With more than 1,000 episodes, multiple generations, several series, movies, specials, and a new generation of protagonists, figuring out the correct Pokémon anime watch order can be surprisingly confusing.
Should you start with Pokémon Indigo League? Where does Pokémon Journeys fit? Do you need to watch every season before starting Pokémon Horizons?
The good news is that watching the Pokémon anime in the correct order is much easier than it initially seems.
For the main anime, the best approach is to follow the release order of the major series. The story follows Ash Ketchum for more than two decades before Pokémon Horizons: The Series introduces a new generation of protagonists.
Here is the complete Pokémon anime watch order.
Pokémon Anime Watch Order at a Glance
If you want the short version, watch the main Pokémon anime in this order:
- Pokémon: The Beginning / Indigo League
- Pokémon: Adventures in the Orange Islands
- Pokémon: The Johto Journeys
- Pokémon: Johto League Champions
- Pokémon: Master Quest
- Pokémon Advanced
- Pokémon: Advanced Challenge
- Pokémon: Advanced Battle
- Pokémon: Battle Frontier
- Pokémon: Diamond and Pearl
- Pokémon: DP Battle Dimension
- Pokémon: DP Galactic Battles
- Pokémon: DP Sinnoh League Victors
- Pokémon: Black & White
- Pokémon: Black & White – Rival Destinies
- Pokémon: Black & White – Adventures in Unova and Beyond
- Pokémon the Series: XY
- Pokémon the Series: XY Kalos Quest
- Pokémon the Series: XYZ
- Pokémon the Series: Sun & Moon
- Pokémon the Series: Sun & Moon – Ultra Adventures
- Pokémon the Series: Sun & Moon – Ultra Legends
- Pokémon Journeys: The Series
- Pokémon Master Journeys: The Series
- Pokémon Ultimate Journeys: The Series
- Pokémon: To Be a Pokémon Master
- Pokémon Horizons: The Series
- Pokémon Horizons: Season 2 – The Search for Laqua
- Pokémon Horizons: Season 3 – Rising Hope
This is the simplest order for someone who wants to experience the Pokémon anime from its beginning through its current era.
1. Pokémon: The Beginning / Indigo League
The first stop is the original Pokémon anime, beginning with Ash Ketchum’s journey in the Kanto region.
Ash starts his adventure with Pikachu and travels across Kanto while attempting to collect Gym Badges and qualify for the Pokémon League.
His first companions are Misty and Brock.
This part of the anime introduces many of the characters, Pokémon, locations, and concepts that would become fundamental to the franchise.
If you are watching Pokémon for the first time, this is the natural starting point.
2. Pokémon: Adventures in the Orange Islands
After the Kanto adventure, Ash travels to the Orange Archipelago.
The Orange Islands are a smaller storyline compared with the traditional Pokémon regions, but they are still part of Ash’s original journey.
Ash continues traveling with Misty and Brock while encountering new challenges and Pokémon.
This arc should be watched immediately after the original Kanto episodes.
3. Pokémon: The Johto Journeys
Ash’s next major adventure takes him to the Johto region.
The Johto storyline is divided into several seasons:
- Pokémon: The Johto Journeys
- Pokémon: Johto League Champions
- Pokémon: Master Quest
Together, these seasons form Ash’s complete Johto adventure.
This is also where Pokémon from the second generation become much more prominent.
4. Pokémon Advanced Series
After Johto, Ash travels to the Hoenn region.
The Hoenn era is divided into four major seasons:
- Pokémon Advanced
- Pokémon: Advanced Challenge
- Pokémon: Advanced Battle
- Pokémon: Battle Frontier
Ash’s journey also changes significantly during this period.
May becomes an important traveling companion, while Max and Brock also join the group.
The Hoenn storyline introduces a large number of new Pokémon and expands the anime’s world considerably.
5. Pokémon Diamond and Pearl
The next major destination is the Sinnoh region.
The Diamond and Pearl era is divided into:
- Pokémon: Diamond and Pearl
- Pokémon: DP Battle Dimension
- Pokémon: DP Galactic Battles
- Pokémon: DP Sinnoh League Victors
Dawn becomes Ash’s main female companion during this era, while Brock continues traveling with him.
The Sinnoh storyline also introduces one of Ash’s most important rivals, Paul.
If you are watching the anime chronologically, do not skip this era before moving to Black & White.
6. Pokémon Black & White
After Sinnoh, Ash travels to the Unova region.
The Black & White anime consists of three main seasons:
- Pokémon: Black & White
- Pokémon: Black & White – Rival Destinies
- Pokémon: Black & White – Adventures in Unova and Beyond
Ash travels through Unova with new companions Iris and Cilan.
Unlike some previous adventures, the Unova storyline introduces a largely new cast of Pokémon and characters.
The series then transitions into the next major chapter of Ash’s journey.
7. Pokémon the Series: XY
The next stop is the Kalos region.
Watch:
- Pokémon the Series: XY
- Pokémon the Series: XY Kalos Quest
- Pokémon the Series: XYZ
Serena, Clemont, and Bonnie become Ash’s companions.
The Kalos storyline also introduces Mega Evolution to the anime.
