Pokemon S1E1 – Pokémon – I Choose You!

The first episode of Pokémon has a pretty important job to do: introduce us to an entirely new world, establish its protagonist, and convince us to follow him on what will become an incredibly long journey. Looking back at it now, I think it does that job quite well.

We are introduced to Ash Ketchum, a 10-year-old from Pallet Town who dreams of becoming a Pokémon Master. Ash has received his Trainer’s license, but it’s immediately apparent that having the license and actually knowing what you’re doing are two very different things. He doesn’t seem to have much practical experience as a Pokémon Trainer, and his disastrous first day makes that abundantly clear.

Part of Ash’s apparent incompetence works as an introduction for the audience. Since this is our first real exposure to the Pokémon world, Ash provides a natural way for viewers to learn how the world works without the episode having to stop and dump a bunch of information on us. We get to discover Pokémon, Trainers, battles, Pokémon Centers, and the relationship between humans and Pokémon alongside him.

Ash’s first Pokémon is Pikachu, and their relationship gets off to a terrible start. Pikachu refuses to cooperate with Ash and clearly isn’t interested in being his obedient little starter Pokémon. That is actually one of my favorite things about the episode. Instead of immediately giving us the perfect Pokémon-and-Trainer relationship, the series makes Ash and Pikachu earn their friendship.

That friendship really begins to change when Pikachu is injured and Ash becomes determined to get him to a Pokémon Center. When the Spearow attack, Ash puts himself between them and Pikachu, even though he has very little chance of protecting either of them. It’s this moment that finally shows Pikachu that Ash genuinely cares about him.

Knowing what this relationship eventually becomes makes that first episode particularly meaningful. Ash and Pikachu go on to become one of the most iconic friendships in anime, and seeing where it all begins gives the premiere an extra bit of weight.

We also meet Misty, although their introduction isn’t exactly the beginning of a beautiful friendship. Ash encounters her while trying to escape the Spearow and promptly steals her bicycle so he can get Pikachu to the Pokémon Center. It’s understandable given the circumstances, but from Misty’s perspective, Ash has basically destroyed her bicycle and disappeared with it. Not exactly a promising first impression.

The episode ultimately succeeds because it isn’t simply about introducing Pokémon. It’s about introducing us to Ash and beginning the relationship that will define the series. Ash starts out inexperienced and somewhat incompetent, Pikachu doesn’t want anything to do with him, and Misty has every reason to be annoyed with him. Yet by the end, we’ve seen the first steps toward relationships that will become central to the series.

There is also a considerable nostalgia factor here. Pokémon was a hugely important part of my teenage years, and it means a lot to me personally. Watching this episode again isn’t simply revisiting an old cartoon. It’s revisiting the beginning of one of the most famous anime franchises in the world and remembering why Pokémon became so important to so many people in the first place.

Final Thoughts

“Pokémon – I Choose You!” is a strong premiere. It introduces the world without overwhelming the audience, establishes Ash as an inexperienced but determined protagonist, gives Pikachu an immediately memorable personality, and lays the foundation for one of anime’s most famous friendships.

It isn’t necessarily a complicated story, but it doesn’t need to be. Its real purpose is to make us want to see what happens next.

And after 25 years of knowing where Ash and Pikachu’s journey eventually goes, there’s something particularly satisfying about watching them take their very first steps together.