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| Season | Season 25 of the English dub · the third and last of the three Pokémon Journeys seasons, covering the last 57 episodes of Japan’s Pocket Monsters (2019) series (JN091–JN147) and the TV special Distant Blue Sky! (JNS05); its last twelve dubbed episodes form Pokémon: To Be a Pokémon Master |
| Series | Pocket Monsters (ポケットモンスター, TV Tokyo, 17 November 2019 – 24 March 2023, JN001–JN147), whose final eleven episodes (JN137–JN147) aired as Pocket Monsters: Aim to Be a Pokémon Master; dubbed as Pokémon Journeys: The Series, Master Journeys and Ultimate Journeys |
| Region | Kanto (the Cerise Laboratory in Vermilion City, Pallet Town), Galar (Wyndon Stadium and the Masters Eight Tournament, the Crown Tundra), Hoenn, Kalos and Alola; JN137–JN146 travel through an unnamed region and end in Alto Mare |
| Episodes | Japan: 57 episodes, JN091–JN147 (TV Tokyo), plus the TV special JNS05, which official Japanese sources do not count · English: 54 — the 53 regular episodes left after the four Japan-only clip shows (JN119, JN121, JN126, JN128), with JNS05 as episode 54 · Netflix: 42 as Pokémon Ultimate Journeys: The Series + 12 as Pokémon: To Be a Pokémon Master · DVD: 54 (VIZ Media, 2024); 57 on Japanese rental DVD, without JNS05 |
| First episode | The Spectral Express! (JN091) · Japan 17 December 2021 · US (Netflix) 21 October 2022 (Canada 28 May 2022) |
| Last episode | The Rainbow and the Pokémon Master! (JN147) · Japan 24 March 2023 · US (Netflix) 8 September 2023; in English the season ends with the special Distant Blue Sky! (JNS05; Japan 23 December 2022, Netflix 8 September 2023) |
| Japanese opening themes | Wan, Tsū, Surī (1・2・3 One, Two, Three) – Karaage Sisters (JN091–JN099) · Satoshi & Go (JN100–JN135; the ending of JN136) · Mezase Pokémon Master -with my friends- (めざせポケモンマスター, Aim to Be a Pokémon Master) – Satoshi (Rica Matsumoto) (JN137–JN147) |
| Japanese ending themes | Batsugun Taipu (バツグンタイプ Supereffective Type) – Pokémon Music Club (JN091–JN135) · Hyakugojūichi (One Hundred Fifty-One, seven episodes from JN137) · Takeshi’s Paradise (JN139) · Riding on Lapras (JN143) · Face Forward Team Rocket! (JN145) · Type: Wild, the 1998 recording (JN147) |
| English opening themes | “With You” – Echosmith (JN091–JN136) · “Gotta Catch Em All” – Ben Dixon and The Sad Truth (JN137–JN147); Distant Blue Sky! has no opening |
| Travelling companions | Goh and Chloe at the Cerise Laboratory, with Professor Cerise, Ren, Chrysa, Yamper and Mimey (JN091–JN136); then Misty (from JN138) and Brock (from JN139), with Latias following Ash |
| World Coronation Series | Ash beats Marnie (rank 15, JN099), Drasna (rank 9, JN104) and Raihan (rank 8 and the Masters Eight, JN109), then wins the Masters Eight Tournament at Wyndon Stadium over Steven (JN118), Cynthia (JN123–JN125) and Leon (JN129–JN132) to become Monarch, the World Champion |
| Other events | Gengar Gigantamaxes (JN092) · Lucario’s Mega Evolution bond with Ash (JN108) · Goh becomes a Project Mew Chaser (JN113) and befriends Mew (JN134) · Ash and Goh go their separate ways (JN136) · Misty and Brock rejoin Ash (JN138–JN139) · Pidgeot returns (JN147) |
| Related movies & specials | Secrets of the Jungle (US DVD 18 October 2022 · Japanese TV premiere 18 November 2022) · Pokémon: The Arceus Chronicles (JNS01–JNS04; Netflix 23 September 2022) · Distant Blue Sky! (JNS05) |
| Previous season | Season 24: Pokémon Master Journeys: The Series |
| Following season | Pokémon Horizons: The Series |

Pokémon Ultimate Journeys: The Series is the twenty-fifth season of the English-language Pokémon anime and the third and last of the Journeys seasons — and the last in which Ash Ketchum and Pikachu are the heroes. It covers the final 57 episodes of the series Japan simply calls Pocket Monsters (2019), JN091 to JN147, which TV Tokyo broadcast on Friday evenings from 17 December 2021 to 24 March 2023, the last eleven under the banner Pocket Monsters: Aim to Be a Pokémon Master. In English the season has 54 episodes: the four Japan-only clip shows were never dubbed, and the TV special Distant Blue Sky! (JNS05) was added as the finale. Netflix released it in the US in four parts between 21 October 2022 and 8 September 2023 — the last twelve episodes under the title Pokémon: To Be a Pokémon Master, 25 years to the day after the first English episode aired — while Canada’s Teletoon had shown every episode ahead of Netflix. Echosmith’s “With You” and, for the final arc, Ben Dixon and The Sad Truth’s “Gotta Catch Em All” open the dub.
