In the Pokémon animated series, which town is Ash Ketchum's hometown?

Pallet Town is Ash Ketchum's hometown in the Pokémon animated series.

The small settlement is also the starting location for the player character in the original Pokémon games. In the anime, Ash leaves Pallet Town to begin his journey after receiving Pikachu from Professor Oak, whose laboratory is located there.

Pallet Town's name emphasizes its rural, introductory role. It is presented as a quiet place with only a few buildings, contrasting with the larger cities Ash visits later. The game's protagonist and rival also begin there, making it the narrative starting point for the original Kanto adventure.

Pallet Town is sometimes confused with Viridian City because Viridian is the first major city reached on the route north from Pallet Town. It is also distinct from Professor Oak's Laboratory: the laboratory is a location within or associated with Pallet Town, not the town's name itself.