What was the Japanese premiere date of the first Pokémon anime episode?

The first Pokémon anime episode premiered in Japan on April 1, 1997. It launched the television series known in Japan as Pocket Monsters and introduced viewers to Ash Ketchum and Pikachu.

The first season is known internationally as Pokémon: Indigo League. Its opening story follows Ash as he begins his journey from Pallet Town and receives Pikachu from Professor Oak. Pikachu initially refuses to cooperate, but the pair gradually form the friendship that became central to the anime’s identity.

The Japanese series aired on TV Tokyo and ran from April 1, 1997, to January 21, 1999. The first episode’s broadcast was a major milestone only a little more than a year after the original Game Boy games debuted in Japan.

International dates are a common source of confusion. The English-language television launch in the United States began on September 8, 1998, more than a year after the Japanese premiere. The episode later became notorious for a flashing-light sequence that caused reports of seizures among some Japanese viewers, leading to changes in broadcast practices.