Top 26 Pokemon Anime Moments of Each Year (1997-2022)

Can't believe it's been nearly been over two decades since Team Rocket first blasted off! Join Ashley as we look over the best moments from across the Pokemon franchise from 1997 all the way to 2022, including "Ash vs Misty", "Ash vs Gary", "Ash vs Leon", and more! What has been your favorite Pokemon moment so far? Let us know in the comments!
Watch more great anime videos here:
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#WMAnime
#Pokemon
#AshKetchum
#Pikachu
#Charizard

[@ashley-watchmojo2620]

Loved working on this video! One of my all time favorite moments has to be when Ash's Pokemon huddle around him in the icy cave to keep him warm. I cry every time.

[@ytvermon8435]

Me too

[@Draracle20]

Ditto here.

[@hemantudawant7771]

@@ytvermon8435 ¹½

[@sudippaul2876]

Bye bye Butterfree??

[@ridensroom6957]

Bye bye Arbok and Weezing?

[@Kickinthescience]

The best and most iconic Pokémon theme song is still from Season 1

[@WatchMojo]

Maybe we should do a Top 10 Pokemon Openings hmm...

[@Nitemerican]

🐐

[@lessismore8533]

EXACTLY! Nothing beats the S1 song! I was 6 in 97. Anyone can listen to that song nowadays but growing up on it as a 90s kid was a blessing not everyone has

[@Nitemerican]

The "Pokemon Johto!" One was a banger too

[@LanceCorporalHawk30]

Obviously

[@MABfan11]

Ash vs Paul deserves the 2010 spot more than Ash vs Tobias, it was 3 episodes worth of character development culmination

[@theredguy8746]

It's still my most favourite battle ever because the different mindsets that both had from that very start of the Sinnoh arc made for such an intriguing, interesting and deep rivalry that is quite impressive for a kids show. It isn't just creative battle moves and big explosions, there was a tense atmosphere every time they battled as both showed determination to prove a point. Ash is about friendship and empathy, Paul was about power even at the expense of Pokemon's feelings and how patient he could be with training them up, so to see Infernape take Paul down when he was the one to turn his back on it due to low patience and lack of empathy was immensely satisfying. Plus Infernape is a fire type, my favourite type of Pokemon.

[@cnsayin8847]

Absolutely.

[@wikiuser92]

​@@theredguy8746 It's easily the best battle in Sinnoh, but I think I personally prefer the battles with Kukui, Leon, and possibly Cynthia.

[@daniellee773]

I still can't believe that Ash vs Paul is not considered as one of top moments in this video but Ash vs Trip is

[@chrisD1711]

The way I cried when Infernape finally got the upper hand on Paul and his blaze

[@mattiasolsson1523]

We can all agree to say that Pokémon is one of the most iconic Anime series of all time.

[@Sugarskulladdict97]

and the longest running anime ever

[@trevornyirenda1885]

Yes I agree 100%.

[@DarkestVoid]

@@Sugarskulladdict97it’s actually not. Definitely my favorite franchise but there’s a few anime that have been airing for longer.

[@Sugarskulladdict97]

@@DarkestVoid I meant in episode count, there was an article that came out when the show hit 1000 episodes. I am aware that dragon ball came out 7-8 years before pokemon. But it hasn't beaten it in terms of the episode count its behind in a few hundred or so or less right now.

[@karthus006]

@@Sugarskulladdict97 Sazae-san, an anime running since 1969, has like 2500+ 22-24 minutes episodes. If we break it down further, technically it has over 7000 short episodes.

[@rikmetz4720]

Ash getting kissed by serena and him getting a (mega) lucario, are also two great moments. Ash has a lot of shipping moments with various female characters, with serena being the first to kiss him in the series, not counting melanie in the second movie. They also met each other before in the past and he remembered after she returns the handkerchief. Lucario is a pokemon fans have wanted ash to have since sinnoh, because of the eight movie where ash got his aura powers. So him getting a mega lucario was what satisfied a lot of fans.

