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Ash Ketchum and his faithful pal Pikachu may have officially handed over the reins and the Pokéballs to a new generation but that doesn't mean they're done completely, because animé's most famous duo is preparing for a big return, nearly three decades after their journey began.
Pokémon: Indigo League will arrive on Disney+ on August 7m which marks the return of the opening chapter of the anime and, for longtime fans, that means another trip through Kanto, while for younger viewers, it is the chance to see where the entire phenomenon started. The series follows the 10-year-old Ash as he leaves Pallet Town with dreams of becoming a Pokémon Master.
After oversleeping and missing the chance to choose one of the traditional starter Pokémon from Professor Oak, he is paired with the famously uncooperative Pikachu, who is far too powerful for him to handle and who disrespects his petty abilities to begin with, beginning one of animation’s most heartwarming and iconic friendships.
Ash and Pikachu Are Going Back to Kanto
The season begins with Ash planning his journey to the Indigo Plageau, where he will fight to become a Pokémon master. But first, he's got a heck of a lot of Pokémon to catch, and gym badges to earn. From his first terrifying encounter with the Spearow and Fearow in the Viridian forest, to his capture of Caterpie, and then his adopting of Bulbasaur, Squirtle and Charmander on the way, it's like a warm trip down memory lane.
The season also introduces Ash’s earliest companions, Misty and Brock, the first two gym bosses — Misty of Cerulean City (who's annoyed at Ash because he destroyed her bike), and Brock from Pewter City. It also marks the debut of Team Rocket’s Jessie, James and Meowth (that's right), who spend much of the series devising increasingly unsuccessful plans to steal Pikachu.
The episodes establish many of the ideas that would define the franchise, like gym battles, evolution, trading and more. Ash’s rivalry with the detestable Gary Oak also begins here, long before the character would eventually grow into one of his most respected peers.
The original anime ran for 26 seasons before Ash and Pikachu’s story concluded in 2023, ending a journey that began back in 1997.
Pokémon: Indigo League arrives on Disney+ on August 7.
