TV Tokyo first aired the Pokémon anime series in Japan in 1997.
The series premiered on TV Tokyo on April 1, 1997, about a year after the original Game Boy games launched. It followed a young trainer and his Pikachu as they traveled through the Pokémon world, battled other trainers, and pursued the goal of becoming a Pokémon Master.
The anime helped transform Pokémon from a successful game series into a broader international franchise. Its characters, music, and recurring story format introduced the creatures to viewers who might not have owned a Game Boy.
The show was later adapted for international audiences and broadcast in many languages. English-language releases often use different names and season groupings, which can make the Japanese premiere date and network easy to confuse with later overseas broadcasts.