So, I've started a Pokemon anime series watchthrough and I'm finding it difficult to know exactly where everything lands. I've found some various sources with watch orders, but they're all incomplete, wrong, etc. and I'm really having trouble finding anything GOOD.

I'm sure someone has compiled this before, but I wanted to do my own, because making lists and looking up data is a lot of fun.

The goal of this guide is to get you everything you need to watch the original run of the Pokemon anime, including all shorts, specials, and movies, in the order they were released in Japan. If you're wanting to watch the English or another language version, simply follow this but omit things that didn't release in your region, or squeeze in some Japanese stuff to see a little more! If you're only wanting to watch a certain major arc, I have separated it by those as well!

The original run of the Pokemon anime lasted for 1234 TV episodes, with more than 40 TV Specials, 28 shorts, and a whopping 22 movies. There is a LOT to watch. The series has recently been rebooted with new characters, which I'm NOT including (there's not much to it yet, so it shouldn't be hard to add on!) so if you're just wanting the saga of Satoshi (Ash) and Pikachu and friends, this SHOULD get you everything.

As far as canon goes, pretty much all the specials are considered canon to the TV series (and usually aired alongside it), but the movies are generally considered non-canon (though there are arguments either way). Pikachu shorts are just non-canon cute things that have nothing to do with anything. If you're just wanting to see the TV series, feel free to skip the shorts and movies, but definitely watch the specials.

I'm not like super knowledgeable about Pokemon anime, I'm making this list because I'm going to be watching it through for the first time myself (outside of a little watching as a young teen when it was new in English version!) so if you know of anything missing, please let me know!

Some things to know:

"Ep." refers to a TV Episode. These are mostly what you'll be watching, interrupted by other things. There are various ways episodes are organized, so I'll just be using OVERALL numbering, not breaking them into seasons. Since there's a million different ways these are numbered, I'll also provide the episode titles.

"Sp." refers to a TV Special. They're not normally included with other episodes in most numbering systems and on DVD and web releases, for example. These can be anything from a few minute shorts to multiple-episode sagas or even full-length TV movies. I'll try to mark which is which.

"Mv." refers to a theatrical movie release. There are 22 (base number) of these, with one being split into two almost-identical movies, and a remake of the first movie not being counted in that 22.

"Pi." refers to a Pikachu Short. These are short films released in a variety of ways, such as alongside movies or on airline in-flight entertainment.

Title translations from the first few arcs are my own, but should be similar enough (or the same) as other sources that you shouldn't get too confused. Once D&P hits I start using the titles from Wikipedia or Bulbapedia, even though I don't like a lot of them.

THE GUIDE

Kanto League

Ep. 1 (Pokemon! I Choose You!) - Ep. 54 (Gardie the Police Dog)

Pi. 1 (Pikachu's Summer Vacation)

Mv. 1 (Mewtwo Strikes Back)

Ep. 55 (Photo Op Pikachu) - Ep. 77 (Pokemon League Begins! Water Field!)

Pi. 2 (Let's Play on Christmas!)

Pi. 3 (Let's Play in the Snow!)

Ep. 78 (Ice Field! Flame Battle!) - Ep. 82 (Pokemon League! The Final Battle!)

Orange Islands

Ep. 83 (Masara Town! A New Journey!) - Ep. 106 (Pikachu VS Nyarth?!)

Pi. 4 (Expedition Pikachu)

Sp. Yadoking's Day (Short that played with Mv. #2)

Mv. 2 (Mythical Pokemon: Lugia's Sudden Emergence!)

Ep. 107 (Lizardon! I Choose You!) - Ep. 118 (Rival Showdown! Satoshi VS Shigeru!!)

Johto League

Ep. 119 (Wakaba Town! Where the Winds Mark Beginnings!) - Ep. 128 (Stubborn Chicorita!)

Pi. 5 (Let's Play on the Ice!)

Pi. 6 (Christmas Night)

Ep. 129 (Nuoh and the GS Ball?!) - Ep. 157 (Surprise!! Ringuma)

Pi. 7 (Pichu & Pikachu)

Mv. 3 (Entei, Emperor of the Crystal Tower)

Ep. 158 (Kirinriki! The Village of Esper Pokemon!) - Ep. 180 (Popocco! Grass Pokemon Battle!)

