Every Pokémon Anime Series Ranked

17 Pokémon: Black and White

First Episode: September 23, 2010 (Japan)

Pokémon: Black and White is the fifth generation of the Pokémon anime starring Ash. Set in the Unova region, which has a very unique population of Pokémon, Ash adventures alongside the young Dragon trainer Iris and gym leader Cilan, on his usual quest to gather badges and challenge the Pokémon League.

Black and White is often a contentious series among the fandom, as it represented a soft reboot of the series, wiping much of Ash’s battle experience and setting him back to an early newbie state. Fans often feel that Ash’s character was harmed by this decision. Team Rocket also saw massive changes, as they were reworked to be more threatening. The storyline of Black and White was also impeded by real-life events, which caused a major plotline to be dropped. For these reasons, it’s easily the worst Pokémon anime in most fans’ opinions.

16 Pokémon: Gold and Silver

First Episode: October 14, 1999 (Japan)

Gold and Silver is the second iteration of the Pokémon anime starring Ash. The formula of changing Ash’s companions in each region had yet to be established, so Ash is still traveling with Brock and Misty throughout this season. While there are still many classic episodes in this series, there are also some very low-quality episodes.

The main complaint most fans have with Gold and Silver is that the proportion of one-off “filler” episodes is quite high, compared to the number of episodes that progress the plot (episodes with new Pokémon catches, gym battles, etc.) And while Misty and Brock often lacked direction for their characters in the first series, the problem was magnified this season. Still, Gold and Silver can be quite interesting since so many of the foundational tropes of the series (like changing companions) hadn’t yet been established.

15 Pokémon: Ruby and Sapphire (AKA Advanced Generation)

First Episode: November 21, 2002 (Japan)

The third series of the Pokémon anime, Ruby and Sapphire, kicked off a lot of the traditions that would become essential to the anime, such as introducing new companions like May and Max. Ash also makes the decision to leave most of his Pokémon behind when entering a new region, giving this season (and all following) a soft reboot feel.

Ash and May had a very different dynamic than Ash and Misty did, changing up the show a fair amount. With his experience beginning to mount, Ash takes on the role of mentor for May, helping her learn the ropes of being a trainer the way Misty and Brock once helped him. Like Gold and Silver, Ruby and Sapphire had a lot of filler, including a whole arc that saw them return to Kanto and challenge the Battle Frontier. It also underused some interesting elements from the games, like the conflict between Teams Aqua and Magma.

14 Pokétoon

First Episode: June 4, 2020 (Japan)

Pokétoon is an anthology miniseries that focuses on various Pokémon in situations which may or may not involve humans. These shorts are animated in various different animation styles, and look quite different from the typical Pokémon anime style. This can make them quite enjoyable to watch, but has also left a few episodes looking odd in their new style.

The first batch of 8 Pokétoon episodes was released in 2020, followed by 9 more episodes in 2024, and 2 more in 2025. Episodes of the series can be quite charming, depending on the style, and it represents an innovative new way of presenting Pokémon. At present, it’s unclear if more Pokétoon episodes will be released. Pokétoon is certainly worthy of praise for its willingness to experiment and take Pokémon off-model, but as an anthology, it lacks any real characterization or development.

13 Pokémon Journeys

First Episode: November 17, 2019 (Japan)

Pokémon Journeys is the eighth and final series starring Ash Ketchum. It sees Ash, who has recently become champion of the Alola region, take up a research fellowship with Professor Cerise, alongside an excitable young boy named Goh. Ash and Goh travel the world on behalf of Cerise’s research, and Ash enrolls in the World Coronation Series, a high-stakes tournament.

Goh was heavily inspired by the success of Pokémon Go, often catching Pokémon without battling them, something that annoyed long-time fans to no end. However, Journeys did cater extensively to long-time fans, bringing back characters who hadn’t been seen in hundreds of episodes to bring their stories to a close. While Journeys has its issues, it does a fairly good job of wrapping up the existing Pokémon anime and preparing for its first new protagonists in Horizons.

