Top 5 seasons of the Pokemon anime

The Pokemon anime has certainly gone through a good number of twists and turns in its long history. It may be hard to believe, but it has certainly been a while since the anime first aired back in 1997.

Since then, Ash and Pikachu have gotten into many different adventures with various characters (and quite a number of different art styles). How do they stack up with each other, though? That's what we will be looking back on in this article.

Note: Opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the writer.

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Which of Ash's journeys through the world of Pokemon were the most entertaining?

5) Advanced

The Advanced season saw Ash join forces with May and Max (Image via The Pokemon Company)

This was a big turning point for the show. Although Ash kept Brock by his side, Misty left and was replaced by May and Max. The big attraction with this show, though, was the Battle Frontier arc. It only featured for a quarter of the season but still saw some of the best battles in the show's history.

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4) Sun and Moon

Many new characters were introduced here, including Lillie (Image via The Pokemon Company)

Watching the Alola region being brought to life in the anime was quite the sight to see. The Sun and Moon season also saw the return of several characters, including Brock and Misty (who came equipped with a Mega Gyarados). They joined a fairly large cast, and they were all great characters (Sophicles, Lillie, etc.), things got a bit crowded, it has to be said.

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3) XYZ

This season saw a huge step up in animation from any of the prior seasons. The show got rid of stock backgrounds and used CGI to enhance some incredible battle animations. Ash also got a new weapon in Ash Greninja, who slayed opponents in some epic showdowns.

XYZ was also known for Ash’s relationships throughout the way. Although not everybody was a fan of the Ash and Serena story, it was still nice to see the anime explore deeper relationships for their main character.

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2) Diamond and Pearl

Dawn became a new companion for this season (Image via The Pokemon Company)

The Generation IV anime was notable for seeing not one but two great rivals. Fans who’ve played the games certainly expected to see Barry show up, but what was totally unexpected was to see the rise of Paul, an original rival for Ash and Infernape. Beyond that, Ash had a great surrounding cast with Dawn and Cynthia, among others.

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1) Indigo League

Indigo League was the first-ever season (Image via The Pokemon Company)

Nostalgia sure is a powerful emotion. It may not have looked the best, but the first season of the Pokemon anime still holds a place in the hearts of fans. There were countless powerful moments during this season, such as Ash meeting Pikachu; saying goodbye to Butterfree; and the epic battle with Lt. Surge’s Raichu. The show did more with less than any other season in the anime’s history.