Pi. 8 (Delibird's Present)

Pi. 9 (White Story)

Sp. Mewtwo Saga: Mewtwo! I Am Here! (TV Movie, later divided to 3 episodes)

Ep. 181 (Pikachu & Pichu!) - Ep. 207 (Where's Kakureon?! Chaos from the Invisible Pokemon!)

Pi. 10 (Pikachu's Exciting Hide-and-Seek)

Mv. 4 (Celebi: The Meeting that Traversed Time)

Ep. 208 (Joy the Water Pokemon Hater? Kasumi's Wrath!) - Ep. 232 (The Egg Hatches)

Sp. Raikou! The Legend of Thunder (TV Movie)

Ep. 233 (Rocket Co. & Delibird!) - Ep 257 (Sohnano? Sonans and the Gym Badges!)

Pi. 11 (Shining Starry Sky Camp)

Mv 5. (Guardians of the Water Capital: Latios & Latias)

Ep. 258 (Ryugu Gym! Battle in the Water!) - Ep. 276 (Parting with Pikachu!)

Hoenn League

Ep. 277 (A New Land! A New Adventure!) - Ep. 278 (Ancient Pokemon and the Mystery Corps)

Sp. Takeshi! Save Nibi Gym! (Side Story Episode)

Ep. 279 (Touka Gym! VS Yarukimono!)

Sp. Revenge Match at Hanada Gym (Side Story Episode)

Ep. 280 (Full of Subame, Full of Danger! GET in Touka Woods!)

Sp. You Got This! Forward, Rocket Co.! (Side Story Episode)

Ep. 281 (Jiguzaguma and Shorts Kid! Haruka's First Battle!) - Ep. 283 (Kimori's Forest! Protect the Huge Tree!!)

Sp. The Big Battle of Ookido Residence! (Side Story Episode)

Ep. 284 (Habuneku VS Kimori! Death Blow!) - Ep. 289 (Pokémon Contest! Agehunt's Magnificent Battle!!)

Sp. Kasumi! Get the Blue Badge! (Side Story Episode)

Ep. 290 (Double Battle, Double Kemusso?!)

Sp. Meeting in Milenium Town (Side Story Episode)

Sp. A Rough Job for Nyarth?! (Side Story Episode)

Ep. 291 (Study Time! Pokemon Trainers' School) - Ep. 295 (Escape! Samehader's Island!!)

Sp. Pokemon Dragnet! Search for Dr. Ookido! (Side Story Episode)

Ep. 296 (Muro Gym! The Surfing Leader Touki Appears!) - Ep. 305 (Surprise! Yamirami)

Sp. Calling Detective Nyarth!! (Side Story Episode)

Sp. Niece Ruriri is a Huge Pain? (Side Story Episode)

Ep. 306 (Battle Girl and Asanan! Amidst a Storm!) - Ep. 311 (Haruka! The First Pokémon Contest Challenge!!)

Pi. 12 (Dancing Pokemon Secret Base)

Mv. 6 (Wishing Star of the Seven Nights: Jirachi)

Ep. 312 (Protect the Ocean Museum! The Magma Group's Attack!!) - Ep. 316 (Kinsetsu Gym! Tessen's Shocking Battle!!)

Sp. Kasumi Playing for Real! Life on the Line! (Side Story Episode)

Ep. 317 (Kimori's New Technique! Seed Machinegun in the Watermelon Patch!) - Ep. 320 (Kasumi Appears! Togepi and the Mythical Kingdom!)

Sp. Rocket Co.: The Origin of Love and Youth (Side Story Episode)

Ep. 321 (Beyond the Mirage! Togepi's Paradise!)

Sp. Another Legend of Celebi (Side Story Episode)

Ep. 322 (Kachinuki Family! 4 VS 4!)

