What was the first episode of the original Pokémon animated series called?

The first episode of the original Pokémon animated series was called Pokémon, I Choose You!

The episode first aired in Japan on April 1, 1997, on TV Tokyo. It introduces Ash Ketchum, Professor Oak, and Pikachu, establishing the partnership that anchors the early anime. Ash receives Pikachu after arriving too late to choose one of the usual starter Pokémon.

The story also introduces the danger of Spearow and ends with Ash seeing the mysterious Ho-Oh flying across the sky. Ho-Oh’s appearance was notable because its full role was not yet explained in the early series.

The episode title is sometimes confused with Pokémon: I Choose You!, a 2017 theatrical film. The film revisits elements of Ash’s beginning but belongs to an alternate continuity rather than simply being the original episode in movie form. The next television episode was Pokémon Emergency!, which continued Ash and Pikachu’s journey.