The season is Ash’s coronation. Beating Marnie, the Kalos Elite Four’s Drasna and Raihan lifts him into the Masters Eight (JN109), and at Wyndon Stadium he defeats Steven, Cynthia and, in a four-episode final, Leon, whose Charizard falls to Pikachu: Ash becomes Monarch, the strongest Trainer in the world (JN132). Meanwhile Goh completes Project Mew’s trial missions to become a Chaser (JN113), entrusts Eternatus to Leon (JN127) and, on Faraway Island, finally wins Mew’s trust (JN134); Chloe meets the last of the Eeveelutions and makes her Contest debut, though her Eevee never evolves. After a Lugia Raid Battle the friends part at a crossroads (JN136). In To Be a Pokémon Master (JN137–JN147) Ash travels with Misty and Brock again, is reunited with Squirtle, Lapras and Pidgeot, frees Latios with Latias’s help and, asked what a Pokémon Master is, answers that it is someone who has befriended every Pokémon. Our complete episode guide below has a synopsis, both titles and the air dates for all 58 episodes, the undubbed clip shows included.
- 54episodes in English — 42 as Ultimate Journeys and 12 as To Be a Pokémon Master on Netflix
- 57Japanese episodes, JN091 to JN147, plus the special Distant Blue Sky! (JNS05)
- 4Japan-only clip shows never dubbed: JN119, JN121, JN126 and JN128
- 8Trainers in the Masters Eight Tournament, which Ash wins to become Monarch (JN132)
- 136episodes in a row with 1·2·3 as their opening or ending theme (JN001–JN136), a record
- 1,200episodes between Butterfree’s farewell (EP021) and its reunion with Ash (JN136)
The stakes are higher than ever for Ash, Goh and Chloe as they advance toward their goals! As the Pokémon World Coronation Series tournament heats up, intensive training is in store for Ash, Pikachu and their Pokémon friends. Meanwhile, Goh embarks on a series of challenging trial missions to become a member of Project Mew. And as Chloe and Eevee learn about the different evolutionary paths that Eevee can take, will they be able to come to a decision about its future? Get ready for nonstop action, familiar faces from journeys past and more Pokémon discoveries to be made!
— Official description
Quick Answers
How many episodes are in Pokémon Ultimate Journeys: The Series?
It depends on who is counting. In Japan the season is 57 episodes, JN091 to JN147, broadcast by TV Tokyo from 17 December 2021 to 24 March 2023, plus the TV special Distant Blue Sky! (JNS05) of 23 December 2022, which official Japanese sites, rental DVDs and video services do not count as an episode. The English dub has 54: the four Japanese clip shows (JN119, JN121, JN126 and JN128) were never dubbed, leaving 53 regular episodes, and JNS05 was added as episode 54. Netflix splits those 54 into two listings — 42 episodes of Pokémon Ultimate Journeys: The Series (JN091–JN136) and 12 of Pokémon: To Be a Pokémon Master (JN137–JN147 and JNS05), numbered 1 to 12. VIZ Media’s The Complete Season DVD set holds the same 54, while Japan’s rental DVDs hold all 57 Japanese episodes but not the special. English Wikipedia numbers the 53 regular dubbed episodes 1171 to 1223 in its English count and the 57 Japanese ones 1178 to 1234, and Bulbapedia’s alternate codes run from EP1176 to EP1232.
Does Ash become World Champion?
Yes. After beating Marnie (rank 15, JN099), the Elite Four’s Drasna (rank 9, JN104) and Raihan in the final entrance battle (JN109), Ash takes the last place in the Masters Eight. At Wyndon Stadium he beats Steven in the quarterfinals (JN118) and Cynthia in a three-episode Full Battle decided by Mega Lucario’s Reversal (JN123–JN125), then faces Leon in a four-episode final in which Leon asks that Ash may use all three power-ups (JN129–JN132). Eternatus recharges both Dynamax Bands, Gigantamax Pikachu beats Gigantamax Cinderace, and Pikachu, rallied by a vision of every Pokémon Ash has owned, beats Charizard: in Partners in Time! (JN132; Japan 11 November 2022) Ash becomes the new Monarch and World Champion — Leon’s first defeat on screen.

Why were four episodes not dubbed?
Because they are clip shows, not because they were banned. JN119 (a “Mime Channel” special on Chloe and Eevee), JN121 and JN128 (World Coronation Series news programmes recapping the Masters Eight Tournament) and JN126 (Grookey snooping through Goh’s Rotom Phone) are recap episodes made mostly of earlier footage, with no main character appearing in person. Bulbapedia says the season “skips JN119, JN121, JN126, and JN128, due to those episodes being clip shows”; none was dubbed into any language, Netflix never released them, and outside Japan only South Korea showed JN121 and JN128. The dub added the special Distant Blue Sky! (JNS05) instead, so the English season still has 54 episodes.

What is Pokémon: To Be a Pokémon Master?
The final arc of Ash’s story: the eleven episodes JN137 to JN147, broadcast in Japan from 13 January to 24 March 2023 as Pocket Monsters: Aim to Be a Pokémon Master, with a new arrangement of the 1997 opening and the original series’ endings. Netflix released them in the US on 8 September 2023 with JNS05 as Pokémon: To Be a Pokémon Master, a separate listing of twelve episodes. Having parted from Goh, Ash wanders with a changing team, rescues Latias, loses to Misty, who rejoins him (JN138), and travels with Brock again (JN139); he is reunited with the Squirtle Squad (JN141) and Lapras (JN143), helps free Latios from a hunter (JN146), and in the finale gets Pidgeot back and tells Pikachu that a Pokémon Master is someone who has befriended every Pokémon in the world (JN147).
What happens to Goh, Chloe and Project Mew?
