How to Watch Pokemon in Chronological Order (2025 Updated)

With so many episodes, movies, and spin-offs in the Pokémon series, it can be tricky to figure out how to watch them all. 

Since we have watched everything about Pokémon countless times, I'll be your trusty guide, providing a simple and straightforward roadmap to watch Pokémon in order.

Let's embark on this epic adventure together!

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Perfect Guide To Watch Pokémon In Chronological Order

1. Indigo League (1997 – 1999)

While Pokémon Origins seems the first in order, the Indigo League Season (82 episodes) is the first to watch [1].

This is the most memorable series for me because it's where Ash caught Pikachu as he collected Gym Badges from the Kanto region. 

2. Adventures in the Orange Islands (1999)

Released after the Pokémon movie Mewtwo Strikes Back, the Orange Islands (36 episodes) is the second season aired in 1999.

In Adventures in the Orange Islands, I watched Ash collect the Gym Badges of Orange Islands to join the competition. 

3. The Johto Journeys (1999-2000)

In The Johto Journeys (41 episodes), Ash and Misty rejoin Brock for the next Pokémon journey. The Johto Journeys is set in the finest region in Pokémon, which is also known in Japan as the Pocket Monsters: Gold and Silver.

4. Johto League Champions (2000-2001)

The Johto League Champions (52 episodes), which aired in 2000, follows the adventures of Ash, Misty, and Brock from Johto to Cianwood City.

This season, I'm thrilled that Ash collected Gym Badges and joined the Pokémon Sumo Conference in Johto League Champions. Have you ever wondered who the best Pokemon player of all time is?

5. Master Quest (2001-2002)

The Master Quest (65 episodes) was released the same year as the Pokémon Movie Celebi - Voice of the Forest.

After Ash competed with the Gym Leader, I admired his dedication to winning the hard battles in the Master Quest Silver Conference, including Gary Oak, one of his oldest rivals.

6. Advanced (2002)

Advanced (40 episodes) aired when the Pokémon Jirachi Wish Maker season was released.

I can't take my eyes off Ash as he tries to compete in the Hoenn region with Brock and new characters like May, a novice Pokémon trainer, and her younger brother Max.

7. Advanced Challenge (2002-2004)

Advanced Challenge Season (52 episodes) features the battles of Ash, May, and their friends in the Hoenn region.

After the Advanced Challenge, new battles with Team Aqua and Team Magma will start. But how many Pokémon types are there in total?

8. Advanced Battle (2004-2005)

Advanced Battle was released after the Pokémon Movie Destiny Deoxys. The Advanced Battle season (54 episodes) features Ash earning two badges, securing his spot in the Hoenn League Championships, and May trying to win the final ribbon. 

9. Battle Frontier (2005-2006)

After returning to Kanto, Ash competed at the Battle Frontier (47 episodes).

While Ash and Brock are set to compete in their homeland, Kanto, they stumble upon a few surprises, like the Pokémon Ranger in the Battle Frontier.

10. Diamond & Pearl (2006)

Gary Oak, Ash, and Pikachu join the Sinnoh League in the Diamond and Pearl Season (52 episodes).

Diamond and Pearl aired in 2006, along with the Pokémon movie Pokémon Ranger and the Temple of the Sea.

11. Diamond and Pearl: Battle Dimension (2007)

Although Ash and Dawn fight on different paths, they'll enter the Wallace Cup Competition and Professor Rowan's Pokémon Summer Academy in the Diamond and Pearl Battle Dimension Season (52 episodes) together. The Diamond and Pearl Battle Dimension season features Pokémon Hunter J's plot and Team Galactic's looming threat. 

12. Diamond and Pearl: Galactic Battles (2009-2010)

Diamond and Pearl Galactic Battles (53 episodes) feature Ash and Dawn catching up with Team Galactic's scheme in the Sinnoh region.

Ash battles with his rival Paul, beating a 6-on-6 in Diamond and Pearl Galactic Battles. Check out these Pokémon cake ideas for your next party!

13. Diamond and Pearl: Sinnoh League Victors (2010)

In Diamond and Pearl Sinnoh League Victors, Ash tries to compete again after his defeat.

However, in the Pearl Sinnoh League Victors (34 episodes), Ash will deal with Team Rocket while he, Dawn, and Brock battle in the Sinnoh region.

14. Black & White (2010)

This season has 50 episodes released in the same year as Pokémon, the movie Zoroark Master of Illusions.

Ash and his mother went with Professor Oak to the Unova region to uncover new Pokémon and compete with the Unova gym Leaders.

15. Black & White: Rival Destinies (2011-2012)

Rival Destinies (49 episodes) features Ash's ultimate battle with Unova's Champion Master, Alder.

Ash and his friends will save the island against three mighty Legendary Pokémon in Rival Destinies.

16. Black & White: Adventures in Unova / Black & White: Adventures in Unova and Beyond (2012)

After the Kyurem vs. Swords of Justice, Season 16: Black & White Adventures in Unova (45 episodes) aired on television.

In Black & White Adventures in Unova, Ash faces the ultimate battle at the Unova League, and his friend, Iris, tries to control a Dragonite.

17. XY (2013)

There is no doubt that Pikachu is the icon of Pokémon [2]. The XY season (Mega Evolution Specials) has 48 episodes featuring the adventures and Gym Battles of Pikachu and Ash in the Kalos region with his new friends, Serena and Bonnie.

18. XY: Kalos Quest

To compete in the Kalos League, Ash continues to collect eight Gym Badges in the XY Kalos Quest: Season 18 (45 episodes).

Ash travels with his companions, meets new friends, and captures new Pokémon. 

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19. XYZ (2013)

The XYZ season (47 episodes) aired when the Pokémon movie Hoopa and the Clash of Ages Pokémon was released.

