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Pokémon: How to watch the hit anime series in chronological or release order

Gotta catch 'em all? Here's how to watch all of the Pokémon shows and movies

The DVD cover for Pokemon: Advanced Battle — Image credit: The Pokemon Company

Guides by Trent Cannon, Senior Contributing writer

Published on Sat Jul 01 2023

Pokémon might have started as a simple yet addictive video game for the Game Boy, but it quickly spawned one of the biggest media franchises of all time. From the games, we got a highly competitive trading card game, endless merchandise, and, of course, a long-running anime series.

There are over 1200 episodes of the Pokémon anime, which began running in Japan in April 1997 and has been running consistently ever since. There are currently 26 seasons of the anime, plus a staggering 23 animated films plus one live-action outing. If you’re not sure where to start in your journey to catch them all, here is how to watch every episode and movie in Pokémon history in both release and chronological order.

How to watch Pokémon in chronological order

The good news is that most of the series is in chronological order. The only real sticking point in your watch order is the nebulous relationship that the films have with the series. Most of the films are self-contained stories that don’t impact the larger ongoing plot of the anime in a significant way. We’ve placed them where they fit between episodes as best we can here but it isn’t always an exact match.

Pokémon Indigo League Episodes 1-69
Pokémon: The First Movie (1998)
Pokémon Mewtwo Strikes Back: Evolution (2019) – Note that this is a CGI remake of Pokémon: The First Movie.
Pokémon Indigo League Episodes 70-82
Pokémon I Choose You! (2017) – Note that this is a recap movie of much of the first season of the Pokémon anime. It is considered the start of an alternate timeline.
Pokémon Adventures in Orange Islands Episodes 1-24
Pokémon The Movie 2000 – The Power of One (1999)
Pokémon Adventures in Orange Islands Episodes 25-36
Pokémon The Johto Journeys Episodes 1-38
Pokémon 3: Spell of the Unown (2000)
Pokémon The Johto Journeys Episodes 39-41
Pokémon Johto League Champions Episodes 1-48
Pokémon 4Ever: Celebi- Voice of the Forest (2001)
Pokémon Johto League Champions Episodes 49-52
Pokémon Master Quest Episodes 1-47
Pokémon Heroes: Latios and Latias (2002)
Pokémon Master Quest Episodes 48-65
Pokémon Advanced Episodes 1-35
Pokémon: Jirachi, Wish Maker (2003)
Pokémon Advanced Episodes 36-40
Pokémon Advanced Challenge Episodes 1-45
Pokémon: Destiny Deoxys (2004)
Pokémon Advanced Challenge Episodes 46-52
Pokémon Advanced Battle Episodes 1-43
Pokémon: Lucario and the Mystery of Mew (2005)
Pokémon Advanced Battle Episodes 44-54
Pokémon Battle Frontier Episodes 1-38
Pokémon Ranger and the Temple of the Sea (2006)
Pokémon Battle Frontier Episodes 39- 47
Pokémon Diamond and Pearl Episodes 1-39
Pokémon The Rise of Darkrai (2007)
Pokémon Diamond and Pearl Episodes 40-52
Pokémon Diamond and Pearl: Battle Dimension Episodes 1-34
Pokémon Giratina and the Sky Warrior (2008)
Pokémon Diamond and Pearl: Battle Dimension Episodes 35-52
Pokémon Diamond and Pearl: Galactic Battles Episodes 1-31
Pokémon Arceus and the Jewel of Life (2009)
Pokémon Diamond and Pearl: Galactic Battles Episodes 32-53
Pokémon Diamond and Pearl: Sinnoh League Victors Episodes 1-21
Pokémon Zoroark – Master of Illusions (2010)
Pokémon Diamond and Pearl: Sinnoh League Victors Episodes 22-34
Pokémon Diamond and Pearl: Sinnoh League Victors Special Episodes 1-2 – Note that these are special episodes that follow Brock and Dawn after the end of their adventures with Ash.
Pokémon Black and White Episodes 1-39
Pokémon Black – Victini and Reshiram (2011) – Note that this is a companion film to Pokémon White – Victini and Zekrom with both major and minor differences between the two. The pair of films were released at the same time.
Pokémon White – Victini and Zekrom (2011) – Note that this is a companion film to Pokémon Black – Victini and Reshiram with both major and minor differences between the two. The pair of films were released at the same time.
Pokémon Black and White Episodes 40-50
Pokémon Black and White: Rival Destinies Episodes 1-49
Pokémon Kyurem vs the Sword of Justice (2012)
Pokémon Black and White Adventures in Unova and Beyond Episodes 1-36
Pokémon Genesect and the Legend Awakened (2013)
Pokémon Black and White Adventures in Unova and Beyond Episodes 37-45
Pokémon Black and White: Adventures in Unova and Beyond Special Episodes 1-2 – Note that these are two special episodes that follow Iris and Cilian after their adventures with Ash.
Pokémon XY Episodes 1-37
Pokémon Diancie and the Cocoon of Destruction (2014)
Pokémon XY Episodes 38-48
Pokémon XY: Kalos Quest Episodes 1-33
Pokémon Hoopa and the Clash of Ages (2015)
Pokémon XY: Kalos Quest Episodes 33-45
Pokémon XYZ Episodes 1-47
Pokémon Volcanion and the Mechanical Marvel (2016)
Pokémon Sun and Moon Episodes 1-43
Pokémon Sun and Moon: Ultra Adventures Episodes 1-49
Pokémon Sun and Moon: Ultra Legends Episodes 1-54
Pokémon: The Power of Us (2018) – Note that this is the second film in the alternate timeline that started in Pokémon: I Choose You! and is considered non-canon to the main anime episodes.
Pokémon Journeys Episodes 1-48
Pokémon Master Journeys Episodes 1-42
Pokémon Ultimate Journeys Episodes 1-57
Pokémon: Secrets of the Jungle (2020) – Note that this is the third film in the alternate timeline started in Pokémon: I Choose You! And is considered non-canon to the main anime episodes.
Pokémon Horizons Episodes 1-Current – Note that this season of the Pokémon anime began airing in April 2023 and is currently ongoing.

