Seasons & episodes
S1 · E1Pokémon - I Choose You! 8.3 / 10 · 2 published ratings 1997-04-01 · 23 min
Ash Ketchum, a 10-year-old from Pallet Town, is finally old enough to receive his first Pokémon! However, he oversleeps, and the only remaining Pokémon at Professor Oak's lab is a strong-willed Pikachu!
S1 · E2Pokémon Emergency! 6.5 / 10 · 1 published rating 1997-04-08 · 23 min
Ash rushes into Viridian City with his gravely wounded Pikachu. The city's on high alert for Pokémon thieves-thieves like Jessie, James, and Meowth of Team Rocket, a group of bad guys dedicated to stealing valuable Pokémon.
S1 · E3Ash Catches a Pokémon 6.5 / 10 · 1 published rating 1997-04-15 · 23 min
Ash discovers and catches a Caterpie—his first Pokémon capture! Though Ash is excited, Misty is grossed out by Bug-type Pokémon, so she is repulsed by its attempts to be friends with her. At night, as Ash and Misty sleep, Caterpie shares with Pikachu its dream of evolving into a Butterfree.
S1 · E4Challenge of the Samurai 5.0 / 10 · 1 published rating 1997-04-22 · 23 min
Misty and Ash continue to wander the Viridian Forest when they spot a Weedle. As Ash battles it, he's distracted by a boy dressed as a samurai and calling himself (naturally) Samurai. Samurai challenges Ash to a battle, and Ash gets the advantage when his Metapod defends itself against Samurai's Pinsir. Samurai sends out his own Metapod—and a standoff begins.
S1 · E5Showdown in Pewter City 7.0 / 10 · 1 published rating 1997-04-29 · 23 min
Jessie, James, and Meowth dig a trap for our heroes, but they end up falling into it themselves! Ash and Misty arrive at Pewter City and meet a curious fellow named Flint, who notices that Pikachu is tired and shows them the way to the Pokémon Center.
S1 · E6Clefairy and the Moon Stone 5.0 / 10 · 1 published rating 1997-05-06 · 23 min
Will Team Rocket steal the Moon Stone? Are there other Clefairy lurking about, and do they carry Moon Stones, too? And is the legend of the Moon Stone true?
S1 · E7The Water Flowers of Cerulean City 5.5 / 10 · 1 published rating 1997-05-13 · 23 min
Ash seeks the Cascade badge in Cerulean City—but for some reason, Misty doesn't want to join them. When Ash and Brock show up, the city is buzzing about a break-in that just took place—and are initially accused of the crime!
S1 · E8The Path to the Pokémon League 4.0 / 10 · 1 published rating 1997-05-20 · 23 min
On the way to Vermillion City, Ash meets AJ, a Gym Leader at an unsanctioned Gym who has 98 wins and zero losses. They battle, and Ash is surprised that AJ's Ground-type Sandshrew can easily beat his Flying-type Pokémon.
S1 · E9The School of Hard Knocks 4.0 / 10 · 1 published rating 1997-05-27 · 23 min
While searching for firewood in the foggy woods, Ash and Pikachu discover a bunch of prep-school kids bullying a classmate named Joe.
S1 · E10Bulbasaur and the Hidden Village 7.0 / 10 · 1 published rating 1997-06-03 · 23 min
Ash and Misty, while arguing, discover an Oddish. As Misty's Starmie weakens the Oddish, a Bulbasaur appears and fights Starmie while the Oddish runs off into the woods.
S1 · E11Charmander - The Stray Pokémon 7.4 / 10 · 1 published rating 1997-06-10 · 23 min
Our friends, lost, discover an injured Charmander. Pikachu talks to it and learns that it's been waiting a long time for its trainer to return.
S1 · E12Here Comes the Squirtle Squad 6.0 / 10 · 1 published rating 1997-06-17 · 23 min
Ash and his friends walk along a path and fall into a hole dug by a batch of mischievous Squirtle. Ash climbs out and tries to battle them, but they scatter when Officer Jenny arrives.
S1 · E13Mystery at the Lighthouse 7.3 / 10 · 1 published rating 1997-06-24 · 23 min
A tremendously large shadow begins to take form in the sea mists, but this possible discovery could be hindered due to the infamous Team Rocket lurking in the background cooking up another one of their schemes.
S1 · E14Electric Shock Showdown 1997-07-01 · 23 min
Our heroes finally reach Vermillion City, and they discover that the Pokémon Center is filled with Pokémon hurt during battles with Lt. Surge, the Vermillion City Gym Leader.
S1 · E15Battle Aboard the St. Anne 1997-07-08 · 23 min
Ash and his friends board a fancy cruise ship called the St. Anne, thanks to tickets provided by two friendly but familiar-looking people. We soon learn that they're actually Jessie and James in disguise!
S1 · E16Pokémon Shipwreck 1997-07-15 · 23 min
The St. Anne has capsized and sunk with Ash, the gang, and Team Rocket trapped inside. Now, both sides must put aside their differences in order to escape.
S1 · E17Island of the Giant Pokémon 1997-07-22 · 23 min
As our heroes and Team Rocket beat the odds by surviving the sinking ship, they are dragged into another potentially deadly situation when they are attacked by the ferocious Pokémon, Gyarados.
S1 · E18Beauty and the Beach 1997-07-29 · 23 min
Ash and his friends have finally arrived in Porta Vista, a beach-side tourist town. After destroying an old man's ship, they must help in the old man's business. To attempt to pay the man back faster, Misty enters a beauty contest, only to discover she is competing against Jessie and James.
S1 · E19Tentacool & Tentacruel 1997-08-05 · 23 min
Our heroes arrive at Hutber Port, where a ferryboat line runs to the mainland.
S1 · E20The Ghost of Maiden's Peak 1997-08-12 · 23 min
After leaving Acapulco in search of Saffron City, our heroes finally arrive at a small port town in the middle of celebrating a summer festival.
S1 · E21Bye Bye Butterfree 1997-08-19 · 23 min
When the party sees a flock of Butterfree flying above the ocean, Brock, as a Pokémon breeder, explains that it is the Butterfree's egg-laying season.
S1 · E22Abra and the Psychic Showdown 1997-08-26 · 23 min
The party finally arrives in Saffron City where a young girl manages a gym of Pokémon using her psychic powers. If Ash defeats this particular Gym Leader, Ash can earn a gold badge.
S1 · E23The Tower of Terror 1997-09-02 · 23 min
In search of a ghost Pokémon, Ash heads immediately for a tower in Lavender Town where they are said to dwell.
S1 · E24Haunter Versus Kadabra 1997-09-09 · 23 min
Unbeknownst to Ash, one of the ghost Pokémon decides to join Ash and friends on their journey and more importantly help Ash battle the powerful Saffron City Gym Leader.