Pokemon! I Choose You!

Air Date: September 8, 1998

Believe it or not, even though this is the first episode of the entire Pokemon series, it was the second Pokemon episode to air in the U.S., after the   more...15th episode, Pokemon Shipwreck! which was aired the day before.

This is one of the greatest Pokemon episodes ever made, and it's one of my favorites, too.

The scene where Ash shouts at the flock of Spearow is, in my opinion, the most powerful moment in the history of the series.  less

Pokemon Emergency!

Air Date: September 9, 1998

This is the first episode where Jessie, James and Meowth appear.

Garura's Lullaby

Air Date: November 18, 1997

This is widely considered to be one of the most violent Pokemon episodes.

There was a gag in this episode that was considered too raunchy for foreign distributors.   more...In the scene where Tomo (Taro) first encounters Ash (Satoshi), Misty (Kasumi), Brock (Takeshi) and Jenny (Junsar), Misty tells Tomo to apologize after he hit Ash in the face with his bommerang. Tomo then spaces out. In the original Japanese version, Tomo spaces out and stares at Misty's breasts. She then asks him "What's up?" he replies "What are those things on your chest?" She then gets very angry, violently hits him and shouts at him "How do you know such things?!" In the dub, the breasts shot is cut, Misty asks Tomo "What's the matter?" he responds "You people or pokemon?" She gets very angry, violently hits him and says "I'm a person, you creep!"  less

Ash Catches A Pokemon

Air Date: September 10, 1998

Hoenn Alone!

Air Date: October 25, 2003

This is the last episode of the Johto League story arc and the Master Quest season.

Enter the Dragonite

Air Date: September 23, 2000

This is one of my favorite Pokemon episodes, and it has one of the greatest Pokemon battles in the history of the series.

Sparks Fly For Magnemite

Air Date: October 16, 1998

Clefairy and the Moon Stone

Air Date: September 15, 1998

Misty Meets Her Match

Air Date: September 9, 2000

This episode is my favorite episode of the entire Pokemon anime.

NOTE: This episode is the ideal episode for Poke-shippers (Poke-shipping is the fan-based   more...theory of Ash and Misty having a romantic relationship).

Classic scene:

(Team Rocket surfaces in Trovita River)
Jessie: Prepare for trouble!
James: And make it double! This doesn't look like the ocean.
Meowth: Must be Trovita River.
Jessie- To protect the world from deva- It's the twerp.
James/Meowth: Huh?
Meowth: Yeah, and he's headed this way.
(Classic line) James: Great. The target's right in our face. (ROFLMAO)
Tracey: There's a target!
Ash: Squirtle, go!
Squirtle: Squirtle!
Ash: Squirtle! Water Gun, now!
(Squirtle hits the target, and the tree holding the target plunges into the river sending Team Rocket into the skies.)

Get this- according to accounts of the original Japanese version, during the dance after the date, Rudy not only asked Misty to stay on the island, but to marry him. What is significant here is that Misty was actually considering his proposal, evidenced by the fact that she didn't refuse him outright. Throughout Ash's gym battle with Rudy, Misty is clearly torn between deciding which boy meant more to her, finally rooting for Ash in the end as Squirtle is hit by a Thunderbolt from Rudy's Starmie. Rudy, in shock mutters, "She wants him."  less

Gone Corphishin'

Air Date: February 21, 2004

A Way Off, Day Off

Air Date: April 8, 2000

The Battling Eevee Brothers

Air Date: October 16, 1998

The Tower of Terror

Air Date: October 7, 1998

This episode was temporarily banned after September 11th. The official reason has never been confirmed, but many believe that the episode's title may have had   more...something to do with it. The episode is no longer banned and continues to air.  less

The Water Flowers of Cerulean City

Air Date: September 16, 1998

After Pikachu shocks Team Rocket with Thunderbolt, James says "It's times like these that make me want to go straight" This line   more...attracted much controversy.  less

The School of Hard Knocks

Air Date: September 18, 1998

This is the last episode where Ted Lewis voices James.

Charmander- The Stray Pokemon

Air Date: September 22, 1998

This is the first episode of where now longtime OLM animator Izumi Shimura served as animation director. He has worked on more than 120 episodes   more...so far in the anime.  less

The Mandarin Island Miss Match

Air Date: April 15, 2000

Ash, Misty and Tracey meet Prima (Lorelei in the games), a member of the Elite Four.

One of the funniest lines in the whole series-

(Ash sends out   more...Charizard)
Misty- No, Ash! You know you can't handle Charizard yet!
Ash- Don't worry, Misty. I think I have enough experience as a trainer to handle anything now. Right, Charizard?
(Charizard turns around and uses Flamethrower on Ash)
Ash- Guess not.
(Classic line) Misty- Now you really look like ash. (ROFLMAO)
Trainer- Hah. Looks like your little plan just... backfired.  less

Charizard Chills

Air Date: September 2, 2000

The Flame Pokémon-athon!

Air Date: October 21, 1998

The shot of Pikachu and Squirtle running to Ash's aid after Electrode exploded was not dubbed. Proof of this is Squirtle saying "Zeni Zeni"   more...instead of "Squirtle Squirt".  less

The Punchy Pokemon

Air Date: October 15, 1998

Dig Those Diglett!

Air Date: October 19, 1998

This is the last episode where Nathan Price voices Meowth.

Pokemon Scent-Sation!

Air Date: October 12, 1998

This is one of my favorite episodes.

The Rivalry Revival

Air Date: October 14, 2000

This is the final Orange Islands episode.

Hypno's Naptime

Air Date: October 13, 1998

The footage of Ash's flashback of his mother is from BEAUTY AND THE BEACH. This is the only instance of a banned episode appearing in a non-banned episode.