So many illogical things...

[Algiers]

Okay, I've recently started watching all the anime episodes because it's an old childhood favorite of mine and thus I wanted to relive it for nostalgia. However, although I haven't nearly watched all episodes yet I have noticed that the Pokémon world just doesn't make any sense at times.
Firstly, the Pokémon themselves. Other than the characters constantly making references to gamey terms such as "experience points", which really pisses me off, evolution is just weird. Ash has Pokémon that never evolve (Squirtle, Bulbasaur for example) even though they fight a lot of battles for him (esp. in Kanto), while a lot of Pokémon appear in a single episode and almost instantly evolve, sometimes without a single battle. The what?
Not to mention that Ash is just totally stupid at times. I get it that he's 10 year old, but even a 10 year old can, after a time, finally learn that throwing Pokéballs at something without weakening it won't work (or if it will, it's another plothole), and that's not to mention that he constantly calls out Pokémon that are weak against the opponent's Pokémon. Battles are totally idiotic at times, too. I recall an episode (Problem with Paras) where a weak-ass Paras pokes Ash's Charmeleon briefly, who then keels over instantly. A few episodes later Charmeleon survives an Aerodactyl's assault and even evolves to Charizard at the same time. Though Ash is not alone. Even experienced trainers are really terrible at times. Sometimes simply yelling at their Pokémon to "Dodge that stream of fire!" would be all that was needed.
Seriously, maybe the show caters to younger people than me, but it seems the creators of the anime really dropped the ball in some cases. Don't you agree here?

EDIT: Correct me wherever I'm wrong though. I don't claim to know all the mechanics myself.

 

[Jorah]

The anime just does its own thing from the games. And from life in general.

 

[Algiers]

The anime just does its own thing from the games. And from life in general.

Well yeah, but even in itself the anime often doesn't make sense - and that was my main gripe.

 

[BlaqJester]

I read the manga and all of it connects they just put Ash and Co. to keep people into. Yes it does appeal to younger crowds but look how far its come since we first seen Ho-Oh.<first episode reference> I actually watch the episode to see what Ash can pull out of his hat. Besides the idiotic blunders Ash and Co. do there's more like character development. If the anime irks you check out the manga you'll have a new perspective.

 

[Kenshin5]

Well yeah, but even in itself the anime often doesn't make sense - and that was my main gripe.

Which is why people often refer to this as Anime logic. A lot of things they do doesn't make sense. So of it like keeping Ash 10 and Pikachu around is to turn a profit because they are mascots and they draw money of those two. They dumb down Ash and nerf Pikachu cause they want a fresh start for the "supposed" new younger audience. And some pokemon like Ash Charizard and Dawn Mamoswine evolved quick because they had the desire to or the situation presented itself. Bulbasaur clearly decided it was fine with being a Bulbasaur so refused to evolve.