12 Pokémon: Hisuian Snow

First Episode: May 18, 2022 (International)

Hisuian Snow is a three-episode miniseries set in the distant past of the Hisui region, the area featured in Pokémon Legends: Arceus. A young man, Alec, is traveling by boat to Hisui, where his father lives, and spends much of his trip recalling an incident from his childhood, where he and a Zorua were trapped in a difficult situation.

Arriving in Hisui, Alec concerns himself with helping injured wild Pokémon, much to the bewilderment of his father and other members of the village. With the aid of that Zorua, he and the other humans are able to get the injured Pokémon to safety, beginning to finally build the bridge that will connect Pokémon and people. Hisuian Snow tells a sweet story about the days before humans and Pokémon were close, and how a little kindness managed to change the world. The only problem is, it's just too short!

11 Pokémon Chronicles

First Episode: May 11, 2005 (UK)

Pokémon Chronicles is a series comprised of many special episodes of the Pokémon anime that weren’t originally translated from Japanese. These episodes are all united by the fact that they do not feature Ash Ketchum at all, instead focusing on his former companions like Misty and Tracey, as well as original characters.

Since it uses different viewpoint characters, Chronicles often presents a different perspective on the Pokémon world from that of Ash, and it includes many surprisingly important moments, such as Misty’s capture of her Gyarados, which was a major character moment for her. Chronicles can be extremely hard to find these days, as it's not legally streaming anywhere. Pokémon Chronicles was a bold experiment, and proved the anime could survive without Ash. Unfortunately, it fell out of favor and ended with just 22 episodes.

10 Pokémon: Twilight Wings

First Episode: January 15, 2020 (International)

Twilight Wings is a miniseries consisting of 8 episodes, each of which follows different characters from the games Pokémon Sword and Shield. Most episodes are only loosely connected by a flying Corviknight taxi operator, but there is a recurring story element about a sick boy who dreams of watching the undefeated champion Leon in battle during the tournament.

Twilight Wings gave many Sword and Shield characters who didn’t get a chance to appear in Ash’s anime their first animated appearances, such as the gym leader Nessa. The episodes, while short, still manage to give their spotlight characters a full character arc, allowing fans to get to know the gym leaders and rivals better than in the games. The series is very beautifully animated and is definitely worth watching for anyone who’s ever played through Sword and/or Shield.

9 Pokémon: Indigo League (AKA "The Beginning")

First Episode: April 1, 1997 (Japan)

The first season of Pokémon and the one that started it all, the Indigo League series, is one of the most nostalgically remembered. It set the stage for everything that was to come, establishing the formula that every successive series (until Journeys) would engage in. The series is slammed with classic episodes, from "Bye-Bye, Butterfree" to "Charmander – The Stray Pokémon."

Because it was the first season, this series can be a little wild compared to later series, as the tone of the show hadn’t been fully established, nor had the world itself. While it’s pretty funny to this day, it can sometimes come across a little mean-spirited, as the narrator and other characters can be quite mean to Ash. Still, though, for any Pokémon fan, this season is an absolute can’t miss, if only because it’s where everything began.

8 Pokémon: Paldean Winds

First Episode: September 6, 2023 (International)

Like Twilight Wings, Paldean Winds is a miniseries based on the latest games, in this case Pokémon Scarlet and Violet. It follows three characters, Aliquis, Hohma, and Ohara, as they each try to find their own path forward while attending the academy featured in those games. The series also features the rival character from those games, Nemona.

The series is very beautifully animated and brings the Paldea region to life like no other. While Pokémon factor into the plot of the series, they aren’t the sole focus; Ohara, for example, is concerned about a musical performance, while Hohma is trying to find a story for his journalism club. Only Aliquis’ storyline focuses on Pokémon battling. With just four episodes, Paldean Winds is a must-watch for fans of Scarlet and Violet, and may leave them wishing it were longer.