Goh competes against Gary and Horace in Project Mew’s trial missions — an Articuno Raid Battle (JN102), a battle royal on Sea Mauville (JN110) and a final mission in the Crown Tundra, where he catches Regieleki (JN113) — and becomes the third new Chaser. He leaves Eternatus with Leon (JN127), misses Ash’s final for the expedition to Faraway Island, where “Groudon” and “Kyogre” turn out to be Mew, and wins its trust when it lands on his palm (JN133–JN134); Project Mew is then disbanded for now. Chloe meets Leafeon (JN094), Jolteon and Flareon (JN098) and Serena’s Sylveon at her first Pokémon Contest (JN105), but her Eevee never evolves; in JN136 she becomes the Cerise Laboratory’s weekend research fellow, and Goh, keeping only Cinderace, Inteleon and Grookey, parts from Ash at a crossroads.
When and where did Ultimate Journeys air in the US?
Only on Netflix, in four parts: JN091–JN102 on 21 October 2022, JN103–JN117 on 24 February 2023, the fifteen dubbed episodes from JN118 to JN136 on 23 June 2023, and To Be a Pokémon Master (JN137–JN147 and JNS05) on 8 September 2023, exactly 25 years after the first English episode aired on US television, on 8 September 1998. Canada’s Teletoon was far ahead, airing the season on Saturdays from 28 May 2022 to 29 July 2023, and Australian iTunes released several episodes even before Canada.
Story Arcs
Pokémon Ultimate Journeys: The Series runs for 57 episodes in Japan and 54 in English and follows Ash from the Masters Eight entrance battles to his crowning as Monarch, Goh from Project Mew’s trials to Mew, and Ash’s last journey with Misty and Brock. Here is how the season breaks down, with stills from our episode guide below.
Ghost trains, Gigantamax & stories from the labJN091–JN098
Ash and Goh ride a Ghost Train to Stow-on-Side, where a Spiritomb’s spirit possesses Ash until the shy Ghost-type Gym Leader Allister and Gengar drive it out, and Goh obtains a Shedinja (JN091); with Allister’s Max Soup, Ash’s Gengar learns to Gigantamax and Goh catches a Galarian Corsola (JN092). Back in Vermilion City Ren’s Magnemite “Francois” is caught up in a satellite-induced fusion (JN093), Goh’s Pinsir wins back his Heracross at Erika’s flower-arranging class while Chloe meets a Leafeon (JN094), and Team Rocket drift apart and back together chasing their prize-machine Pelipper, meeting the retired Butch and Cassidy (JN095). Sophocles guides a space probe home at Mossdeep (JN096), Goh catches a Slowpoke — his hundredth Pokémon — as Galarian Slowpoke arrive on Slowpoke Island (JN097), and two circus trapeze artists’ Eevee evolve by mistake, leaving Chloe a Fire Stone and a Thunder Stone (JN098).
Marnie, the Monarch & a return to KalosJN099–JN104
Misdirected by Team Yell, Ash beats Marnie in a Gigantamax battle to reach rank 15 (JN099) and spends a day training with Leon, who beats Flint, while Goh catches Gossifleur (JN100). A one-stick Thwackey learns to drum and Goh’s Grookey refuses to be released (JN101), and Project Mew’s first trial mission, an Articuno Raid Battle in the Seafoam Islands with Gary and Horace, ends in defeat (JN102). In Kalos, Clemont’s inventions help Sirfetch’d master Meteor Assault and Dracovish Dragon Rush (JN103), and Ash beats the Elite Four’s Drasna to reach rank 9, the top of the Ultra Class (JN104) — the one-hour special that marked the anime’s 25th anniversary in Japan.
Lilycove, Greninja & the Masters EightJN105–JN109
In Lilycove City Chloe makes her Contest debut and meets Serena and her Sylveon, the last Eeveelution on her list, while Ash beats Wallace and receives a second Rain Badge (JN105). After Team Rocket’s web-radio show (JN106) and Yamper’s day as the big brother of Cerise Park, with Suicune’s return (JN107), Ash takes Lucario to Kalos to meet Greninja, and Lucario learns to Mega Evolve in sync with him (JN108). At Hammerlocke Stadium Lucario’s Giant Aura Sphere topples Raihan’s Gigantamax Duraludon, and Ash enters the Masters Eight at rank 8 (JN109).
Chasers, homecomings & PaulJN110–JN114
Horace wins Project Mew’s battle royal on Sea Mauville (JN110). In the Crown Tundra, Lillie, Gladion and Lusamine find Mohn, who has lost his memory and lives with a Shiny Nihilego (JN111); Ash returns to Alola for a homecoming Battle Royal with Kukui, Kiawe and Gladion whose result is never shown (JN112); and in the final mission Goh catches Regieleki and Gary Regidrago, making Gary, Horace and Goh Project Mew’s new Chasers (JN113). At Professor Oak’s lab, with all of his Pokémon watching, Ash beats Paul two to one in a training battle against the aces of Lance, Cynthia and Steven (JN114).
The Masters Eight: quarterfinalsJN115–JN120
At Wyndon Stadium the eight finalists — Leon, Cynthia, Steven, Lance, Diantha, Alain, Iris and Ash — are introduced, the first time all of the regional Champions appear together. Leon beats Alain’s Mega Charizard X after an exhibition between Ash and Leon’s brother Hop (JN115); Diantha’s Mega Gardevoir beats Lance (JN116); Cynthia’s Mega Garchomp ends Iris’s run (JN116–JN117); and Pikachu’s curving 10,000,000 Volt Thunderbolt brings down Steven’s Mega Metagross (JN118). Japan then aired the clip show JN119, devoted to Chloe and Eevee, and Infinite Possibilities! (JN120), in which a family camping trip and a Clefairy Moon Stone ritual make Chloe want to study evolution.