[@kennyazurez7812]

latias also kiss him at the end of movie if pokemon count

[@Light12187]

@@kennyazurez7812 Man latias is a pokemon and serena is human girl 😑

[@byronlyons3548]

Well, Melody is her name. But yeah, everyone before Serena (yes even Latias), only has "kissed" Ash on the cheek. Where as her's is the most direct, obviously to the lips. Not only because of how Japan usually treats direct lip contact kissing as something sacred. But if I recall, I think one of the directors, or writers of that season, outright admits that it was a kiss to the lips in some interview. And thus is why they couldn't show it, and it was pan to their feet for that moment.

[@usvidragonslayer3091]

Cynthia beating Paul is one of the most satiying one sided fights in my opinion. I just love seeing Paul getting humbled after the harsh trash talk he gives to Ash and i'm super happy seeing Cynthia giving him a harsh lesson of reality.

[@phantomrequim]

Hard to believe the series has been on for so long, but it makes me happy!

[@WatchMojo]

Us too!

[@lessismore8533]

Grew up on it! But also grew out of it😂 but MAN was I a huge Pokémon fan on late 90s/early 2000s

[@phantomrequim]

@@lessismore8533 Same. I still watch the old episodes.

[@AnimationisTHEfuture]

it kinda easy to believe, nintendo not finished yet

[@marcocastillo1087]

@@WatchMojo Top ten iconic Pokêmon of Ash Ketchum.

[@lessismore8533]

Ahh the beginning of Pikachu and Ash journey together. So touching. He cares for all his Pokémon but Pikachu for sure meant the most to him

[@zakirstocks9514]

Ash and Pikachu's Journey. I'll NEVER forget about that Epic Pokémon Moment Between Those Two. Nostalgia........ 😌😌😌😌😌😌😌😌😌

[@salvadorramirez8399]

Him being world world champions hits home when you look back at the very first episode as he is talking to the spearow. That he won’t be defeated by them and that he’s going to be a Pokémon master.

[@Ok_itsAjoke]

The impact that the Pokémon Anime has had a whole generation of people is truly amazing. Speaking for myself, I know it made my childhood 100% awesome 💗

[@Juandon1989]

The most nostalgic part of this video is seeing the kids WB logo in the bottom right. The good old days 😢

[@pepito2847]

Tbh it was perfectly understandable why Max reacted the way he did when Ash beat his dad Growing up, Max loved Pokémon and would constantly hear about how good his dad was at battling, but yet was never allowed to watch his dad battle This battle with Ash was the first time he got to see his pop in action Poor kid was crushed that he lost Edit: I think it would’ve been cool if Max battled Ash when he’s older and manages to defeat Ash Thus avenging his father’s loss to Ash

[@WatchMojo]

a very emotional moment indeed

[@bradcarver8127]

That would go against the cardinal rule, no aging

[@twist58]

For Max to refuse his dad lost to Ash and by taking away the badge just like that spells out selfishness as well.

[@marcocastillo1087]

@@WatchMojo 22:02 I like Mistys Aloha character design.

[@louieniall6890]

I hated max, just found him downright annoying

[@cassandraspoelhof3752]

I also think Meowth temporarily joining Ash and the gang in Unova was a good scheme. He tricks everyone into believing he got fired after the failure at Nimbasa. Meowth was still bad of course but he did good here too. Iris attempting to catch him and his reaction was hilarious. Seriously she didn’t even give it a second thought. She’s just like “I think I’ll catch you!” and throws a Pokéball at him.😂

[@kjmcgrew1215]

Having still watching the anime through it's good and bad seasons. I have to say that seeing ash win the Alolan league and seeing things happen in Pokemon journeys. I'm glad I've kept up with the anime after all these years

[@christopheredwards788]

My first and favorite anime. 24 years watching this series is worth it

[@lessismore8533]

Wow PURE nostalgia ! Haven’t seen S1 Pokémon in years! Or even Pokémon on general. Was a huge fan as a kid in the late 90s. Ahh the Kids WB days

[@aalegend5246]

This is a series I grew up with and seeing ash become the pokemon master and world champion made me shed tears

[@JThaDon910]

Im happy with every part of this. Lived to see every episode. Good stuff Mojo.

