Pokmon has for the longest time been the quintessential anime for kids. It follows Ash Ketchum on his journey to become a Pokmon Master meeting new friends both human and Pokmon along the way. In this review Ill be looking at how well it holds up in the grand scheme of things. Its a kodomo anime meaning its aimed at kids between the ages of 5 and 12 so Ill be judging it by the standards youd expect for that age range. Im not about to pit it against something like Vagabond or Berserk. The Original Series The first part of Pokmon consists of episodes 1 to 116 starting with Pokmon I Choose You and ending with The Rivalry Revival. Its a pretty unusual series compared to what comes later mostly because Pokmon hadnt yet solidified itself as the welloiled media empire it would eventually become. That early uncertainty gave the show room to be more experimental with its storytelling. This gives the first season a certain charm as it was free to do some pretty wild stuff like fusing a Venusaur and a Blastoise in The Ghost of Maidens Peak or showing Pokmon having subtitled conversations in Island of the Giant Pokmon. At the same time its clear they hadnt quite nailed the formula yet. Most of the season is made up of oneoff episodic adventures without much continuity which means that its hard to be invested when rewatching it compared to the newer seasons. To continue it makes sense to talk about the characters. The main character is Ash Ketchum an impatient and bratty kid with a fiery determination to become the best. Because this is the first season hes allowed to be more dynamic than in later seasons which gives him a surprisingly solid character arc. Over time he learns to listen to others becomes more understanding and shows quite a bit of emotional growth as the journey progresses. There are also his companions: Misty Brock and Tracey. Misty is hotheaded and sarcastic but she brings a sense of maturity to her dynamic with Ash. Brock is the dependable big brother type constantly falling in love but always ready with advice or a hot meal. Tracey who joins later in the season doesnt have as much depth but his calmer personality offers a nice contrast and helps keep things balanced once Brock steps away. These companions serve as solid foils to Ash but they dont really get substantial character arcs of their own. At best they get an episode or two that focuses on them but for the most part theyre there to support Ashs journey. Their own goals are rarely the focus which feels like a missed opportunity to add more variety to the series. Then theres Team Rocket who are easily some of the most iconic characters in the entire show. Theyre technically the antagonists constantly trying and failing to steal Pikachu but their presence adds way more comedy than tension. What makes them stand out is that despite being villains theyre incredibly likable. They have strong personalities great chemistry and a surprising amount of heart. Episodes that focus on their backstories or motivations like Go West Young Meowth show that theres more to them than just being comic relief. That said theyre also extremely formulaic. Nearly every episode with them follows the same basic structure: show up mess around get blasted off again. It can get incredibly repetitive as they barely get other types of storylines. Then theres Gary Oak Ashs rival who plays or rather should play a crucial role in pushing Ash throughout the series. Gary is in concept a great foil to Ashconfident smug and always one step aheadwhich naturally drives Ash forward. The problem though is that he barely gets any screen time battles or genuine moments with Ash. His potential as a rival is undercut by his lack of presence making his rivalry with Ash feel less impactful than it should. This is accompanied by a random collection of episodeoftheweek characters many of whom feel forgettable and lack the depth to leave a lasting impact. They fill a role but they dont get the chance to do anything else as our main characters walk toward the sunset and quickly forget about them. The experimental nature of the season at least allows them to be more memorable than in later series. A lot of the important characters from the games also dont get much development considering theyll at most get one episode. To continue there are also the Pokmonthe main attraction of the show. These too are a mixed bag. There are three categories of Pokmon: the stars the characters and the animals. The stars are Pokmon like Pikachu and Charizard who receive dynamic character arcs that progress them throughout the series. Then there are characters like Togepi Psyduck Squirtle and Bulbasaur who get some characterization and episodes dedicated to them but dont exactly have the most intriguing journeys of their own. But thats finesometimes a supporting character is just meant to be a supporting character. However the more animalistic Pokmon like Goldeen Onix Geodude Zubat Pidgeotto Staryu and Krabby get the rough end of the stick. Theyre just there to fill seats and dont get much in terms of development or depth which is a shame since the Pokmon is one of the main appeals of the series. The original series follows the familiar structure of any other Pokmon series. Ash and his companions travel through a region collect Gym Badges and face a League. These moments arent exactly groundbreaking though especially since Ash mostly progresses through luck and pity. He only really wins three out of eight Gym Battlesagainst Surge Koga and Blainemaking his victories feel less earned and more like a result of circumstance rather than skill. The League is also not