Ash, Pikachu, and his friends will encounter Team Flare and Alain, a Mega Evolution Trainer.

20. Sun & Moon (2016)

Aside from Volcanion and the Mechanical Marvel: Pokémon the Movie, the Sun and Moon series (43 episodes) is an exciting chapter in Ash's quest.

I enjoyed the series because it's all about Ash's journey across the island of the Aloha region. It aired in 2016 and featured new characters like Mallow, Sophocles, Lana, and Kiawe.

Read: Our Favorite Pokémon Gifts

21. Sun & Moon: Ultra Adventures (2017-2018)

Sun & Moon Ultra Adventures (49 episodes) features Ash making a promise in a dream with Legendary Pokémon Lunala and Solgaleo.

He will also explore with Pikachu and Pokémon school students from the Aether Foundation in Sun and Moon Ultra Adventures.

Looking for some Pokémon party ideas? We've got you covered. 

22. Sun & Moon: Ultra Legends (2019-2020)

The Sun & Moon Ultra Legends Pokémon season (54 episodes) features Ash completing three impressive trials in the Alola region and continuing the search for Z-Crystals.

In this season, the students of Pokémon School also become Ultra Guardians.

23. Journeys (2020-2021)

Pokémon Journeys (48 episodes) features Ash and Pikachu launching the Cerise Laboratory to unlock Pokémon history across different regions.

They meet Professor Cerise and Goh and are tasked to be official researchers.

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24. Master Journeys (2021)

Pokémon Master Journeys (36 episodes) is the show's current season. In it, Ash and Goh explore a bigger world, finding Pokémon and traveling to different regions to research for the Cerise Laboratory. So, how many Pokémon are there, really?

25. Ultimate Journeys (2021-2023)

Ultimate Journeys consists of 51 episodes, and we are currently watching the series on Netflix. 

Our eyes are locked as the Pokémon World Coronation Series Tournament intensifies, along with the intensive training of Pikachu, Ash, and his Pokémon friends. 

Meanwhile, in Ultimate Journeys, Goh began the series of challenging missions to become part of Project Mew. nd Reshiram (2011)

Movie Marathon Order

Where To Watch Pokémon

To watch Pokémon, we have been using different stream platforms because some episodes are unavailable on others. Here are some of our popular choices:

Netflix
Currently offers select seasons including parts of Indigo League, Journeys, Master Journeys, and Ultimate Journeys. Netflix also has exclusive rights to some Pokémon movies.

Pokémon TV (Official App)
The official Pokémon TV app is free and regularly rotates different seasons. While it doesn't have all the content available at once, it's a legitimate source directly from The Pokémon Company.

Amazon Prime Video
Offers various Pokémon seasons for purchase or rental, with some included in Prime membership depending on your region.

Hulu
Has a good selection of earlier Pokémon seasons and some movies available for subscribers.

Disney+
In some regions, Disney+ has begun adding Pokémon content, including newer seasons like Pokémon Horizons.

The Roku Channel
Offers several Pokémon seasons for free with ads in certain regions.

YouTube
The official Pokémon YouTube channel occasionally streams full episodes and offers clips and specials.

Please note that the availability of Pokémon series may vary by country, and new streaming platforms may emerge over time.

It's recommended to check the platforms and their libraries in your region for the most up-to-date information on Pokémon series availability.

How Long to Watch All Pokémon Episodes

To watch all Pokémon episodes, considering each season contains approximately 40 to 60 episodes, averaging around 50 episodes per season, and with each episode lasting about 21 minutes, you'll spend approximately 24,150 minutes watching the entire series.

Dividing this by 24 hours, you'll spend roughly 1,006 hours watching the entire anime. This translates to approximately 42 days of continuous viewing.

FAQs

Can you start watching Pokemon in any season?

Yes, you can. While you may start with Pokemon: Twilight Wings, Pokemon the Movie: Giratina and the Sky Warrior, Diamond and Pearl Sinnoh, Mewtwo Strikes, or Pokemon the Movie: Genesect and the Legend Awakened, it's better to start with the first season of the Pokemon series if you want to become a seasoned Pokemon Master.

How many Pokémon series are there in order? 

In Japan, the Pokémon anime franchise has eight sequential series, each corresponding to a main installment of the Pokémon video game series. However, in international broadcasts, these series are divided into 26 seasons.

What should you watch first, Pokemon TV series or movies?

It's ideal to watch the series in chronological order first. Then, you can watch Pokémon the Movie installments like Mewtwo Strikes Back, Twilight Wings, Legend Awakened, Mechanical Marvel, and Pokemon Heroes. Also, when do we celebrate Pokemon Day?

Are Pokemon movies connected to anime?

Yes, Pokemon movies are connected to the anime series. They often feature the same characters and storylines, providing additional adventures and expanding the Pokemon universe.

Why are there only 52 episodes of Pokémon on Netflix?

The number of Pokemon episodes on Netflix may vary based on licensing agreements and regional availability [4].

While 52 episodes might be the current selection, the library could change over time as licensing agreements are renegotiated.

Which Pokémon series is best for young children?

The Sun & Moon series is often recommended for younger viewers due to its lighter tone, colorful animation style, and school setting that emphasizes friendship and learning. Pokémon Horizons is also suitable, thanks to its accessible storyline and appealing new characters.

So, How Should You Watch the Pokémon TV Series?

Congratulations, trainers! You're now equipped with the knowledge and confidence to dive into the world of Pokémon and watch it in the proper order.

By following the steps and recommendations I've shared based on my personal experience, you'll be able to fully immerse yourself in Ash and his Pokémon companions' captivating journey.

Get ready to catch 'em all and experience the magic of Pokémon in the most enjoyable way possible. Let the adventure begin!

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