Pokemon Anime Series | Any good?
- Thread starter theusedversion
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It's not for everyone. It's a cute show for kids, basically. I love it, but it's not something most adults will find enjoyment in. And no, I don't recommend Origin(s?). IMO, it is not very good, although being OK. Very flawed since it's short. It totally deserved a full series, so as to not feel rushed.
Haha! I actually like Decolora. IMO, it's the only enjoyable part in the BW2 saga.
Haha! I actually like Decolora. IMO, it's the only enjoyable part in the BW2 saga.
chbrevolution
Member
The quality of each Pokemon series varies. I would say that the franchise was at its best from the Johto League (the actual league not the season) through Diamond and Pearl. It took a huge dive with Best Wishes but is now picking back up with XY. I would rank the series in the following order:
1. Diamond and Pearl
2. Advanced Generation
3. XY
4. Original
5. Best Wishes
Here is my reasoning behind my top and bottom rankings (without giving away too many spoilers)
I ranked Diamond and Pearl the top series because while it is a slow burn (especially the first year) once it hit the gas pedal, the series gave us the best Protagonists, Rivals, Gym Leaders, Champion, Villans, Battles, vastly improved Contests ,and actual PLOT. This series highlighted two important points: How would Ash handle someone who was the complete opposite of him and that not all Pokemon were compatible with all trainers. This series also had some of the most iconic battles such as Ash vs Paul and Zoey vs Nando. The main characters of the series (Ash, Dawn, Paul, Zoey) are fully realized characters. Diamond and Pearl wasn't afraid of using plots from the past series and planting seeds in the beginning and letting them flourish towards the end. There were some negatives such as a certain ping-ponging Pokemon and a bit of a rushed league (the Pokemon League could have easily been 15 episodes) but overall the positives outweighed the negatives.
I ranked Best Wishes the worst because while it did have potential in the first 20 or so episodes, when Fukushima happened and they cancelled the first Team Plasma arc, the writers completly lost their footing and could never recover. This series had the weakest battles since the original, the weakest plot , and the companions were reduced back to sidekicks versus Dawn actually being a co-star and Brock being the support system of the group. Ash was also regressed and acted like he never been to any other region. While rivals were introduced they were squandered and completly disappeared after the Isshu League (which was the worst Pokemon League). Trip was the worst main rival Ash ever had in the series, they never even had a full battle. Also the last year of Best Wishes no one had a tangible goal, not even Ash. The idea of rotation was a good one but not used effectivly and some Pokemon suffered from it. There were good Pokemon in the series such as Scraggy, Snivy, and Oshawott but even they couldn't make up for the lackluster of the others. Also this is the first series that Ash didn't fully evolve a starter Pokemon. Best wishes can be described as a half baked cake, the idea seems delicious at first (such as a more serious Team Rocket) but is rushed and ends up not palatable.
tl;dr Diamond and Pearl is the best and Best Wishes is the worst
1. Diamond and Pearl
2. Advanced Generation
3. XY
4. Original
5. Best Wishes
Here is my reasoning behind my top and bottom rankings (without giving away too many spoilers)
I ranked Diamond and Pearl the top series because while it is a slow burn (especially the first year) once it hit the gas pedal, the series gave us the best Protagonists, Rivals, Gym Leaders, Champion, Villans, Battles, vastly improved Contests ,and actual PLOT. This series highlighted two important points: How would Ash handle someone who was the complete opposite of him and that not all Pokemon were compatible with all trainers. This series also had some of the most iconic battles such as Ash vs Paul and Zoey vs Nando. The main characters of the series (Ash, Dawn, Paul, Zoey) are fully realized characters. Diamond and Pearl wasn't afraid of using plots from the past series and planting seeds in the beginning and letting them flourish towards the end. There were some negatives such as a certain ping-ponging Pokemon and a bit of a rushed league (the Pokemon League could have easily been 15 episodes) but overall the positives outweighed the negatives.
