When did the Pokémon anime series debut in Japan?

The Pokémon anime series debuted in Japan on April 1, 1997. The first episode, “Pokémon— I Choose You!”, introduced Ash Ketchum and his reluctant partner, Pikachu.

The television series was based on the Pokémon video games, but it created its own long-running story and character relationships. Ash’s journey through the Pokémon world helped turn the game characters into internationally recognized television figures.

The debut took place a little over a year after the first Pokémon games launched in Japan. The anime later became an important part of the franchise’s worldwide expansion, especially in markets where the television series helped introduce audiences to Pokémon.

The Japanese series began before the English-language version. In the United States, the anime premiered in September 1998, after the games had arrived there.