Pokémon the Series: Ruby and Sapphire

Advanced Generation redirects here. For the third generation of the Pokémon franchise, see Generation III.

Pokémon the Series: Ruby and Sapphire (Japanese: ポケットモンスター アドバンスジェネレーション Pocket Monsters Advanced Generation) is the second series of the Pokémon anime and is based on the events of the core series Generation III Pokémon games. It follows the original series and was succeeded by Pokémon the Series: Diamond and Pearl. It ran from November 21, 2002 to September 14, 2006 in Japan and from November 1, 2003 to March 3, 2007 in the United States, although the first two episodes aired as a sneak peek in the United States on March 15, 2003. It was not given an English name until after the release of Pokémon the Series: XY.

English logo
Japanese logo

In this series, Ash travels through the Hoenn region in an effort to compete in the Hoenn League there. He is joined not by Misty, who had been his continuous companion for the entirety of the original series, but May, a rookie Trainer from Petalburg City who at first merely wishes to travel. Eventually, she learns of Pokémon Contests and declares herself a Pokémon Coordinator, training to win Ribbons so she can enter the Hoenn Grand Festival. May's brother, Max, also travels with the group and helps map out routes to take using his PokéNav. However, Max is too young to have his own Pokémon. Brock, Ash's near-constant adviser, returns soon after the start of the series, while Misty makes two several-episode cameo appearances.

After Ash competes in the Hoenn League, Ash and Brock return to Kanto while May and Max return to Petalburg City. While on his way home to Pallet Town, Ash meets Scott, who, after observing Ash's battle skills, invites him to enter the Battle Frontier. He travels around Kanto in an effort to complete the Battle Frontier and is joined again by Brock, Max, and May—who is now aiming to compete in the Kanto Grand Festival.

Pokémon the Series: Ruby and Sapphire saw a change in the formula. While in Kanto and Johto, Ash encountered all three of those regions' first partner Pokémon and caught each, in this series Ash's only capture of a first partner Pokémon was Treecko, while his friends, May and Brock, caught a Torchic and a Mudkip, respectively. Also, unlike when he traveled to the Orange Archipelago and Johto, Ash left behind all of his Pokémon at Professor Oak's, bringing only Pikachu. Another change was new clothing for Ash and Brock. No longer did Ash wear the hat he claimed to have sent in a million postcards for, but instead a completely different outfit. Misty also received a new outfit during her return appearances.

Episodes in Pokémon the Series: Ruby and Sapphire are numbered with the prefix AG on Bulbapedia, based on its Japanese name Advanced Generation. For a complete episode listing, see the list of Pokémon the Series: Ruby and Sapphire episodes.

Blurb

Polishing off the Silver Conference, Ash heads toward his next challenge—the far-off Hoenn region! While he must say goodbye to old friends, he makes the acquaintance of May, a Trainer just starting out on her Pokémon journey. Along with her little brother Max and the ever-reliable Brock, this pack of Pokémon Trainers begin pursuing their dreams—with Ash racking up three Gym Badges, while May changes tack to follow the Contest path of a Pokémon Coordinator.

Dub seasons

When Pokémon the Series: Ruby and Sapphire came to be dubbed into English and other languages, it was divided up into four seasons:

On televised airings and Region 4 home video releases, the last 12 episodes of Pokémon: Master Quest are counted as part of Advanced.

Movies

Main article: Pokémon movie → Pokémon the Series: Ruby and Sapphire

Home video releases

North American DVD releases

Australian DVD releases

Japanese DVD releases

Gallery

For more images, please see artwork from Pokémon the Series: Ruby and Sapphire on the Bulbagarden Archives.

Posters

Characters

Trivia

  • This is the only series in which:
  • This is the first series where none of the episodes used traditional or hand-colored cel animation (excluding flashbacks). However, cel animation was still used for the movies.
    • This is also the first series to feature CG animation outside of movies, usually for certain move animations and sometimes also for various props and backgrounds.
  • This is the final series where all of the episodes are in 4:3 aspect ratio.

In other languages


External links

Original series (list) Indigo LeagueAdventures in the Orange Islands
The Johto JourneysJohto League ChampionsMaster Quest
Ruby and Sapphire (list) AdvancedAdvanced ChallengeAdvanced BattleBattle Frontier
Diamond and Pearl (list) Diamond and PearlBattle DimensionGalactic BattlesSinnoh League Victors
Black & White (list) Black & WhiteRival DestiniesAdventures in Unova and Beyond
XY (list) XYKalos QuestXYZ (Mega Evolution Specials)
Sun & Moon (list) Sun & MoonUltra Adventures‎Ultra Legends
Journeys (list) JourneysMaster JourneysUltimate Journeys (The Arceus Chronicles)
Horizons (list) Horizons
Specials (list) Pikachu's Winter VacationSide StoriesPokémon Chronicles
Planetarium specialsPikachu shorts
Mewtwo ReturnsThe Legend of Thunder!Pichu Bros. in Party Panic
The Mastermind of Mirage PokémonPokémon Ranger: Guardian SignsA Ripple in Time
Complete listMoviesOther anime series
  This article is part of Project Anime, a Bulbapedia project that covers all aspects of the Pokémon anime.