On what date did the first Pokémon television episode premiere in Japan?

The first Pokémon television episode premiered in Japan on April 1, 1997. The series, titled Pocket Monsters in Japan, followed Satoshi and Pikachu as they began their journey through the Pokémon world.

The anime arrived about a year after the original Game Boy games. Its television debut expanded Pokémon beyond interactive play and introduced viewers to recurring characters, Pokémon battles, and the relationship between the young Trainer and his partner Pikachu.

The premiere is sometimes confused with the franchise's founding date. February 27, 1996 marks the Japanese release of the first games, while April 1, 1997 marks the anime's debut. The English-language series premiered later, so international broadcast dates should not be substituted for the Japanese premiere.