The Masters Eight: semifinalsJN121–JN128
After the clip show JN121, Leon routs Diantha, his Rillaboom alone knocking out four of her Pokémon (JN122). In a three-episode Full Battle Ash and Cynthia use moves of every type: Spiritomb beats Dragonite and Gengar and takes Pikachu down with Destiny Bond — Pikachu’s last official defeat (JN123); Dracovish, Sirfetch’d and Milotic trade knockouts (JN124); and Mega Lucario beats a Dynamax Togekiss with a Giant Aura Sphere and Garchomp with Reversal, after which Cynthia gives up her plan to retire (JN125). Following the clip show JN126, Goh entrusts Eternatus to Leon and is summoned away by Project Mew (JN127); the clip show JN128 previews the final.
The final: Ash vs LeonJN129–JN132
Leon asks that Ash be allowed to use Dynamax, Mega Evolution and a Z-Move alike. Gigantamax Gengar beats Inteleon before falling to Mr. Rime (JN129); Mega Lucario beats Mr. Rime, Dragapult beats Lucario, and Dragonite’s “Dragonite Meteor” beats Dragapult (JN130); Rillaboom knocks out Dragonite and Sirfetch’d, Dracovish beats Rillaboom, Cinderace beats Dracovish, and Pikachu’s Z-Move meets Gigantamax Charizard’s G-Max Wildfire as Eternatus appears over Wyndon (JN131). Eternatus recharges both Dynamax Bands, Gigantamax Pikachu beats Gigantamax Cinderace, and Pikachu, rallied by a vision of every Pokémon Ash has owned, beats Charizard: Ash is the new Monarch and World Champion (JN132).
Mew & separate roadsJN133–JN136
While the final is being fought, the Chasers explore Faraway Island, where “Groudon” and “Kyogre” turn out to be Mew transformed; a crystal shows them the birth of the universe, and Goh’s gratitude calms Mew, which lands on his palm before Project Mew is disbanded for now (JN133–JN134). Back in Pallet Town Ash and Goh each secretly plan to travel alone, quarrel and make up as a Lugia Raid Battle begins (JN135); the raid is called off, they glimpse Ho-Oh, Chloe becomes the lab’s weekend research fellow, and the two friends part at a crossroads — Goh to meet Misty, Ash to be reunited with his Butterfree (JN136).
To Be a Pokémon Master: old friendsJN137–JN141
Wandering with a rotating team, Ash rescues an injured Latias, which begins to follow him (JN137). Misty, who has left the Cerulean Gym to her sisters, beats him in a seaside one-on-one, catches a Clauncher and rejoins him (JN138); Brock and Cilan join them against a Hatterene “forest witch” (JN139); a Beartic learns to control its ice (JN140); and Ash is reunited with Squirtle and the Squirtle Squad, now managed by Team Rocket (JN141).
To Be a Pokémon Master: farewellsJN142–JN147
Pikachu, separated from Ash for a night, makes a truce with Meowth (JN142); Ash is reunited with Lapras (JN143) and returns a Banette to its former owner, Nurse Joy (JN144); Jessie and James get all their old Pokémon back from Giovanni, then quarrel and split up (JN145); and Ash and Latias free Latios from a Pokémon hunter before the pair fly home to Alto Mare (JN146). In the finale Team Rocket make up, Pidgeot rejoins Ash, and under a rainbow Ash tells Pikachu that a Pokémon Master is someone who has befriended every Pokémon before setting off again (JN147). The dub ends with the special Distant Blue Sky! (JNS05), set in the world of the I Choose You! films, in which Ash befriends the ghost of a boy who never touched a Pokémon and receives a new hat from his father.
Episode Guide
All 58 Japanese episodes of Pokémon Ultimate Journeys: The Series are listed below in TV Tokyo’s broadcast order, with the special Distant Blue Sky! (JNS05) last, where the English dub places it. The # column is the English season number used by Netflix, Bulbapedia and the DVDs, from 1 (JN091) to 54 (JNS05); the four Japan-only clip shows — JN119, JN121, JN126 and JN128, given here under Bulbapedia’s translations of their Japanese titles — were never dubbed and have no number. The orange code is the Bulbapedia number used by most fan sites. Every episode has its own page with our full synopsis, both titles, air dates, major events, Pokémon debuts, trivia and dub changes — click the title or the screenshot. US dates are the Netflix US releases — 21 October 2022, 24 February 2023, 23 June 2023 and 8 September 2023 — so every episode in a part shares its date; Japanese dates are TV Tokyo’s Friday broadcasts from 17 December 2021 to 24 March 2023, with JN103 and JN104 together as a one-hour special on 1 April 2022 and JNS05 on 23 December 2022.
Who’s That Pokémon? follows the Japanese Dare da? in Journeys, showing a magnified body part read by Ash, so each episode page gives one answer for both versions. In many Masters Eight and Project Mew episodes Japan replaced the quiz with eyecatches of Ash, Goh and Pikachu — JN134 is the last episode with them — and neither version has a quiz there; the clip shows, JN106, JN111 and JNS05 have none at all. The final answer, in JN147, is Pikachu, the first Pokémon featured in EP001. Japan also ended its episodes with Get Inspired! Let’s Solve a Poké Riddle!!, posted only on Twitter from JN133 and given a Paldea edition from JN137, and from JN133 with a short “Team Rocket Expedition” to Paldea; none of it was dubbed.
