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79 entries · · community-maintained
Also known as Pocket Monsters, Pokemon
Where to start Pokémon: begin with Indigo League episode 1 (April 1997) and follow the season blocks down this page. Ash's story runs from Indigo League to Aim to Be a Pokémon Master (2023); if you only want the newest story, Horizons (2023, with Liko and Roy) is a fresh start that needs no earlier season. The Pokémon watch order lays the Japanese TV series out in season blocks and drops each theatrical film in after the last episode that aired before its Japanese release. Episode numbers restart with each season block and follow the Japanese numbering. Mewtwo Strikes Back comes after Indigo League episode 54, with the Mewtwo Returns special after it, and each later film sits inside the season that was airing when it opened. The films are optional side stories, and I Choose You! is an alternate retelling filed inside Sun and Moon. The list runs through Journeys, Ultimate Journeys, Aim to Be a Pokémon Master and the Horizons blocks and ends on Wonders Ahead, which is still airing.
Checked November 2026
Spot a mistake?
Fix this order#1–3 · 3 entries
Original series, Kanto episodes 1-54. Ash's first region; Mewtwo Strikes Back sits after this block.
13 people are here, including soltjee, Poschi and afonsoTheatrical film Mewtwo Strikes Back (18 July 1998). A side story; the TV plot does not depend on it.
Original series, Kanto episodes 55-82, through the Indigo League. Continues after Mewtwo Strikes Back.
6 people are here, including Pyrat, paxji and Sriza Math#4–6 · 3 entries
Original series, Orange Islands episodes 1-24. Still the 1997 show; the Orange League starts here.
4 people are here, including Frosty, Grekdabor and TeENTheatrical film The Power of One (17 July 1999), called Pokemon 2000 here. A side story.
Original series, Orange Islands episodes 25-36. Finishes the Orange League after the 1999 film.
#7–9 · 3 entries
Original series, Johto episodes 1-39. The Johto journey starts in this block.
2 people are here, including Rassilon11 and GitaroTheatrical film Spell of the Unown (8 July 2000). A side story during the Johto episodes.
Original series, Johto episodes 40-41. A short bridge after Spell of the Unown.
#10–13 · 4 entries
Original series, Johto League Champions episodes 1-48. The Johto gym run continues.
Optional TV special (December 2000), the direct sequel to Mewtwo Strikes Back. Watch it after that film.
Theatrical film Celebi: The Voice of the Forest (7 July 2001), called 4Ever here. A side story.
Original series, Johto League Champions episodes 49-52. Ends that season after the Celebi film.
#14–16 · 3 entries
Original series, Master Quest episodes 1-47. The last Johto season, before Heroes.
Theatrical film Pokemon Heroes (13 July 2002), Latias and Latios. A side story.
Original series, Master Quest episodes 48-65. Closes the 276-episode original run.
#17–19 · 3 entries
Ruby and Sapphire, Advanced episodes 1-34. Hoenn starts here.
Theatrical film Jirachi: Wish Maker (19 July 2003). A side story in the Hoenn years.
Ruby and Sapphire, Advanced episodes 35-40. The rest of the first Hoenn season, after Jirachi.
2 people are here, including Preacher915 and knzmb#20–22 · 3 entries
Ruby and Sapphire, Advanced Challenge episodes 1-45. The second Hoenn season.
Theatrical film Destiny Deoxys (17 July 2004). A side story.
Ruby and Sapphire, Advanced Challenge episodes 46-52. Ends that season after Destiny Deoxys.
#23–25 · 3 entries
Ruby and Sapphire, Advanced Battle episodes 1-42. The Hoenn Battle Frontier arc gets underway.
Theatrical film Lucario and the Mystery of Mew (16 July 2005). A side story.
Ruby and Sapphire, Advanced Battle episodes 43-53. Continues after Lucario and the Mystery of Mew.
#26–28 · 3 entries
Ruby and Sapphire, Battle Frontier episodes 1-38. Ash's frontier challenge in Hoenn.
Theatrical film Pokemon Ranger and the Temple of the Sea (15 July 2006). A side story.
Ruby and Sapphire, Battle Frontier episodes 39-47. The end of Hoenn.
#29–31 · 3 entries
Diamond and Pearl, episodes 1-39. Sinnoh starts here.
Theatrical film The Rise of Darkrai (14 July 2007). A side story during Sinnoh.
Diamond and Pearl, episodes 40-52. The rest of the first Sinnoh season, after The Rise of Darkrai.
#32–34 · 3 entries
Diamond and Pearl, Battle Dimension episodes 1-34. The Sinnoh journey continues.
Theatrical film Giratina and the Sky Warrior (19 July 2008). Follows Darkrai; the TV series does not require it.
Diamond and Pearl, Battle Dimension episodes 35-52. Continues after Giratina and the Sky Warrior.
#35–37 · 3 entries
Diamond and Pearl, Galactic Battles episodes 1-31. Team Galactic's story picks up in this block.