[@WatchMojo]

Much appreciated!

[@marcocastillo1087]

@@WatchMojo Top ten funny Pokemon anime moments that become funny memes.

[@alexkirov3697]

One of the best moments in Pokemon has to be THE KISS at the end of Kalos. Even if they didn't directly show it.

[@preethamr6564]

I love that season, it's so damn good 😭

[@jediclonekag13]

It took 25 years, but our boy Ash finally became the very best like no one ever was.

[@davidwesley2525]

And Ash still hasn't entered puberty & doesn't find Misty attractive. 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@Lissy_YT481]

​​@@davidwesley2525 eh, honestly the rest of the girls are better.

[@davidwesley2525]

​@@Lissy_YT48124 Years Ago I Had a Huge Crush on Officer Jenny. 😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍

[@danielferrieri7434]

Top Ten Pokémon Moments that are still Awesome to this day

[@axels3188]

I think Ash wining the world Championships was the best Moment of the anime but Ash beating Paul and Ash vs Kukui should’ve also been on the list.

[@victorystar8586]

Damn. There are still some episodes with Ash left, and yet, I already miss him.

[@Mwest_]

This shows why Pokémon is one of the best anime and highest grossing of all time

[@mccarrimusprime1670]

The Meloetta Arc was one the best ones too.

[@insecdroid]

Loved that arc! It was the second time Ash and Giovani met.

[@mattiasolsson1523]

Yes. One of the best.

[@jamiewalsh3349]

Here's to another 25 years!

[@llamaking1071]

This comment aged well...

[@rafaynoman1180]

Who's gonna tell em?

[@smoothy7873]

Damn

[@MrSonicHedgehog]

In her bid to save Ash in her debut episode, Momma Huganite proved you don't mess with her or Ash Btw, both the writers and Ash's Japanese VA Rica Matsumoto have said winning against Leon doesn't automatically make Ash a Pokemon Master since it hasn't truly been defined what it is

[@dannysimion]

I have not seen Pokémon since the Johto Leage so seeing this video was like a capsule of all the episodes after that and journey that Ash and Co. have come. I had to watch the Word Champion Episodes to see Ash win and it was so satisfying and pretty emotional indeed. He’s come a long way. And Pikachu is still that partner he will never part ways with. Big props to seeing how Ash’s original companions make up for the most of the memorable moments here. Misty and Brock, hard to forget them.

[@madnessarcade7447]

Go finish the whole show You can’t just skip to the end and act like y’all were supporting him the whole time you should have binged the whole show before watching that battle imo

[@TheFreestylebeast]

Where did you watch it

[@Kuerikami]

@@madnessarcade7447 too many fillers man

[@CandiceVidito]

Ash almost saying goodbye to Pikachu always makes me cry love their friendship 😊

[@francisnguyen6349]

Love this video about Pokémon Trainer with Ash Ketchum. (1997-2022)

[@francisnguyen6349]

@Marco Castillo Yes.

[@WatchMojo]

Are you still celebrating Ash becoming the Pokemon World Champion? Check out our clip of the Top 20 Biggest Victories of Ash Ketchum!: kzbin.info/www/bejne/fpfJaIyObc10rMU

[@patriciasmith3875]

POKEMON!!!!!!!

[@WatchMojo]

@@patriciasmith3875 yeeeah!

[@georgie_86]

Thought you were talking about your own Ash for a second 😅

[@williamsummerson1204]

Still get the goosebumps.