| # | Episode | First aired | In short | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
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1JN091 | The Spectral Express!ゴースト列車、出発、だよ… | Japan 17 Dec 2021 US 21 Oct 2022 |
Ash and Goh board a mysterious Ghost Train bound for Stow-on-Side, where a malicious spirit from a Spiritomb possesses Ash until the shy Ghost-type… · Allister Episode guide → |
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2JN092 | The Winding Path to Greatness!ゲンガー頑張る!キョダイマックスへの道!! | Japan 24 Dec 2021 US 21 Oct 2022 |
Hoping to make his Gengar Gigantamax, Ash seeks the help of Stow-on-Side’s Ghost-type Gym Leader Allister, who leads him on a hunt for Max… · Gengar Gigantamaxes Episode guide → |
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3JN093 | It’s All in the Name!君の名はフランソワーズ | Japan 14 Jan 2022 US 21 Oct 2022 |
A signal from a malfunctioning satellite sends Vermilion City’s Magnemite into a frenzy and threatens to fuse Ren’s beloved Magnemite,… · Ren’s Magnemite Episode guide → |
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4JN094 | Suffering the Flings and Arrows!ヘラクロスロス、恋するカイロス | Japan 21 Jan 2022 US 21 Oct 2022 |
When Goh’s Heracross falls for his new Lilligant, Goh joins Chloe at Erika’s flower-arranging class at the Celadon Gym to help his jilted… · Erika returns Episode guide → |
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5JN095 | The Good, The Bad, and The Lucky!サラバ!さすらいのロケット団! | Japan 28 Jan 2022 US 21 Oct 2022 |
After a failed raid on Pikachu, Team Rocket chase a Pelipper they believe controls their prize machine across sea, ice and desert, and the trio drift… · Butch and Cassidy Episode guide → |
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6JN096 | Lighting the Way Home!宇宙にとどけ!デンリュウの光!! | Japan 4 Feb 2022 US 21 Oct 2022 |
At the Mossdeep Space Center in Hoenn, Ash and Goh help their old friend Sophocles and a slumping Ampharos guide a space probe home with a beam of… · Sophocles Episode guide → |
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7JN097 | An Evolution in Taste!ヤドキング!カレーなる遭遇!! | Japan 11 Feb 2022 US 21 Oct 2022 |
On Slowpoke Island, Goh catches a Slowpoke before a drifting island brings Galarian Slowpoke, Slowbro and a Shellder-crowned Galarian Slowking, whose… · Goh’s 100th Pokémon Episode guide → |
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8JN098 | Out of Their Elements!ポケモンサーカス!ブースターとサンダース!! | Japan 18 Feb 2022 US 21 Oct 2022 |
When two feuding circus trapeze artists accidentally evolve each other’s Eevee, Chloe, Ash and Goh help the new Jolteon and Flareon show their… · Jolteon and Flareon Episode guide → |
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9JN099 | Battling Turned Up to Eleven!スパイクタウンのマリィ! | Japan 25 Feb 2022 US 21 Oct 2022 |
Misdirected to Spikemuth by Team Yell, Ash races to Wyndon Stadium on the back of Gym Leader Piers’s motorcycle and defeats Piers’s… · Ash vs Marnie Episode guide → |
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10JN100 | Meeting Up with the Monarch!密着!ダンデのスペシャルトレーニング!! | Japan 4 Mar 2022 US 21 Oct 2022 |
After watching Leon defeat Flint, Ash spends a day training with the Galar Champion, who reveals his surprisingly childlike side and his fears about… · Leon vs Flint Episode guide → |
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11JN101 | A One-Stick Wonder!スティック一本、バチンキー! | Japan 11 Mar 2022 US 21 Oct 2022 |
In the Wild Area, Goh’s Grookey befriends a Thwackey that has lost one of its drumsticks, and Ash and Goh help it learn to drum twice as fast… · Thwackey Episode guide → |
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12JN102 | Battling in the Freezing Raid!トライアルミッション!氷結のレイドバトル!! | Japan 18 Mar 2022 US 21 Oct 2022 |
Goh’s Project Mew Trial Mission is a Raid Battle against Articuno in the Seafoam Islands, where he, Ash, his childhood friend Horace and Gary… · Project Mew trial Episode guide → |
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13JN103 | The Future is Now, Thanks to Strategy!サトシとシトロン!友情大特訓!! | Japan 1 Apr 2022 US 24 Feb 2023 |
In Lumiose City, Ash reunites with Clemont and Bonnie, whose inventions help his Sirfetch’d master Meteor Assault before his World Coronation… · Clemont and Bonnie Episode guide → |
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14JN104 | Taking Two For The Team!ハイパークラス!VS四天王ドラセナ!! | Japan 1 Apr 2022 US 24 Feb 2023 |
Ash’s Sirfetch’d and Dracovish defeat Elite Four member Drasna’s Noivern and Mega Altaria in a World Coronation Series battle at… · Ash vs Drasna Episode guide → |
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15JN105 | Reuniting for the First Time!イーブイとニンフィア!出会いと再会!! | Japan 8 Apr 2022 US 24 Feb 2023 |
In Lilycove City, Chloe meets Serena and her Sylveon, the last Eeveelution on her list, and makes her Contest debut, while Ash battles Wallace and… · Chloe’s first Contest Episode guide → |
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16JN106 | Radio Lulled the Mischievous Stars!新番組!ロケット団ないしょ王国ラジオ!! | Japan 15 Apr 2022 US 24 Feb 2023 |
Ordered by Giovanni to recruit new members, Team Rocket launch a late-night web radio show from their Vermilion City hideout, which wins a devoted… · Team Rocket’s radio show Episode guide → |
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17JN107 | Big Brother to the Rescue!助けて、ワンパチのアニキ! | Japan 22 Apr 2022 US 24 Feb 2023 |