Sp. Masara Town, Start of a Pokemon Trainer's Journey (Side Story Episode)

Ep. 323 (Eneko and Aromatherapy!) - Ep. 343 (Dance Battle! Runpappa!!)

Sp. Pokémon Researcher Shigeru and the Revived Ptera (Side Story Episode)

Ep. 344 (Dad's an Idol?! Fake Gym Leader!!) - Ep. 361 (Hiwamaki Gym! Battle in the Sky!!)

Mv. 7 (Visitor from the Ruptured Sky: Deoxys)

Ep. 362 (The Film's Riding on Bakuuda!!) - Ep. 363 (Mystery! Pokemon that Came from Space?!)

Pi. 13 (Pikachu's Summer Festival)

Ep. 364 (Kabigon from Banana Namakero Park!!) - Ep. 369 (Pearlulu and Baneboo! Find the Pearl!)

Sp. Kasumi and Lovecus! Love Battle! (Side Story Episode)

Ep. 370 (Glanth and the Deep Sea Treasure!)

Sp. Nanako and Lizardon! Intense Flame Training! (Side Story Episode)

Ep. 371 (Huntail and Sakurabyss! The Mystery of Evolution!)

Sp. The Heavenly Legend, Hiroshi and Fire! (Side Story Episode)

Ep. 372 (Muscle Battle?! Double Battle!!) - Ep. 395 (Mysterious Thief Bannai and the Ribbon Cup!!)

Pi. 14 (Pokémon 3D Adventure: Find Mew!)

Ep. 396 (Satoshi and Haruka! Heated Battles in Hoenn!!) - Ep. 410 (Mt. Otsukimi! With Py, Pippi and Pixy!)

Mv. 8 (Mew and the Aura Hero Lucario)

Kanto Battle Frontier

Ep. 411 (First Battle! Battle Factory!! [First Half]) - Ep. 412 (First Battle! Battle Factory!! [Last Half])

Pi. 15 (Pikachu's Ghost Carnival)

Ep. 413 (The Iwark Kingdom!!) - Ep. 453 (Takeshi & Satoshi! Defend Nibi Gym in a Tag Battle!!)

Pi. 16 (Pikachu's Grand Ocean Adventure)

Ep. 454 (Battle Pyramid! VS Regirock!!) - Ep. 459 (Aipom and the King!)

Mv. 9 (Pokémon Ranger and the Prince of the Sea, Manaphy)

Ep. 460 (Perap and the Pokémon Comedian!) - Ep. 461 (Attack! The Stray Manyula!!)

Pi. 17 (Pikachu's Mischief Island)

Ep. 462 (Battle Pyramid Again! VS Registeel!) - Ep. 468 (Journey's End and Journey's Beginning!)

Diamond & Pearl

Ep 469 (Setting Off! From Futaba Town to Masago Town!!) - Ep. 472 (Pochama Against Subomie! Hikari's First Battle!!)

Sp. The Terrifying Mirage Pokémon (TV Movie)

Ep. 473 (Naetle! I Got It!) - Ep. 507 (Pikachu's Caretaking)

Mv. 10 (Dialga VS Palkia VS Darkrai)

Ep. 508 (Champion – Shirona Appears!!)- Ep. 509 (Hikari, Nozomi and the Double Performance!!)

Pi. 18 (Pikachu's Exploration Club)

Ep. 510 (Rakurai Practice Center!!) - Ep. 554 (Yosuga Collection! The Road to Becoming a Pokémon Stylist!!)

Mv. 11 (Giratina and the Bouquet of the Frozen Sky: Shaymin)

Ep. 555 (The Koduck Roadblock!)

Pi. 19 (Pikachu's Ice Adventure)

Ep. 556 (The Pokémon Summer School Course!!) - Ep. 603 (Everybody Participate! Pokémon Hustle!)

Mv. 12 (Arceus: To Conquering Space-Time)

Ep. 604 (Mt. Tengan Ruins! Conspiracy of Ginga-dan!!)

Pi. 20 (Pikachu's Sparkle Search!)

Ep. 605 (Marill, Pochama & Elekid!!) - Ep. 651 (Begin! Sinnoh League – Suzuran Tournament!!)

