The first Pokémon animated television series was titled Pokémon.
The series premiered in Japan in 1997 and follows Ash Ketchum and his partner Pikachu as they travel through the Pokémon world. In many markets, it is also identified by its first story arc, Pokémon: Indigo League.
The title can cause confusion because later series received subtitles or new names, including Pokémon the Series: Ruby and Sapphire and Pokémon Journeys. Those are continuations or separate installments, not the title of the original television series.
The anime expanded Pokémon beyond the Game Boy audience and introduced recurring characters such as Misty, Brock and Team Rocket. Its international success helped establish Pikachu as the franchise’s most recognizable character during Pokémon’s first decade.