Favorite Season of the anime?

[atmmachine11]

I'm curious, what is you're favorite season of the anime? If you have multiple feel free to list them. For me, it would have to be the original indigo league tied with the new XY anime. I love them both so much, the first mostly due to nostalgia. (I can't lie). Absolutely loving the new season thus far. Mainly because I think it feels fresh? I think they kept enough of the old stuff while trying to make it feel new at the same time. I can't quite put my words on it, but it's quite good so far. At least in my opinion.

 

[Ryouta]

My favorite season's are 1-5 Season(Orginal Series), Because it has the best and funniest story of the whole pokemon series. :)
10-13 Season's(Diamond and Pearl) The story was okay, since this series i have begann watch pokemon in japanese version. :3

 

[Satoshi Ookami]

I've enjoyed Best Wishes the most because it was the first season I've completed in Japanese.
Advanced Generation is closely second because of Haruka.

 

[Meadow]

From an unbiased point of view, I personally think that Best Wishes is the best series in the Pokémon anime (prior to XY, which hasn't finished). Now obviously it does have some massive flaws, but unlike all of the other series, most of these flaws came with some much needed compensation.

Despite this, however, my favorite series would still have to be the Advanced Generation series, followed closely by XY.

 

[atmmachine11]

I've enjoyed Best Wishes the most because it was the first season I've completed in Japanese.
Advanced Generation is closely second because of Haruka.

I love best wishes!

From an unbiased point of view, I personally think that Best Wishes is the best series in the Pokémon anime (prior to XY, which hasn't finished). Now obviously it does have some massive flaws, but unlike all of the other series, most of these flaws came with some much needed compensation.

Despite this, however, my favorite series would still have to be the Advanced Generation series, followed closely by XY.

Yooo cool. I love best wishes ~

My favorite season's are 1-5 Season(Orginal Series), Because it has the best and funniest story of the whole pokemon series.

10-13 Season's(Diamond and Pearl) The story was okay, since this series i have begann watch pokemon in japanese version. :3

As you know I love the original series too.

 

[twillight]

If it is not against regulations, I'll time to time update this post of mine by EDIT.

Season 1, episode 1-40 (ca.): It is just dumb. Well, if you are an unquestioning 8 years old probably not, but if you are familiar with things it is just a toned down copy of Dragonball. The story is nothing special, the characters are flat and at times annoying, not to mention there are a lot of editing mistakes (like which pokemons are which, or what episode comes in what order).

Season 1, second half (except ending-tournament): now this is something worth watching if you want to see some great popart.

Season 1 ending (pink tournament or whatever it is in english/japaneese dub): a big letdown. 200 participants after a whole year spent, and only 1 becomes master? We don't even learn who? Ash does not participate after the first four match a 6-pokemon battle despite that was the rule? The thing feels like a waste, big time.

Picachu's (summer) vacation: sounds like teletubbies, but this is actually c00l. Good story, good graphic, and interesting approach.

The origin of Mewtwo + movie 1: Talking about stealing from Dragonball(Z). The graphic is better I give you that though.

winter vacation: christmas night: ok. Not great, but around Tom&Jerry quality.

winter vacation: kanga games: now this is just BAD. Teletubies on steroid. Nonsense, uninteresting, recycled crap.

------------

Season 2 until Bound for Trouble:
This season is just BAD. It desperately tries to be something else than a pit-fight show, but the new conquests are just ridiculous (and dumb when demands one specific pokemon from all zounds). Tracy is a Brock-clone without eventrying to have character. Heck, the only ones who have character here is Team Rocket.
The themes tend to be ridiculously adult, meaning too much porn, which ends up Misty in one episode goes lesbian, in the next is engaged by some pedophile. Not good.
And while there are a good amount of new monsters (unnamed unfortunately), there are no new pokelogs. Just the same old logs (Ash is so dumb already forgot everything?), and even those are dumbed down. There are no new catches either.
And what's the business with the GS-ball?

Season 2 second half: much better ideas. But I feel Ash just won by cheating using using 6 pokemon + Team Rocket. Also should feel ashamed Team Rocket is not preserved in the Hall of Fame like Ash's (other) pokemons.

Picachu's rescue-adventure: a series of randomevents with teletubbies-murmurr. The introduction of a new drawing-style does not constitute an entire episode.

movie 2: again stolen from Dragonball. And the graphic is not even that good.
Slowking's day: simple but appreciated.
Mewtwo returns: the hippy-crap Ash&co spreads is worthless, but the philosophy from MewTwo is worthy.
-----------

Season 3 -The Chikorita Rescue:
Too much Team Rocket. The focus is so much on Jessie&James that they become the protagonist, and Katchum, Ash (Catch 'em, All) becomes a papermaché figurine. And as TR never wins this soon becomes tiresome. Otherwise solid, but nothing special.
PS: I hate water-pokemons.

Season 3,second half:
Despite the show being solid, it is filled with recycled ideas from earlier episodes or other shows- no wonder people got bored of it. Brought back Brock, but that's again recycling. Ashe still goes with only suxxor tier 1 pokemons only,and even changed good pokemons to bad alternatives (like charizard to cyndaquill). The pokemons are anywayidea-recyclings, thus pointless. eg. another self-blowing stuff randomly self-triggering with basically the same graphic (orb with eyes). Not to mention the Shinys introduced- face it pokemons are mashy blobs, the main distinction being their colour, not their shape. And they just took away the colour...
The series also went faraway from "cath 'em all", and also the "participate in battles to train your pokemons and be a pokemaster" idea. Heck, Ashe never even gets close entering the local tourney.
The only one who shows some develeopement is Team Rocket.

winter vacation: winter games: cute.
winter vacation: stantler's little helpers: ok. Although it is a minor letdown that all the sudden Santa has a raindeer (which he previously despised), the story is a little weak, and the ending w/o opening any presents is just makes you wish for something more.

pikachu & pichu: not THAT bad, but the devil-dog turning good all-the-suddenis just unbelievable. Feels they just wanned to make the suxxor tier1 pikachu totier 2 by introducing pichu.
movie 3: WTF?

