In the original Pokémon anime, Pikachu becomes Ash’s first partner.
The relationship begins in the first episode, “Pokémon, I Choose You!”, which was first broadcast in Japan on April 1, 1997. Ash Ketchum expects to receive one of Professor Oak’s traditional starter Pokémon, but he arrives late and is given a Pikachu instead.
Pikachu initially refuses to cooperate and dislikes staying inside its Poké Ball. After Ash protects it from a flock of angry Spearow, Pikachu begins to trust him. Their friendship becomes the emotional center of the long-running animated series.
Bulbasaur, Charmander, and Squirtle are the three selectable starter Pokémon in the original games, which is why they are sometimes mistaken for Ash’s first companion. In the anime, however, Pikachu is specifically the Pokémon Ash receives at the start of his journey. The character’s popularity also helped make Pikachu the franchise’s best-known mascot.