S01
| Pokémon: Indigo League Season 1 | |
|---|---|
 Logo for the season | |
| Opening | Pokémon Theme |
| Episodes | 52 |
| Region | Kanto |
| Series | Original |
| Preceded by | None |
| Followed by | Pokémon: Adventures in the Orange Islands |
|}
Pokémon: Indigo League (known at the time it was first aired simply as Pokémon) is the first dubbed season of the Pokémon anime. The season follows rookie Pokémon Trainer Ash Ketchum, his Pikachu, and his friends Misty and Brock as they travel across the Kanto region. The subtitle "Indigo League" is not used within the episodes, but was later added by the DVD boxed sets to distinguish it from the later seasons.
In Canada, the series was picked up by YTV. In the United States, the first forty episodes (excluding three) aired in syndication in 1998, with the rest of the thirty-nine episodes were ran and picked up by Kids' WB! starting with The Problem with Paras in 1999. The season began with Pokémon, I Choose You!, which originally aired on September 8, 1998, and ended with Friends to the End, which originally aired on November 27, 1999.
This season was then followed by the Orange Islands arc, which was created to allow time for the development of Pokémon Gold and Silver, and when dubbed, served the same purpose for the translation of the aforementioned games.
Important events
- Ash begins his journey as a Pokémon Trainer with the goal of being a Pokémon Master. His starter is Pikachu. (EP001)
- Gary also begins his journey, with Squirtle as his starter. (EP001)
- Misty follows Ash after the latter "borrows" and destroys her bike, demanding repayment. (EP002)
- Jessie, James, and Meowth follow Ash after his Pikachu demonstrates considerably advanced power for a Pokémon of its species. (EP002)
- Brock joins the group after his father returns to become the Pewter City Gym Leader. (EP005)
- Ash defeats each of the Kanto Gym Leaders, gaining eight Badges to qualify for his first Pokémon League Conference. (See Gym battles section)
- Ash journeys to Indigo Plateau to compete in his first Pokémon League Conference.
- Ash comes in the top 16 in the Indigo League, one bracket above his rival, Gary. (EP079)
Party changes
Additions
The following Pokémon are obtained:
- Ash's Pikachu (EP001)
- Ash's Caterpie (EP003)
- Ash's Pidgeotto (EP003)
- Brock's Zubat (EP006)
- Ash's Bulbasaur (EP010)
- Ash's Charmander (EP011)
- Ash's Squirtle (EP012)
- Ash's Krabby (EP013)
- James's Magikarp (EP015)
- Ash's Raticate (EP015)
- Misty's Horsea (EP019)
- Ash's Primeape (EP025)
- Misty's Psyduck (EP027)
- Brock's Vulpix (EP028)
- Ash's Muk (EP030)
- Ash's Tauros (EP035*)
- Jessie's Porygon (EP038*)
- Misty's Togepi (EP050)
- Jessie's Lickitung (EP052)
- James's Weepinbell (before EP057)
- Jessie's Shellder (EP066)
Evolutions
The following Pokémon evolve:
- Ash's Caterpie → Metapod → Butterfree
- James's Magikarp → Gyarados
- Jessie's Ekans → Arbok
- James's Koffing → Weezing
- Ash's Charmander → Charmeleon → Charizard
- James's Weepinbell → Victreebel
- Ash's Krabby → Kingler
Releases
The following Pokémon are released:
- Ash's Raticate (traded, EP015)
- James's Gyarados (EP016)
- Ash's Butterfree (EP021)
- Ash's Primeape (training with Anthony) (EP029)
- Jessie's Porygon (EP038*)
- Jessie's Shellder (EP066)
Other
- James's Growlithe (obtained prior to EP001)
- Jessie's Ekans (obtained prior to EP002)
- James's Koffing (obtained prior to EP002)
- Misty's Goldeen (obtained prior to EP002)
- Brock's Onix (obtained prior to EP005)
- Brock's Geodude (obtained prior to EP005)
- Misty's Staryu (obtained prior to EP006)
- Misty's Starmie (obtained prior to EP007)
- Misty's Horsea (left at Cerulean Gym, EP061)
- Misty's Starmie (left at Cerulean Gym, EP061)
Gym battles
Ash defeats the following Gym Leaders:
- Brock, after one failed attempt (EP005)
- Misty, though officially earned after Ash saved the Gym from Team Rocket (EP007)
- Lt. Surge, after one failed attempt (EP014)
- Sabrina, after two failed attempts (EP024)
- Erika, though officially earned after Ash saved her Gloom from the burning Gym (EP026)
- Koga (EP032)
- Blaine, after one failed attempt (EP059)
- Team Rocket (substituting for Giovanni) (EP063)
Home video releases
North American home video releases
Australian home video releases
Trivia
- With 79 episodes, this is the longest season of the dub yet.
- If Japanese episodes are taken into account, this season would be 82 episodes long. EP035 and EP038 were banned outside of Japan. Also, Beauty and the Beach was initially banned but re-aired after heavy editing as a "lost episode" during Pokémon: Adventures in the Orange Islands. It was never aired again nor was it included in DVD releases.
- Princess vs. Princess, The Purr-fect Hero, Holiday Hi-Jynx and Snow Way Out! are considered episodes of the season but are considered special episodes in Japan.
- In India, This season was specially shown as Pokémon: Indigo League in the TV's programme menu, but after the second season Pokémon: Adventures in the Orange Islands They stopped showing it and only shown Pokémon.
In other languages
| Language | Title | |
|---|---|---|
 Czech
|
Pokémon: Indigová liga | |
 European French
|
Pokémon: Ligue indigo | |
 German
|
Pokémon: La Ligue Indigo | |
 Hindi
|
Pokemon:Indigo League* | |
 Brazilian Portuguese
|
Pokémon - Liga Índigo | |
 Russian
|
Покемон — Лига Индиго | |
 Slovak
|
Pokémon: Indigová liga | |
| Spanish |  Latin America
|
Atrápalos ya |
 Spain
|
Pokémon: Liga Añil | |
|
This article is part of Project Anime, a Bulbapedia project that covers all aspects of Pokémon animation. |