181. EP181 The Apple Corp 2001-12-01
  182. EP182 Houndoom's Special Delivery 2001-12-01
  183. EP183 A Ghost of a Chance 2001-11-10
  184. EP184 From Ghost to Ghost 2001-11-10
  185. EP185 Trouble's Brewing 2001-12-08
  186. EP186 All That Glitters! 2001-12-15
  187. EP187 The Light Fantastic 2001-12-15
  188. EP188 UnBEARable 2002-01-19
  189. EP189 Moving Pictures 2002-01-26
  190. EP190 Spring Fever 2002-02-02
  191. EP191 Freeze Frame 2002-02-09
  192. EP192 The Stolen Stones! 2002-02-16
  193. EP193 The Dunsparce Deception 2002-02-23
  194. EP194 The Wayward Wobbuffet 2002-03-02
  195. EP195 Sick Daze 2002-03-09
  196. EP196 Ring Masters 2002-03-16
  197. EP197 The Poké-Spokesman 2002-03-23
  198. EP198 Control Freak! 2002-03-30
  199. EP199 The Art of Pokémon 2002-04-06
  200. EP200 The Heartbreak of Brock 2002-04-13
  201. EP201 Current Events 2002-04-27
  202. EP202 Turning Over a New Bayleef 2002-05-04
  203. EP203 Doin' What Comes Natu-rally 2002-05-18
  204. EP204 The Big Balloon Blow-Up 2002-05-25
  205. EP205 The Screen Actor's Guilt 2002-06-01
  206. EP206 Right On, Rhydon! 2002-06-22
  207. EP207 The Kecleon Caper 2002-08-17
  208. EP208 The Joy of Water Pokémon 2002-08-24
  209. EP209 Got Miltank? 2002-08-31
  210. EP210 Fight for the Light 2002-09-07
  211. EP211 Machoke, Machoke Man! 2002-09-07
  212. EP212 Around the Whirlpool 2002-09-14
  213. EP213 Fly Me to the Moon 2002-09-21
  214. EP214 Takin' It on the Chinchou! 2002-09-28
  215. EP215 A Corsola Caper! 2002-10-05
  216. EP216 Mantine Overboard! 2002-10-12
  217. EP217 Octillery the Outcast 2002-10-19
  218. EP218 Dueling Heroes 2002-10-26
  219. EP219 The Perfect Match! 2002-11-02
  220. EP220 Plant It Now... Diglett Later 2002-11-09
  221. EP221 Hi Ho Silver... Away! 2002-11-16
  222. EP222 The Mystery Is History 2002-11-23
  223. EP223 A Parent Trapped! 2002-11-30
  224. EP224 A Promise is a Promise 2002-12-07
  225. EP225 Throwing in the Noctowl 2002-12-14
  226. EP226 Nerves of Steelix! 2002-12-21
  227. EP227 Bulbasaur... the Ambassador! 2002-09-23
  228. EP228 Espeon, Not Included 2002-09-24
  229. EP229 For Ho-Oh the Bells Toll! 2002-09-25
  230. EP230 Extreme Pokémon! 2003-01-04
  231. EP231 An EGG-sighting Adventure! 2003-01-11
  232. EP232 Hatching a Plan 2003-01-18
  233. EP233 Dues and Don'ts 2003-01-25
  234. EP234 Just Waiting On a Friend 2002-09-26
  235. EP235 A Tyrogue Full of Trouble 2003-02-01
  236. EP236 Xatu the Future 2003-02-08
  237. EP237 Talkin' 'Bout an Evolution 2003-02-15
  238. EP238 Rage of Innocence 2003-02-22
  239. EP239 As Cold as Pryce 2003-03-01
  240. EP240 Nice Pryce, Baby! 2003-03-08
  241. EP241 Whichever Way the Wind Blows 2003-03-22
  242. EP242 Some Like It Hot 2003-03-29
  243. EP243 Hocus Pokémon 2003-04-05
  244. EP244 As Clear as Crystal 2003-04-12
  245. EP245 Same Old Song and Dance 2003-04-19
  246. EP246 Enlighten Up! 2003-04-26
  247. EP247 Will the Real Oak Please Stand Up? 2002-09-27
  248. EP248 Wish Upon a Star Shape 2003-05-03
  249. EP249 Outrageous Fortunes 2003-05-10
  250. EP250 One Trick Phony! 2003-05-17
  251. EP251 I Politoed Ya So! 2003-05-24
  252. EP253 Beauty Is Skin Deep 2003-05-31
  253. EP254 Fangs for Nothin' 2003-06-07
  254. EP255 Great Bowls of Fire! 2003-06-14
  255. EP256 Better Eight Than Never 2003-06-21
  256. EP257 Why? Wynaut! 2003-06-28
  257. EP258 Just Add Water 2003-07-12
  258. EP259 Lapras of Luxury 2003-07-26
  259. EP260 Hatch Me If You Can 2003-08-09
  260. EP261 Entei at Your Own Risk 2003-08-16
  261. EP262 A Crowning Achievement 2003-08-23
  262. EP263 Here's Lookin' at You, Elekid 2003-08-30
  263. EP264 You're a Star, Larvitar! 2003-09-06
  264. EP265 Address Unown! 2003-09-13
  265. EP266 Mother of All Battles 2003-09-15
  266. EP267 Pop Goes the Sneasel 2003-09-16
  267. EP268 A Claim to Flame! 2003-09-17
  268. EP269 Love, Pokémon Style 2003-09-18
  269. EP270 Tie One On! 2003-09-19
  270. EP271 The Ties That Bind 2003-09-20
  271. EP272 Can't Beat the Heat! 2003-09-27
  272. EP273 Playing with Fire! 2003-10-04
  273. EP274 Johto Photo Finish 2003-10-11
  274. EP275 Gotta Catch Ya Later! 2003-10-18
  275. EP276 Hoenn Alone! 2003-10-25
  276. EP252 Kōri no Dōkutsu! 2002-05-30

Editorial facts hand-verified May 2026 against Bulbapedia, Wikipedia, and Pokemon.com. Episode data from the Wikipedia MediaWiki parse. Pokémon, character names, and series titles © Nintendo, Game Freak, Creatures Inc., The Pokémon Company, OLM Inc. This is an unofficial fan reference.