The Pokémon animated series first premiered in Japan in 1997.
Its first broadcast took place on April 1, 1997, on TV Tokyo. The series followed Ash Ketchum and Pikachu as they traveled through the Pokémon world, collected Gym Badges, and competed in Pokémon League events. The television story was inspired by the video games but developed its own characters, episodes, and long-running plot.
The anime helped make Pikachu the franchise’s most recognizable character. It also introduced viewers to Team Rocket, including Jessie, James, and Meowth, who became recurring comic antagonists.
The Japanese premiere came before Pokémon’s major international expansion. The English-language version began in the United States in September 1998, around the time Pokémon Red and Blue launched in North America. This timing helped connect the television show with the games and trading cards.