Mv. 13 (Phantom Ruler: Zoroark)

Ep. 652 (The Third-Round Battle of Sinnoh League! Shinji Against Jun!!) - Ep. 653 (Trick Room of Terror! Satoshi Against Kouhei!!)

Pi. 21 (Pikachu's Strange Wonder Adventure)

Ep. 654 (Rival Decisive Battle! Satoshi Against Shinji!!) - Ep. 659 (Memories Are Pearls! Friendship is a Diamond!!)

Best Wishes

Ep. 660 (To the Isshu Region! Zekrom's Shadow!!) - Ep. 677 (Yaguruma Forest! Kurumiru and Arti!!)

Sp. Hikari - Setting Off on a New Journey! (TV Special Episode)

Sp. Nibi Gym - The Greatest Crisis Ever! (TV Special Episode)

Ep. 678 (Sommelier Showdown! Ishizumai vs. Futachimaru!!) - Ep. 698 (Everyone Gathers! Don Battle!!)

Mv. 14A (Victini and the Black Hero: Zekrom)

Mv. 14B (Victini and the White Hero: Reshiram)

Ep. 699 (Fierce Fighting Don Battle! Tsutarja vs. Komatana!!)

Pi. 22 (Pikachu's Summer Bridge Story)

Ep. 700 (White Hot Don Battle! Emonga vs. Dageki!!) - Ep. 745 (Pochama vs. Yanappu! The Magnificent Battle!!)

Pi. 23 (Sing Meloetta: Search for the Rinka Berries)

Ep. 746 (Survival on the Island of Iwark!)

Pi. 24 (Meloetta's Dazzling Recital)

Mv. 15 (Kyurem vs. the Sacred Swordsman: Keldeo)

Ep. 747 (Sommelier Detective Dent! The Mystery of the Missing Kumasyun!!) - Ep. 792 (The Shining Flying Saucer! The Town of Ohbem!!)

Pi. 25 (Pikachu and Eievui Friends)

Mv. 16 (ExtremeSpeed Genesect: Mewtwo Awakens)

Ep. 793 (Pansy Appears! Erikiteru and Gogoat!!) - Ep. 801 (My Dream, Pokémon Master!!)

Sp. Dent and Takeshi! Gyarados's Outrage!! (TV Special Episode)

XY(&Z)

Ep. 802 (Let's Go to the Kalos Region! The Beginning of Dreams and Adventures!!) - Ep. 822 (It's a Debut! Serena and Fokko's PokéVision!!)

Sp. Iris vs. Ibuki! The Path to Becoming a Dragon Master!! (TV Special Episode)

Sp. The Strongest Mega Evolution: Act I (TV Special Episode)

Ep. 823 (Catch the Golden Koiking!) - Ep. 835 (Champion of the Forest! Luchabull Appears!!)

Pi. 26 (Pikachu, What's This Key For?)

Ep. 836 (Sky Battle!? Luchabull Against Fiarrow!!) - Ep. 849 (Send Out the Laplace Guard! Go For It Eureka!!)

Sp. The Strongest Mega Evolution: Act II (TV Special Episode)

Mv. 17 (Diancie and the Cocoon of Destruction)

Ep. 850 (Dance, Yancham — Captivate, Fokko! The Dance for Tomorrow!!) - Ep. 865 (Fokko VS Mahoxy! A Splendid Performance Battle!)

Sp. The Strongest Mega Evolution: Act III (TV Special Episode)

Ep. 866 (Kameil and Raichu Appear! Good Luck Numeil!!) - Ep. 882 (Satoshi Leaps Through Time! Rotom's Wish!!)

Pi. 27 (Pikachu and the Pokémon Band)

Mv. 18 (The Archdjinni of the Rings: Hoopa)

Ep. 883 (The Pumpjin Festival! Farewell, Bakeccha!?) - Ep. 903 (Terminus Cave! The Mystery of Z is Set in Motion!!)

Sp. The Strongest Mega Evolution: Act IV (TV Special Episode)

Ep. 904 (Eureka and Puni-chan!) - Ep. 927 (Mega Jukain VS Raichu! Received Some Experience Points!!)