While Chloe photographs the residents of Cerise Park, Yamper settles one quarrel after another among the park’s Pokémon, until a… · Yamper Episode guide → |
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18JN108 | Catching the Aura of Fate!ルカリオとゲッコウガ!運命の波導!! | Japan 29 Apr 2022 US 24 Feb 2023 |
To prepare for his battle against Raihan, Ash takes Lucario to Kalos to meet his old partner Greninja, and together they help Lucario master Mega… · Greninja returns Episode guide → |
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19JN109 | Aim For The Eight!VSキバナ!マスターズエイトをかけた戦い!! | Japan 6 May 2022 US 24 Feb 2023 |
Ash defeats Raihan at Hammerlocke Stadium in the season’s final entrance battle, finishing with a giant Aura Sphere from Lucario, and claims… · Ash vs Raihan Episode guide → |
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20JN110 | Narrowing the Chaser Chase!裏切りのバトルロイヤル! | Japan 13 May 2022 US 24 Feb 2023 |
Goh’s Project Mew Trial Mission is a battle royal aboard Sea Mauville, where he and Horace team up against treacherous rivals before facing… · Project Mew battle royal Episode guide → |
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21JN111 | The Homecoming Crown!モーンとリーリエ、雪原の再会 | Japan 20 May 2022 US 24 Feb 2023 |
In Galar’s Crown Tundra, Lillie, Gladion and Lusamine finally find Mohn, living with amnesia beside a Shiny Nihilego that he believes is his… · Lillie finds Mohn Episode guide → |
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22JN112 | Helping the Hometown Hero!凱旋!アローラチャンピオン!! | Japan 27 May 2022 US 24 Feb 2023 |
Ash returns to Alola with Lillie’s family, reunites with his classmates and battles Professor Kukui, Kiawe and Gladion in a Battle Royal held… · Alola homecoming Episode guide → |
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23JN113 | Chasing to the Finish!ラストミッション! レジエレキ・レジドラゴをゲットせよ!! | Japan 3 Jun 2022 US 24 Feb 2023 |
Goh and Gary team up in the Crown Tundra’s Split-Decision Ruins for their final Project Mew Trial Mission, catching Regieleki and Regidrago and… · Goh catches Regieleki Episode guide → |
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24JN114 | Friends, Rivals, Lend Me Your Spirit!炎の特訓バトル!サトシ対シンジ!! | Japan 10 Jun 2022 US 24 Feb 2023 |
Before the Masters Eight Tournament, Ash gathers all his Pokémon at Professor Oak’s lab, where he meets his old rival Paul and defeats… · Ash vs Paul Episode guide → |
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25JN115 | Curtain Up! Fight the Fights!開幕!マスターズトーナメント!! | Japan 17 Jun 2022 US 24 Feb 2023 |
The Masters Eight Tournament opens at Wyndon Stadium, where Ash meets Leon’s brother Hop, the eight finalists are introduced and paired, and… · Masters Eight begins Episode guide → |
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26JN116 | Pride of a Champion!チャンピオンの誇り!ワタルVSカルネ!! | Japan 8 Jul 2022 US 24 Feb 2023 |
Kalos Champion Diantha defeats Lance in the second match of the Masters Eight Tournament, finishing his Dynamaxed Dragonite with her Mega Gardevoir,… · Diantha vs Lance Episode guide → |
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27JN117 | The Fiery Road to Mastership!VSシロナ!アイリス、ドラゴンマスターへの道!! | Japan 15 Jul 2022 US 24 Feb 2023 |
Iris pushes her former mentor Cynthia to her limit in the third Masters Eight match, but Cynthia’s Mega Garchomp defeats Iris’s Haxorus… · Cynthia vs Iris Episode guide → |
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28JN118 | Battling as Hard as Stone!サトシ出陣!VSダイゴ!! | Japan 22 Jul 2022 US 23 Jun 2023 |
Ash defeats Hoenn Champion Steven Stone in the last quarterfinal of the Masters Eight Tournament, using a Z-Move that changes direction in mid-flight… · Ash vs Steven Episode guide → |
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–JN119 | Koharu and Eievui – The Miracle of Evolutionコハルとイーブイ しんかのきせき | Japan 29 Jul 2022 US never aired |
In this Japan-only clip show, Chrysa and Mimey host the first edition of “Mime Channel” (Bari Channel), a special broadcast devoted to… · Clip show, never dubbed Episode guide → |
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29JN120 | Infinite Possibilities!コハルとイーブイ、可能性は無限大! | Japan 5 Aug 2022 US 23 Jun 2023 |
On a family camping trip with her father, Chloe watches a moonlit Clefairy evolution ritual and learns that Professor Cerise once befriended one of… · Chloe’s family Episode guide → |
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–JN121 | The Climax Begins! Satoshi’s Masters Tournament Experience!!最高潮始動!サトシのマスターズトーナメント!! | Japan 12 Aug 2022 US never aired |
In this Japan-only clip show, aired between the quarterfinals and the semifinals, a “Pokémon World Coronation Series News”… · Clip show, never dubbed Episode guide → |
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30JN122 | It’s… Champion Time!セミファイナルⅠ 「圧勝」 | Japan 26 Aug 2022 US 23 Jun 2023 |
Leon crushes Diantha in the first semifinal of the Masters Eight Tournament, a six-on-six Full Battle, while Ash, Goh and Cynthia miss most of it… · Leon vs Diantha Episode guide → |
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31JN123 | Bewitch, Battle, and Bewilder!セミファイナルⅡ 「幻惑」 | Japan 2 Sep 2022 US 23 Jun 2023 |
Ash’s long-awaited Full Battle against Sinnoh Champion Cynthia begins in the second semifinal of the Masters Eight Tournament, and her surprise… · Ash vs Cynthia, part 1 Episode guide → |
