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Feb. 5th, 2024
Pokemon Anime Watch Order Guide
Feb. 5th, 2024 09:24 pmSo, 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 )
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 )