----------

Season 4 -The Grass Route:
The main problem is, the series has no goal. There are occasional fights. even league-fights, but it is more of a random events series, very similarto the original DragonBall, but without any overarching story. It doesn't help either that the reused ideas appearing over and over could not be more obvious.
Also, there is noone to "like", as every episode works like this: Ash&co walks into random encounter. Team Rocket does something. Deus ex machina happens to ashame Team Rocket. Someone tells moral. This whole thing is bad. Boring. Despite that Team Rocket feels really like the core of the series from now (don't know if it is only the dub, but they have every time a new anthem, they are clever and creative,and many times unjustly punished by the writers). TeamRocket is like some anti-hero team, but as they evidently criminals (and not the good-hearted ones), you just can't love them. Neither can you, as they are not in the focus (like the coyote in the road runner looney toons).
PS: I like Bobbafat (ok, Wobbafat).

Season 4: -The Kecleon Caper
Became something of a tom&jerry show.

Season 4 ending: total lackluster ending in a To Be Continued cliffhanger...

Delibird's dilemma: an OK x-mass special. But man, I hate Donald Duck (I mean Totodile).
Snorlax Snowman: this is genuinely c00l. A lot like the Coca-Cola polar bears,but fun nonetheless.

Pikachu's Pika Boo: exploitation of the chameleon-episode's hide&seek idea.
movie 4: the graphic passes (except the 3D thingy), but anything else is at best a godzilla-movie. With an actual godzilla in it.

----------

Season 5: -Hatching a Plan
No wonder people departed at this point. The series leads from nowhere to nowhere. There are random fights, random tournaments, random events – but nothing holds it together. There is no reason to participate in the tourneys. No reason to look for more pokemons. No reason at all. The show feels like a cRPG, like Baldur's Gate. But at those with the sidequests you always gain something. But what does Ash&co gain here aside nothing, and wasting more and more time? Add to that that there is a commercial break before the last 10 seconds of the episodes...
The returning jokes are tired as heck. Eg. victreebel eating James' face, Brock lusting after women... Comes to mind, what's with that stalking Jigglypuff?
The lack of new attacks does not help either. Just think about it: every water pokemon spreads bubbles and spits water, and that's it. Every electric electrocutes and nothing more. And so on. The multitudes of pokemons are nothing but skins for their basic type!
The average NPC gets younger and younger. Maybe telling that Ash is doing something long beyond his age?
Anyway, the worst part they try to come up with more complex stories. This includes an entire movie as a 5+ parter of a legendary, and a pikachu special, but ends up in such contradictionous stupidity that Ash&co tries to invite the new pokemon into a ball, and even apologies when hurting it, even though the first thing Ash should have done is beat the newly hatched dumbo to near-death and enslave it reaching total submission, that being the franchise's premis.

Season 5: - Just add water:
This is like the Chuck Jones era for Tom and Jerry: they try anything and everything for the sake the show not die on spot. But draining all resources (producing along some surprisingly good episode), this is likely the end of it.
Only Team Rocket has somewhat of a story. And even that became paper-thin. Also rising the question: could Ash win all badges for a tourney all by himself? He got here the 3rd and maybe the 7th too out of mercy. The first two in Orange League had nothing to do with battle. In the original Kanto region he won only ONCE for first try, twice from rematch, and once against Team Rocket (what we all know how much it worth).
Also worth mentioning here is where the anime's very real life-like attitude weakens. A beam-attack can deflect any other beam-attack just because, unlike previously. And even Team Rocket start building stuff instead of buying.
Lastly even as the series like "ends" here, there are still like half a dozen unnamed pokemons.
The good news is, we see people likely belong to this planet, as well as pokemons. We hear/see diggings pokemons ~fossilised from millions of years, and see "humans" with low-advance technology. No, we don't see pokemons originating from outer space - just because they can build a spaceship doesn't mean they are UFOs. Still no sign of higher form of life after fishes (and other sea-life), plants, mushrooms. We see no non-pokemon birds, mammals, reptiles, insects - aside humans. But you remember humans suffering lethal damage turn into stone instead of dying. So humans are likely evolved from pokemons.
Brock reach unsaveable lows, there are no new captures at all (not even "evolutions"), Jame's victreebel should be exchanged ASAP (or eaten), and they need to come up with some serious stuff soon (ti.: a center arc for the anime). Not to mention I HATE water pokemons (this must be a cultural thing for Japan being islands), so the whole Ash-Misty-Brock triangle about who should Misty raise her child eufemised as Togepi is better be solved soon by Brock marrying Misty and both leave for good.
Also, how long pokemons live? How long "humans" live? What's the burial-custom? I know #pokemonsR4food but still.
Btw, good to know for sure there are more training-centers (pokemon-pits) than badges. Just in case you screw at one place you canstill try another to qualify.
Oh, and: most ridiculous "evolutions": dog turns into cat,fish turns into octopus!