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32JN124 | Valor: A Strategic Part of Battling!セミファイナルⅢ 「武勇」 | Japan 9 Sep 2022 US 23 Jun 2023 |
Ash fights back in his semifinal against Cynthia as Dracovish and Sirfetch’d take down Roserade and Milotic, leaving Lucario to face… · Ash vs Cynthia, part 2 Episode guide → |
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33JN125 | Whittle While You Work!セミファイナルⅣ 「衝撃」 | Japan 16 Sep 2022 US 23 Jun 2023 |
Ash’s Mega Lucario defeats Cynthia’s Dynamax Togekiss and then her Garchomp with a last-gasp Reversal, sending Ash into the Masters Eight… · Ash beats Cynthia Episode guide → |
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–JN126 | GO FOR DREAM! Go’s Road to Mew!!GO FOR DREAM!ゴウ、夢への道!! | Japan 23 Sep 2022 US never aired |
In this Japan-only clip show, a mysterious figure unlocks Goh’s Rotom Phone in the hotel room he and Ash share in Wyndon and looks back at… · Clip show, never dubbed Episode guide → |
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34JN127 | Just a Scone’s Throw From Here!ゴウとエースバーン!はじまりの場所!! | Japan 30 Sep 2022 US 23 Jun 2023 |
On the eve of the final, Goh entrusts his Eternatus to Leon and revisits the Wyndon scone stall where his journey with Cinderace began, helping the… · Goh leaves Eternatus with Leon Episode guide → |
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–JN128 | Climax! The Night Before the Decisive Battle! Satoshi VS Dande!!最高潮!決戦前夜サトシVSダンデ!! | Japan 14 Oct 2022 US never aired |
In the last Japan-only clip show of the series, a “Pokémon World Coronation Series News” special, with the battle reviewer Mr. · Clip show, never dubbed Episode guide → |
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35JN129 | A Flood of Torrential Gains!ファイナルⅠ 「激流」 | Japan 21 Oct 2022 US 23 Jun 2023 |
The Masters Eight final between Ash and Leon begins at a packed Wyndon Stadium, where Leon insists that Ash use Mega Evolution, Z-Moves and Dynamax… · Ash vs Leon, part 1 Episode guide → |
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36JN130 | Toying With Your Motions!ファイナルⅡ 「翻弄」 | Japan 28 Oct 2022 US 23 Jun 2023 |
The Masters Eight final continues as Ash’s Sirfetch’d breaks Mr. · Ash vs Leon, part 2 Episode guide → |
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37JN131 | Paring Pokémon While Parrying!ファイナルⅢ 「最強」 | Japan 4 Nov 2022 US 23 Jun 2023 |
Leon turns the Masters Eight final around as his Rillaboom and Cinderace defeat Dragonite, Sirfetch’d and Dracovish, and when Ash’s… · Ash vs Leon, part 3 Episode guide → |
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38JN132 | Partners in Time!ファイナルⅣ 「相棒」 | Japan 11 Nov 2022 US 23 Jun 2023 |
Ash defeats Leon in the final of the Masters Eight Tournament, as Pikachu, rallied by every Pokémon Ash has ever travelled with, overcomes… · Ash becomes Monarch Episode guide → |
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39JN133 | The Mew from Here!プロジェクト・ミュウ | Japan 25 Nov 2022 US 23 Jun 2023 |
While Ash battles Leon, Goh and the Project Mew Chasers explore Faraway Island in search of Mew, braving a dead zone for electronics, a split party… · Faraway Island Episode guide → |
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40JN134 | In the Palms of our Hands!つかみとる未来! | Japan 2 Dec 2022 US 23 Jun 2023 |
Deep inside Faraway Island, Groudon and Kyogre turn out to be Mew in disguise, and after a vision of the birth of the universe and a furious display… · Goh befriends Mew Episode guide → |
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41JN135 | Heroes Unite!ポケモン!きみにあえてよかった! | Japan 9 Dec 2022 US 23 Jun 2023 |
Back in Kanto as World Champion, Ash reunites with Goh on a camping trip with Chloe, but each boy’s secret plan to set off on a journey alone… · Lugia Raid Battle Episode guide → |
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42JN136 | This Could be the Start of Something Big!サトシとゴウ!あらたなる旅立ち!! | Japan 16 Dec 2022 US 23 Jun 2023 |
After a Raid Battle against Lugia ends in a flight across the world and a glimpse of Ho-Oh, Ash and Goh say goodbye to the Cerise Laboratory and part… · Ash and Goh part Episode guide → |
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43JN137 | The Road Most Traveled!はじまりのかぜ!むげんのみち!! | Japan 13 Jan 2023 US 8 Sep 2023 |
Traveling on with no fixed destination and a rotated team from Professor Oak’s lab, Ash rescues an injured, invisible Latias from Team Rocket… · To Be a Pokémon Master begins Episode guide → |
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44JN138 | A Fated Face-Off!サトシVSカスミ!うみべのいっきうち!! | Japan 20 Jan 2023 US 8 Sep 2023 |
On a rocky seashore, Ash reunites with Misty, who has left the Cerulean Gym to her sisters to travel again, and the two battle over a wild Clauncher,… · Misty rejoins Episode guide → |
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45JN139 | Must Be Our Heroes and the Witch!タケシとデントともりのまじょ! | Japan 27 Jan 2023 US 8 Sep 2023 |
Ash and Misty reunite with Brock and Cilan, and when a heartbroken Brock is lured into a forest by the illusion-weaving Hatterene known as the Forest… · Brock rejoins Episode guide → |
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46JN140 | Bearing Down Easy!ツンベアーのためいき! | Japan 3 Feb 2023 US 8 Sep 2023 |
On a mountain where the Magikarp waterfall has frozen solid, Ash helps a timid wild Beartic learn to control the icy breath that freezes everything… · Beartic Episode guide → |