particularly great as Ash wins the first round purely by luck Krabby dominates for some reason and he loses in the end because Team Rocket interferes. This makes his eventual loss feel unearned. I get it the message is that you cant always win but I would have liked to see something more from that momentperhaps a loss that felt like it came from genuine growth rather than external factors. The Orange Islands however represent an improvement. While the structure still follows the familiar formula theres a refreshing change in the way the story unfolds. Instead of the typical Gym Battles Ash faces a series of unique challenges that test his skills and determination in different ways. These challenges feel more meaningful and Ashs victories are based on his growth as a trainer rather than luck or interference. The arc builds towards a satisfying progression with Ash showing genuine development by the end. The sense of achievement feels earned and the conclusion of the Orange League provides a stronger more rewarding payoff than the previous regions League. To fill the time between the major plot points we get a fair amount of episodic stories. These episodes dont necessarily advance the story or Ashs journey but they help pad out the series. Some filler episodes are lighthearted and fun while others introduce oneoff characters or situations that dont really add anything meaningful to the overall plot. These episodes are usually pretty great though because the series is willing to commit to developments like introducing new Pokmon evolutions and experimenting with fresh concepts. This gives each episode a unique and memorable identity making even the filler episodes stand out in their own way. The reliance on Team Rocket for conflict is pretty grating though. The balance between plotepisodes and fillerepisodes is pretty great allowing the series to have smooth pacing that makes it rewatchable. The first season of Pokmon is a fun and experimental start to the series but it struggles with inconsistency and underdeveloped characters. While Ashs growth is solid his companions and rivals like Gary dont get enough focus. The repetitive nature of Team Rocket and filler episodes slow down the narrative though the Orange Islands arc provides a refreshing improvement with more meaningful challenges. Overall the season has charm but falls short in some areas earning a 6 out of 10. 1000https://static0.gamerantimages.com/wordpress/wpcontent/uploads/2020/04/PokemonAshMistyBrock.jpeg The Johto Journeys The Johto region marks a key transition for Pokmon moving beyond the Kanto region and introducing a whole new set of characters Pokmon and challenges. While the core structure of Ashs journey remains the samecollecting Gym Badges and competing in the Leaguethe series begins to solidify into a more predictable formula. This is where Pokmon establishes its rhythm blending familiar elements from the original series with new twists. Ashs growth continues in Johto though he retains many of the characteristics from the original series: impulsive determined and sometimes a little brash. However this season allows him to mature slightly especially as he faces new challenges and works with new Pokmon. His development is subtler than in the original series with Ash displaying more patience and strategic thinking. That said he doesnt drastically change as a character and he still relies on his usual blend of determination and luck to win battles. This is where the childish and sassy Ash Ketchum from the original series evolves into a more balanced main character capable of carrying the series forward as many of his quirks are smoothed out. Mistys character in Johto remains largely unchanged still fierytempered but showing some growth. While her relationship with Ash continues to be a key element of the dynamic she starts to demonstrate more maturity particularly as she becomes more involved in team decisions. Brock too continues his role as the dependable older brother providing wisdom and comic relief through his ongoing crushes. While his character stays fairly consistent as the groups moral compass and medic his growth is less emphasized in Johto. Both characters make little progress toward their personal goals with Misty receiving only a few scattered episodes about her and Brock having just one storyline with Vulpix that doesnt revolve around his usual infatuations with women. While its a kids show and core personalities cant change too much the noticeable lack of meaningful development leaves both characters feeling somewhat stagnant. Team Rockets role in Johto remains largely consistent with their portrayal in the original series but with some interesting shifts in dynamic. Jessie James and Meowth are still the bumbling comical trio whose main goal is to steal Ashs Pikachu but they continue to provide lighthearted moments throughout the season. In Johto Team Rockets antics follow the same familiar formula: they show up fail miserably and get blasted off. However theres a slight shift in their characterization. Their failures become more relatable as their more human qualities are emphasized. They still engage in outrageous schemes but they also show moments of vulnerability and even experience occasional wins that feel earned even if only for a brief period. This series attempts to develop Gary into a more nuanced character by softening his earlier antagonistic traits but again there isnt enough time or focus to truly flesh him out. He barely appears throughout Johto with his significant presence only felt during the League where the anime feels the need to retroactively add a backstory