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 21 to 25 Recap
Having traveled far since his adventure began, Ash Ketchum, along with his friends Pikachu, Misty, and Brock, has learned much on his way to becoming Pokémon League Champion. And after a long trek, our heroes arrived at Saffron City, home of the Saffron City Gym and the Marsh Badge. However, the gym’s leader, Sabrina, proved to be Ash’s most difficult opponent to date.
Sabrina’s powerful psychic Pokémon were too much for Ash’s team. Therefore, he had to resort to other, spookier methods.
After a quick stop at Lavender Town’s Pokémon Tower, Ash returned to Saffron City and won his Marsh Badge.
It was then off to Celadon City.
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Pokémon Indigo League
Episode 26
Japanese Title: エリカとクサイハナ Romaji Title: Erika to Kusaihana English Title: Pokémon Scent-sation!
Episode Synopsis
Ash and his friends are wandering the streets of the massive Celadon City. In the air, there is a unique smell. While the fragrance enchants Misty, Brock, and Pikachu, Ash is less than impressed. He even goes so far as to make fun of the perfume in a local store. Enraged by his attitude, the store owner throws Ash out.
Unfettered, Ash continues to the Celadon City Gym, but staff members refuse him entry. It turns out the gym is the producer of the perfume Ash disparaged.
Elsewhere, Team Rocket is trying to steal the famed perfume and breaks into the gym. While inside, the gym’s mascot Pokémon, a Gloom, incapacitates the villains with its pungent odor. The gym staff locate Team Rocket and immediately cash them off the premises.
Outside, Ash doesn’t know how to obtain his next badge if the gym doesn’t allow him to battle. Here he accidentally runs into Team Rocket. With their goal of entering the gym aligning, Ash, Jessie, and James make a deal to work together.
Team Rocket dresses up Ash as a girl, and they return to the gym in disguise. They successfully make it in, and they go their separate ways.
Ash enters the waiting area where he learns of the gym’s leader, Erika‘s – the store owner he insulted – history with Gloom. Realizing his rashness, Ash regrets ever working with Team Rocket.
Then Ash accidentally exposes himself, but Erika allows him to battle. During the match, Team Rocket makes their move but immediately bungle it. Due to their incompetence, they accidentally set the gym on fire.
Ash and his friends help put out the flames. Ash even goes so far as to re-enter the burning building to save Gloom.
As thanks for saving her friend, Erika presents Ash with the Rainbow Badge.
Featured Pokémon
English Name (Japanese Name) – Pokédex Number

Gloom (Kusaihana) – 044
Pokémon Images Taken From: The Offical Pokémon Website
Principle Charcters

Erika
A.K.A. – Erika
- Voiced By: Kyoko Hikami
The leader of the Celadon City Gym who specializes in Grass-type Pokémon.
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Pokémon Indigo League
Episode 27
Japanese Title: スリーパーとポケモンがえり!? Romaji Title: Surīpā to Pokemon Gaeri!? English Title: Hypno's Naptime
Episode Synopsis
Still in Celadon City, Ash, Misty, Brock, and Pikachu learn of a mysterious case of mass disappearances. Children all around the city have gone missing.
Thinking they can help, our heroes head to the local Pokémon Center for clues. While there, they discover that Pokémon are losing their energy. What’s odd is that the missing children and the lethargic Pokémon incidents started at the same time.
With the help of the local Officer Jenny, Ash and his friends track the root of the problem to a high-society club of Pokémon enthusiasts. There, the club members have been using a Drowzee and Hypno to help with their insomnia. Little did they know that Hypon’s powers had been affecting the children and Pokémon.
Going in for a closer look, Misty accidentally falls under Hypno’s spell and begins to act like a Pokémon and wanders off. The group follows her, and to their amazement, they come to where the missing children – all behaving like various Pokémon – have gathered. But try as they might; no one can snap the children out of their state of mind.
Luckily, the group realizes the club’s Drowzee can break the hypnosis. Sure enough, Misty, the children, and the Pokémon return to normal.
And while back at the Pokémon Center, our heroes meet a rather ditzy Psyduck, who begins to follow them. As they discuss what to do with the Pokémon, Misty accidentally drops one of her Poké Balls. The Psyduck lets itself be captured, and Misty gains a new team member to her dismay.
Featured Pokémon
English Name (Japanese Name) – Pokédex Number

Psyduck (Koduck) – 054

Drowzee (Sleep) – 096

Hypno (Sleeper) – 097
Pokémon Images Taken From: The Offical Pokémon Website
Principle Charcters

Misty
A.K.A. – Kasumi
- Voiced By: Mayumi Iizuka
A Water Pokémon Master and Gym Leader at the Cerulean Gym
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Pokémon Indigo League
Episode 28
Japanese Title: ロコン! ブリーダーたいけつ! Romaji Title: Rokon! Burīdā Taiketsu! English Title: Pokémon Fashion Flash
Episode Synopsis
Our heroes are in an area of Celadon City famous for Pokémon breeding. Brock, an aspiring breeder, can barely contain his excitement.
Then, in a burst of joy, Brock comes across the salon of the accomplished Pokémon breeder, Suzie, and her prize Vulpix.
While in Suzie’s shop, Ash and Misty get into an argument over which of their Pokémon is cutest (?). *Full disclosure; this episode’s Japanese was a little difficult to follow.
In a huff, Misty storms off and finds her way into a beauty salon. Little does she realize that the place is a Team Rocket front. Additionally, she doesn’t recognize a barely disguised Jessie and James.
Still, Team Rocket gives Misty a “special” makeover. However, Misty realizes her mistake when she sees Meowth. Not wanting her to escape, Jessie and James capture Misty, but not before her Psyduck gets loose.
Psyduck runs to grab Ash, Brock, and Suzie. Thanks to Vulpix, our group easily blasts Team Rocket away.
As Ash and his friends are about to leave, Suzie turns to Brock. Wanting to expand her craft, Suzie gives Brock her Vulpix, who happily accepts.
Featured Pokémon
English Name (Japanese Name) – Pokédex Number