Theatrical film Arceus and the Jewel of Life (18 July 2009). Follows Giratina; still a side story.
Diamond and Pearl, Galactic Battles episodes 32-53. Continues after Arceus and the Jewel of Life.
#38–40 · 3 entries
Diamond and Pearl, Sinnoh League Victors episodes 1-26. The Sinnoh League begins.
Theatrical film Zoroark: Master of Illusions (10 July 2010). A side story.
Diamond and Pearl, Sinnoh League Victors episodes 27-34. The end of Sinnoh, after the Zoroark film.
#41–44 · 4 entries
Black and White, episodes 1-39. Unova starts here.
Theatrical film Black—Victini and Reshiram (16 July 2011), one of two alternate films. Watch either this or the White film.
Theatrical film White—Victini and Zekrom (16 July 2011), the alternate to the Black film. Optional if you watched Black.
Black and White, episodes 40-48. Still the 2010 Best Wishes series.
#45–47 · 3 entries
Unova season labeled Rival Destinies, episodes 1-39. The Team Plasma story continues.
Theatrical film Kyurem vs. the Sword of Justice (14 July 2012). A side story.
Unova season labeled Rival Destinies, episodes 40-49. Ends the season after Kyurem vs. the Sword of Justice.
#48–51 · 4 entries
Unova season labeled Adventures in Unova and Beyond, episodes 1-25. A bridge before the Decolora islands.
Best Wishes, Adventures in Unova and Beyond episodes 26-36. The Decolora islands, before Genesect.
2 people are here, including gotie and AaàaaaaaaTheatrical film Genesect and the Legend Awakened (13 July 2013). A side story near the end of Unova.
Best Wishes, Adventures in Unova and Beyond episodes 37-45. The end of Unova, after Genesect.
#52–54 · 3 entries
XY, episodes 1-34. Kalos starts here.
Theatrical film Diancie and the Cocoon of Destruction (19 July 2014). A side story.
XY, episodes 35-48. The rest of the first Kalos season, after Diancie.
#55–57 · 3 entries
XY, Kalos Quest episodes 1-33. The second Kalos season of the same Japanese series.
Theatrical film Hoopa and the Clash of Ages (18 July 2015). A side story.
XY, Kalos Quest episodes 34-45. Continues after Hoopa and the Clash of Ages.
#58–60 · 3 entries
XYZ, episodes 1-33. The Kalos League arc starts here; Volcanion follows this block.
Theatrical film Volcanion and the Mechanical Marvel (16 July 2016). A side story, during XYZ.
XYZ, episodes 34-47. The end of the Kalos journey, after Volcanion and the Mechanical Marvel.
#61–63 · 3 entries
Sun and Moon, episodes 1-33. Alola starts here.
Theatrical film I Choose You! (15 July 2017). An alternate retelling of Ash's start, not a chapter of Sun and Moon. Optional.
Sun and Moon, episodes 34-43. Continues after I Choose You!
#64–66 · 3 entries
Sun and Moon, Ultra Adventures episodes 1-38. The second Alola season of the same series.
Theatrical film The Power of Us (13 July 2018). A side story during Ultra Adventures.
Sun and Moon, Ultra Adventures episodes 39-49. Ends the season after The Power of Us.
#67–69 · 3 entries
Sun and Moon, Ultra Legends episodes 1-37. The end of Alola is split by a film.
Theatrical film Mewtwo Strikes Back—Evolution (12 July 2019), a CG remake of the first film. Optional.
Sun and Moon, Ultra Legends episodes 38-54. The end of Alola, after the Mewtwo remake.
#70 · 1 entry
Journeys, episodes 1-48. Ash and Goh's research fellowship starts here.
#71–73 · 3 entries
Journeys, Master Journeys episode 1 (11 December 2020). The second season of the same series; Secrets of the Jungle follows.
Theatrical film Secrets of the Jungle (25 December 2020 in Japan). A side story that sits right after Master Journeys episode 1.
Journeys, Master Journeys episodes 2-42. The rest of the second season, after Secrets of the Jungle.
#74 · 1 entry
Ultimate Journeys episodes 1-46 (from 17 December 2021): Ash's World Coronation Series climax and his title win.
#75 · 1 entry
Aim to Be a Pokémon Master (2023): Ash and Pikachu's farewell arc with Misty and Brock. Ash's story ends here.
3 people are here, including Toast, Karsten Mulder and Mateo#76 · 1 entry
Horizons, episodes 1-45. A new cast, Liko and Roy. This series is still airing.
#77 · 1 entry
Horizons, The Search for Laqua, episodes 1-44. The same series continues.
#78 · 1 entry
Horizons, Rising Hope, episodes 1-47. Followed by the Wonders Ahead block.
#79 · 1 entry
Horizons, Wonders Ahead, 19 episodes as of 2 November 2026 (from 22 May 2026). The same series is still airing.
