Pokémon

Overview

Pokémon (ポケモン Pokemon), abbreviated from the original Japanese title Pocket Monsters (ポケットモンスター Poketto Monsutā), is an anime series based on the Pokémon video games developed by Game Freak and published by Nintendo (specifically Pokémon Red/Blue and Gold/Silver) split into five seasons in international markets. Pokémon is the first of several anime series based on the games, directly followed by Pokémon Advanced Generation.

Plot

Ash Ketchum oversleeps and is late arriving at Professor Oak's Lab to receive his first Pokémon; fighting-pets much coveted by children. Because of his tardiness, all three of the standard starter Pokémon have been taken, and he is stuck with an "electric mouse" called Pikachu. After a shaky start, the two soon become firm friends, as Pikachu helps Ash capture many more Pokémon and head toward his goal of becoming the world's greatest Pokémon trainer. However, at every turn, Ash and his friends are pestered by the evil Team Rocket, intent on stealing the best Pokémon for themselves.

Characters

Major characters are listed below. See the full character list for all characters in this series.

Main Protagonists

	Ash Ketchum (サトシ Satoshi) Voiced by: Rica Matsumoto Veronica Taylor Occupation: Pokémon Trainer Gender: Male
	The main protagonist. Ash is a Pokémon Trainer from Pallet Town who aims to become the greatest Pokémon Trainer in the world; a Pokémon Master. After arriving at Professor Oak's Pokémon Laboratory late, he misses the chance to receive one of the standard starter Pokémon. Instead he receives a rather volatile Pikachu. However, he soon becomes friends with Pikachu and they begin their journey as trainer and Pokémon, and best friends. During his travels he takes on Gym Leaders to earn badges, which ultimately grant him entrance into the Pokémon League, a tournament of powerful Pokémon Trainers.
	Misty (カスミ Kasumi) Voiced by: Mayumi Iizuka Rachael Lillis Occupation: Gym Leader, Pokémon Trainer Gender: Female
	Misty is the youngest of four sisters who run the Cerulean City Pokémon Gym. She is a tomboy and often considered the runt of the family. She considers herself a water-type trainer, as that is the gym's specialty. She joins Ash on his journey after he "borrows" her bike and it ends up being destroyed by Pikachu. Misty decides to follow him until he pays her back, though they end up becoming close friends and the bike is eventually forgotten. Misty also has a major phobia of bug-type Pokémon, even a Caterpie can reduce her to a quivering mess.
	Brock (タケシ Takeshi) Voiced by: Yuji Ueda Eric Stuart Occupation: Gym Leader, Pokémon Breeder Gender: Male
	The leader of the Pewter City Pokémon Gym, Brock leaves his post in the hands of his father so he can travel with Ash. Being the leader of a rock-type gym, all of his Pokémon are initially rock-type, including his Geodude and Onix. Brock seemingly falls in love with every beautiful woman he meets, usually the Nurse Joy and Officer Jenny of each city the gang visits. He can even tell the differences between each Joy and Jenny, which others fail to see. Thankfully Misty usually pulls him away from the victims of his lust by the ear, which stops him fawning over them, at least temporarily.

Rivals

	Gary Oak (オーキド・シゲル Ōkido Shigeru) Voiced by: Yuko Kobayashi Jimmy Zoppi Occupation: Pokémon Trainer Gender: Male
	Gary is from Pallet Town like Ash, and the two have been rivals from a young age. He is very confident and full of himself, and becomes a powerful trainer who always seems to be one step ahead of Ash, aggrivating him to no end. Gary also has a squad of cheerleaders that follow him around and cheer him on.
	Ritchie (ヒロシ Hiroshi) Voiced by: Minami Takayama Tara Jayne Occupation: Pokémon Trainer Gender: Male
	Ritchie is a Pokémon Trainer from Frodomar City. He meets Ash during the Indigo League Saga, becoming good friends and rivals. Ritchie is strikingly similar to Ash, wearing similar clothes and owning several of the same Pokémon, including his Pikachu named Sparky. However Ritchie has a penchant for nicknaming his Pokémon which Ash doesn't share.

Antagonists

	Jessie (ムサシ Musashi) Voiced by: Megumi Hayashibara Rachael Lillis Occupation: Team Rocket Member Gender: Female
	Jessie is the most impulsive and aggressive of the Team Rocket Trio (herself, James and Meowth) and often dons masculine clothing when they disguise themselves. She pursued different career paths before joining Team Rocket, including becoming a nurse and attending a private Pokémon school, but failed or flunked out of each of them. She joined a biking gang which began her life of crime shortly before becoming a member of Team Rocket.
	James (コジロウ Kojirō) Voiced by: Shin-ichiro Miki Ted Lewis (01-08) Eric Stuart (09 onward) Occupation: Team Rocket Member Gender: Male
	James is often whiny, submissive and effeminate, in many ways the opposite of Jessie, even wearing effeminate clothing or outright cross-dressing when they disguise themselves. James comes from a wealthy family and was raised on an estate, but he ran away when his parents arranged his marriage to a girl he didn't like, who is ironically identical to Jessie in appearance.
	Meowth (ニャース Nyāsu) Voiced by: Inuko Inuyama Nathan Price (01-30) Maddie Blaustein (31 onward) Occupation: Team Rocket Member Gender: Male
	Meowth is a Pokémon who taught himself how to walk and talk in order to impress a female Meowth he was in love with. Unfortunately, the female Meowth considered him a freak, leading to his life of crime as part of Team Rocket. Meowth can understand other Pokémon and translate what they say.

Music

Opening and ending themes are listed below. See the franchise page for full soundtracks and other music.

English Themes

Japanese Themes