Season5: -ending
Starting with a little nostalgia here was ok, but if they wanted us to forget the GS-ball, thanthe "here is an egg to carry to that prof whatwe totally not know anything about" was a mistake. Not to mention it is recycling of Togepi in the form of Larvitar is annoying. But of course the biggest mistake to do here was Misty's bike. I completly forgot about it, but bringing it back just makes everyone noting exactly the kind of details like the GS ball. Adding to that that in Winter Vacation: Christmass Night is a pokemon what will only be named in the Diamond and Pearl series according to the poke-wikia... There is justno chance we'll ever forget the mystery of the GS-ball!
On the grand scale this part establishes that Ash SUXXOR. First he had barely any idea what he is doing (and at occasions he still does things like releasing pikachu against an earth-type), and although he managed to win some second-tier league what is more like a local event than a tournament (Orange League), he neglects his pokemons as trainer (neither evolves during the show, so he faces here tier 3 stuff with tier 1 crap). Of coure the story is slower than a slowpoke, but at least we can recognise it exists this way. Or I am too harsh, and Ash is actually suffering some mental disability? Not to mention starting from scratch yet again...

Legend of Thunder: everyone is more adult even to the point of flirting becomes emberassing. But this is what could be a great show! Unfortunatelly this is just a spinoff-special...

Camp Pikachu: pokemon and western - orly? (Sry, I'm not into western.) It can create a second of tension though when the old mill starts up almost crushing everyone, but then the cheerey song ruins the whole thing.
Movie 5: What the freak a Porygon does outside the Matrix here?
Movie based on James Bond, while at the end Latios turns into Gandalf. And the whole film could have been avoided if Team Rocket had said "we're hunting a wild pokemon." Than Ash would have had no choice but go away, as they did it perfectly legal.
Let's ask the question here: what's with the movies? Ok, they show big-scale events when it comes to the poke-universe, but all of this is just lore! They have 0 effect on the anime. No gain of pokemon, no gain of knowledge to use, no change in culture - no nothing. So why do movies exist? Inface of this the specials always add something: a new character, expanded thing whatwe saw in the series. So it is really a shame.

 

[pkmin3033]

Hmmm...in terms of dialogue, I've got to say the Indigo League season, because they got away with so much more in that series. The stuff Team Rocket got up to...it still makes me laugh. James' constant crossdressing. The repeated tearing down of the fourth wall. The writing for the dub of the original series was GOLD. Pokemon stopped being consistently funny after Johto Journeys, and my interest in the anime dwindled for the longest time because of it.

However, I think the DP series had the best characer development. Things like spin-dodging and the counter shield got old after a while through overuse, but seeing Ash actually think outside the box and adopt actual strategy beyond "I'll use this Pokemon and hope for the best!" was a wonderfully refreshing change. When he won through a type disadvantage, it was a lot easier to swallow, because he'd clearly thought things through and hadn't resorted to ridiculously unbelivable tactics like aiming for the horn, or just attacking until it gave up out of despair at ever penetrating his plot armour.

Contests were a lot more exciting and interesting to watch as well, because not only was Jessie a serious competitor, but Dawn kept losing initially. It was a shame that her comeback had to come at May's expense, but that doesn't change the fact that Dawn had believable character progression: she didn't just win by virtue of impenetrable main character plot armour. She made mistakes, and she learned from them. She influenced Ash's battle style, and was influenced by him, far more than May was and, whilst I don't ship the two of them, I did love that character dynamic between them. They felt more like friends than just happenstance travelling companions, as was the case with Misty and May.

Then there were the rivals. Paul in particular was a welcome change, being Ash's polar opposite. The fact that he wasn't made out to be a complete prick or outright wrong in his approach to Pokemon training was great as well. He was always very polite and respectful to his seniors; he just didn't care for the company of others. He didn't always get the most positive of responses from people, but they didn't outright call him out for it. Sure, Ash beat him in the end, but there was the sense that Ash actually deserved to win, and he won through strategy and tactics...unlike when he just blasted through Gary with his Charizard.

Plus there were the Elite Four battles. Ash went toe-to-toe with members of the Elite Four, and the Tower Tycoon, and he held his own. Sure, he lost, but he didn't lose half as quick as he did against the others he'd fought against. I know he did amazingly well against Agatha in Battle Frontier, but there is a key difference: he knew who he was facing. Ash had no idea who Agatha was, and he was shocked when he found out who he was battling. He was so much more confident - without being arrogant, which has often happened - and much more likeable as a result.

In short, Ash matured, for the first time ever. His battles were sequential, and developed in style and strategy as he progressed; they weren't just random and unlinked as they had been every single time previously. He developed a battle style, and it paid off for him.

Zoey was a good rival for Dawn as well; she made a much better tutor than Drew did for May, and had a more likeable and down-to-earth personality...I really didn't care for Drew. Zoey beating Dawn made sense, as she had always been that one step ahead of her and, unlike Ash, there was never any clear indicator that Dawn had stepped out of Zoey's shadow. For Ash, he grew with the Chimchar that Paul discarded and used what he had learned over the series to win. Dawn looked up to Zoey and, whilst she'd come a long way over the series, Zoey was just the more experienced co-ordinator. Second place for her first journey is a hell of a lot better than Ash did, and really it wouldn't have made much sense for her to outright win it, after all the soul-searching and complaining she had done over the course of the series. Dawn had only just found her style at the Grand Festival, I think - she was playing catch-up, and she hadn't quite caught up. It was a good battle, and a good end for her. Much better than May, who got the same treatment Ash always seems to get: overcoming her major rival, only to get knocked out with ease by a complete unknown who appears for two or three episodes.

DP actually made me like the protagonists again, which I hadn't really done since Johto Journeys. I WANTED Ash to win, and I'm both annoyed and pleased that it took a Darkrai and a Latios to stop him from doing so. Annoyed because it was cheap, and after knocking his major rival for the series out of the tournament, he deserved to win. Pleased because the fact that they had to resort to Legendaries to stop him shows just how far he'd come over the season...and he took out TWO of them. Without his broken Charizard. Far easier to swallow than his cheap losses to Harrison and Tyson in the leagues before then. I liked Dawn; I liked watching her lose, try again, lose again, mope around, and then suddenly have an epiphany and slowly but surely find her own style, rather than just instantly getting it like May seemed to. I liked how Jessie managed to hold her own and even earn herself a respectable position, whilst staying true to her masochistic Team Rocket roots by using herself in her performances. I even liked Brock more for some reason.