How to watch Pokémon in release order

Because the movies don’t occupy a specific place in the anime’s timeline, you don’t lose any of the impact by simply watching the anime and films in the order they were released. Here is the easiest way to watch Pokémon in release order.

Pokémon Indigo League Episodes 1-54
Pokémon: The First Movie (1998)
Pokémon Indigo League Episodes 55-82
Pokémon Adventures in the Orange Islands Episodes 1-24
Pokémon the Movie 2000 (1999)
Pokémon Adventures in the Orange Islands Episodes 25-36
Pokémon The Johto Journeys Episodes 1-39
Pokémon 3: Spell of the Unown (2000)
Pokémon The Johto Journeys Episodes 40-41
Pokémon Johto League Champions Episodes 1-48
Pokémon 4Ever: Celebi – Voice of the Forest (2001)
Pokémon Johto League Champions Episodes 49-52
Pokémon Master Quest Episodes 1-47
Pokémon Heroes: Latios and Latias (2002)
Pokémon Master Quest Episodes 48-65
Pokémon Advanced Episodes 1-34
Pokémon Jirachi, Wish Maker (2003)
Pokémon Advanced Episodes 35-40
Pokémon Advanced Challenge Episodes 1-45
Pokémon Destiny Deoxys (2004)
Pokémon Advanced Challenge Episodes 46-52
Pokémon Advanced Battle Episodes 1-42
Pokémon Lucario and the Mystery of Mew (2005)
Pokémon Advanced Battle Episodes 43-52
Pokémon Battle Frontier Episodes 1-38
Pokémon Ranger and the Temple of the Sea (2006)
Pokémon Battle Frontier Episodes 39-47
Pokémon Diamond and Pearl Episodes 1-39
Pokémon The Rise of Darkrai (2007)
Pokémon Diamond and Pearl Episodes 40-52
Pokémon Diamond and Pearl: Battle Dimensions Episodes 1-34
Pokémon Giratina and the Sky Warrior (2008)
Pokémon Diamond and Pearl: Battle Dimensions Episodes 35-52
Pokémon Diamond and Pearl: Galactic Battles Episodes 1-31
Pokémon Arceus and the Jewel of Life (2009)
Pokémon Diamond and Pearl: Galactic Battles Episodes 32-53
Pokémon Diamond and Pearl: Sinnoh League Victors Episodes 1-26
Pokémon Zoroark – Master of Illusions (2010)
Pokémon Diamond and Pearl: Sinnoh League Victors Episodes 27-34
Pokémon Diamond and Pearl: Sinnoh League Victors Special Episodes 1-2 – Note that these are special episodes that follow Brock and Dawn after the end of their adventures with Ash.
Pokémon Black and White Episodes 1-39
Pokémon Black – Victini and Reshiram (2011) – Note that this is a companion film to Pokémon White – Victini and Zekrom with both major and minor differences between the two. The pair of films were released at the same time.
Pokémon White – Victini and Zekrom (2011) – Note that this is a companion film to Pokémon Black – Victini and Reshiram with both major and minor differences between the two. The pair of films were released at the same time.
Pokémon Black and White Episodes 40-48
Pokémon Black and White: Rival Destinies Episodes 1-39
Pokémon Kyurem vs the Sword of Justice (2012)
Pokémon Black and White: Rival Destinies Episodes 40-49
Pokémon Black and White: Adventures in Unova and Beyond Episodes 1-37
Pokémon Genesect and the Legend Awakened (2013)
Pokémon Black and White: Adventures in Unova and Beyond Episodes 38-45
Pokémon Black and White: Adventures in Unova and Beyond Special Episodes 1-2 – Note that these are two special episodes that follow Iris and Cilian after their adventures with Ash.
Pokémon XY Episodes 1-34
Pokémon Diancie and the Cocoon of Destruction (2014)
Pokémon XY Episodes 35-48
Pokémon XY: Kalos Quest Episodes 1-33
Pokémon Hoopa and the Clash of Ages (2015)
Pokémon XY: Kalos Quest 34-45
Pokémon XY: Kalos Quest Special Episode 1 – Note that this is a special episode following Alain after his adventures with Ash.
Pokémon XYZ Episodes 1-33
Pokémon Volcanion and the Mechanical Marvel (2016)
Pokémon XYZ Episodes 34-47
Pokémon XYZ Special Episodes 1-2 – Note that these are special episodes that follow Professor Sycamore and Eureka after their adventures with Ash.
Pokémon Sun and Moon Episodes 1-33
Pokémon: I Choose You! (2017) – Note that this is a recap movie of much of the first season of the Pokémon anime. It is considered the start of an alternate timeline.
Pokémon Sun and Moon Episodes 34-43
Pokémon Sun and Moon: Ultra Adventures Episodes 1-38
Pokémon: The Power of Us (2018) – Note that this is the second film in the alternate timeline that started in Pokémon: I Choose You! and is considered non-canon to the main anime episodes.
Pokémon Sun and Moon: Ultra Adventures Episodes 39-49
Pokémon Sun and Moon: Ultra Legends Episodes 1-28
Pokémon Detective Pikachu (2019) – Note that this is a live-action movie featuring an English-speaking cast that is considered non-canon to the Pokémon anime.
Pokémon Sun and Moon: Ultra Legends 29-37
Pokémon Mewtwo Strikes Back: Evolution (2019) – Note that this is a CGI remake of Pokémon: The First Movie.
Pokémon Sun and Moon: Ultra Legends Episodes 38-54
Pokémon Journeys Episodes 1-48
Pokémon Master Journeys Episode 1
Pokémon: Secrets of the Jungle (2020) – Note that this is the third film in the alternate timeline started in Pokémon: I Choose You! And is considered non-canon to the main anime episodes.
Pokémon Master Journeys Episodes 2-42
Pokémon Ultimate Journeys Episodes 1-57
Pokémon Horizons Episodes 1-Current – Note that this season of the Pokémon anime began airing in April 2023 and is currently ongoing.

