Note: For the Pokémon series, Anime Hajime refers to both human characters and Pokémon by their English names.
Original Run: April 1, 1997 - January 21, 1999 Number of Episodes: 82 Based on the Video Game: Pokémon
As A Reminder: Anime Hajime Impressions: Benkyou is not a review series. Anime Hajime’s Odyssey attempts to watch an anime in Japanese with no English subtitles. Therefore, misinterpretations and misunderstandings are possible.
Feel free to leave comments, clarifications, and thoughts in the comments section below.
Pokémon Indigo League
Episodes 6 to 10 Recap
Ash Ketchum, Pikachu, Misty, and Brock are on the road to Vermilion City. However, they keep running in detours, obstacles, and misadventures. In their travels, Ash obtained his Cascade Badge from Misty’s three older sisters in Cerulean City.
Everywhere they go, Ash and his friends meet trainers from all walks of life. Additionally, Ash has been adding new members to his Pokémon team, with his most recent addition being a fiercely loyal and kind-hearted Bulbasaur.
With the nefarious Team Rocket constantly popping up wherever they go, our heroes are never far away from a new and exciting challenge.
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Pokémon Indigo League
Episode 11
Japanese Title: はぐれポケモン・ヒトカゲ Romaji Title: Hagure Pokemon, Hitokage English Title: Charmander – The Stray Pokémon
Episode Synopsis
While traveling, Ash and his friends realize they have become lost. As they try to find their way, the group comes across a Charmander. Although Ash tries to catch the Pokémon, Charmander has no interest in the group. Soon, our heroes, with the help of Pikachu, realize Charmander is waiting for his trainer. Thus, they leave the little fire Pokémon be.
As the team heads off, a storm is on the horizon, and it doesn’t take long for the rain to come down in buckets. After a short but wet trek, the group makes it to a Pokémon Center. There, they wait out the bad weather.
While trying to get warm, Brock can’t help worrying about Charmander, who could die if its tail fire goes out. Just as Brock expresses his concerns to Ash and Misty, they hear a commotion from the other end of the center. A group of people huddles around an openly arrogant trainer, Damian, bragging about how he left behind a “weak” Charmander.
In a rage, Brock confronts Damian. A fight nearly breaks out, but the resident Nurse Joy puts a stop to the hostilities. With that over, Brock, Ash, Misty, and Pikachu hurry back to where they last saw Charmander. They see the Pokémon has not left its spot, but just as Brock feared, its tail fire has nearly gone out.
The team rushes back to the Pokémon Center, and after a tense night, Nurse Joy happily reports that Charmander will make a full recovery.
The next morning, the group wakes up to find that Charmander has gone off to reunite with its trainer. Seeing that this is Charmander’s decision, the team accepts there is nothing more they can do.
As our heroes make their way down the road, they accidentally fall into one of Team Rocket’s traps. With the trainers unable to fight back, Team Rocket manages to snag Pikachu. But just as the villains are about to leave, Charmander shows up. With a powerful fire blast, Charmander chases Team Rocket off.
Following this ordeal, Charmander agrees to join Ash’s roster of Pokémon.
Featured Pokémon
English Name (Japanese Name) – Pokédex Number
Charmander (Hitokage) – 004
Pokémon Images Taken From: The Offical Pokémon Website
Principle Charcters
Damian
A.K.A. – Daisuke
- Voiced By: Hikaru Midorikawa
An arrogant trainer who only cares about strong Pokémon
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Pokémon Indigo League
Episode 12
Japanese Title: ゼニガメぐんだんとうじょう! Romaji Title: Zenigame-gundan Tōjō! English Title: Here Comes the Squirtle Squad
Episode Synopsis
Having acquired Charmander, Ash and his friends continue their adventure. One day, the team falls into another trap. This time, the culprits are a roaming gang of Squirtles.
Ash tries to catch the gang’s leader, but the Squirtles easily swat away the incoming Poké Ball. Just then, everyone can hear sirens coming down the road. The Squirtles hightail it out of there just as the area’s Officer Jenny pulls up.