DP made me feel things, and I'm so sad it ended and all the hard work and progress made was utterly wiped out in Best Wishes (I'm not saying Best Wishes is bad here, I'm just saying it's a shame it did away with everything accomplished in DP) and everything was reset again, because I would LOVED to have seen where they all went from there.

 

[Gligar]

I just love talking about the Pokemon anime. It's the best part in pokemon to me. I mean, I like games, but I just love the anime!

So, moving on to the question - What was my favourite series?
Well, to be honest, it would either have to be DP. Why do I like these two? Here's why I like them - DP was the first season of where I really got into the anime. It was just so enjoyable and I stayed tuned every week to watch the new episode.

Another reason is because Dawn was by far my favourite female character in the whole anime. I believed she was better than Misty or May.

And lastly, Brock was still there! Brock was my favourite anime companion. Comparing to Cilan or Clemont, Brock may be considered as a god. And that's pretty much it.

 

[Mana1]

Despite this, however, my favorite series would still have to be the Advanced Generation series, followed closely by XY.

^ Agree with this.

Whilst the original series is nostalgic and can be quite fun to watch, looking back it was a mess of inconsistencies and generally pretty cringey. Of course, there are plenty of individual episodes that I'll always enjoy from that (Indigo League and Krabby<3) - nostalgia goggles are a fantastic thing!

 

[Meadow]

Whilst the original series is nostalgic and can be quite fun to watch, looking back it was a mess of inconsistencies and generally pretty cringey. Of course, there are plenty of individual episodes that I'll always enjoy from that (Indigo League and Krabby<3) - nostalgia goggles are a fantastic thing!

Wow, that pretty much summarizes how I feel about the original series, except I... uh, never had the courage to say so, eheh. Of course I still love it to death (mostly because of Bulbasaur), but I'm not the type to let any kind of bias influence my opinion on things.

 

[Latis93]

I'll say that DP is still my favorite.As Ash finally(finally....)matured up a little,and had a more than decent and fully evolved Pokemon.He was obviously very good in the good,but thanks to our Dear Tobias,he was left staying in the Top 4.
Next I'll say is the Indigo league.It has more funny moments than any other season,and thats what I like.I liked most of the characters there,which is another reason.
I like XY too,but still not sure.If anything like BW happens,it will be the last in my list.Till now I like the fact Ash finally evolved his Water-Starter,and has a good team for now.

 

[Lizardo]

In addition to things already said, Diamond & Pearl is also the one series where it feels as if the writers actually had a plan for where they were going to take their bigger story arcs, and that's one of the biggest reasons why it's my favorite. The other series can be fun, but none of them (save for XY's most recent episodes) feel as cohesive. A good example of this is in the way DP handled the Team Galactic finale as opposed to AG's Aqua and Magma. The former uses elements and characters introduced throughout the series to build a three-episode climax, and the latter comes out of nowhere and ends in a completely half-assed, anticlimactic way.

DP also has some of my all-time favorite battles to come out of the anime franchise. The two Satoshi-Shinji full battles, Nozomi vs. Naoshi, Hikari vs. Haruka, Satoshi & Shinji vs. Hikari & Kouhei, Satoshi vs. Melissa, etc. A greater emphasis on game mechanics, particularly abilities, mixed in with the anime's usual ability to do crazy, off-the-wall stunts resulted in some interesting battles and strategies, as well as Contest appeals.

 

[Iceshadow3317]

I do not know the seasons 100% as I go by arcs and to me that is 1 season. I know there are 18. So instead of going by season, I will go by Region/Island.

1. Kalos.
2. Sinnoh
3. Hoenn
4. Unova
5. Orange Islands
6. Battle Frontier
7. Kanto
8. Johto
9. Decolora Islands


If there is a filler arc between Kalos and whatever the 7th Gen will be, I do hope it is more of a combination between Battle Frontier and Orange Islands, but with Double Battles.

 

[DarkWitch]

The Original Indigo League is my most favorite season of the Anime.

 

[Iceshadow3317]

After rewatching some Sinnoh episodes and thinking about how Ash was, I am going to have to say that Sinnoh is probably my 2nd favorites season now, pushing Hoenn to 3rd and Unova to 4th. I am not 100% why I did not like Sinnoh when I first watched it. Possibly because I missed so many episodes and the fact that Sinnoh was an extremely long saga compared to the others.

 

[DBZ fan]

My personal favorite are Original series. Not one particular season, but pretty much all of them. Enjoying in Kanto, Orange Islands and yes Johto adventures more than i can say for any saga coming afterwards. Those who just berate Johto saga should check beginning and Master quest, quality is great in there doing justice to several characters.

What drawed my liking and preference for OS probably the most is idea of this series having direction to follow. Original purpose writers had in their mind to fulfill.

There were no resets and dumbing down of main protagonist. There were no starting from scratch replacing core of traveling group with exception of Ash with journey consistently progressing on itself.

This can be noticed in transferring started plots from before. Like GS ball, Ash just recently gaining thrust from Charizard, bond which got strengthen with Misty, their careers of becoming top breeder, master, water master etc.

With relationship between Ash, Misty and Brock maturing and reaching new level of chemistry feeling like group of friends which passed through lot together becoming more comfortable in each other company.

Ash previous knowledge and things learned in Kanto, Orange Islands not just magically disappearing retaining his memories and strength.

Story being treated like one big adventure where friendships, adventure aspect and continuity was especially high.

Followed with lot of flashbcks to past. Moments in how Aagh caught his pokemon. diving in Misty childhood and problems with her family(sisters), Jessie recalling her younger self and poverty she was raised within etc.