[@muningningdakat4132]

Suggestion: TOP 20 INAZUMA ELEVEN MATCHES (ALL SERIES)

[@Punisher6791]

"I Wanna be..the Very Best, Like no one ever was!" a theme forever engraved in my adult brain. a true Pokemon fan knows the Team Rocket motto by heart! and Veronica Taylor will always be the true Ash Ketchum to me

[@frozenandchosen]

I will never understand why we still can’t legally stream the Japanese version of Pokémon Anime like we can with every other anime out there

[@marcocastillo1087]

@Watchmojo 21:17 My favorite moments from Pokêmon XYZ would be Ashs fusion transformation.

[@box7147]

Ash seeing ho oh in ep 1 remains the greatest Pokémon anime moments

[@naomimay809]

and the fact he saw ho oh again in the last episode

[@dantelaw1710]

I'm so happy for Ash becoming the Pokemon World Champion!! He's become the best that ever was!! Such a huge W!! 😁🎉🎉

[@SoulKingKurosaki]

All great moments that makes you remember why Pokemon and even anime itself is the best

[@coryakabueze4541]

After 25 years ash finally became Pokémon world champion 😎😎😎😎😎

[@BigTymerz2009]

That HAX battle vs Tobias was the point I (and many others) gave up on Ash ever becoming a champion. So when our boy won the Alolan League, it was quite the shock and a truly magnificent moment 😁😁😁

[@scharger100]

I tought that Serena's farewell would be the part of this top 26

[@SuperSaiyan9989]

Does anybody else think that Ash will eventually come back as a teenager of an adult?

[@matthewkroll4069]

no

[@joneilwells3355]

Yes

[@cnsayin8847]

Either one is fine. I just want him to return older.

[@cnsayin8847]

@Marco Castillo It's among my top 5.

[@Mcflyeon]

Pokemon Anime have many awesome moments and I hope for more. I would also include the Team Flare arc near the end of the XY&Z season (which is my personal favourite villainous arc).

[@twist58]

(1:42) The deal was sealed with that affectionate Pikachu lick. 😌

[@WatchMojo]

So cute

[@marcocastillo1087]

@@WatchMojo Top ten funny moments from Pokêmon Black And White.

[@masterpink6963]

I like how ash is the only one in the league that could beat Tobias’s darkrai

[@matejadjordjevic5317]

You know that moment where it would be said that the 'name a franchise here' wouldn't be the same without a certain someone/something? Yea, The Pokemon is certainly one of those.

[@ryancaruana4518]

To be fair ash is never going to be forgotten even if the pokemon company wants to because most of all the anime has ash in it except chronicles .Even the movies has ash in them .

[@George-um2rt]

Now Ash next challenge, becoming an 11 year old.

[@ghost245353]

I am here after watching The Official Pokémon KZbin Channel announce Ash's final episodes (December 16, 2022). It's like you knew.

[@mr.dinoGaming]

I think paul vs ash was the greatest moment of 2010. Despite the rivalry, infernape winning for ash is also a great moment and a memorable revenge

[@moleshaman3040]

Great list from Watchmojo :) Some of my favorite moments were there including the Ash/Misty Cerulean gym battle . Missing was the moment where Ash protects Charmander as its flame risks going out and when all the Pokémon huddle around Ash in the ice cave. Oh and « Bye bye Butterfree ».

[@n.martin2276]

Problem with those is they all aired in the same year as when he met Pikachu and nothing trumps that. The Indigo league was really short comparatively speaking. Only 80 episodes. And the Orange League was less than 40.

[@user-gd6vn5vy5v]

From the rookie trainer of Pallet town to The Champion of the World, Ash has truly become the very best

[@user-em6ie2be7x]

Ash, Misty, & Brock going their separate ways. Watching them separate was Heartbreaking but we got to meet new Pokémon characters.

[@chinnyonyt5861]

how did ash vs trip get on this list... this list hurts my soul

[@theawesomeman9821]

The most memorable Pokemon moment is when Ash kissed Serena :)

[@sgoutaras]

It’s all fun and games until Tobias shows up in 2023 episodes 😂with 6 legendaries

[@trexadvent4726]

Just like Misty and Brock, Would it be awesome if we saw all of Ash's previous traveling companions with a Mega evolved Pokémon? Which one do you think would suit each of them like Mega Blaziken suiting May or her brother Max with a Mega Gardevior or Mega Gallade?