This makes XY and XYZ an important part of the overall Pokémon timeline.
8. Pokémon the Series: Sun & Moon
After Kalos, Ash travels to the Alola region.
The Alola storyline is divided into:
- Pokémon the Series: Sun & Moon
- Pokémon the Series: Sun & Moon – Ultra Adventures
- Pokémon the Series: Sun & Moon – Ultra Legends
This era changes the structure of the anime considerably.
Instead of constantly traveling from one Gym to another, Ash spends much of his time at the Pokémon School in Alola.
He also develops relationships with a new group of classmates and friends.
The Alola storyline eventually leads to one of the major milestones in Ash’s career as a Pokémon Trainer.
9. Pokémon Journeys
After Alola, Ash begins a much more global adventure.
The Pokémon Journeys era consists of:
Pokémon Journeys: The Series
Ash and Goh travel across multiple Pokémon regions rather than focusing exclusively on one new region.
Pokémon Master Journeys: The Series
The journey continues as Ash and Goh investigate new Pokémon and participate in increasingly important battles.
Pokémon Ultimate Journeys: The Series
The story reaches its major climax as Ash competes at the highest levels of the World Coronation Series.
Together, these three series form the final major chapter of Ash’s long journey.
10. Pokémon: To Be a Pokémon Master
After Pokémon Ultimate Journeys, Ash’s story continues in a special concluding storyline known as Pokémon: To Be a Pokémon Master.
This series serves as an epilogue to Ash’s journey.
Rather than beginning another large regional adventure, the episodes focus on Ash, Pikachu, and several familiar characters.
For anyone watching the entire Ash storyline, this should be watched after Pokémon Ultimate Journeys.
It is an important part of the transition between the original Pokémon anime era and the new series.
11. Pokémon Horizons: The Series
After more than two decades with Ash as the central protagonist, Pokémon introduces a new main cast in Pokémon Horizons: The Series.
The protagonists are Liko and Roy, who begin their own adventure in the Pokémon world.
This means that you do not need to watch the entire Ash storyline before starting Horizons.
However, watching the previous series can provide additional context for the Pokémon universe and its history.
Pokémon Horizons is divided into several seasons.
12. Pokémon Horizons: Season 1
The first season introduces Liko, Roy, and the Rising Volt Tacklers.
The story revolves around a mysterious pendant, ancient secrets, the Explorers, and several legendary Pokémon.
Unlike the original Pokémon anime, Horizons is structured around a more continuous overarching mystery.
This makes watching the episodes in order particularly important.
13. Pokémon Horizons: Season 2 – The Search for Laqua
The second season continues Liko and Roy’s journey as they investigate the mysteries surrounding Laqua and the Six Heroes.
The story builds directly on the events of the first season.
For this reason, Season 2 should be watched immediately after Season 1 rather than treated as a separate Pokémon adventure.
14. Pokémon Horizons: Season 3 – Rising Hope
The third season is titled Pokémon Horizons: Season 3 – Rising Hope.
The story continues with Liko, Roy, Dot, and their friends as they deal with new threats and investigate the mysterious pink mist affecting Pokémon.
The season also brings major developments involving Mega Evolution and the Pokémon world introduced in earlier seasons.
As of September 2026, Season 3 has been released through its fourth part, meaning viewers should watch Seasons 1 and 2 before beginning Rising Hope.
Do You Need to Watch Pokémon in This Exact Order?
Not necessarily.
One of the unusual things about the Pokémon anime is that many episodes work as relatively self-contained adventures.
You can technically start with XY, Sun & Moon, Journeys, or even Horizons without watching everything that came before.
However, watching the anime in release order provides the clearest experience of Ash’s development and the evolution of the Pokémon world.
It also makes returning characters, Pokémon, rivalries, and references easier to understand.
What Is the Best Pokémon Watch Order for Beginners?
If you want to experience the entire Pokémon anime, start with the original series and continue chronologically.
The recommended order is:
Kanto → Orange Islands → Johto → Hoenn → Sinnoh → Unova → Kalos → Alola → Journeys → To Be a Pokémon Master → Horizons
This is the easiest order to remember.
If you mainly want to experience Ash’s complete story, stop after Pokémon: To Be a Pokémon Master.
If you want to continue into the current Pokémon anime era, start Pokémon Horizons afterward.
Do You Have to Watch Every Pokémon Episode?
No.
Watching every episode is a significant commitment because the Pokémon anime has accumulated a very large number of episodes over the years.
If your goal is simply to understand the main story, you can focus on:
- Ash’s major regional journeys
- important rival battles
- Pokémon League arcs
- major character development
- important Legendary Pokémon stories
- major tournament arcs
- the conclusion of Ash’s journey
However, skipping episodes means that you may miss smaller character moments and individual Pokémon stories.
For a first-time viewer, watching complete seasons is generally the simplest approach.
What About the Pokémon Movies?
The Pokémon movies are a separate part of the watch-order discussion.
Many of the original movies were designed to be watched alongside the corresponding anime eras, and their placement can sometimes be confusing because they were released between episodes of the television series.
The easiest approach for a first-time viewer is therefore:
Watch the main anime first, then watch the movies separately.
