What was the first Pokémon anime episode, originally broadcast in 1997?
Answer
Pokémon, I Choose You!
“Pokémon, I Choose You!” was the first Pokémon anime episode, originally broadcast in Japan in 1997.
The episode aired on TV Tokyo on April 1, 1997. It introduces Ash Ketchum as a beginning Pokémon Trainer and shows him receiving Pikachu from Professor Oak after arriving late and missing the usual starter choices.
Pikachu initially refuses to cooperate, but the pair begin forming their famous partnership during an encounter with an angry flock of Spearow. The episode establishes the friendship and adventure structure that became central to the television series.
Some viewers confuse the first episode with “Pokémon Emergency!”, which is the second episode in the original Japanese broadcast order. The English episode titles are also sometimes remembered differently because the series was localized for international audiences.