[@marcjameswhelan6231]

Bot

[@gemmalow6515]

Ah very fitting for someone named Ash to be narrating this videi

[@gemmalow6515]

Get a life telegram scammer, get a life

[@rapid123ful]

I love the Cyndaquil episode!

[@TatalLaCavZone]

Ash's POV: These all happened in just 1yr

[@tristangardner3889]

Don't forget that Ash and Misty faced each other for a Totodile in season 3.

[@dylanshadowstar9779]

Guess he figured cyndaquil was better

[@ajaymenon1996]

Did he just avoid Ash vs Paul dude...

[@ajaymenon1996]

@Let's talk on👉OfficialWatchMojoChannel enit podei

[@seandelap8587]

I so loved Pokemom as a kid that and Rugrats

[@lessismore8533]

Yup! I used to hit those Pokémon cards at Meijer all the time. Late 90s/early 2000s craze

[@WERTYUIO821]

5:23 Ash lost because he could only use water type pokemon(he only had 2) against a water type specialist. If Ash battled Misty in Cerulean gym with Pikachu it would have been a very quick battle.

[@KenDaKingArrives]

Correct. He would prove as much years later in the Sun & Moon series.

[@AgentN999]

After 25 years of all this for Ash to finally be crowned the "Very best like no one ever was". But now he is getting replaced, man what a drag.

[@grayshigami6797]

Top 10 Pokemon tv show songs Gotta catch em all Pokerap My best friends Jigglypuff's song Together forever

[@WatchMojo]

2BA Master?

[@bradcarver8127]

Unbeatable

[@marcocastillo1087]

@@WatchMojo Top 10 funny moments from the Pokêmon anime that became iconic memes.

[@cleotiger13]

I better see the top pokemon memories now that ash and pikachu are officially leaving

[@lvinicios777]

The same here....

[@jaymienieves2560]

I feel like 2013 moment should be when charizard beat iris’s dragonite. Iris was so proud of dragonite saying he’s so special, and ash said “we’ll see” as charizard proceed to beat iris’s dragonite disrespectful. Never been so proud

[@mojo3318]

Pokémon is my childhood! I've played Pokémon games online and have Pokémon t-shirts that are the same! In high school, I participated in Pokémon club, wearing my t-shirt, watching others play on their Nintendo DSs, and got to look at some cards. That club probably still exists.

[@deathmonk247]

I wish we couldve seen Korrinas Lucario against Ashs Lucario and their mega evolutions

[@deltasrage97yt]

Reshiram Awakens was a great episode. The first time I saw it scared me a little bit because I saw my favourite Pokemon (Reshiram) being turned evil.

[@leonardolim8976]

Misty, max, and croagunk stops Brock from pestering girls

[@aaravhallen679]

I guess for 2010, the most deserving should be Ash vs Paul (As according to me, it was the best match in the whole series) , and Ash vs Tobias as a honourable mention. The rest of the choices were great !!

[@trexadvent4726]

Can you do top 10 openings for the Pokemon anime?

[@davidalfaro1429]

Ah pokemon I remember my favorite childhood anime thanks your awesome.

[@pankajsahu5113]

My favourite season is XY and XYZ ❤️

[@naviro6672]

I miss the moment charzard finally acknowledges Ash And Mays and Ashs last fight in the show

[@pavelmarchand9458]

Maybe our boy now can finally turn 11 😅 lol

[@GamerFunOriginallyAarush]

Incredible!

[@marklynn5899]

Late 1990s was Pokémon nostalgia throughout my childhood Ash rivalry with Gary Oak and participated in Indigo League, Charizard temporary disobedience Johto onwards is good, Ash lost to Misty and Psyduck

[@juanalvarado1635]

Why am I emotional at the end 😞😭❤

[@Bladetheblackdragon]

Rest in peace, Pokemon anime 1997-2022

[@trexadvent4726]

How come Ash never caught an Eevee in the anime since it's as popular as Pikachu but his closest friends like Gary, May, Serena, Lana and Chloe managed to catch an Eevee?

