The Pokemon franchise is known to many worldwide through video games, trading card games, or just hearing about them. Many older fans remember them fondly.
So here is the watch order of the Pokemon series following the protagonist Satoshi, or Ash Ketchum, and Pikachu, with his various travel companions.
Pokemon Watch Order
- Pokemon (1997-2002)
- Pokémon Advanced (2002-2006)
- Pokemon: Diamond and Pearl (2006-2010)
- Pokémon: Black & White (2010-2012)
- Pokémon BW: Rival Destinies (2012-2013)
- Pokémon BW: Adventures in Unova (2013)
- Pokémon BW: Adventures in Unova and Beyond (2013)
- Pokémon the Series: XY (2013-2015)
- Pokemon the Series: XYZ (2015-2016)
- Pokemon the Series: Sun & Moon (2016-2019)
- Pokemon Journeys: The Series (2019-2022)
- Pocket Monsters: Mezase Pokemon Master (2023)
So, let’s Check out the chronological order of Pokemon in Detail.
1. Pokemon (1997-2002)
- Episodes: 276
- Release: 1997-2002
A boy named Satoshi embarks on a quest to become a “Pokémon Master” with his first Pokemon, Pikachu, along with Takeshi, a girl-obsessed Rock Pokemon Trainer, and Kasumi, a tomboyish Water Pokemon Trainer.
The Pokémon League competitions are held in various regions, including Kanto, the Orange Islands, and Johto.
During their journey, Satoshi and his Pokémon face Musashi, Kojirou, and Nyarth, a trio of Pokémon thieves who are members of an evil organization called “Team Rocket.”
2. Pokémon Advanced (2002-2006)
- Episodes: 192
- Release: 2002-2006
After participating in the Johto League, Ash decides to start a new journey again, this time alone with Pikachu, in the land of Hoenn.
Ash runs into his old friend, Brock, and May’s younger brother, Max. Together, they travel Hoenn, fighting Gym Leaders and entering Contests and other events on their way to the Hoenn League.
3. Pokemon: Diamond and Pearl (2006-2010)
- Episodes: 191
- Release: 2006-2010
Ash sets out on a journey through Sinnoh after defeating Brandon and rejecting Brandon’s offer to become Frontier Brain.
He meets Hikari, a local trainer from the region, and they decide to travel together.
4. Pokémon: Black & White (2010-2012)
- Episodes: 84
- Release: 2010-2012
With his Pikachu, Ash Ketchum, like in Advanced Generation and Diamond & Pearl, heads to the Unova region, far from Kanto, Johto, Hoenn, and Sinnoh.
As he meets new trainers and rivals Trip and Professor Juniper in the area, he makes friends with Iris, a girl from a town famed for its Dragon Pokémon, and Cilan, a Pokémon Connoisseur from three Straits Cities.
5. Pokémon BW: Rival Destinies (2012-2013)
- Episodes: 24
- Release: 2012-2013
They continued their journey in Isshu, Satoshi, Iris, and Dent. After winning the 8th Gym Badge against Homika in Tachiwaki City, Shirona invites everyone to stay at her villa in East Isshu, where her old friend Hikari also lives, and participate in the Pokemon World Tournament Junior Cup before Satoshi competes in the Unova League.
6. Pokémon BW: Adventures in Unova (2013)
- Episodes: 14
- Release: Winter 2013
In this new series, Satoshi, Pikachu, and their friends embark on a new journey to the “White Ruins”. They meet the young “N,” who can hear the Pokémon’s heartbeat… The door to Utopia has opened wide for humans and Pokémon!
7. Pokémon BW: Adventures in Unova and Beyond (2013)
- Episodes: 20
- Release: Spring 2013
After encountering Team Plasma, Satoshi, Iris, and Dent embark on a new journey on the Decolore Archipelago.
8. Pokémon the Series: XY (2013-2015)
- Episodes: 93
- Release: 2013-2015
Satoshi and Pikachu will travel to Miare City, which is in the center of the Kalos region. There, they will meet never-before-seen Pokemon and make new friends. Thus begins a new adventure as Satoshi takes on the Kalos League.
9. Pokemon the Series: XYZ (2015-2016)
- Episodes: 47
- Release: 2015-2016
Is there anything hidden in the legendary Pokémon Zygarde that has never been revealed? What mysterious phenomenon occurs only with Gekkouga Satoshi? What are Alain’s and Team Flare’s goals, who stand in Satoshi’s way? The greatest danger the Kalos region has ever seen will emerge when all the mysteries are unraveled!
10. Pokemon the Series: Sun & Moon (2016-2019)
- Episodes: 146
- Release: 2016-2019
In the tropical lands of Alola, Satoshi and Pikachu meet new friends, encounter Pokémon, and explore a new island after Satoshi’s mother wins a free vacation.
We also learned about Z-Rings, the devices used for Z-Moves. What mysteries will our young trainer face, and why is Kapu-Kokeko so interested?
11. Pokemon Journeys: The Series (2019-2022)
- Episodes: 136
- Release: 2019-2022
Pokémon trainer Satoshi has a new plan: see the world! But first, he and his partner Pikachu head to the opening of the Sakuragi Institute, a research facility dedicated to unraveling the mysteries of Pokémon in each region.
Satoshi meets Gou, another boy with boundless curiosity about Pokémon, and both are overjoyed when Professor Sakuragi asks them to become official researchers.
12. Pocket Monsters: Mezase Pokemon Master (2023)
- Episodes: 11
- Release: 2023
With their first friends and the many Pokémon they encountered on the journey back, Mezase Pokémon Master celebrates Satoshi and Pikachu’s final chapter.
So this was the Complete Pokemon Watch Order. If we missed anything, let us know.
Where To Watch Pokemon Online?
- Official Pokemon Website: Offers a “Pokemon TV” section with rotating episodes from various series, mostly focusing on the latest seasons. It’s ad-free and legal.
- Tubi TV: Hosts several older Pokemon series like “Indigo League” and “XY” with ads. Selection may vary by region.
- JioCinema (India): It provides all seasons of the main series in Hindi for free, but it is only available in India.
Paid Options:
- Netflix: Has the original series “Indigo League” and recent seasons like “Journeys.” They’ll also be adding “Pokemon Horizons” in March 2024.
- Hulu: It offers “XY” and other specific series but not the complete collection. Requires a subscription.
- Amazon Prime Video Includes select seasons like “Gold and Silver” and “XY,” but not the entire library. Subscription needed.
- Google Play Store and Apple TV: Allow individual episode or season purchases for various Pokemon series.
