A big portion of the recognition of Pokémon comes not from the video games themselves however from the beloved anime sequence. Starting in 1997 in Japan and 1998 in the USA, the sequence has a whopping 25 seasons thus far.
It’s uncommon for any sequence to achieve that many seasons, not to mention an anime one. With so many seasons beneath its belt, the Pokémon anime has a strong mixture of hits and misses. The very best sequence nail all features, from incorporations of the Pokémon to the animation high quality to the writing and characters.
Alternatively, the worst ones fail to fulfill the usual met by different seasons in at the very least one, if no more, of these classes.
On the subject of all 25 seasons starting from the enduring unique season to the Pokémon Journeys sequence, right here’s each single one ranked from worst to greatest.
25. Pokémon Black & White: Adventures in Unova/Unova and Past
The Pokémon Black & White anime sequence is a ache to observe. On the subject of the second-worst era of the anime, it must be Gen 5. At this level, the animation was outdated, missing the enhancements essential to preserve it consistent with different anime on the time.
To make issues worse, Adventures in Unova and Past, the ultimate season of this arc, dropped the ball when it got here to ending the plot. Beginning with the battle for the Champion of the Unova area, Ash has his worst try but at claiming a trophy.
To not point out, characters like Iris and Cilan had been displaying their true colours because the worst companions to journey with Ash in the complete sequence. Prodding and poorly written, this ultimate season of the Black & White arc is hard to trudge by way of and won’t even be value your time.
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24. Journeys: The Collection
For Gen 8, as a substitute of going to a standard Sword & Protect anime sequence, The Pokémon Firm opted for a globetrotting journey with Ash and his new friends, Goh and Chloe. Virtually like a comfortable reboot or compilation sequence about Ash and his new mates visiting many alternative areas.
In some methods, Pokémon Journeys: The Collection could be praised for its try and recapture the back-to-basic really feel of simply capturing Pokémon. However in different methods, it fails to do something distinctive or enjoyable past that. The person Pokémon of the week-style episodes are lackluster and really feel probably the most like a child’s cartoon out of any season, not in a constructive means.
23. Grasp Journeys: The Collection
Instantly following on Journeys is Grasp Journeys: The Collection, the second within the Gen 8 arc. As proven by its placement, Grasp Journeys solely barely improves upon the components established within the twenty third season of the Pokémon anime.
There are some brighter spots right here and there, just like the love for the Galar area and Chloe’s arc with Eevee, nevertheless it continues the principally forgettable sample of the earlier season.
22. The Johto Journeys
The Johto Journeys was the primary time Ash and friends, Brock and Misty, ventured to the Gen 2 area of Johto. An thrilling time because the Gen 2 video games had been seen primarily on the time as higher in each means than their predecessors. It’s a disgrace that The Johto Journeys began on the flawed foot.
That is by far probably the most meandering season in all the Pokémon anime, with 41 episodes only for Ash to get a number of cities into the Johto area’s Goldenrod Metropolis, a spot you possibly can attain in only a few hours of taking part in the video games.
To make issues worse, the storylines fluff out the plot with among the worst filler within the sequence thus far. As a substitute of 41 episodes, this might have been ten on the most and be a vastly higher season.
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21. Grasp Quest
Not like the earlier season on this checklist, the finale of the Johto arc, Grasp Quest, truly has so much that occurs in it. Ash and his friends encounter some legendaries, cope with Workforce Rocket, and even compete within the Pokémon League as soon as once more.
The Johto arc ended on a flat word, very similar to it began. The battles are uninteresting, and the motion felt mediocre, even in comparison with what got here within the season earlier than it. The one spotlight that retains it from being decrease on this checklist is the Gary and Ash battle. However, just like the conclusion in Black & White, Ash has one in every of his worst competitions right here.