[@random_person_on_internet]

May be because eevee is a weak pokemon after all We all know ash is always attracted to strong pokemons with high stats None of eevee's evolved form has high stats,sorry.

[@BunxBunstudios14]

The fight that stopped Shibuya crossing 😭😭😭

[@lessismore8533]

Top 10 Pokémon songs! #1 the Pokémon rap lol o used to watch that everyday after school

[@seanagulan9481]

From being the first Pokémon to Ash/Satoshi, to defeating strong opponents/champions mostly and even evil organizations, to being the MVP of all his entire Pokémon and won the World Championship Tournament for his team!!!

[@twannifufu]

I admittedly cried when Ash won his first gym league and then when he became world champion. In 25 years, I never thought I'd see the day. It was a true sign of his growth as a character (even though he's perenially 10 years old), signifying a larger moment for a generation of humans now in or nearing their forties who dared to pick up Pokemon Blue, Red, and Yellow back in 1996.

[@hardyjoe4278]

That Johto episode, "Hot Matches", was another great episode centered around Cyndaquil getting it's flame going. That trainer was challenging anyone with only fire types, for her Skarmory.

[@johnbuckleyjnr32]

Hearing ash's original voice hits different

[@Leo-pd4fc]

I Have Been always watching Pokemon anime My whole Life since I was a Kid, its actually very important anime For me and Pokemon IS always near of My Heart, Pokemon IS The best thing and My favourite lifehobby. Those all moments are so good and nostalgic, I've never forget Ash and his adventures. He's our champion and hero. 🔥🔥

[@crazykids2004]

The most iconic I don't know but close to it In my eyes

[@doctorawesomeness1997]

Ash should be 35 by now.

[@davidwesley2525]

Ash is Still a 10 year old , he'll Never enter puberty. 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@mattsultimategamingandrevi8249]

It’s funny how people think he’s a Pokémon master cause he defeated Leon he’s a world champion yes Pokémon master no not yet ash said it himself that defeating Leon is one step closer to becoming a Pokémon master so he’s not one yet so it’s extremely likely that he’s going to be the protagonist of the scarlet and violet anime I never understood why some people want him to be replaced by a new protagonist cause if that happens it’s going to ruin the anime cause it wouldn’t be the same anymore the Pokémon anime started with him so it should end with him whenever that is but that’s just my opinion

[@thiagogomez-torres8153]

For 2016 it should have been the team flare arc. It had some of the greatest episodes ever.

[@BlenderStudy]

Thank you for the update, WatchMojo..!! I can't believe it's been 25 years already..!!

[@gwarguraqueentrickstarcoat9110]

Ikr I feel super old now that Pokémonhas existed for 25 years now Wow

[@eleazartiu2506]

Ash and Billy(who sang the first ever op song of pokemon series) both becoming the very best no one ever was this year ischef's kiss.

[@7amart177]

Do top 10 or 20 best ash catches in Pokemon

[@edwardcross3656]

This was a great video

[@pizzara889]

2020 should have been Ash finally having a Riolu and 2021 should have been Ash getting Lucario Mega Evolution Stone or His 3rd Fight with Bea

[@tomnorton4277]

A great detail in Iris' battle with Cynthia is that Haxorus was shown charging through Garchomp's Draco Meteor with Outrage, the same attack that failed to work against Dragonite's Draco Meteor. That emphasises that Haxorus grew stronger in between Iris' battle with Ash and her battle with Cynthia. Garchomp's second Draco Meteor knocked him out but that was boosted by Mega Evolution and Haxorus was still standing for a few seconds after it landed whereas Dragonite's Draco Meteor knocked him out instantly.

[@Tonenciuc]

The best was the born of a legend: Charmeleon evolves into Charizard because he was trolled by Aerodactyl. The music in the background made the moment even more epic.