Vulpix (Rokon) – 037
Principle Charcters

Misty
A.K.A. – Kasumi
- Voiced By: Mayumi Iizuka
A Water Pokémon Master and Gym Leader at the Cerulean Gym
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Pokémon Indigo League
Episode 29
Japanese Title: かくとうポケモン! だいバトル! Romaji Title: Kakutō Pokemon! Dai Batoru! English Title: The Punchy Pokémon
Episode Synopsis
Ash, Misty, Brock, and Pikachu have left Celadon City and are going to their next destination. Along the way, the group comes across a Hitmonchan.
It turns out, Hitmonchan is training for an upcoming Fighting-type Pokémon tournament. Hitmonchan’s trainer, Anthony, can only focus on the upcoming event and has been ignoring everything else, including his daughter, Rebecca.
The event interests Ash, who thinks his Primeape would enjoy it.
The tournament begins, and from the shadows, Team Rocket steals a trainer’s Hitmonlee and enters themselves. However, they have no interest in playing fair; they attempt to cheat through all their bouts.
Both Hitmonchan and Primeape are doing well, but Team Rocket successfully knocks the former out of the tournament. Although a setback, Hitmonchan’s fight did have a good outcome. Before succumbing to a devastating attack, Rebecca jumps into the ring to protect Hitmonchan. Seeing his daughter’s selflessness, Anthony realizes what is truly important to him.
But as for the tournament, Primeape – with the help of Pikachu, who disabled Team Rocket’s traps – takes home the belt.
Afterward, Anthony tells Ash that Primeape has a chance to be a top champion. Hoping his Pokémon will grow stronger, Ash allows Primeape to train with Anthony.
Featured Pokémon
English Name (Japanese Name) – Pokédex Number

Primeape (Okorizaru) – 056

Machop (Wanriki) – 066

Hitmonlee (Sawamular) – 106

Hitmonchan (Ebiwalar) – 107
Pokémon Images Taken From: The Offical Pokémon Website
Principle Charcters
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Pokémon Indigo League
Episode 30
Japanese Title: コイルはでんきネズミのユメをみるか!? Romaji Title: Koiru wa Denki Nezumi no Yume o Miru ka!? English Title: Sparks Fly for Magnemite
Episode Synopsis
Ash and company have arrived in Gringy City, a gloomy industrial town. The group doesn’t intend to stay longer than they need to, but suddenly, Pikachu catches a cold. Worried, Ash rushes his friend to the nearby Pokémon Center.
While there, the electricity in the entire city goes down. At Pokémon Center, this is the worst-case scenario. Many of its patients are now at risk of losing their life. Ash, Misty, and Brock agree to head to the power plant to discover what is happening. Ash also asks Pikachu to stay behind and rest, but Pikachu does not listen and wants to come along.
At the power plant, the group runs into a curious Magnemite. The Magnemite won’t leave Pikachu, whose cold appears to be attracting the little robotic Pokémon, alone.
Before our heroes can decide what to do with the Magnemite, the reason for the citywide blackout reveals its self, a hoard of foul Grimers led by an even fouler Muk. The trash-like Pokémon case the group throughout the power plant and eventually traps them within the control room. However, the Grimers break down the door.
Pikachu attempts to push back the swarm, but his cold prevents him from doing any real damage. Luckily, the Magnemite had called his fellow Pokémon, including the evolved Magneton, and together they effortlessly force the Grimers back.
This releases the blockage, and the city’s electricity returns. Except, the Muk remains. With a combined effort of Pikachu and Magnemite, they weaken Muk to the point where Ash can catch it.
With their work done and Pikachu recovered, the group continues their journey.
Featured Pokémon
English Name (Japanese Name) – Pokédex Number

Magnemite (Coil) – 081

Magneton (Rarecoil) – 082

Grimer (Betbeter) – 088

Muk (Betbeton) – 089
Pokémon Images Taken From: The Offical Pokémon Website
Principle Charcters

Misty
A.K.A. – Kasumi
- Voiced By: Mayumi Iizuka
A Water Pokémon Master and Gym Leader at the Cerulean Gym
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Final Thoughts
I knew it would happen eventually; this batch of episodes wasn’t the easiest to follow. There were a lot of character-building moments.
While that by itself is fine, it does mean one thing – details. And as I have proven with the other Benkyou series, I have trouble with the details.
Still, there wasn’t much to these last five episodes besides Ash winning the Rainbow Badge.
That said, Psyduck has joined the team. As a kid, I remember enjoying this Pokémon and its antics so much.
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 31 to 35.