The first Pokémon anime season originally contained 82 episodes in Japan.
This season is commonly known internationally as Pokémon: Indigo League, although it originally aired in Japan simply as Pokémon. Its Japanese run lasted from April 1, 1997, to January 21, 1999, on TV Tokyo.
The Japanese count differs from the English count, which is usually listed as 80 episodes. The difference arose from broadcast and localization decisions surrounding episodes that were not included in the initial English run.
The season follows Ash Ketchum through the Kanto region as he earns Gym Badges and prepares for the Pokémon League. Misty and Brock travel with him, while Pikachu serves as his closest Pokémon partner. Because the season introduced the show’s principal cast and setting, it remains a major reference point for the franchise’s television history.