Which Pokémon game first featured animated Pokémon sprites during battles?

Pokémon Crystal was the first Pokémon game to feature animated Pokémon sprites during battles.

Released for the Game Boy Color, Pokémon Crystal was an enhanced version of Pokémon Gold and Silver and the final main-series title of Generation II. In battle, Pokémon sprites moved when they entered the field, giving encounters more visual animation than the static artwork used in earlier games.

Crystal also added a female playable protagonist, extra story material, and a Battle Tower area. Its story placed unusual emphasis on Suicune, which appears on the game’s cover and receives a more prominent role than in Gold or Silver.

The animated sprites are distinct from later full 3D models and battle animations. Pokémon Crystal still uses the pixel-art presentation associated with the Game Boy Color. The game’s release began in Japan in December 2000, followed by international releases during 2001, making it an important bridge between the series’ monochrome origins and later visual upgrades.