Where to watch Pokémon: The Series

As one of the most popular media franchises on the planet, the distribution rights to Pokémon are a hot commodity among streaming sites. Unfortunately, you might need to jump between streaming services if you want to watch every episode, depending on where you live. Early seasons and some mid-to-late episodes are available on the Pokémon TV App.

Amazon Prime has most of the other episodes and films available on its service, either included in your Prime subscription or with the Pokémon Channel add-on. Notably, Netflix has the first rights to newer episodes, so you can watch Seasons 20-24 as part of your subscription there.

What’s next for Pokémon: The Series?

The biggest change in the long history of the Pokémon anime arrived with Pokémon Horizons. This new season will be the first that doesn’t follow the story of Ash and Pikachu as they quest to be the very best. Liko, a young girl from the Paldea region with a Sprigatito as her companion, is the new protagonist, along with Roy, a boy from the Kanto region.

It is rare for shows to make such a drastic change after having so much success with a single protagonist, but after more than two decades Ash has finally achieved his goal of being crowned Pokémon Champion after his win in the Alola League and being recognized as the top trainer in the world by winning the Pokémon World Coronation Series. It is the right time to change the series and let a new set of trainers start their journey together.

Did Ash catch every Pokémon?

He had more than two decades to do it, so did Ash ever manage to catch ‘em all? Unfortunately, no. Even with more than 1200 episodes to accomplish it, Ash only ever caught 86 different Pokémon species during the show’s run. That leaves more than 900 Pokémon that he never managed to catch.

Realistically, Ash would have needed to catch a new Pokémon almost every episode to make good on the original opening’s premise. Instead of making the show tedious and repetitive, the producers chose to focus on Ash’s journey to build a strong team out of the Pokémon he currently had.

With more than 1200 episodes and counting, Pokémon is even longer than One Piece’s impressive episode count. Not sure where to start with Oda’s legendary Shonen anime? Check out our complete guide on how to watch every episode and film of One Piece.

Each week, Popverse's resident anime expert Trent Cannon runs down the latest and, dare we say "greatest," in anime and manga in Popverse Jump. Some recent columns have included...