In 2025, a time when we have dozens of new anime shows every couple of months and enough fans with different tastes that it takes a lot of effort for a single show to become a viral phenomenon, it’s easy to forget just how big of a cultural movement “Pokémon” was.
Based on the already hugely popular video game property of the same name, Studio OLM’s “Pokémon” anime was an instant success not only in Japan but abroad too. It kickstarted Pokémania and became a global phenomenon, making fans out of millions of kids and paving the way for a wave of anime titles aimed at kids like “Digimon.”
The original iteration of the anime follows Ash Ketchum, a kid who — when he turns 10 — ventures out into the wilderness on a journey to catch every single Pokémon and become a Pokémon master. That’s right, a 10-year-old lives alone in the wild with no money, job, or education, and only his critters for company, all the while constantly fight bandits hellbent on kidnapping his companion Pikachu.
The impact of the original “Pokémon” anime extends well beyond its original release. Even 25 years later, the series made waves when real-life sports outlets around the world covered the results of a fictional “Pokémon” tournament and Ash’s achievements.
Whether you’re a newcomer wanting to experience Poké-fever for yourself or a veteran wanting to revisit this iconic franchise, really the only correct way to experience “Pokémon” is to go by its release dates (mostly). Taking into account the many movies in the franchise, this is the correct order to watch the “Pokémon” shows and movies:
“Pokémon Indigo League” (1997)
“Pokémon: The First Movie” (1998)
“Pokémon Mewtwo Strikes Back: Evolution” (2019)
“Pokémon Adventures in Orange Islands” (1999)
“Pokémon The Movie 2000 — The Power of One” (1999)
“Pokémon The Johto Journeys” (1999)
“Pokémon 3: Spell of the Unown” (2000)
“Pokémon Johto League Champions” (2000)
“Pokémon 4Ever: Celebi- Voice of the Forest” (2001)
“Pokémon Master Quest” (2001)
“Pokémon Heroes: Latios and Latias” (2002)
“Pokémon Advanced” (2002)
“Pokémon: Jirachi, Wish Maker” (2003)
“Pokémon Advanced Challenge” (2003)
“Pokémon: Destiny Deoxys” (2004)
“Pokémon Advanced Battle” (2004)
“Pokémon: Lucario and the Mystery of Mew” (2005)
“Pokémon Battle Frontier” (2005)
“Pokémon Ranger and the Temple of the Sea” (2006)
“Pokémon Diamond and Pearl” (2006)
“Pokémon The Rise of Darkrai” (2007)
“Pokémon Diamond and Pearl: Battle Dimension” (2007)
“Pokémon Giratina and the Sky Warrior” (2008)
“Pokémon Diamond and Pearl: Galactic Battles” (2008)
“Pokémon Arceus and the Jewel of Life” (2009)
“Pokémon Diamond and Pearl: Sinnoh League Victors” (2010)
“Pokémon Zoroark – Master of Illusions” (2010)
“Pokémon Black and White” (2010)
“Pokémon Black – Victini and Reshiram” (2011)
“Pokémon White – Victini and Zekrom” (2011)
“Pokémon Black and White: Rival Destinies” (2011)
“Pokémon Kyurem vs the Sword of Justice” (2012)
“Pokémon Black and White Adventures in Unova and Beyond” (2012)
“Pokémon Genesect and the Legend Awakened” (2013)
“Pokémon XY” (2013)
“Pokémon Diancie and the Cocoon of Destruction” (2014)
“Pokémon XY: Kalos Quest” (2013)
“Pokémon Hoopa and the Clash of Ages” (2015)
“Pokémon XYZ” (2013)
“Pokémon Volcanion and the Mechanical Marvel” (2016)
“Pokémon Sun and Moon” (2016)
“Pokémon Sun and Moon: Ultra Adventures” (2017)
“Pokémon Sun and Moon: Ultra Legends” (2018)
“Pokémon Journeys” (2019)
“Pokémon Master Journeys” (2020)
“Pokémon Ultimate Journeys” (2021)
After that, we have the current “Pokémon” anime (which doesn’t feature Ash and is unconnected to the previous story):
“Pokémon Horizons” (2023)
“Pokémon Horizons — The Search for Laqua” (2024)
There are also three films set in an alternate timeline that are not considered canon to the main anime and instead have their own continuity:
“Pokémon I Choose You!” (2017)
“Pokémon The Power of Us” (2018)
“Pokémon Secrets of the Jungle” (2020)
Finally, there are specials released online that are unrelated to the main story, but expand on the world of “Pokémon.” Since there is no connection between the specials, you can watch in any order you want. These are mostly available on the official “Pokémon” YouTube channel (save for the Netflix series “Pokémon Concierge”):