Although many film and cartoon adaptations of video games miss the mark, Pokemon is a gaming franchise that has managed to buck the trend. While the games are a cultural phenomenon, the anime series is extremely popular too. Since it first began airing in 1997, the still-running series spans over twenty-four seasons and over a thousand episodes. The anime explores the regions and Pokemon seen in the games, and some characters from each title also make appearances in the TV series.
The show centers on Ash Ketchum, a ten-year-old kid from Pallet Town who is on a mission to be a Pokemon master. Joining him is his cute Pokemon companion Pikachu. Through thick and thin, Ash and Pikachu stick together, but they are aided by a rotating cast of human companions. They may have varying personalities, but they all help on his quest to become the greatest Pokemon trainer ever.
The Original Pokemon Series (Red and Green)
The original series introduces viewers to Ash Ketchum as he begins his journey. He pairs up with Pikachu, but they are slow to warm up to each other. It's not long before Ash has his first human companion Misty, who, along with her three older sisters, is the leader of Cerulean City Gym, specializing in Water-Type Pokemon. After Ash and Pikachu destroy Misty's bike, Misty follows them, vowing to never leave their side until she is repaid what she is owed for her bicycle.
Soon after, Misty and Ash cross paths with Brock, who is the leader of the Pewter City Gym. Brock, who has aspirations of becoming a skilled Pokemon breeder, is the next person to become Ash's companion. Both Misty and Brock are gym leaders that can be found in the games Pokemon Red and Green, as well as their remakes. The trio gets a bit of a reshuffle when they come across Professor Ivy and Brock decides to stay with her. Not long after, a sketch artist named Tracey joins the crew.
Pokemon: Advanced (Ruby and Sapphire)
At the end of the previous series, Misty returns to Cerulean City Gym, Tracey remains with Professor Oak, and Ash and Brock reunite. With the new series, Ash and Brock explore Hoenn where new Pokemon and adventures await them. They are joined by two new companions - May and Max. May is a ten-year-old Pokemon coordinator, which means that she raises Pokemon to compete in Pokemon Contests that assess a Pokemon's grace and grooming rather than power. She has a cute Torchic, and though she does not do much battling, her time with Ash and Brock teaches her how to form closer bonds with Pokemon. In Pokemon Ruby, Sapphire, and Emerald, May is the playable female character. Max is May's spectacled younger brother. Although he can be annoying at times, his book smarts often help the gang out of tight situations.
Pokemon: Diamond and Pearl
For the third series, Ash and Brock travel to the Sinnoh region in search of powerful Pokemon. There, they meet a girl named May who is the playable female character in Pokemon Diamond, Pearl, and Platinum as well as their remakes. Like May, Dawn is a Pokemon Coordinator. She is always accompanied by an adorable Piplup that can be overconfident at times. Zoey, a red-haired girl, is May's rival, and they go up against each other in the Sinnoh Grand Festival.
Pokemon: Black and White
At the end of the previous series, Brock decides he wishes to become a Pokemon doctor and work alongside Nurse Joy, so he returns to Pewter City. Dawn also leaves to participate in Pokemon Contests. Ash, along with his mother and Professor Oak, takes a vacation in the Unova region. This leads to Ash meeting a Dragon-Type Pokemon trainer named Iris and a green-haired Pokemon connoisseur named Cilan. Iris did not always like Dragon-Type Pokemon, and she used to be afraid of them, but after a heartwarming experience with a Druddigon, she learns to love them. Perhaps one of the duller companions, not counting Tracey, Cilan loves evaluating and investigating things.
Pokemon the Series: XY
Ash meets a reporter named Alex during Black and White, and they travel to the Kalos region. Ash is ready to start earning more badges and to prove that he is the greatest Pokemon trainer. The Kalos region is inspired by France, featuring posh architecture and confusingly winding roads. In Kalos, Ash and Alexa do not stick together for long, but that does not mean Ash is stuck traveling alone. He is joined by his biggest posse to date which is composed of Serena, Clemont, and Bonnie.
Clemont is an inventor who carries a backpack called the Clemontic Gear which carries all sorts of useful tools and gadgets. His little brother is Bonnie and although she may be too young to be a Pokemon trainer, she still loves Pokemon very much. Lastly, Serena is a Pokemon Performer who has dreams of becoming Kalos and participates in the Pokemon Showcase, but she loses to Aria.
Pokemon the Series: Sun and Moon
The size of Ash's gang only grows in Sun and Moon. Ash and his mother travel to the Alola region, inspired by Hawaii. Ash chooses to enroll in the local Pokemon school and partake in the island trials. Some of his classmates, who can also be found in the video games Pokemon Sun and Moon, eventually become his companions.
Lana is a blue-haired girl that loves being around water. She can often be found fishing while surfing on her Lapras, and she has a cute Popplio that can blow enormous bubbles. Kiawe likes to walk around shirtless, and he rides his Charizard to make deliveries between the different islands of the Alola region. He has aspirations of becoming the next Kahuna of Akala Island. Mallow, a green-haired girl, has a happy-go-lucky personality and a flair for cooking. She loves Pokemon unlike Lillie, who is one of Ash's other companions. Lillie, who is always wearing a floppy, white hat, is afraid of Pokemon, but that changes as she spends more time with Ash and the gang, and she eventually raises an Alolan Vulpix. Last, but not least, there is Sophocles who is short but very smart. Like Clemont, Sophocles is an inventor who is always making helpful items.
Journeys
Journeys and Master Journeys is the current Pokemon series. It focuses on the Galar region, but it also takes a look at other regions that feature in the Pokemon world. The series is notable for rejuvenating interest in the Pokemon anime thanks to good writing and an exploration of the backstory of some beloved characters, including Ash.
Ash is joined by Goh, a character who, like many Pokemon players, wants to catch every Pokemon in existence. He is a cool kid, but not cool enough to entirely overshadow Chloe who is also Ash's companion. Chloe is Professor Cerise's daughter, who is Goh's childhood friend, and has a cute, fluffy Eevee.
The Pokemon anime is a long one that has survived controversies and a few bad seasons. Nevertheless, viewers have kept coming back to see if Ash can prove himself and finally achieve his dream. Though Ash may be a captivating character, Pokemon would not have reached the heights it has without a stellar cast of companions.