Pocket Monsters
▶ Trailer
Studios
Staff
Characters
Where to watch
Tags
Episodes (38/276)
1 / 2- 1EP 1
Ash Ketchum bonds with Pikachu after oversleeping his first Pokemon assignment in Pallet Town.
Apr 1, 1997Ten-year-old Ash Ketchum from Pallet Town aims to become a Pokemon Master but oversleeps his appointment with Professor Oak. Consequently, the starter Pokemon are taken by other trainees, including rival Gary, leaving Ash with a stubborn Pikachu. The pair clash initially, as Pikachu refuses to enter its Poke Ball and avoids battling a Pidgey. Their relationship shifts when an angry Spearow flock attacks, wounding Pikachu. Ash protects his partner and borrows a bicycle from Misty to escape, though he crashes it. Surrounded by the birds, Ash’s bravery inspires Pikachu to use its remaining energy to defeat the attackers with an electric shock. This shared danger solidifies the growing bond between the trainer and his Pokemon.
- 2EP 2
Ash and Wounded Pikachu Arrive in Viridian City Amidst Team Rocket Threat
Apr 8, 1997Ash brings a severely injured Pikachu to Viridian City, where authorities are on high alert for Pokémon thieves like Jessie, James, and Meowth of Team Rocket. While Ash waits at the Pokémon Center, Misty arrives angry about a broken bike but softens upon seeing Pikachu on a stretcher. Team Rocket breaches the center, prompting Nurse Joy to move Poké Balls to Pewter City. Ash struggles against their Koffing and Ekans, but Pikachu joins other Pikachu to blast the villains away. Recognizing Pikachu's uniqueness, Team Rocket vows to capture it. Misty then joins Ash and Pikachu as they travel toward Pewter City. During their walk through Viridian Forest, a Caterpie appears, offering Ash a chance to catch his first Pokémon.
- 3EP 3
Ash captures his first Pokemon, a Caterpie, while facing Team Rocket's theft attempt
Apr 15, 1997Ash secures his first capture with a Caterpie, much to Misty’s disgust. While sleeping, Caterpie tells Pikachu of its desire to evolve. Ash later catches a Pidgeotto, though Misty attributes this to luck. Team Rocket arrives to steal Pikachu, recognizing its unique value. After Pikachu and Pidgeotto are weakened by Koffing and Ekans, Ash reluctantly deploys Caterpie. Surprisingly, Caterpie’s String Shot defeats the Team Rocket members and their Pokemon, including Meowth. As Misty attempts to befriend the Bug-type, it evolves into a Metapod, leaving its future transformation into a Butterfree uncertain.
- 4EP 4
Ash and Samurai clash in Viridian Forest while Beedrill threaten Metapod
Apr 22, 1997While wandering Viridian Forest, Ash and Misty encounter a boy calling himself Samurai. After a battle where Ash’s Metapod defends against Samurai’s Pinsir, a Beedrill swarm attacks. Ash flees but leaves Metapod behind, which is taken to the hive. Ash attempts a rescue, but Team Rocket arrives to cause trouble. The Beedrill redirect their anger toward Jessie, James, and Meowth. Metapod remains upset with Ash for abandoning it. The episode questions whether Ash has learned to value his friends, if Metapod will evolve, and if the battle with Samurai will resume.
- 5EP 5
Ash challenges Brock in Pewter City while Team Rocket falls into their own trap
Apr 29, 1997Jessie, James, and Meowth dig a trap for the heroes but fall in themselves. Ash and Misty reach Pewter City, where Flint notices Pikachu’s fatigue and guides them to the Pokemon Center. There, Ash sees a poster for the Pokemon League Regional Championships, which requires defeating gym leaders to earn badges. He challenges Pewter City Gym Leader Brock, but Pikachu loses despite being healed. Flint later reveals that Brock cares for ten siblings when not battling. The episode questions if this affects Ash’s desire for a rematch, Flint’s motives for helping Pikachu train, and whether Team Rocket escapes their hole.
- 6EP 6
Ash and friends rescue a scientist and encounter Clefairy near a Moon Stone at Mount Moon
May 6, 1997Ash and his companions save a researcher named Seymour from Zubat attacks at Mount Moon, where Brock captures one of the bats. Seymour guides them into a cave to locate the legendary Moon Stone, which is rumored to enhance Pokémon abilities. Inside, Ash observes a Clefairy holding the stone but refrains from catching it after Seymour explains that Clefairy prefer residing at Mount Moon. Just as Ash decides to leave the Pokémon undisturbed, Team Rocket arrives with their own intentions. The group faces uncertainty regarding whether Team Rocket will seize the stone, if other Clefairy exist nearby, and the validity of the stone's legendary powers.