Return of various past characters not losing importance. Such as Koga sister Aya, photographer Todd, breeder Suzie Brock fell in love, Ash rival Ritchie etc.

Etc.

And if there was something really distinct and special about first saga of pokemon was boldness and creativity writing staff was willing to invest in pokemon anime. They basically had idea in mind of treating pokemon anime as something more than blatant advertizement from games., Wanting to have its own timeline, history and story which deconstruct on plots. Dive deeper in human relationships, their struggles and conflicts going below surface. Being in general more focused upon and in trying to explore and evolve on their personalities. Rather than pokemon creatures themselves.

This was confirmed by head writer for OS through blogs(Takeshi Shudo) himself. Wanting to bring more depth and maturity to pokemn show aimed at wider audience, treated as family oriented show. Until his ideas got shoot down starting to lose gradually influence resulting in leaving position of head writer.

Hence why hand down to this day i still think Original series had bigger variety of emnotions and darker element about several plots introduced there,


Than i could say for any subsequent series. Except maybe Sinnoh/DP receiving resurgence through Huntert J, Team Galactic or Paul.

Its enough to take a loom at themes such as : introducing characters with severe mental ilness like gym leader Sabrina suffering from split personality disorder. Becoming consumed by thirst for power and fears of being viewed as freak in society starting to deviate at young age.

.Mewtwo developing despise for humans killing all scientists and blowing island up. Questioning his point of existence and if he is really just failed experiment of human play with genes. Or substantial creature not being any less worthy than other pokemon regardless of being cloned.

Followed by massive operation in Giovanni trying to locate him and recapture in Johto through special dedicated to this mission.

Writers not hesitating in adding lot of depth to human personalities. One of better examples is Misty touching on concept of child growing without parents and coming to lack of understanding and support from older siblings and surrounding . Developing new dimension to personality in trying to hide her insecurity, fears and loneliness of never experienceing affection and love herself through abrasive, rude and violent exterior serving as mask to her inner emotions.

Gym leaders like Pryce from Mahagony town losing any thrust and sentimentality about pokemon and whole message of being your friends and partners. Turning in cold, embittered person after he thought Piloswine abandoned him. When being injured after enduring heavy burn from pokenmon attack.

Apolcalyptic like scenarios. Such as mutant Tentacruel threatening to destroy whole city. Destroying buildings and cars sending important message about environment and human mistreatment of eco system backfiring on them.

Massive Alakazam and Gengar being unleashed from their seals prepartng to destroy whole world, going way of how ancient Pokemopolis civilization ended.

Ash and co witnessing to giant flooding in Johto in episodes abot Xatu and how gift of predicting future is more of a curse than anything else.

Invoking suspension and expectancy among you as viewers of how will everything going to resolve.


TR was very fun aswell doing things which you would never expect from kids show like pokemon today with lot of stuff passing under the radar back than.

Wacky lot of cool arcs like St.Anne arc,Orange islands which had enturely different rules about gym challenges and league firmat feeling like pirate adventure thanks to tropic environment, haunted ships, real pirates harassing others on seas, Whirl Islands crowned with mythical competition like Whirl Cup, photographer Todd rejoining Ash and co for mini adventure involving Articuno,original recurring characters and unique portrayal of some gym leaders was something very fresh too.

Most of all some of best, most emotional and touching movies came from this era. Like Spell of Unown with Ash showing genuine concern and determination to save his mother. Dealing with thematics of what happens when a small girl is given great power. With Molly Hale own wishes and fears causing drastic consequences to everyone around herself due to feeling lonely, confused and scared just wanting to have family.

Or beautifully illustrated story where not jut Ash, but Misty, Brock and TR all played part in breaking free Unown curse or serving as stepping stone for ithers to achieve this.

Granted battles were inferior compared to today standards though several were still fun to watch(Johto had best battles in original series),Misty and Brock werent developed enough with too much focus being put on Ash character in first five seasons and pokemon personalities werent fleshed out nearly as much like its case in Hoenn and onwards.Barring few exceptions like Ash Pikachu and Kanto starters,Misty Psyduck which was hilarious and to some extent Poliwhirl(he was timid and insecure pokemon),and Brock Pineco having explosive and stubborn persona.

But when we talk about emotion, ingenuity and characterization put into various side characters but main as well making them natural and discernible. All entangled with creative, inspirig stories going completey out of set up in advance pattern and frames dictated by games experimenting alot more back than.


All followed with possibly most enjoyable, original and charming interactions from main cast with Ash, Misty and Brock complimenting each other great forming very tight bond.

I have to say Kanto, Orange, Johto in my opinion invoked most excitement and interest in wanting to follow adventure. More than any other series coming afterwards(and i liked some of future sagas alot such as Sinnoh or Hoenn to extent).


Not to mention: Original series still had Misty around which was imo best main girl this show had. Attributed by having lot of depth, and affluent characterization brimming with energy, fire and charisma. Many personal struggles and endearing interests going beneath their surface. Interesting pookemon, touching backstory beibng like diamoind in rough working hard for ahnything she ever accomplished and unique goals. Wanting to become water pokemon master and show whole world how being one type trainer isnpt hasndicap becoming recognizd expert. Dream which had lot of originality drawing links to ancient times, sea spirits and winning big tournaments.

Being possibly only main girl showing genuine interest in E4 members wanting to become powerful like them(even idolizing some like Lorelei).

Misty imo brought lot of charm, passion and charisma to pokemon. Being one of reasons why i prefer Orginal series over any other saga. Hoping we see her back because she is like open book havcing much more to be explored about her sadly unfinidshed story, unresolved dreams and some of issues.

Knowing how to spark things up pushing entertainment vaklue to higher brink through unpredictable, vivid personality.

