On what date did the first episode of the Pokémon animated series premiere in Japan?

The first episode of the Pokémon animated series premiered in Japan on April 1, 1997.

Titled “Pokémon, I Choose You!”, the episode was broadcast by TV Tokyo. It introduced Ash Ketchum and his initially reluctant partner, Pikachu, and established the journey structure that became central to the television series.

The episode aired more than a year after the original Game Boy games launched. The games created the characters and world first, while the anime gave the franchise a continuing television narrative and made Pikachu its most recognizable mascot.

The Japanese premiere is often confused with the international television debut. The series reached the United States in September 1998, and the first season was later known in English-speaking markets as Pokémon: Indigo League. The date also predates the infamous 1997 seizure-related broadcast incident, which led to changes in the show’s production and presentation but did not end the series.