- 7EP 7
Ash attempts to earn the Cascade badge in Cerulean City while facing unexpected obstacles and accusations.
May 13, 1997Ash and Brock arrive in Cerulean City seeking the Cascade badge, but Misty refuses to accompany them. The city is abuzz with rumors of a recent break-in, leading to Ash and Brock being wrongly suspected of the crime. Although Team Rocket is shown committing the robbery, their involvement remains unknown to the public. At the gym, which resembles an aquarium with an Olympic-sized pool, Ash witnesses a water show by the Sensational Cerulean City Synchronized Swimming Sisters. He soon discovers they are the Gym Leaders and challenges them, but they offer the badge without a fight. Just as Ash seems set to receive it effortlessly, a fourth Gym Leader emerges. The episode leaves questions about the mysterious leader, Team Rocket’s plans for the stolen goods, and Misty’s whereabouts unresolved.
- 8EP 8filler
Ash encounters an undefeated Gym Leader with a Sandshrew that counters his Flying types.
May 20, 1997Traveling toward Vermillion City, Ash meets AJ, an unsanctioned Gym Leader boasting 98 wins and zero losses. Their battle surprises Ash, as AJ’s Ground-type Sandshrew easily defeats his Flying-type Pokémon, defying standard type advantages. The group observes AJ’s rigorous training methods, including forcing Sandshrew to swim despite its weakness to Water-type attacks. While Brock admires the intensity, Ash disapproves. After Ash requests a rematch and AJ refuses, an argument ensues, leading both boys to fall into the pool. During the commotion, AJ’s Sandshrew disappears, raising questions about the harshness of the training and the fate of the missing Pokémon.
- 9EP 9
Ash and friends encounter a controversial Pokémon school and its strict leader Giselle.
May 27, 1997While gathering firewood in foggy woods, Ash and Pikachu witness students from Pokémon Technical Institute bullying a classmate named Joe. This institution allows trainers to enter the Pokémon League without collecting badges, and Joe claims the harsh treatment prepares him for graduation. Disapproving of this method, Ash demands to meet the program's leader, Giselle. Brock and Ash are attracted to her, but Misty challenges her instead. Giselle’s Rock-type Graveler defeats Misty’s Water-type Starmie, demonstrating that type matchups are not the sole determinant of battle outcomes. Ash then challenges Giselle, pitting Pikachu against her Cubone. Since Cubone resists Electric-type attacks, Pikachu faces a difficult battle. The group also questions the nature of the school and its familiarity to Jessie and James.
- 10EP 10
Ash and friends encounter a protective Bulbasaur guarding a hidden village of injured Pokémon.
Jun 3, 1997While arguing, Ash and Misty encounter an Oddish, which Misty’s Starmie attacks before a Bulbasaur intervenes. The Bulbasaur escapes with the Oddish, prompting Ash to pursue it with Butterfree. After Brock falls through a snapping rope bridge, the group sets off traps and ends up caught in a net. Brock rescues them and introduces them to Melanie, a woman who cares for wounded Pokémon and uses traps to protect them from poachers. The Bulbasaur serves as a bodyguard for these creatures and remains hostile toward Trainers. Misty apologizes to the Oddish, but the Bulbasaur’s distrust persists. Meanwhile, Team Rocket discovers the location and plans to capture the vulnerable Pokémon, raising questions about their ability to overcome the defenders and whether the Bulbasaur will eventually accept Ash and his friends.
- 11EP 11
Lost friends find injured Charmander waiting for its trainer, leading to a confrontation with Damien.
Jun 10, 1997Ash, Misty, and Brock discover an injured Charmander that has been waiting for its trainer. They overhear a trainer named Damien bragging about abandoning the Pokémon, prompting a confrontation that ends with Nurse Joy intervening. The group rushes to save Charmander from heavy rain and a flock of Pidgeotto, with Pikachu helping to scatter the attackers. After being taken to the Pokémon Center for an overnight stay, the Charmander disappears by morning. The friends wonder if the Pokémon remains loyal to Damien and if he will learn responsibility, while Team Rocket plots their next move.
- 12EP 12
Ash and friends encounter mischievous Squirtle who trap Team Rocket and capture the heroes.
Jun 17, 1997Ash, Misty, Brock, and Pikachu fall into a hole dug by Squirtle. Officer Jenny arrives, causing the Squirtle to scatter. Team Rocket’s picnic is interrupted when the Squirtle trap and tie them to a tree, eating their food. Meowth negotiates with the Squirtle to secure release. Under Meowth’s command, the Squirtle capture Ash, Misty, Brock, and a weakened Pikachu. The humans are bound in a cave while Pikachu rests in a cage. Ash persuades the Squirtle to allow him to visit town for a Super Potion to treat Pikachu. Meowth waits for Jessie and James to arrive to finalize their scheme. The episode questions whether Ash can retrieve the medicine in time, reveals the nature of Team Rocket’s plot, and explores the background of the Squirtle Squad.