I ranked Best Wishes the worst because while it did have potential in the first 20 or so episodes, when Fukushima happened and they cancelled the first Team Plasma arc, the writers completly lost their footing and could never recover. This series had the weakest battles since the original, the weakest plot , and the companions were reduced back to sidekicks versus Dawn actually being a co-star and Brock being the support system of the group. Ash was also regressed and acted like he never been to any other region. While rivals were introduced they were squandered and completly disappeared after the Isshu League (which was the worst Pokemon League). Trip was the worst main rival Ash ever had in the series, they never even had a full battle. Also the last year of Best Wishes no one had a tangible goal, not even Ash. The idea of rotation was a good one but not used effectivly and some Pokemon suffered from it. There were good Pokemon in the series such as Scraggy, Snivy, and Oshawott but even they couldn't make up for the lackluster of the others. Also this is the first series that Ash didn't fully evolve a starter Pokemon. Best wishes can be described as a half baked cake, the idea seems delicious at first (such as a more serious Team Rocket) but is rushed and ends up not palatable.
tl;dr Diamond and Pearl is the best and Best Wishes is the worst
MetalFearSolid
Banned
Just check out the awesome Pokemon battles.
Ash vs. Orange League Champion
Charizard vs. Poliwrath one.
Ash vs. Gary
Ash vs. Battle Frontiers
Ash vs. dude with Blaziken
Ash vs. dude that releases weak ass pokemon Infernape gets redemption
Water Tournament Island, that Misty ends up winning I think?
Charizard vs. Magmar
Any more recommendations GAF? Not update to date of course.
Ash vs. Orange League Champion
Charizard vs. Poliwrath one.
Ash vs. Gary
Ash vs. Battle Frontiers
Ash vs. dude with Blaziken
Ash vs. dude that releases weak ass pokemon Infernape gets redemption
Water Tournament Island, that Misty ends up winning I think?
Charizard vs. Magmar
Any more recommendations GAF? Not update to date of course.
vinnygambini
Why are strippers at the U.N. bad when they're great at strip clubs???
Personally, I think the Orange Islands series is my favorite - felt different and great.
The animation in XY though is really great - they did a 1-UP on the series, and it's really appreciated - though I don't watch it, many people have claimed that XY is one of the best series to come in a long time.
The animation in XY though is really great - they did a 1-UP on the series, and it's really appreciated - though I don't watch it, many people have claimed that XY is one of the best series to come in a long time.
There's not much reason to watch the series at all unless you want to see how certain battles and Pokemon from the games you like are animated.
With that said I think the Ruby/Sapphire, Diamond/Pearl and currently X/Y series are best. I could never watch this show weekly or whatever, but I like tuning in when they get to gym battles and stuff.
The Black/White series was such a disappointment, especially since those are my favorite Pokemon games
With that said I think the Ruby/Sapphire, Diamond/Pearl and currently X/Y series are best. I could never watch this show weekly or whatever, but I like tuning in when they get to gym battles and stuff.
The Black/White series was such a disappointment, especially since those are my favorite Pokemon games
lordfroakie
Member
I suggest watching the first season, skip Johto minus Ash vs Gary, skip first half of advance and watch battle frontier, skip half of diamond and pearl excluding Ash vs Paul eps and the league, BW and BW2 are both unwatchable and XY is currently kicking ass with new writers plus less Team Rocket appearance.
The series is mostly shit, but Sinnoh was amazing.
It had character development, the characters actually learning things about fighting and getting tough Pokemon. The fights were cooler and looked more similar to the stuff you'll actually see in a high-level game.
I saw a bit of XY which I don't htink managed that level, but the animation has indeed improved much (in the fights anyway).
It had character development, the characters actually learning things about fighting and getting tough Pokemon. The fights were cooler and looked more similar to the stuff you'll actually see in a high-level game.
I saw a bit of XY which I don't htink managed that level, but the animation has indeed improved much (in the fights anyway).
BodiesWithoutOrgans
Member
I've been watching the anime since the beginning Japanese subbed of course 
and I love it to this day the musical score is fantastic. So are the songs
and I love it to this day the musical score is fantastic. So are the songsI usually just watch regional League's episodes. It's where Ash and his team are at their peak of their skill and competence. It has, by far, the best fights of each series (Except for Best Wishes, skip this shit)
Sure, Gym battles are good. But you know that, soon or later, Ash is going to win that badge. There is no tension on that. At the league, you expect Ash to lose, but you don't know which round and there is always the possibility of him actually winning. Sinnoh was the best, it was full of tension and legendary fighrs (Ash vs Paul e Ash taking on a Legendary Trainer and beating two legendary in the same match)
We know that winning a league doesn't make someone a Pokémon Master. it just grants you the official permission to take on the Elite 4 and then the Champion. If Pokémon games are anything to go by, there is also the Champion's tournament.
