Who wrote the first Pokémon anime episode?

Takeshi Shudo wrote the first Pokémon anime episode.

Shudo was credited as the writer of Pokémon, I Choose You!, the episode that introduced Ash Ketchum’s journey and his partnership with Pikachu. He also became the head writer of the early Pokémon television series.

The episode’s script turns a game premise into a television story. Ash misses the chance to choose one of Professor Oak’s traditional starter Pokémon, receives Pikachu instead, and earns Pikachu’s trust during the attack by Spearow.

The credit is often confused with Masamitsu Hidaka, who directed the episode, or Kunihiko Yuyama, who served as chief director of the series. Satoshi Tajiri created the original Pokémon franchise, but he did not write this television premiere.