- 13EP 13
The group encounters Bill the researcher at a cliffside lighthouse while Team Rocket plots nearby
Jun 24, 1997The group exits the forest and reaches a beach, spotting a lighthouse atop a distant cliff. This structure is owned by Bill, a Pokémon researcher waiting for a unique Pokémon unseen by humans. A massive shadow soon forms in the sea mists, suggesting the creature's arrival. However, Team Rocket lurks in the background, preparing another scheme that could obstruct this potential discovery. The narrative questions whether such a legendary Pokémon truly exists amidst the interference of the notorious criminal organization.
- 14EP 14
Ash and Pikachu face Lt. Surge's evolved Raichu in a tough electric battle at the gym.
Jul 1, 1997The group arrives in Vermillion City and finds the Pokémon Center crowded with creatures injured by Lt. Surge, the local Gym Leader. Ash and Pikachu proceed to the gym to challenge Surge, who values rapid evolution and boasts about his Raichu. During the match, the evolved Raichu overwhelms Pikachu with superior power, resulting in Pikachu being hospitalized. Even Team Rocket, observing from a distance, feels sympathy for the underdog. Nurse Joy presents Ash with a Thunderstone, offering Pikachu a chance to evolve and gain the strength needed to win. However, evolving means Pikachu can never return to its original form. The episode explores the dilemma of whether to evolve for victory or remain unchanged, while questioning the drawbacks of immediate evolution and Team Rocket's unexpected support for Pikachu.
- 15EP 15
Ash and friends board the St. Anne cruise ship, unaware of Team Rocket's deceptive plot to steal Pokémon from trainers.
Jul 8, 1997Ash and his companions board the St. Anne cruise ship after receiving tickets from two friendly individuals who are actually Jessie and James in disguise. Their scheme involves luring Pokémon Trainers aboard to steal their creatures. During the voyage, Ash observes a Raticate defeating a Starmie and challenges it with his Butterfree. Although the Raticate's owner withdraws his Pokémon before the match concludes, he is impressed and proposes a trade. Ash exchanges his Butterfree for the Raticate but quickly regrets this decision. Meanwhile, James is deceived into purchasing a Magikarp. When all trainers gather, the ship's staff reveal themselves as Team Rocket members. Using vacuum devices to extract Pokémon from Poké Balls, they face resistance as the trainers' Pokémon coordinate their attacks. A severe storm develops, causing the ship to rock violently. The passengers decide to abandon ship, but Jessie, James, Meowth, Ash, and his friends are knocked unconscious by the ship's erratic movements. The vessel then flips over and sinks, leaving the group stranded.
- 16EP 16
Team Rocket traps heroes, storm sinks ship, forcing Ash and rivals to cooperate for survival.
Jul 15, 1997Team Rocket traps the Pokémon Trainers, but they combine their Pokémon to defeat the villains. A violent storm then damages the cruise, causing everyone except Ash, Misty, Brock, Pikachu, and Team Rocket to evacuate the sinking vessel. Ash had previously traded Butterfree for Raticate before the disaster. Now stranded, the heroes must ally with their longtime enemies to survive the dangerous situation. This forced cooperation arises from their shared predicament after the ship goes down, leaving them to face the aftermath together without the other passengers. The episode highlights their struggle against both the natural disaster and their ongoing rivalry, necessitating an uneasy partnership to ensure their survival in the midst of the chaos.
- 17EP 17
Ash and friends face Gyarados and get separated on an island of giant Pokémon
Jul 22, 1997After surviving a sinking ship, Ash, his friends, and Team Rocket are attacked by Gyarados. The situation escalates as one Gyarados multiplies, creating a tornado that scatters the group across different locations on an island. Ash loses Pikachu, along with the Poké Balls containing Charmander, Squirtle, and Bulbasaur. Meanwhile, Jessie and James land in a remote area and also lose their Pokémon. Consequently, both the trainers and their Pokémon are separated and must search for each other on this strange island, which is inhabited by gigantic Pokémon. The narrative poses the question of where this island is located.
- 18EP 18
Ash and friends work for an old man in Acapulco after breaking his cruiser.
Jul 29, 1997Ash, Misty, and Brock arrive in Acapulco after escaping a deserted island. They accidentally break an old man’s cruiser while joyriding. To pay off the debt, they and their Pokémon work for him. His booming business angers a competitor who hires Team Rocket to interfere. The group devises a plan to defeat the rival and the villains. Professor Oak and Ash's mother arrive unexpectedly to watch Ash prove himself on the path to becoming a Pokémon Master.
