What was the title of the first Pokémon anime episode, which introduced Ash and Pikachu?

The first Pokémon anime episode was titled “Pokémon, I Choose You!” and introduced Ash Ketchum and Pikachu.

The episode first aired in Japan on April 1, 1997, on TV Tokyo. Ash receives Pikachu from Professor Oak after arriving late and finding that the three traditional starter Pokémon have already been chosen.

Pikachu initially refuses to cooperate, but the pair gradually form a bond while escaping a flock of Spearow. The episode establishes the partnership that became the anime’s central relationship for many years.

The title is sometimes confused with the 2017 feature film Pokémon the Movie: I Choose You!, which revisits elements of Ash’s early journey. The original episode remains the anime’s first broadcast installment.