for him and Ash through an old Pokball. This attempt to create depth for their rivalry falls flat as their dynamic is mostly centered around antagonism with little exploration of their relationship beyond that. While there are hints at Garys goal of becoming a Professor its not developed enough to make it feel like a meaningful part of his character arc. The missed opportunity for more impactful development is evident. We also meet some other rivals like Kacey Macy and Harrison who are introduced to add more competition to Ashs journey. However their impact is relatively limited. Kacey for some bizarre reason doesnt appear during the Johto League despite being a part of Ashs journey up to that point. Macy and Harrison who are part of the Johto League competition are also fairly underdeveloped serving more as temporary obstacles than fully realized characters. By the time the Johto series rolls around the more animalistic tendencies of many Pokmon that were prevalent in the original series are thankfully toned down. In Johto most Pokmon are given more personality and individuality moving beyond being simple animals to becoming more integrated into the story with unique traits. There are still some leftovers like Brock and Mistys Pokmon who still carry over some of the more basic traits from the original series but every new one gets more focus. Pokmon like Totodile Chikorita and Cyndaquil are given distinct personalities and play more active roles in the group dynamic. These Pokmon arent just tools for battle or slapstick comedy but characters in their own right which helps to deepen the connection between the trainers and their companions. No Pokmon gets as vivid of an arc as Charizard or Pikachu from the original series but each one still feels like it has something to contribute which is a massive step forward. A critique can certainly be made towards the way that old Pokmon like Charizard and Bulbasaur are integrated into the Johto series. These veteran Pokmon tend to steal the spotlight from the new ones such as Heracross which barely gets any time to shine or be featured prominently on the team. This becomes especially apparent towards the end of the series where Charizard becomes Ashs ace for crucial battles against Clair Gary and Harrison. Meanwhile Bulbasaur is given the spotlight in the battle against Jackson and Squirtle takes on Macy in her battle. While these older Pokmon have earned their places on the team it shows how new additions like Heracross Totodile and Chikorita are sidelined preventing them from developing their own identities and roles within Ashs team. This imbalance ultimately detracts from the new Pokmons potential to grow as characters. The story is essentially the same as the original series: Ash Misty and Brock travel from city to city occasionally catch or evolve Pokmon collect badges and ultimately make their way to the League. However the way its done in Johto is an improvement. The challenges and Gym Leaders are more varied offering fresh twists on familiar concepts and theyre given more than one episode allowing them to be fleshed out beyond a single character trait. The League is among the best in the entire series as we get a slew of new compelling rivals and interesting matches. Overall Johto takes the familiar structure of the original and refines it making it feel like a more polished and engaging experience. However this series has one big flaw: there are no subplots. While the main storyline of Ash collecting badges and progressing toward the League is engaging the lack of secondary story arcs results in about 90 of the 150 episodes being mostly episodic adventures. The original series found a good balance between plotdriven episodes and filler often using the filler to experiment with new ideas and creating interesting diversions. Unfortunately Johto doesnt manage this balance as well because its longer and the more consistent worldbuilding means that the filler becomes very formulaic. We can go 2030 episodes without any significant progress where each episode follows the repetitive formula of meet person and Pokmon bond with them Team Rocket shows up resolution. This lack of variation in structure leads to a feeling of stagnation that can be boring to anyone child or adult. The series really drags its feet even if we get some memorable storylines like taking care of Larvitar or the Whirl Islands. The Johto season of Pokmon marks an important step forward for the franchise refining the process of writing the Pokmon anime into a more polished formula. It delivers some memorable episodes characters and moments but ultimately suffers from a lack of meaningful secondary storylines and an overreliance on episodic filler resulting in a repetitive viewing experience. The formulaic structure of many episodes combined with underdeveloped rivals and sidelined new Pokmon prevents Johto from reaching its full potential. While it has its strengths it falls short of being a truly standout season. Overall its a 5/10 the strengths and weaknesses balancing each other out. 1000https://rewatchingpokemonblog.wordpress.com/wpcontent/uploads/2019/02/1.png?w=640h=400crop=1 To summarize Pokmon is a show designed for kids featuring simple characters an easytofollow storyline and a straightforward episodic structure and thats exactly what it needs to be. However in some ways it doesnt quite live up to its potential as it misses out on several opportunities to engage and hook its audience more deeply. Its a show that Id happily show to a son or daughter but Im not sure if it could maintain their interest for the long haul. Total score: 5 + 6 6