20. Johto League Champions
Johto League Champions usually suffers from the identical issues because the earlier two seasons of the Gen 2 arc. Nonetheless, it has a bit extra of an edge with some enjoyable Gymnasium battles and intriguing storylines that happen all through, such because the long-awaited Whitney bout.
Even nonetheless, Johto League Champions is the most effective of the worst within the primarily skippable Gen 2 arc that ranks forward of Gen 5 by way of the worst sections of the Pokémon anime.
19. Adventures within the Orange Islands
The second season of the Pokémon anime had a tricky act to comply with, coming off one of many biggest seasons of the complete anime. It was inevitable that it could fail, nevertheless it wasn’t terrible. The primary season on this checklist that’s fulfilling at instances, Adventures within the Orange Islands, is a singular interval of anime historical past.
Not like different seasons that targeted a lot on crossing over with regardless of the newest video games had been doing, the second season was, by and enormous, solely filler content material. Set within the Orange Islands, the Pokémon anime had some one-of-a-kind moments right here, like introducing regional types, dropping a celebration member, gaining one, and even seeing Ash win a League Championship for the primary time.
18. Black & White: Rival Destinies
The second season of the Black & White arc, Rival Destinies, isn’t terrible and reveals some promise, even when it doesn’t execute it in addition to it might. Just like the second season of the anime sequence, Rival Destinies see Ash and co. encounter some thrilling adventures, like competing in not one however two tournaments and the return of Daybreak from the superb Diamond & Pearl sequence.
Outdoors of these shining moments, Rival Destinies doesn’t do a lot to maintain the viewer with some less-than-stellar filler content material very often all through the 49 episodes.
17. Superior Problem
Everything of the Gen 3 anime for Pokémon follows within the footsteps of its predecessor, the Johto sequence, in its unexciting however sometimes first rate components. Superior Problem was the second a part of 4 within the Gen 3 period, displaying the worst of the Hoenn area.
With the enjoyable of building Ash’s new get together members within the earlier season already finished and just a few Gymnasium battles to sit up for, Superior Problem doesn’t ship on a lot apart from the identical outdated stereotypical content material. All the pieces is so by the guide that it was already beginning to get outdated by this level within the seventh season.
16. Pokémon Superior
The primary season of the Hoenn arc, Pokémon Superior, at the very least advantages from introducing a model new area and a few new characters. Whereas siblings Max and Might aren’t the most effective, they at the very least add some distinctive interactions with Ash as they journey collectively.
Nonetheless, what primarily helps Pokémon Superior is the long-awaited return of Brock and the brand new Pokémon within the Hoenn area. Lastly, having some villains outdoors of Workforce Rocket additionally helps to shake up among the staleness from the primary two generations.
15. Superior Battle
Superior Battle is the basic “conclusion” (however probably not, as you’ll see within the subsequent entry) to a area. Ash heads to the Pokémon Convention to battle it out for an opportunity to change into the regional Champion and loses once more to solely place within the prime eight.
Nonetheless, what shakes up the components this time is that there are actually Pokémon Contests and followers get to see Might get the highlight in her competitors to change into the most effective coordinator. Although unsuccessful, this new match type and the epic battle between Groudon and Kyogre assist to be on the higher facet of the Gen 3 anime.
14. Battle Frontier
As a substitute of letting the Hoenn area conclude with the Pokémon League as at all times, Gen 3 shook issues up with the Battle Frontier arc. Taking after the legendary postgame content material of Pokémon Emerald, this noticed Ash tackle a brand new problem in opposition to the Frontier Brains.
There are some skippable elements, like the entire Pokémon Ranger filler, however seeing Might competing and enhancing in Contests. Ash dominating the Battle Frontier makes this an enchancment over previous seasonal conclusions.
13. Solar & Moon – Extremely Adventures
Many lamented its chosen artwork type from the onset of the Solar & Moon anime adaptation. The extra infantile look of Solar & Moon turned out fairly expressive and enjoyable, capturing the texture of the Pokémon sequence within the course of.