Checked November 2026
Indigo League through Master Quest are one 276-episode series, and the later generation names are slices of longer Japanese runs in the same way.
Ash's story ends with Aim to Be a Pokémon Master (Ultimate Journeys episodes 47-57). Horizons, with Liko and Roy, comes after it, works as its own starting point, and is still airing.
I Choose You is a 2017 retelling. It is filed inside Sun and Moon on this page and marked optional; it is not a chapter of that series.
Part of Pokémon, but outside the chronological order above. Each note says when it fits.
Special · 4 episodes · 2013
A retelling of the first games, set apart from Ash's story. Skip it if you follow the TV blocks.
ONA · 18 short episodes · 2016
Short episodes drawn from the games, set apart from Ash's story. Any time, nothing to miss.
ONA · 8 episodes · 2021
Another game-based set of short episodes, apart from Ash's story. Any time, nothing to miss.
ONA · 7 short episodes · 2020
Galar side shorts. Optional; the TV blocks do not depend on them.
ONA · 3 episodes · 2022
Short Legends: Arceus tie-in set in old Hisui, apart from Ash. Any time.
ONA · 4 episodes · 2023
Short Scarlet and Violet tie-in about three students in Paldea. Any time.
ONA · stop-motion · 2023, 2025
Stop-motion Netflix series at a Pokémon resort. Separate from the TV story; any time.
Watch Pokémon in this order. 79 entries, chronological.
AnimeChrono watch orders put every season, movie, OVA, ONA and special for a franchise in chronological story order, the order the events happen. When an OVA or movie takes place partway through a season, the episode range is split so it sits where it belongs. Entries you can skip are marked optional, and each order says where to start. Release order, sorted by air date, is a secondary view once every entry has a date. The orders began as a hand-curated set, and episode counts and air dates come from AniList. Fans maintain the orders from there. Any signed-in user can edit one. Edits from trusted contributors go live right away and the rest are reviewed first. Every change is versioned and can be reverted, and each order shows when it was last updated and last checked.
This order is maintained by the community. Report a problem, or sign in to fix it yourself.
Start with Indigo League episode 1 and follow the TV blocks down this page. The movies are optional side stories. Indigo League through Master Quest are one 276-episode series, and the later generation names are slices of longer Japanese runs in the same way. Ash's story ends with Aim to Be a Pokémon Master (Ultimate Journeys episodes 47-57). Horizons, with Liko and Roy, comes after it, works as its own starting point, and is still airing. I Choose You is a 2017 retelling. It is filed inside Sun and Moon on this page and marked optional; it is not a chapter of that series.
Start with Indigo League episode 1 (1997) for Ash's full journey. If you want the current series without 1,200 earlier episodes, start Pokémon Horizons episode 1 (2023): it has a new cast and does not depend on earlier seasons.
No. The theatrical films are side stories, and the TV plot continues without them. Watch a film when you reach it, or skip it and stay on the episode blocks. I Choose You is different: it retells Ash's beginning and is not part of Journeys.
Ash's last episodes are Aim to Be a Pokémon Master (2023, Ultimate Journeys episodes 47-57 on this page), after he becomes World Champion in Ultimate Journeys. Horizons follows with new main characters.
Start with Episodes 1-54 (Indigo League), then continue with Mewtwo Strikes Back Movie (Indigo League), Episodes 55-82 (Indigo League), Episodes 1-24 (Adventures in the Orange Islands), Pokemon 2000 Movie (Adventures in the Orange Islands), and Episodes 25-36 (Adventures in the Orange Islands), followed by 73 more entries. The full Pokémon watch order on this page has 79 entries across 30 series, listed in chronological viewing order.
Pokémon aired in the same order as the chronological watch order, starting with Episodes 1-54 (Indigo League).
Pokémon has 1389 TV episodes in this order, plus 24 movies and 1 special.
Mewtwo Strikes Back Movie comes right after Episodes 1-54 (Indigo League), Pokemon 2000 Movie comes right after Episodes 1-24 (Adventures in the Orange Islands), Spell of the Unown Movie comes right after Episodes 1-39 (The Johto Journeys), Pokemon 4ever Movie comes right after Mewtwo Returns (Johto League Champions), and Pokemon Heroes Movie comes right after Episodes 1-47 (Master Quest), and 19 more are placed in the list above.
Yes. 25 entries are marked optional: Mewtwo Strikes Back Movie (Indigo League), Pokemon 2000 Movie (Adventures in the Orange Islands), Spell of the Unown Movie (The Johto Journeys), Mewtwo Returns (Johto League Champions), Pokemon 4ever Movie (Johto League Champions), and Pokemon Heroes Movie (Master Quest), and 19 more. Everything else is part of the main story.
Not yet. Pokémon Horizons is still airing. The Wonders Ahead block (from 22 May 2026) is the newest one on this page; it had 19 episodes as of 2 November 2026, so its range is a snapshot. This order is updated by the community as new seasons, movies, and specials come out. Track it to get notified when the order changes.