P.S. Dont get me wrong. I acknowledge and liked future sagas as well having many cool characters, eventful stories and memorable moments.
It just happens they didnpt impressed me and satisfied my expectations to same extent like Kanto, Orange Islands and better parts of Johto had.

​

 

[cream]

all of the seasons from the original series were the most enjoyable for me. i remember coming back from school every afternoon and watching the new episode with my dad. :D good times.

i didn't watch all of advanced generation but i remember liking it as well.

 

[weedle_mchairybug]

Thanks to Toy Story's anti-favorite message strongly impacting me as a kid, I can't hold a favorite season/series. I can, however, mention which one was definitely the best, though:

The Original series hands down was definitely far better overall, as there was actual chemistry between everyone. Aside from all the points DBZ Fan brought up, there are other reasons why they were good as well:

Namely, it actually treats the Gym Leaders as being actual challenges and threats, both in Kanto and even in Johto, especially to Rookie Pokémon. I think the only Gym Leaders who actually were either shown or otherwise implied to be very bad gym leaders are Misty's sisters, and the show even notes they weren't all that good. That's definitely a lot better than how AG or Best Wishes depicted its gym leaders, where they lost easily to rookies at such a rate that they actually came across as being like Jessie James and Meowth. I think the series that came close to actually matching the original series formula was XY and possibly the DP team, especially when they show exactly how strong they are beforehand in XY, have Ash lose at least once, and even the one gym leader who actually DID lose to Ash on the first try, Cliff, pretty much gave Ash the advantage beforehand by letting him use his full team while limiting himself to just two Pokémon.

In addition to that, because of how the Original series operated, one bad league can be made up for two superb leagues (that's including the Orange Islands). We had a dud with the Indigo League (where Ash lost for reasons that weren't even his fault: Team Rocket was to blame for the loss by abducting him and forcing him to waste two of his good Pokémon and forcing him to rely on fairweather Pokémon on his team late into the match as well as the league officials being too stupid to realize he needed rest). But the Orange League and the Johto League more than made up for it.

And until the infamous decision to remove Misty, the characters actually did seem to have a point being with Ash, not to mention actually had direct interaction with them. Compare GCYL's departure with the departures we've had so far. Probably the closest any of them got to reaching its level was DP's departure, where Dawn briefly cried. BW's departure was extremely rushed with little indication they actually had much to feel for each other, and AG was similarly rushed, May being too eager to get Ash off her back, and Max being the closest of any of the characters to actually not being happy with the separation. Oh, and they actually had a reason for needing to travel with Ash (Brock wanted to repay Ash for allowing him to pursue his dream of becoming a Pokémon Breeder, and Misty needed to fix the bike that Ash kinda broke, at least that's the official story). Most of the other characters didn't really have a reason to travel with Ash (or in the case of Bonnie or Max, travel, period), especially when they can do fine by themselves. And characters weren't blatantly used simply for marketing (May and Dawn are particularly infamous there, considering they got replaced/created with the exact same goal in mind).

 

[twillight]

I'm so glad people here found time in the meanwhile too told things to watch out for :)

With that addo, let's start watching the Advanced Series!

