Pokémon, known in Japan as Pocket Monsters (ポケットモンスター), is a Japanese anime television series based on the Pokémon video game series published by Nintendo. It began broadcasting on TV Tokyo on April 1, 1997, in association with MediaNet (formerly TV Tokyo MediaNet and Softx) and Shopro, stands for Shogakukan-Shueisha Productions Co., Ltd. (formerly Shogakukan Productions Co., Ltd.). The series follows main protagonist Ash Ketchum for the majority of its run. He is a young boy from Pallet Town who strives to become a "Pokémon Master," often seeking to become Pokémon Champion- the strongest Pokémon Trainer of a given "region"- as a result. These travels lead through various regions, various continent-like landmasses that inhabit a wider world. On his journey, he encounters many other characters, who often appear as main characters who accompany him on his travels, or as recurring characters which reappear throughout the series. He is succeeded as main character by Liko and Roy, who accompanies a travelling band of explorers known as the Rising Volt Tacklers to travel the world. In the world of Pokémon, Pokémon are animal-like creatures with special, elemental attributes- known as Types - which can be captured by special capture devices known as "Poke Balls." Humans who wield these Pokémon often befriend them and can use them for a variety of things. One goal is that of the Gym Challenge, which involves a human- known as a Pokémon Trainer- challenging specials "Gyms" headed by "Gym Leaders." Defeating a Leader allows a Trainer to obtain a Badge, of which eight are needed in order to register to participate in a Pokémon League Tournament, the winner of whom often moving on to either battle the region's Pokémon Champion- the strongest Pokémon Trainer in the region- or their respective Elite Four, who are strong Trainers that must be battled before the Pokémon Champion. Other avenues for Trainers include Contests, which are beauty-pageant like events where Trainers- here named Pokémon Coordinator- must compete to gain "Ribbons." Those with enough Ribbons can move onto a Grand Festival, where a Top Coordinator will be determined. There are also numerous antagonistic organizations that act as villains in the series, the most prominent of which is Team Rocket, with a specific trio acting as recurring characters for a large portion of the show's run.

Protagonists

Rising Volt Tacklers

The Rising Volt Tacklers (ライジングボルテッカーズ) are adventurers in the Horizons series who travel the world through their airship, the Brave Olivine (ブレイブアサギ号), to learn secrets of mysteries and discover them, especially if they are Pokémon.

Rivals

Gym Leaders and Island Kahunas

Antagonists

Team Rocket

Team Rocket (ロケット団) is the criminal organization in the Kanto, Johto and Sevii Islands regions. Their goal is to catch all the Pokémon in the world so that their leader, Giovanni, can make an army of Pokémon and rule over the world. The most frequently appearing members of this organization are the "Team Rocket trio" of Jessie, James and Meowth. They have been described "as vital to the anime as Ash himself."

Team Magma

is one of the two criminal organizations in the Hoenn Region. Team Magma wishes to create more land and seek the power of the Legendary Pokémon Groudon.

Team Aqua

is one of the two criminal organizations in the Hoenn Region. Team Aqua wants to raise the level of the world's oceans and seek the power of the Legendary Pokémon Kyogre.

Team Galactic

Team Galactic (ギンガ団), is the criminal organization in the Sinnoh region. Their goal is to catch and control the Legendary Pokémon that created the universe- Dialga and Palkia- so that their leader, Cyrus, can destroy the universe and create a new universe that will only be his own as an absolute god.

Team Plasma

Team Plasma (プラズマ団) is the criminal organization in the Unova region. Their goal is to catch and control the Legendary Pokémon Reshiram so that their leader, Ghetsis, can rule the world.

Team Flare

Team Flare (フレア団), is the criminal organization in the Kalos region. Their goal is to catch and control the Legendary Pokémon Zygarde so that their leader, Lysandre, can destroy the world and recreate it with peace and beauty.

Team Skull

Team Skull (スカル団) is the criminal organization in the Alola region. Their goal is to steal Pokémon, and they act as a threat similar to a street gang.

Macro Cosmos

Explorers

The Explorers (エクスプローラーズ) are a mysterious organization after Liko, Roy, and their pendant and ancient Poké Ball, and are the Rising Volt Tacklers' archenemies. They are the main antagonists of the Horizons series.

Other antagonists

Champions and Elite Four

Professors

Supporting characters