- 19EP 19
Heroes confront a hotel project threatening coral reefs and Pokémon in Hutber Port.
Aug 5, 1997The group reaches Hutber Port, a ferry hub, where they encounter a wealthy cousin of a local competitor. This individual plans to build a massive luxury hotel on a vital coral reef habitat for Tentacool and Horsea. When the Pokémon disrupt the construction, the cousin and local youths offer a $10,000 reward to remove them. Team Rocket attempts to claim the prize by spraying a stun sauce mixture into the water. The chemical unexpectedly transforms the Tentacool into a giant Tentacruel, which attacks the humans. Ash, Misty, Brock, and their Pokémon must engage in a difficult battle to stop the creature, realizing that combat strength alone is insufficient to resolve the crisis.
- 20EP 20filler
Ash and friends join a summer festival while Team Rocket seeks profit and a shrine scroll reveals a 2,000-year-old legend.
Aug 12, 1997After departing Acapulco for Saffron City, the group reaches a port town hosting a summer festival. Ash and his companions join the celebrations to rest, whereas Team Rocket aims for financial gain. At a shrine accessible only during this event, Brock and James become captivated by a picture scroll illustrating the legend of Maiden Rock. The scroll depicts a maiden who transformed into stone 2,000 years ago while waiting for a lover lost in battle. The local priest explains that the girl’s ghost annually steals the spirit of a young man, and this year targets Brock and James. The narrative questions the ghost’s motives and its true identity.
- 21EP 21
Ash releases Butterfree near Saffron City as it seeks a mate during egg-laying season.
Aug 19, 1997Traveling toward Saffron City, the group observes Butterfree crossing the sea for reproduction. Brock explains this seasonal behavior, prompting Ash to release his partner to join the flock. The Pokémon attempts to court a female but suffers severe rejection, leaving it incapacitated. Team Rocket arrives to capture the group, forcing Ash's Butterfree to fight back despite its weakened state. Driven by love and duty, it battles the villains to save its kin. The outcome determines whether it can rescue the captured Butterfree and win the affection of the female, potentially leading it to leave Ash permanently to fulfill its natural destiny.
- 22EP 22
Ash faces Saffron City's psychic Gym Leader and her evolving Abra in a challenging battle.
Aug 26, 1997The group reaches Saffron City, where a young woman operates a gym using psychic abilities. Victory grants Ash a gold badge, but she demands friendship if he loses. During the match, Pikachu struggles against her Abra, which evolves into the stronger Kadabra mid-fight. The Gym Leader wins decisively using superior psychic powers. Following this defeat, Ash meets a mysterious man who appears crucial to understanding the source of the girl's unsettling abilities and the strange circumstances surrounding her powers.
- 23EP 23
Ash seeks a ghost Pokémon in Lavender Town to counter a psychic opponent.
Sep 2, 1997Ash determines that capturing a ghost-type Pokémon is necessary to defeat a young girl's psychic creature. He travels directly to a tower in Lavender Town, where such spirits are rumored to reside. Meanwhile, Jessie, James, and Meowth of Team Rocket are already waiting at the location. Instead of ambushing the heroes, they are attacked by Gastly, Haunter, and Gengar. While attempting to overcome these ghost Pokémon, Ash gains insights into the spiritual realm. The narrative questions whether Ash can successfully capture a ghost Pokémon and if that victory will be sufficient to defeat the psychic Gym Leader of Saffron City.
- 24EP 24
Ash seeks a badge in Saffron City while his ghost Pokémon aids him against the Gym Leader.
Sep 9, 1997Ash returns to Saffron City aiming to secure a gold badge from the Gym Leader. During the confrontation, his ghost Pokémon disappears, leading to Ash’s humiliation and departure. The Gym Leader then uses her powers to shrink Brock and Misty into helpless dolls. A mysterious man provides Ash with crucial information to defeat her. Motivated to rescue his friends, Ash returns to the gym. Just as hope fades, the ghost Pokémon reappears with a unique combat technique. This unexpected assistance offers a chance to save Brock and Misty, while potentially helping the Gym Leader escape her isolated existence. The outcome hinges on whether this strategy succeeds in overcoming the Gym Leader’s defenses and resolving the crisis.
Frequently asked questions
- How many episodes does Pocket Monsters have?
- Pocket Monsters has 276 episodes.
- When did Pocket Monsters come out?
- Pocket Monsters came out in 1997.
- Which studio made Pocket Monsters?
- Pocket Monsters was produced by OLM.
- Who directed Pocket Monsters?
- Pocket Monsters was directed by Kunihiko Yuyama.
- Is Pocket Monsters finished?
- Current status of Pocket Monsters: Finished.