Season 6 -a ruin with a view:
Man, this season had TONS of specials, forgive me that. But the start with May,who is a byciclist like Misty (you won't believe it, but Ash destroys this one too), and has Ash-like backstory repels me instantly from this character,sry. We alsohave the sick pikachu - just like in the original, and the ~first pokemon is "butterfree" - just like in the original. Not to mention pikachu again electrocutes Ash - just like in the original. We can settle this is a total reboot.
A family that battles together, stays together:
A nice backstory.
Season 6 -There's no Place Like Hoenn:
May is a hypersexualised anti-Ash. And I want to whack that 3-years old Brock-wannabe on the mouth with a steel pole.
Should have told earlier: noting the abilities start to be impossible with the energetised superpower-punches/kicks. Eventostartwith I see no difference between Pikachu's two (three?) electric attacks, but with these it goes so miniscule and pathetic, it completely discourages you to make note of them. Of course powr-wise it redrawn the balance favouring eg. fire-type pokemons.
By the look of it here Ash'll fail because he think the new region's pokemons are necessarily better instead of caring his whole pool and choosing the really best ones leveling and evolving them to the top.
Btw, even though my preferences are not into battle, to show my interest in the seasons, I give a list of my choice: #1 Golduck (if you seen the episode introduced this you'll understand it is a GOD. Everyone is talking about how you just suffer Magicarp to turn into Gyarados, but that's dwarfed by bearing Psyduck instead for Golduck) #2: Wobbuffet (face it, in practically any 1v1 battle you won with this) #3: Squirtle (unlimited water-supply and very high defenses, can walk outside water, no annoying personality) #4: piloswine (unlimited food-supply. Ye, it is kinda gross.) #5: Xatu (it can teleport. No more walking for me. It is better than Abraas that sleeps almost as much as a Snorlax, and hopefully it won't meditate when captured if I don't allow it. Keeping an eye open for replacement).
Cerulean Blues:
The story is finally interesting, has an effect. But why does the whole chronicles-spinoff seem to use the Johto-title?
Season 6 -You Never Can Taillow:
Mehe-eh! Ash has to learn to take care of himself, as well play the grown-up of the group (although he is 13-14 given the information spread out in the anime), he still is the oldest and most experienced from the three).
I don't mind here the christian-reference. At least it is not so direct as with Unown, although even there the use of it was quite creative.
Recycling of the original Fearow-flock attack episode. And biggest mistake of all history: Brock is back. I won't tell for likely young ones can read this what his nick (Brocky) means on my language... Well, very much hope Ash'll learn cooking and other necessary things from him this time!
We're no angels:
Big-big lol for a Team Rocket roling episode XD Best concept ever: the villain/anti-hero team always end up saving the day! They always win, but that really pisses them up! I just can't get over how awesome this is.
Anyway, here is a theory: there was that Pokemon War which caused most men disappear from society, lowering working-age to around 10 (with 1+ years of visiting the world and practicing), making finding a job practically unavoidable and being overpayed for it (see Jessie and James), and laying around all those big mechas to buy for cheap (after the War they no longer needed them, but transforming eitherwould cost too much material, or they lack engineers to do it thanks to the War).
Season 6 -Tree's a crowd:
At this point I say the Advanced Series is a much better entry to a new viewer. The Original's three region was loaded with inconsistencies both in story and quality, but this being a total reboot cleared away the rubbish. Yes, Ash is someone who already has a backstory, but at least he is not seriously dumb (though still retarded), and works more of a guideline, allowing the viewr to choose who (s)he'll relate to: the very young Max, the pokemon-alienated starter May, or the semi-experienced Ash. And yes, there is Brock too, who is more a convenient tool at this point (as much adult as he canw/o actually being a grown-up).
Showdown at the Oak Corral:
Nothing special but still solid.Although I doubt the sex-sceenes makes it PG-friendly...
Season 6 -All Things Bright and Beautifly:
I have the question: ok, Pikachu won't change (because Ash is retard), but what about Meowth?
The Blue Badge of Courage:
A spinoff just to spice things up.
Season 6 -All in a Day's Wurmple:
Um. That worm looks nothing special, and feels like a Snorlax-clone. Maybe game-wise the double-trouble is new, but not animewise. All in all: weak.
Of Meowth and Pokémon:
A Meowth-centered special. Solid ok, the good point being the character deserved a oneshot. Aside listed as a two-parter, this is actually a single 20 min episode when merged. I "suspect" this belongs to elsewhere based that it is placed at the Pichu's town, what is I dunno, in Jhoto maybe. Likely shouldbe placed at Pikachu and Pichus.
Trouble in Big Town:
Another pichu-episode, centered around this time definitely around the pichus. It is for very young audience (5-6 years). The TMNT-reference and the sewergator were noticable jokes for others. Lacking the usual constant action feels very long. Givenn o anime-regular appears here can be placed anywhere for relief.
Big Meowth, Little Dreams:
Again something listed as two-parter, but is not. It is in direct continuity with Of Meowth and Pokemon. Not very strong, despite some ideas, but I think this is the first interspecies erotica. The episode ultimately lacks the chance for redemption for being massively evil towards a good, honest and loving Meowth.
Season 6 -Sharpedo Attack:
After a lot of pantyshot and ass-shot finally they decided to cenzor Jessie. Pfff. And I can't find a comparsion of the japaneese version. Double pfff.
Oak-Napped:
Sparky, The Other Pikachu-centered episode. Nice and refreshing to have recurring characters. Oh, and there are Cassidy and B*tch too.
Season 6 -Win, Lose or Drew:
As was predicted, Ash chose suxxor pokemons. He has a pikachu which refuses to evolve, a grass-type which knows only fighter moves (or no special moves at all), a watermon with only 1 move and eating-disorder, and that ridiculous karateka-spearrow, not to mention none of his pokemon seems to be able to step up tiers. Will he ever have something tough, like Dragonite? Will once his whole team be tier3+ like his charizard?
There is fun stuff of course: Ash is considered mormon for wearing "magic underwear", and the silcoon/cascoon suspense is fantastic for example.
Gotta Dance:
Whut, TR did get around building a proper base? When did that happen? Not that I'm complaining.
Has a good karaoke-track. And a good Tom&Jerry theme.
Movie 6:
It is a nice story.
But it should be seen after "The Spheal of Approval" for proper tension.
Season 6 -ending:
Nice Fallout 2 reference in "Different kind of Misry" - although I expected Misty showing up. Good news is, compared to the Johto Journey you don't feel here cheated for not gaining more than 2 badges during the season.
Strangest pokemon until now: a bear-stereo which burrows underground... Holy hallucination!

