The Pokémon anime may not be well known for its storytelling, but it has also had some pretty decent storylines over the years. Action, drama or mystery, these episodic stories have taken the time to explore their concepts quite thoroughly, using it as an excellent vehicle for dealing with ideas that are often unexplored. fully in-game (or, in some cases, present). at all).
The best storylines in anime use many of the characters from the series and place them in the middle of events that give them a chance to grow. Here are the 10 best Pokémon anime storylines that fans should keep in mind.
10 Cam Islands
The Orange Island part seems like an odd choice, as it was essentially made to supplement while the anime tackles the delay for the second generation of Pokémon. However, this part presents a new level of freedom for anime creators, as they are allowed to explore certain concepts that may logically exist but are not based on anything from the game. . It led to the creation of an anime-original Pokémon alliance, which included challenges in addition to badge battles and the development of different concepts of evolution — both of which would eventually revisited in the game Pokémon Sun and Moon.
The Orange Islands are also said to have been the inspiration for the existence of the Sevii Islands in FireRed and LeafGreen, similar islands also located near Kanto and serving as home to several Johto Pokémon. The Orange Islands gave Ash his first chance to win the championship (and the only chance in a very long time) and at least they have a lasting legacy.
9 Great Sinnoh . Festival
As Diamond and Pearl drew to a close, it was also when Dawn captured the spotlight for a while and thus began the Sinnoh Grand Festival – the Pokémon equivalent of the League. This installment follows Dawn in her last Pokémon Competition in the region, competing against over a hundred other trainers, including many of her longtime rivals like Zoey.
The competition used unique rules of double representation, which added an aspect of complexity to the competition that kept the characters on their toes. Dawn has certainly faced opponents who perform tricks like evolving their Pokémon on stage, and it all ultimately led to the confrontation between the two opponents that the series has been following since the beginning. Diamond and Pearl.
8 FEMALE Episodes
The “Episode N” season of the Black and White anime brought one of the game’s most beloved characters, N, to the anime for the first time. N’s objection to fighting Pokémon automatically makes him an interesting character, as it seems very few people in the Pokémon world have a problem with that. While N here isn’t quite as engaging as he is in the game, he’s still a fun character to add, and his reactions to things like Meowth’s ability to talk are amusing.
N even gets to travel with Ash for a while to find out why Pokémon battles aren’t as bad as he thought. The season also serves as a major confrontation with Team Plasma, the “evil team” of the Unova region, and features the return of beloved Diamond and Pearl anime character Looker, a detective fighting against different evil teams in the Game.
7 League of Alola
The first season of the Sun and Moon anime, Alola League is widely known to fans for being the moment when Ash finally broke the losing curse and took home the trophy. It also opens the door for him to join the World Coronation Series, making it a very important part of the anime’s entire story.
Besides that, however, the Alola League has plenty of memorable moments, such as Ash’s Meltan eventually evolving into Melmetal and almost every major character in the Sun and Moon series getting a chance. join the tournament, leaving very few characters stuck on the sidelines.
6 Greninja . bonding phenomenon
One of the anime’s most unique running arcs is the development of the so-called “Ash Greninja” in the Pokémon XY(Z) anime. Instead of dominating the series for several episodes, Greninja’s arc unfolds slowly throughout the series. Beginning as a Froakie with dreams of becoming strong alongside a talented trainer, it finds Ash and the two discover that they have a level of connection they’ve never had before: the Bond Phenomenon.
Greninja’s appearance will change, Ash and Greninja’s life force will be bound together, Ash must endure each blow together with Greninja. The training they embark on to master this new ability is perhaps the most stereotypical training a Pokémon has ever had, and that’s meant to be in the best possible way. It’s only a pity that Greninja couldn’t last from that point on.
Wallace Cup 5
A special tournament organized by Contest Master Wallace of the Hoenn region, the Wallace Cup saw the return of May in the anime and her first encounter with Dawn. This is another Pokémon Contest and thus focuses mainly on the two Coordinators as they aim to win prizes. Both May and Dawn compete in the competition and eventually progress to the level where they will face each other.
It was rare to see two of Ash’s companions go head-to-head like this, and their battle seemed to showcase their skills properly. As a third episode, it’s also not overly welcoming, which can sometimes be an issue with tournament seasons in anime in general, as well as Pokémon in particular.
4 galactic teams
No evil team comes as dangerously close to achieving its goal as Team Galaxy did in the Diamond and Pearl anime. The Team Galactic part, which runs through the middle of the series, follows the plan of Cyrus and his followers as they gradually take control of the legendary Pokémon of the Sinnoh region.
Cyrus is quite intimidating for a bad guy in the Pokémon anime, more talented than Team Rocket and doesn’t care about even his followers. The season also features the aforementioned Detective Looker in his first appearance, as he tries to thwart Team Galactic’s plot, as well as the famed Sinnoh champion Cynthia.
3 Masters Eight Tournaments
This season marks Ash’s final tournament in the anime and it’s worth watching just for that reason. Masters Eight sees Ash compete alongside some of the best coaches in the series, like former champions like Cynthia and even a former companion champion in Iris.
It also brings back Alain from XYZ-era Mega Evolution Specials, a popular character who just managed to outmaneuver Ash in the Kalos League. It also has the distinction of doing what the game considers impossible: a tournament in which Z, Dynamaxing and Mega Evolution can all be used.
2 Metro Nimbasa
This little piece might surprise some people as it has nothing to do with an apocalyptic threat or a major tournament, but it is precisely for this reason that it stands out. The film follows Battle Subway bosses Emmet and Ingo who are investigating a ghost train and vandalism in the subway system of Nimbasa City, in the Unova region.
The Subway part sees Jessie and James show off their prowess once, and Team Rocket’s plot is really effective and well-calculated, making the pair extremely dangerous opponents. This is also around the time Meowth travels with Ash, which gives the movie a different feel than usual. It’s a slightly different take on the Pokémon anime, and that’s always fresh.
1 team of flares
The evil team of the Kalos region was underdeveloped in the X and Y games, so the anime had to resort to saving the situation it successfully resolved. Considered by many to be the best installment in the series, Team Flare unfolds slowly through XY(Z), and through the use of Alain and Mega Evolution Specials, offers a unique view of the organization. not from Ash’s perspective. Team Flare’s plan is bold and dangerously close to success, while still causing mass destruction, forcing a team up in the likes of which Pokémon anime has never been seen before or since. .
The Pokémon anime has been criticized for being promotional for the game, but after all these years, it’s hard to maintain that allegation. While its connection to games means that Pokémon has less freedom than other anime, its creators have worked throughout the decades to bring to the screen some excellent stories, as the following ten best Pokémon storylines prove.