Mv. 19 (Volcanion and the Exquisite Magearna)

Ep. 928 (The Semifinal Full Battle! Satoshi Vs Shota!!) - Ep. 941 (A Zero With No End! Till the Day We Meet Again!!)

Sp. XYZ's Legend! (TV Special Episode)

Sp. The Strongest Duo! Citron and Cilan!! (TV Special Episode)

Sun & Moon

Ep. 942 (Alola! New Islands, New Pokémon!!) - Ep. 974 (The Mighty Yowashi, Totem of the Lake!)

Mv. 20 (I Choose You!)

Ep. 975 (A Fiery Battle! Garagara Appears!!) - Ep. 1022 (Alola's Young Fire! The Birth of Royal Satoshi!!)

Mv. 21 (Everyone's Story)

Ep. 1023 (Dance Dance in Evolution?) - Ep. 1114 (Legends of Heroes! Dande's Greatest Battle!!)

Mv. 22 (Coco)

Ep. 1115 (Sobbing Messon) - Ep. 1181 (The Heracros Loss, the Kailios in Love)

Sp. Satoshi and Go! Let's Go to the Sinnoh Fest!! (Web Special Episode)

Sp. Rampaging Heatran!! (Web Special Episode)

Ep. 1182 (Farewell! The Wandering Rocket Gang!)

Sp. The Fierce Fighting at Mount Tengan!! (Web Special Episode)

Sp. Miraculous Radiance! The Legend of Sinnoh! (Web Special Episode)

Ep. 1183 (Reach Space! Denryu's Light!!) - Ep. 1223 (Satoshi and Go! Setting Off on a New Journey!!)

Sp. Pocket Monsters: The Distant Blue Sky (TV Special Episode)

Ep. 1224 (Winds of Beginning! The Endless Road!!) - Ep. 1234 (The Rainbow and the Pokémon Master!)

... And that's it! (Phew...) Happy watching!

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Sub-Arcs

The Whirlpool Islands sub-arc of Johto League ranges from episode 212-225. Nothing interrupts it.

The Episode N sub-arc of Best Wishes lasts from episodes 768-781. Nothing interrupts it.

The final arc of Best Wishes (Decolora) lasts from episodes 782-801 and is interrupted by movie 16 (Genesect).

The XY&Z sub-arc starts at episode 895, and is tied together with the previous arc through the fourth Mega Evolution special.

Satoshi's adventures with Goh start with episode 1189.

The final journey to be a master/champion starts at episode 1224. You could consider Episode 1223 and the TV Special The Distant Blue Sky to be precursors/included in this saga.

Episode numbers for sub-arcs are taken from Wikipedia's List of Pokemon Episodes.

Notes

The first 276 episodes are all just the "Pocket Monsters" series in Japan. It's not until epsiode 277 that the show started having subtitles like "Pocket Monsters: Advanced Generation."

The "Side Story Episodes" that start in Hoenn League arc were broadcast on Pokemon variety show "Weekly Pokemon Broadcasting Station" and later released as part of "Pokemon Chronicles"

The Hoenn League and Kanto Battle Frontier arcs are both part of "Pocket Monsters Advanced Generation." The opening theme changes on episode 411, so I am considering that the "beginning" of the Battle Frontier arc.

The Victini & The Black/White Hero movies aired at the same time; you could choose which one you wanted to see based on your favorite legendary Pokemon. They're the same movie with minor differences. Zekrom's movie aired first on US TV so I put that one first but there's no real order.

Episode 822 and the Iris vs Ibuki special aired on the same day in a one-hour block. I don't know which came first. Don't think it really matters?

I didn't include Mewtwo Strikes Back EVOLUTION, as it's just a 3D remake of the first movie and isn't particularly related to anything ongoing. If you want to include it, it first aired between episodes 1070 and 1071.

Movie #22 (Coco) was originally scheduled to release between episodes 1114 and 1115, but was delayed in release due to COVID-19. If you want to watch it when it actually released, despite intentions, it comes between 1136 and 1137.