If you want the movies inserted into the exact chronological release order, you can create a more detailed watch list based on the Japanese release dates of the episodes and movies.
There is also another important distinction: several later Pokémon movies, such as I Choose You!, The Power of Us, and Mewtwo Strikes Back—Evolution, should not simply be treated as normal episodes of Ash’s original television continuity.
What About Pokémon Specials and Spin-Off Anime?
The Pokémon franchise contains many animated projects outside the main television series.
These include:
- Pokémon Origins
- Pokémon Generations
- Pokémon Twilight Wings
- Pokémon: Hisuian Snow
- Pokémon Concierge
- Pokémon: Paldean Winds
These series generally do not need to be inserted into the main Ash watch order.
They can be watched separately because they tell different stories or focus on different characters and regions.
This makes them excellent choices for viewers who want additional Pokémon content without committing to the entire main anime.
Is Pokémon Horizons Connected to Ash’s Story?
Pokémon Horizons takes place in the broader Pokémon animated universe but introduces a new generation of protagonists.
The transition is therefore different from the previous changes between Pokémon regions.
Ash is no longer the central protagonist.
Instead, the story follows Liko and Roy.
This makes Horizons accessible to new viewers while also giving longtime Pokémon fans a new perspective on the world.
The Pokémon Company currently lists Horizons as its ongoing main animated series, with Season 3 continuing the adventures of Liko, Roy, Dot, and their companions.
Pokémon Anime Watch Order: Quick Reference
| Order | Anime Series | Main Era |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pokémon: The Beginning / Indigo League | Kanto |
| 2 | Adventures in the Orange Islands | Orange Islands |
| 3 | The Johto Journeys | Johto |
| 4 | Johto League Champions | Johto |
| 5 | Master Quest | Johto |
| 6 | Pokémon Advanced | Hoenn |
| 7 | Advanced Challenge | Hoenn |
| 8 | Advanced Battle | Hoenn |
| 9 | Battle Frontier | Hoenn/Kanto |
| 10 | Diamond and Pearl | Sinnoh |
| 11 | DP Battle Dimension | Sinnoh |
| 12 | DP Galactic Battles | Sinnoh |
| 13 | DP Sinnoh League Victors | Sinnoh |
| 14 | Black & White | Unova |
| 15 | Rival Destinies | Unova |
| 16 | Adventures in Unova and Beyond | Unova |
| 17 | Pokémon the Series: XY | Kalos |
| 18 | XY Kalos Quest | Kalos |
| 19 | XYZ | Kalos |
| 20 | Sun & Moon | Alola |
| 21 | Ultra Adventures | Alola |
| 22 | Ultra Legends | Alola |
| 23 | Pokémon Journeys | Multiple Regions |
| 24 | Master Journeys | Multiple Regions |
| 25 | Ultimate Journeys | Multiple Regions |
| 26 | To Be a Pokémon Master | Ash’s Epilogue |
| 27 | Pokémon Horizons Season 1 | New Generation |
| 28 | Pokémon Horizons Season 2 | New Generation |
| 29 | Pokémon Horizons Season 3: Rising Hope | New Generation |
Final Thoughts
The correct Pokémon anime watch order is much simpler once the series are divided into their major eras.
For Ash’s complete story, follow:
Kanto → Orange Islands → Johto → Hoenn → Sinnoh → Unova → Kalos → Alola → Journeys → To Be a Pokémon Master
Then, if you want to continue with the current generation of the anime, move on to:
Pokémon Horizons: The Series
The most important thing to remember is that you do not necessarily have to watch more than 1,000 episodes to enjoy Pokémon.
New viewers can start with a specific series, while longtime fans can follow the complete chronological journey from Ash’s first day with Pikachu through the conclusion of his story and into Liko and Roy’s new adventure.
For viewers who want the complete Pokémon experience, however, release order remains the simplest and most straightforward way to watch the franchise.
FAQ – Pokémon Anime Watch Order
What is the correct order to watch the Pokémon anime?
The simplest order is to start with the original Kanto series and continue through Orange Islands, Johto, Hoenn, Sinnoh, Unova, Kalos, Alola, Pokémon Journeys, and To Be a Pokémon Master. After Ash’s story, you can continue with Pokémon Horizons.
Should I watch Pokémon Horizons before Pokémon Journeys?
No specific requirement exists, but if you want to follow the overall release history, watch Pokémon Journeys and To Be a Pokémon Master before Pokémon Horizons. Horizons introduces Liko and Roy as new central protagonists.
Do I need to watch every Pokémon season?
No. Many Pokémon episodes can be enjoyed individually. However, watching each major series in order provides more context for Ash’s development, his Pokémon, rivals, companions, and major tournaments.
Where should I watch the Pokémon movies?
The movies can be watched separately from the main anime. Some are closely associated with particular seasons, while others belong to different continuity or function more as standalone stories.
Is Pokémon Horizons a sequel to Ash’s story?
Pokémon Horizons is the next major Pokémon television anime after Ash’s long-running story, but it introduces new protagonists and a different central narrative. It is designed to be accessible to new viewers while remaining part of the wider Pokémon animated universe.