In its second season, Extremely Adventures, the craziness grew to become wilder as Ash and the group turned away from the standard faculty lesson of the week episodes to coping with extra important threats like Cosmog, the Aether Basis, and even the Extremely Beasts. Whereas it lacked among the pleasure of the primary Solar & Moon season, the broader journey helped take the season in a nonetheless sturdy route.
12. Solar & Moon – Extremely Legends
The ultimate season of the Gen 7 arc, Extremely Legends, noticed Ash and his classmates heading off the remainder of the Extremely Beasts in some actually intense and even darkish moments. However the actual star of this season was the conclusion during which Ash took on the Pokémon League problem as soon as extra.
This time round, Ash was profitable for the primary time (in a recreation area, excluding the Orange Islands), changing into the primary Champion within the Alola area. It was a monumental event that celebrated Ash’s journey up till that time and felt like an ideal stopping level for his story, if obligatory.
11. Final Journeys: The Collection
Final Journeys: The Collection got here out of nowhere and packed such a punch with a a lot stronger and extra improved season than what got here earlier than it within the Gen 8 anime. The concluding season of this arc noticed Ash face his most vital check but: preventing in opposition to different Champs.
As a Champion himself now from the Alola area, he confronted off in opposition to the likes of Cynthia and Leon for the appropriate to see who can be the literal greatest coach there ever was. The motion was among the hottest the sequence has ever seen, however the storylines outdoors of those fights watered down among the expertise.
10. Black & White
The beginning season of Gen 5’s Black & White anime sequence wasn’t that dangerous. In actual fact, it was fairly good. Whereas not almost on the extent of the Gen 4 anime earlier than, it nonetheless confirmed that Ash might get a comfortable reboot of types and have the Pokémon anime really feel recent.
Ash’s new allies and Pokémon had thrilling storylines to introduce them, whereas the actual star this season was Workforce Rocket of their greatest iteration ever. Jessie, James, and Meowth every had moments that elevated their storylines, with Meowth’s momentary becoming a member of of Workforce Ash being one of many strongest arcs within the Pokémon anime’s historical past.
9. Solar & Moon
The unique Solar & Moon anime had the daunting process of following up on the Gen 6 anime, but it nailed its dangerous take one way or the other. The Pokémon Firm took a raffle on making a infantile model of Ash, who was now attending faculty for the primary time.
The lessons and area journeys added a stage of power and comedy that the sequence didn’t capitalize on prior to now. Higher but had been the storylines of characters like Litten that included the saddest and most shocking story arcs of the complete Pokémon anime (particularly with the artwork type), coping with powerful topics like loss of life, abandonment, and extra.
8. DP Galactic Battles
By way of the highest seasons of the Pokémon anime, few stand out greater than the Gen 4 adaptation. Even in its weakest season, Galactic Battles was a set of episodes that stood above the overwhelming majority of Pokémon’s 1000-plus episodes. It’s the prime instance of the Ash and mates components finished proper.
The third of 4 seasons in Diamond & Pearl noticed Ash, Daybreak, and Brock within the valley a part of their Sinnoh journey. They saved their heads down, grinding Gymnasium badges, Contest ribbons, and capturing new Pokémon like Gible, however few thrilling moments outdoors of those. In some ways, Galactic Battles was the calm in between the storms.
7. DP Battle Dimension
Battle Dimension continued the journeys of Ash, Daybreak, and Brock, who had been now fairly snug with each other. They gained new allies on their groups and continued coping with Workforce Rocket as Ash and Daybreak continued their Gymnasium problem and Pokémon Contests, respectively.
What made Battle Dimension stand out had been moments relating to Daybreak, the most effective feminine companion of Ash up till that time. She cemented her standing as among the best Pokémon anime characters in Battle Dimension. Her complicated persona and painful losses helped her to develop on a path that was much more emotional and sympathetic than Ash at instances.