Officer Jenny explains that the Squirtles don’t trust humans and that they have been causing mischief all over the place. From the police station, Officer Jenny points the group in the right direction. Unbeknownst to any of them, Team Rocket is spying from across the way.
As they try to devise a plan to steal Pikachu, Jessie, James, and Meowth have their own run-in with the Squirtle Gang. Thinking quickly, Jessie tries to make a deal, but the Squirtles won’t listen to a human. However, they are much more receptive to Meowth. The two sides come to an arrangement, and the Squirtle Gang agrees to steal Pikachu.
Sitting by a riverbank for a quick rest, Ash and his friends are utterly unprepared for the Squirtle Gang to attack. In the battle, Pikachu takes a serious hit, and the trainers become prisoners of the Squirtle Gang.
Back at the gang’s hideout, Ash begs the lead Squirtle to let him get medicine for Pikachu. Seeing this human worry so much for a Pokémon, the lead Squirtle agrees, but Misty and Brock must stay behind.
Ash runs back to town, and he arrives just as Jessie and James finish holding up the store. Grabbing the medicine for Pikachu, Ash finds Officer Jenny and leads her to the hideout.
Ash makes back before Team Rocket and gives Pikachu the medicine. At that moment, Jessie, James, and Meowth turn up and betray the Squirtle Gang. Angered by this, the lead Squirtle blasts Team Rocket away with a devastating water jet. But the trouble is not over.
The Team Rocket raid set the surrounding forest on fire. The Squirtle Gang springs into action and puts out the flames. With this act, the gang become local heroes.
Needing to move on, Ash and his friends say their goodbyes. But before they can leave, the Squirtle Gang leader asks Ash if he can join the team, to which Ash eagerly agrees.
Featured Pokémon
English Name (Japanese Name) – Pokédex Number
Squirtle (Zenigame) – 007
Pokémon Images Taken From: The Offical Pokémon Website
Principle Charcters
Jessie
A.K.A. – Musashi
- Voiced By: Megumi Hayashibara
A member of Team Rocket who is after Ash’s Pikachu
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Pokémon Indigo League
Episode 13
Japanese Title: マサキのとうだい Romaji Title: Masaki no Tōdai English Title: Mystery at the Lighthouse
Episode Synopsis
Once again, our heroes are lost. After a bit of wandering, the team makes it to the sea. There Ash catches a Crabby. But unlike his other Pokémon, Crabby and its Poké Ball vanish.
Misty explains that since Ash already has six Pokémon, any extra will automatically go to Professor Oak’s lab. Wanting to see if this is true, Ash insists on getting to the nearest Pokémon Center to use a phone. Fortunately, they don’t even have to go that far to achieve that goal. Up the way is a lighthouse.
When they get inside, our heroes meet a researcher named Bill, who tells them he is searching for an exceedingly rare Pokémon.
As if on cue, that very same rare Pokémon emerges from the sea and makes its way to the lighthouse. Our group stares at this creature’s majesty with awe. Unfortunately, there is no time to marvel. Team Rocket appears and tries to steal the Pokémon.
The Pokémon effortlessly brushes Team Rocket away and returns to the ocean.
Following this encounter, Ash, Misty, and Brock are now more excited than ever to meet as many Pokémon as possible.
Featured Pokémon
English Name (Japanese Name) – Pokédex Number
Krabby (Crab) – 098
Pokémon Images Taken From: The Offical Pokémon Website
Principle Charcters
Bill
A.K.A. – Masaki
- Voiced By: Masaya Onosaka
A researcher and lighthouse keeper studying rare Pokémon
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Pokémon Indigo League
Episode 14
Japanese Title: でんげきたいけつ! クチバジム Romaji Title: Dengeki Taiketsu! Kuchiba Jimu English Title: Electric Shock Showdown
Episode Synopsis
At long last, our heroes make it to Vermilion City. Although Ash is raring to get to the gym, Pikachu is in no state to fight. The group heads to the Pokémon Center to recover. While there, they notice an unusually high number of patients.
Nurse Joy explains that every Pokémon in her care at the moment is at the center because they lost to the gym’s leader, Lt. Surge. Undeterred by this news, the moment Pikachu is ready to go, Ash heads to claim his Thunder Badge.