Sure, Gym battles are good. But you know that, soon or later, Ash is going to win that badge. There is no tension on that. At the league, you expect Ash to lose, but you don't know which round and there is always the possibility of him actually winning. Sinnoh was the best, it was full of tension and legendary fighrs (Ash vs Paul e Ash taking on a Legendary Trainer and beating two legendary in the same match)
We know that winning a league doesn't make someone a Pokémon Master. it just grants you the official permission to take on the Elite 4 and then the Champion. If Pokémon games are anything to go by, there is also the Champion's tournament.
yankeeforever2
Member
Black and white is pure garbage all the way through, pretty much the rest of the series their are good episodes sandwiched in between by many horrible episodes.
Pretty much the major battles, league episodes and a handful of other heavy plot episodes is all you need to see. Just skip black and white, even the league episodes.
Pretty much the major battles, league episodes and a handful of other heavy plot episodes is all you need to see. Just skip black and white, even the league episodes.
Hot Coldman
Banned
I'll say from watching most of it in Japanese... The first 100 episodes or so, even nostalgia aside, had a certain charm to them. There's some serious voice talent throughout the series. Best Wishes (Black and White) started off super strong but turned back to shit before long. XY tried the same thing but I've heard devolved even quicker.
The movies range from very good to mediocre, and are generally the better watch.
The Origin, the Black2/White2 promo and by extension the new ORAS promo are the only must-watch entries in the series. If you're into manga, check out Pokemon Special. That's probably what you're looking for.
EDIT: Oh, and the last 50 episodes or so of Diamond/Pearl are probably the best the show has offered in a long time. The battle with Takuto in particular was hype af
The movies range from very good to mediocre, and are generally the better watch.
The Origin, the Black2/White2 promo and by extension the new ORAS promo are the only must-watch entries in the series. If you're into manga, check out Pokemon Special. That's probably what you're looking for.
EDIT: Oh, and the last 50 episodes or so of Diamond/Pearl are probably the best the show has offered in a long time. The battle with Takuto in particular was hype af
Etrian Oddity
Member
No fucking way. This is the X/Y anime? Goddamn, I'm gonna have to start watching it then, that animation is fucking hype.Main anime is animated similarly now
They seldom use "anime" backgrounds these days. Everything is done in context. Physical contact is made.
I listened to that cassette so much back in the day some of the audio started to mess up.
The first series was probably the best after that its just rinse and repeat . If you have no nostalgic connection to the pokemon anime maybe not worth watching as an adult.
I tried but the subs just make me angry. Every time I see "Rocket Gang", "Professor Okido", "Monster Ball" or "get" I want to strangle somebody.
Watch Da Birdie
I buy cakes for myself on my birthday it's not weird lots of people do it I bet
Whoa. After 15+ years, it's finally happening. :0
Inferno313
Banned
It'll be some wacky hjinks in which a Pokemon uses attract on both of them, and it wears off by the end of the episode. Leaving them with some awkward sexual tension that will never be brought up again ever.
Watch Da Birdie
I buy cakes for myself on my birthday it's not weird lots of people do it I bet
Nah, the character Serena canonically has a crush on Ash. Like it's a big part of her character as opposed to a throwaway gag.
Ash/Misty forever!
I stopped watching after Johto though, the series just seemed to be losing something by that point, and the sheer incompetence and stupidity of Ash never winning and giving away his best Pokemon was getting a bit stale.
The new dub voice actors are shockingly bad though. It's not often you get to say this, but the 4Kids version was best.
I stopped watching after Johto though, the series just seemed to be losing something by that point, and the sheer incompetence and stupidity of Ash never winning and giving away his best Pokemon was getting a bit stale.
The new dub voice actors are shockingly bad though. It's not often you get to say this, but the 4Kids version was best.
zephervack
Member
Oh my, thank you for this, I started watching the whole thing with my 4 year old, but even she has gotten bored of it, every episode is exactly the same, we gave up on it.
With this list we might actually get back into it!
edit: BTW I fixed the link in the quote, but your original post has the link wrong, you put an extra " at the end of it.
Having watched digimon tamers recently, you are dead wrong.
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