--------------

A date with delicatty:
I feel this points out what I assumed: GET A LIFE! THERE'S NO SUCH THING AS POKEMASTER! That's just a nice lie like Santa!
I hate Butch's one-way gimmick.
Season 7 -A Togepi Mirage:
The "falsely accused" gimmick starts to be tired.
Misty is also back 'cause the creators decided to do something with Togepi finally.
Training Daze:
Jessie and James are blasted ... again ... and noone knows why. We get the backstory of their meeting.
Celebi & Joy:
Man, sure they like to add "!" to their titles. Well, "the guy with the Other Pikachu" has an adventure. We see an aging Joy, pointing they are likely not robots, but rly clones. Anyway, face it, the Celebi-story works much more in 20 minutes than was in the full-movie length.
The Mastermind of Mirage Pokémon:
Noone said where it supposedly fits but noone says it is another continuity either, so just by going with "Mirage Kingdom" I watched here.
I know it is '10th anniversary special", but it is definitely an Advanced Generation story, Ash's party being what it is. The closest event there is, that May has her squirtle, meaning this movie happens after The Right Place and the Right Mime, but that I noticed too late.
Uhm, why does Starmie shoot crytalballs of Dragonball?
Although the story for first glance looks a clone of the original Mewtwo-movie, it is an adequate sequel. The real worry is, the movie shows an anti-science, anti-developement society which expells a revolutionary scientist just for creating something world-changing. Btw, this 45 min special creates a bridge between pokemon and digimon-universe as MewTwo by absorbing the amount of codes from other mirages becomes bigger and stronger.
Other references in the ova: Island of Dr. Moreau, Watchmen, Matrix.
Season 7 -Candid Camerupt:
"We have no more water" gimmick starts to be tired.
Journey To The Starting Line:
"Meanwhile back with Ash's stored pokemons at prof. Oak's garden..."
I LUB the view of the major's son, and wonder: the "special conditions" for Ash getting his pikachu means prof. Oak is the father of Ash? Or - the scientist who created Ash as a clone?
Season 7 -Go Go Ludicolo:
Sid you notice Ash don't use his pokemons much? They might train off-screen, but... The whole show seems to be about May, and that coreographed fights now on. Aside that, the series is at stalemate. Ash still don't have 6 pokemons, and none evolved. We got a rebooted psyduck (in the form of camerupt) and even a snorlax (as numel) for repetiton, making you feel watching the original series is something noone should do since advenced generation exists, what is just plain annoying. Also, the series would be much more coherent, and much less cashgrab if each season had only 35 episodes instead of 50. This format produces too many fillers, making the story sluggish, even lost, the whole franchise BORING! Even if things are spiced up by some pretty realistic boobs drawn.
Most surprising moment: Brock gets a miracle-child from the Virgin Mary!
Putting The Air Back In Aerodactyl:
I'm jealous. Gary got a cool job, made a discovery which'll make him famous, AND he got a chick. He almost got a child even! Ash is looser, big time!
And I won't care this is a Jurassic Park ripoff.
Season 7 -Sky High Gym Battle:
Grass aura. REALLY? Even the occasional popart can't save THAT.
Nominatiing for the Worst Episode Until Now (or ever): The Bicker the Better.
And let's mention at this point you can destroy a fog just by punching it. I understand that's likely how it works with the cards, but...
But the right way to catch pokemon is to cage it, so it can't run away (learn the know-how from Team Rocket), then CLUB THE MISERABLE CREATURES INTO SUBMISSION. With a literalclub. That's where all the evil teams fail: they try to keep it caged, or carry away. Instead just bash them for good. And if you are evil, that's when you "cath 'em all", destroying the economy by cathing anything whatcomes into visual range.
And if I started, I tell this too: the different colouration should just DIE! It can mean a) shiny pokemon like Ash's Noctowl, b) a different kind like Flaffy vs Mareep, or c) mutation like the Red Giarados. DECIDE ALREADY!
Ye. This season sux. It is trolling the viewer with useless fillers, recycled pokemons, and suchepisodes like "Whiscash and Ash".
Movie 7:
To let you know: the intro mostly matches the pokemons of Movie 11, which I accidentally started to watch before,and screenshoted all the blurred pokemon-siluettes. This movie eases the burden to select them out. And there is a Misingno in the intro!
It is actually quit disturbing tendency that after a long hiatus during the anime the movie of the season loads in another two-three dozen of (likely unnecessary) creatures. There are ca. 20 pokemon marked as "unkown" on my list continuously.
This movie is empty. Filled with filler scenes, nonsensical battles, and you just utterly not care for it. I think it is some transformer ripoff including godzilla-fights (gozilla vs mothra?) and elements from Reign of Fire, but it is just BORRRING. More than boring: annoying!
Season 7 -Crazy as a Lunatone:
Elija. at the reiver. Can't they be more obvious? And if I maynot: any character named Elija should not be shown along a bunch of kids! And that episode reached a new low a second way too: TWO items (plus pikachu) can be stolen, but for NONE they could come up with a reasonable scenario! But they go for it anyway! How stupid is that?!
On lunatone: I always thought it'd be a legendary, it is so strange-looking. And as TeamMysterie says it is a "mysterie pokemon", what in their use of terms equialent of a legendary, I take it is some such. And it is at least makes a standalone debut, distinguishing it from the "ancient pokemons", making it practically the first in-show debuting legendary! A little on the sad side that it appears as a recycled deoxys... Which was an obvious deformation of "dioxyn", what fitted tothe greenpeace-aspect of their godzilla-movie theme. Whatever.
Pikachu's Summer Festival:
Man, not even subtitles? Well,at least we can watch the episode. I still have trouble finding the planetary specials, the 3D shorts, the second Mysterie Dungeon story, confused about the mega evolution specials, and also there are the "Pikachu's Big Sparking Search " and "Pikachu's Big Mysterious Adventure " and "Pikachu and the Pokémon Band ".
The episode seems special for the lot of narration, and even translation of poke-talk. And while the short is kinda comfy even without actually understanding the talk, Meowth is so out of character working together with Pikachu, I'dn't consider this canon.
Season 7 -ending:
The season was, and is filled with bad puns leading nowhere. I also hate how this season handles Jessie And James unfairly. They can't succeed with their normal gift-business they are so good in otherwise, neither can keep justly earned money, or like here they are not allowed to capture the annoyance-snorlax what noone needs. Bugger.
To end this horribility: Ash now has 6 out of 8 badges, and still only 5 pokemons, and only 2 evolved to only tier 2. And there are two entire season left from Advanced Generation. WHUT? Even the final ribbon-contest no matter how well drawn, is just CHEATING. The first round always left until now, even the R1 contest, only 4 contestant. Now just to let May win (on the expense of Jessica, which is really unfair) they let through 8. This was just the same type of cheating which awaits Ash in the Sinnoh region. Heck, Ash&Co became a lvl666 group, who kill off stuff just by accidentally bumping them on the street, and they don't even notice it! They really start to become some kinda anti-hero!

 

[magicalgirlj]

The classic Indigo league- The first anime I ever saw all the way back in 1999. The Pokerap is so catchy
Black and White- as a big fan of gen V I love watching Ash's adventures in Unova along with Iris and Cilan. I also love how not only does Ash have a rival here but do so Iris and Cilan. Oshawott is extremely adorable and I fell in love with him^_^. Netflix finally added season 3, I will finally get to see N in the anime, yay.
I really wish Netflix would add more seasons and finish the Indigo League episodes