Side story episodes

It has been suggested that this article be moved to Pocket Monsters Side Stories. Please discuss whether or not to move it on its talk page.

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It has been suggested that this article be moved to Side story. Please discuss whether or not to move it on its talk page.

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The subject of this article has no official English name. The name currently in use is the official English translation of the Japanese name.

(Japanese: ポケットモンスター サイドストーリー Pocket Monsters Side Stories) are episodes of the Pokémon anime which occasionally aired instead of a rerun from the main anime series as part of the Weekly Pokémon Broadcasting Station in Japan. They aired concurrently with Pokémon the Series: Ruby and Sapphire from December 3, 2002 to September 28, 2004 in Japan. Outside of Japan, these episodes were only dubbed in the West as part of Pokémon Chronicles.

Logo for Pocket Monsters Side Stories

Unlike the main anime, Ash Ketchum is not featured in a central role; the side stories instead showcase what was going on in the lives of his friends Brock, Misty, and Tracey while Ash himself was in the Hoenn region. The Team Rocket members featured are usually Butch and Cassidy, in place of the usual members Ash faces.

The final Johto title card format featuring all eight of Ash's Johto League Badges was used for the first four episodes, while the original title card format was used for the remaining episodes. The episodes use ending themes from the original series and Pokémon the Series: Ruby and Sapphire, except for the initial airings of the final three episodes on the Weekly Pokémon Broadcasting Station, which used Marching March instead. The side stories also use a title sequence in reruns on Kids Station.

The side stories are numbered with the prefix HS on Bulbapedia. For a complete episode listing, see the list of side story episodes.

Home video releases

European DVD releases

• List of English language Pokémon Chronicles home video releases (Region 2)

Australian DVD releases

• List of English language Pokémon Chronicles home video releases (Region 4)

Japanese DVD releases

• List of Japanese language Pokémon anime special home video releases

Gallery

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  Poster for Pocket Monsters Side Stories

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  Logo used during the opening sequence on Kids Station

Trivia

• The Mega Evolution Specials are also officially referred to as "side stories" on the official Japanese website.

References

Series and seasons of the Pokémon anime Original series (list) Indigo League • Adventures in the Orange Islands The Johto Journeys • Johto League Champions • Master Quest Ruby and Sapphire (list) Advanced • Advanced Challenge • Advanced Battle • Battle Frontier Diamond and Pearl (list) Diamond and Pearl • Battle Dimension • Galactic Battles • Sinnoh League Victors Black & White (list) Black & White • Rival Destinies • Adventures in Unova and Beyond XY (list) XY • Kalos Quest • XYZ (Mega Evolution Specials) Sun & Moon (list) Sun & Moon • Ultra Adventures‎ • Ultra Legends Journeys (list) Journeys • Master Journeys • Ultimate Journeys (The Arceus Chronicles) Horizons (list) Horizons Specials (list) Pikachu's Winter Vacation • Side Stories • Pokémon Chronicles Planetarium specials • Pikachu shorts Mewtwo Returns • The Legend of Thunder! • Pichu Bros. in Party Panic The Mastermind of Mirage Pokémon • Pokémon Ranger: Guardian Signs • A Ripple in Time Complete list • Movies • Other anime series

This article is part of Project Anime, a Bulbapedia project that covers all aspects of the Pokémon anime.