When did the first season of the Pokémon anime begin airing in the United States?

The first season of the Pokémon anime began airing in the United States on September 8, 1998.

Known in English as Pokémon: Indigo League, the season originally aired in Japan as Pocket Monsters. Its Japanese broadcast began on April 1, 1997, more than a year before the U.S. television launch. The English-language version was distributed in first-run syndication.

The U.S. run helped turn Pokémon into a major international television phenomenon. It followed the adventures of Ash Ketchum and Pikachu as they traveled through the Kanto region, challenging Gym Leaders and meeting other Trainers.

The U.S. date is easy to confuse with later network broadcasts. Kids’ WB began carrying the series in 1999, while the Japanese premiere occurred in 1997. The first season also had different episode counts in Japanese and English broadcasts because of localization and scheduling decisions.