Who directed the first episode of the Pokémon anime series?

Masamitsu Hidaka directed the first episode of the Pokémon anime series.

Hidaka directed “Pokémon, I Choose You!”, which first aired in Japan on April 1, 1997. The episode introduces Ash Ketchum, Professor Oak, and Pikachu, while establishing the journey structure that defined the original television series.

Hidaka was a major creative figure during the anime’s early years. He directed many episodes and later worked on Pokémon films and other animation projects. His role is sometimes confused with that of Kunihiko Yuyama, who served as a long-running chief director of the Pokémon television series and directed many Pokémon movies.

Writer Takeshi Shudo also had a central role in the original anime’s development, but writing and directing are separate credits. The first episode’s director is therefore Hidaka, while Shudo is credited as its writer and Rica Matsumoto provided Ash’s Japanese voice.