When did the Pokémon television anime premiere in Japan?

The Pokémon television anime premiered in Japan on April 1, 1997.

The first broadcast aired on TV Tokyo and introduced Ash Ketchum, Pikachu, and the world of Pokémon to television audiences. The opening episode shows Ash receiving Pikachu after arriving late to Professor Oak's laboratory and beginning his journey.

The anime followed the 1996 video games but was not simply an adaptation of their exact story. It created an ongoing adventure structure, recurring characters, original plots, and a distinctive bond between Ash and Pikachu.

International broadcast dates came later and varied by territory. In the United States, the series began in first-run syndication in September 1998. Therefore, the Japanese premiere date should not be confused with the date many English-speaking viewers first saw the show.