Upon arrival, Lt. Surge laughs at Ash for only having a Pikachu. The leader throws out his exceedingly powerful Raichu. If Surge’s taunts angered Ash, they downright infuriate Pikachu, who jumps at the chance to show off.
However, Raichu proves far too strong and soundly defeats Pikachu. Following the match, Ash brings a humiliated Pikachu back to the Pokémon Center.
As Ash is trying to figure out how to beat Surge, Nurse Joy comes in with a suggestion. She offers up a Thunder Stone, which has the power to evolve Pikachu into a Raichu. Ash asks Pikachu if this is the way he would like to get stronger, and Pikachu refuses, preferring to win with his own strength.
Ash and Pikachu head back to the gym for a rematch, and Brock realizes something. Since Surge evolved his Raichu as fast as possible, it did not obtain a few critical moves that only a Pikachu can learn. Knowing this, Ash and Pikachu think they might have a chance.
Sure enough, the two friends exploit Raichu’s weaknesses and win. Impressed by his opponent’s skill, Lt. Surge presents Ash with the Thunder Badge.
Featured Pokémon
English Name (Japanese Name) – Pokédex Number
Raichu (Raichu) – 026
Pokémon Images Taken From: The Offical Pokémon Website
Principle Charcters
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Pokémon Indigo League
Episode 15
Japanese Title: サントアンヌごうのたたかい! Romaji Title: Santo Annu-gō no Tatakai! English Title: Battle Aboard the St. Anne
Episode Synopsis
Having secured the Thunder Badge, Ash and his friends head onward to their next destination. At the nearby harbor, the team longs to board one of the many luxury cruise liners docked there. But just as they are about to move on, our heroes run into a pair of contest representatives (who are Jessie and James in disguise). The representatives give the team tickets to ride the St. Anne.
Ready for a sea adventure, Ash, Misty, Brock, and Pikachu, come aboard. Once inside, they see the ship is teeming with excitement. Getting caught up in the fun, Ash absentmindedly trades his Butterfree for a Raticate, a move he immediately regrets.
Little do our heroes and the other passengers know, the St. Anne is one giant trap set up by the entire Team Rocket organization.
As they aid their comrades preparing to steal everyone’s Pokémon, James acquires a Magikarp from a local grifter. Once Jessie and Meowth realize what James has done, they can’t contain their annoyance.
Then, with preparation complete, Team Rocket makes their moves. The ensuing battle is fierce, but the passengers manage to thwart the robbery. At the same time, though, a massive storm strikes the St. Anne.
Unable to bear what he did, Ash asks to trade back his Butterfree. Sadly, the moment Butterfree’s Poké Ball is in Ash’s hand, a giant wave hits the ship. Ash and friends go flying, and Ash drops Butterfree’s Poké Ball.
Elsewhere, Jessie, James, and Meowth are having their own difficulties with the storm, and like Ash, James drops the Poké Ball containing Magikarp.
The storm violently pitches the St. Anne, knocking both our heroes and Team Rocket trio unconscious.
Featured Pokémon
English Name (Japanese Name) – Pokédex Number
Raticate (Ratta) – 020
Persian (Persian) – 053
Magikarp (Koiking) – 129
Pokémon Images Taken From: The Offical Pokémon Website
Principle Charcters
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Final Thoughts
Even though it has been well over twenty years, I still remember Pikachu’s battle with Raichu. That one was a classic. Therefore, I’ll admit, I didn’t rely on the Japanese at all while watching it.
Hell, I can say the same thing about most of the episodes in this series. Still, the latter half of the Indigo League is something I don’t remember as much. Also, there are a handful of episodes that never made it to the States. So, there may be material I have not seen before.
Regardless, whether old or new, I am enjoying this little study session immensely.
Thanks for following along with me. If you’ve seen this series and feel I am wrong in my descriptions, please let me know in the comments below. I wouldn’t want to put this show in an inaccurate light.
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For Anime Hajime, I’m Odyssey, and I’ll see you next week for more of Pokémon Indigo League with episodes 16 to 20.
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