Where and how to watch every season of the original Pokémon anime

We’re still more than a week away from Pokémon Day, the annual celebration of the Japanese release of the original Pokémon games and, with it, the English debut of Pokémon Horizons: The Series. The upcoming season will be the first in the series to star characters other than Ash Ketchum, as the anime first premiered back in 1997.

Western audiences still have some time until we meet Liko and Roy, the protagonists of Pokémon Horizonswho will take over the baton from Ketchum after his championship win late last year Pokémon Ultimate Journeys. In the meantime, why not take a walk down memory lane and revisit the previous seasons of the anime before the latest entry? We’ve compiled a list of all the services where you can watch all 25 seasons of the original Pokémon anime.

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Pokémon: The Original Series (1997-2002)

Seasons 1-5: Indigo League, Adventures on the Orange Islands, The Johto Journeys, Johto League Champions, Master Quest

Where to stream: Netflix (first half of season one); the Pokémon Additional Channel on Prime Video or for digital rental/purchase on Amazon (second half of Season 1, Season 2, Season 3, Season 4, Season 5)

The series that started it all! Aspiring Pokémon trainer Ash Ketchum leaves his hometown of Pallet Town to explore the Kanto and later the Johto region with his electrifying partner Pokémon Pikachu. Along the way, he earns Gym badges and catches other Pokémon on his way to becoming the very best like no one has ever been. Along the way, Ash teams up with his friends Misty and Brock and takes on Team Rocket members Jessie, James and Meowth.

Ruby and Sapphire Bow (2002–06)

Seasons 6-9: Advanced, Advanced Challenge, Advanced Battle, Battle Frontier

Where to stream: Freevee, the Pokémon additional channel on Prime Video, or for digital rental/purchase on Amazon

In the Ruby and Sapphire arc of the Pokémon anime, Ash left the Johto region (along with his allies and Pokémon, excluding Pikachu) to begin a new adventure in the Hoenn region. There, Ash met and befriended fellow Pokémon Trainer May and her younger brother Max, who joined Ash on his journey to battle for the Hoenn Pokémon League Championship.

Diamond and Pearl (2006-10)

Seasons 10-13: Diamond and Pearl, Diamond and Pearl: Battle Dimension, Diamond and Pearl: Galactic Battles, Diamond and Pearl: Sinnoh League Winners

Where to stream: The Pokémon Additional Channel on Prime Video or for digital rental/purchase on Amazon

After the conclusion of the Ruby and Sapphire arc, Ash Ketchum traveled to the Sinnoh region to continue his journey to becoming a Pokémon Master. Eventually, he reunited with his old friend Brock and met a new companion in the form of Dawn, the daughter of a top Pokémon coordinator who wanted to follow in her mother’s footsteps. Along the way, Ash also met Paul, a rival Pokémon trainer whose philosophy conflicts with Ash’s belief that friendship and empathy are the keys to effective Pokémon mastery.

Black and White Arc (2010–13)

Seasons 14-16: Black & White, Black & White: Rival Destinies, Black & White: Adventures in Unova and Beyond

Where to stream: Tubi, the Pokémon additional channel on Prime Video, or for digital rental/purchase on Amazon

The Black and White arc of the Pokémon anime followed Ash’s adventures through the Unova region. This arc introduced two new companions: Iris, a Pokémon Trainer who specializes in Dragon-types, and Cilan, one of the Gym Leaders of the Striaton City Gym and a “Pokémon Connoisseur” who matches trainers with starter Pokémon based on various compatibility forms . The Black & White arc also introduced Team Plasma, a rival rogue organization to Team Rocket whose mission is to dismantle Pokémon society and free Pokémon from what they believe is unjust imprisonment.

XY (2013-16)

Seasons 17-19: XY, XY: Kalos Quest, XYZ

Where to stream: Hulu, the Pokémon additional channel on Prime Video, or for digital rental/purchase on Amazon

Pokémon – The TV Series: XY followed Ash and Pikachu as they explored the Kalos region, encountering numerous new Pokémon and witnessing the mysterious power of Mega Evolution. Ash makes several friends, including Clemont, the inventor, and his little sister Bonnie, as well as Serena, a Pokémon actress who Ash met years ago when they were both children.

Sun & Moon (2016-19)

Seasons 20-22: Sun and Moon, Sun and Moon: Ultra Adventures, Sun and Moon: Ultra Legends

Where to stream: The Roku Channel, the Pokémon Additional Channel on Prime Video or for digital rental/purchase on Amazon

Mentioned by many Pokémon fans (including Monster children Author Daniel Dockery) as the culmination of the original anime, the Sun & Moon arc not only saw a major redesign of Ash Ketchum’s characters, but also introduced the Alola region and the concept of Z-Moves. Instead of traveling around the region, Ash attends the Pokémon School on Melemele Island, where he befriends his classmates Lana, Lillie, Mallow, Sophocles, and Kiawe.

Travel (2019–2023)

Seasons 23-25: Journeys: The Series, Master Journeys: The Series, Ultimate Journeys: The Series

Where to stream: Netflix

The “Pokémon Journeys” story arc ended the 26-year saga of the original anime on a high note as Ash finally became the Pokémon World Champion after defeating Leon, the Champion of the Galar region and “Monarch” of the “Pokémon World Coronation” series. defeated. The story arc reintroduced several old companions such as Misty and Brock, as well as a new friend in the form of Goh, a young Pokémon trainer who had a formative experience with the elusive mythical Pokémon Mew.