6. XY
On the subject of the most effective general arc of the Pokémon sequence, there is no such thing as a doubt that it’s the Gen 6 anime. That stated, it has a barely rougher begin than its succeeding seasons, with a gradual upward climb to get the place it finally ends up going.
Ash meets with three new companions within the Kalos area, together with Clemont, his little sister Bonnie, and Serena. XY follows the components of previous seasons right here, with Ash catching new Pokémon and incomes some Gymnasium badges.
The hints at one thing extra beneath the floor with Serena and the long-awaited introduction of Mega Evolutions and the Fairy sort make it stand out among the many opening seasons. XY is a precious season for what it units up for the sequence’ future.
5. Diamond and Pearl
The opening season of Diamond and Pearl is among the greatest introductions to a brand new area for Ash. Placing extra deal with characters like Daybreak, it seems like, for the primary time, there’s a character who stands toe-to-toe with Ash because the lead hero within the sequence.
The execution right here is unbelievable on all fronts, from animation to new Pokémon reveals to new characters and extra, displaying that The Pokémon Firm was genuinely studying from its grind in previous seasons. Even when it didn’t differentiate from the components, it confirmed how far the animators had come.
4. Sinnoh League Victors
Sinnoh League Victors noticed the conclusion of the Gen 4 arc and is among the strongest Pokémon Leagues. The rivalry between Ash and Paul got here to a head with arguably his best opponent in the complete sequence.
The motion right here is among the best within the sequence, coupled with the flashy animation used within the Pokémon Contests that Daybreak participated in. This duo nature of the Gen 4 anime mirrored what Superior did earlier than it, however whereas studying from the errors made there.
3. Indigo League
That is the place it began for the Pokémon sequence, and little or no has defeated it by way of high quality. The Indigo League and Ash’s preliminary journey with Brock and Misty is among the most beloved adventures in all of anime historical past for a purpose.
Regardless of being filler more often than not, every episode doesn’t really feel prefer it with the heartfelt and emotional writing behind every little thing. From Ash discovering the deserted Charmander to letting go of Butterfree to among the best episodes of all time with Ash and his Pokémon caught in a blizzard, numerous iconic moments are the rationale why Pokémon is within the dialog for among the best anime of all time.
2. XY Kalos Quest
The second of the Kalos area is the place XY picked up steam significantly and confirmed how totally different it could find yourself being in comparison with previous reveals. The dynamic between Ash and Serena grew to become a central focus of the sequence, engrossing the viewer every time they interacted with each other.
Serena confirmed that she is the most effective love curiosity for Ash ever, having her personal character arc throughout this center part of the Gen 6 anime. She impressed followers together with her development and complex however comprehensible persona.
All of the whereas, XY continued its trademark nature of getting the most effective animation high quality in the complete sequence thus far. As well as, Ash continued his battles in opposition to Gymnasium leaders with among the strongest motion ever seen within the sequence, outdoors of the ultimate entry on this checklist.
1. XYZ
Gen 6 concluded with a bang in not simply the most effective general season of the Pokémon anime however one of many biggest seasons in animation historical past. All the pieces on this season was at an all-time excessive, from the Pokémon’s Mega Evolutions to the battle with Workforce Flare to even the Pokémon League match itself.
The very best that the sequence affords is discovered right here on all fronts. The motion is probably the most bombastic and impactful, with the only greatest in the complete sequence of Ash versus Alain within the finals, plus all the different battles main as much as it.
There’s additionally the strongest model of Ash’s character thus far, with real feelings proven on a stage we haven’t seen earlier than and Serena persevering with her run as the most effective character in the complete sequence. Their episode collectively within the snow is the most effective episode of the entire sequence, a poignant, emotional, and uncommon sequence of really highly effective writing for the child’s anime.
From the begin to its viral meme-worthy end, XYZ has virtually no filler and is a continuous thrill experience of the most effective that the Pokémon anime sequence affords.
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