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47JN141 | A Squad’s Worth of Passion!もえよ!ゼニガメしょうぼうだん!! | Japan 10 Feb 2023 US 8 Sep 2023 |
In a seaside city, Ash reunites with his Squirtle and the Squirtle Squad, now performing as costumed heroes under Team Rocket’s management, and… · Squirtle Squad Episode guide → |
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48JN142 | The Same Moon, Now and Forever!そして、おなじ月をみている! | Japan 17 Feb 2023 US 8 Sep 2023 |
When a Team Rocket robot explodes, Pikachu is blasted away and separated from Ash, and the two search for each other across the countryside, Pikachu… · Pikachu and Meowth Episode guide → |
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49JN143 | Ride, Lapras, Ride!ラプラスにのって♪ | Japan 24 Feb 2023 US 8 Sep 2023 |
Ash reunites with his Lapras from the Orange Islands, which needs help freeing a Wailmer stuck in a rocky island, and the rescue takes fishing rods,… · Lapras returns Episode guide → |
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50JN144 | Getting to the Heart of it All!ジュペッタのさがしもの! | Japan 3 Mar 2023 US 8 Sep 2023 |
In a small town, Ash, Misty and Brock track down a Banette that is stealing heart-shaped objects and discover that it was once a girl’s plush… · Banette Episode guide → |
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51JN145 | Rocket Revengers!逆襲のロケット団! | Japan 10 Mar 2023 US 8 Sep 2023 |
Reunited with all the Pokémon they left at Team Rocket HQ, the trio launch an all-out scheme to capture Pikachu, until Latias reveals herself… · Team Rocket’s old Pokémon Episode guide → |
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52JN146 | Ash and Latiosサトシとラティオス! | Japan 17 Mar 2023 US 8 Sep 2023 |
Ash, Misty and Brock follow Latias to rescue Latios from a Pokémon hunter who turns Pokémon to stone, and Ash wins the wary… · Latios Episode guide → |
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53JN147 | The Rainbow and the Pokémon Master!虹とポケモンマスター! | Japan 24 Mar 2023 US 8 Sep 2023 |
In the final episode of Ash’s story, Ash parts from Misty and Brock, returns home to Pallet Town, reunites with his Pidgeot and, pondering… · Series finale Episode guide → |
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54JNS05 | Distant Blue Sky!ポケットモンスター 遥かなる青い空 | Japan 23 Dec 2022 US 8 Sep 2023 |
On his way to meet his father, Ash befriends a boy named Sunny who has never touched a Pokémon, and learns that Sunny is the ghost of a child… · Special Episode guide → |
Characters & Travelling Companions
Ash, still a research fellow at the Cerise Laboratory, climbs the World Coronation Series from 15th, after beating Marnie (JN099), to 9th, after beating the Elite Four’s Drasna (JN104), and into the Master Class at 8th by beating Raihan (JN109). In the Masters Eight Tournament he beats Steven (JN118), Cynthia (JN123–JN125) and Leon (JN129–JN132) to become Monarch and World Champion, his rank now “Master Class (Monarch)”; along the way he also beats Clemont (JN103), Wallace, who gives him a second Rain Badge (JN105), Hop (JN115) and Paul (JN114). He leaves the lab and parts from Goh (JN136), travels with a changing team, Latias and, before long, Misty and Brock in To Be a Pokémon Master, loses to Misty in his last proper Trainer battle (JN138) and, in the finale, defines a Pokémon Master as someone who has befriended every Pokémon (JN147). He is absent in person from the clip shows and JN120, and from JN133, the second main-series episode without Ash or Pikachu. Pikachu uses 10,000,000 Volt Thunderbolt in the Alola Battle Royal (JN112) and against Steven (JN118) and Leon (JN131), suffers its last official defeat when Cynthia’s Spiritomb uses Destiny Bond (JN123), Gigantamaxes for the first time since JN013 and beats Leon’s Charizard to win the final (JN132), and is the only Pokémon Ash carries at the end of the season. Ash is voiced by Sarah Natochenny in English and Rica Matsumoto in Japanese; Ikue Ōtani remains Pikachu.
Goh spends the season pursuing Project Mew: he loses the Articuno Raid Battle with Gary and Horace (JN102), comes second to Horace in the Sea Mauville battle royal (JN110) and catches Regieleki in the final mission to become the third new Chaser (JN113). He obtains a Shedinja (JN091), catches a Galarian Corsola (JN092), a Slowpoke — his hundredth Pokémon (JN097) — Gossifleur (JN100), Golbat, Graveler and Cloyster (JN102), Froakie (JN103) and Altaria (JN105), offers to release Grookey, which stays (JN101), and entrusts Eternatus to Leon before leaving for Project Mew (JN127), so that he misses Ash’s final. On Faraway Island he wins Mew’s trust (JN133–JN134); he then plans to travel alone, quarrels and makes up with Ash, leaves all but Cinderace, Inteleon and Grookey at the lab, parts from Ash at a crossroads, meets Misty and catches a Pokémon that is not revealed (JN136). By then Bulbapedia counts 108 Pokémon to his name. Goh is voiced by Zeno Robinson in English and Daiki Yamashita in Japanese.
Chloe meets the three Eeveelutions she had not yet seen — Erika’s Leafeon (JN094), the circus Jolteon and Flareon, which leave her a Fire Stone and a Thunder Stone (JN098), and Serena’s Sylveon at her first Pokémon Contest, where Lisia gives her a Contest Pass (JN105) — hears Lana suggest that Eevee might stay unevolved (JN112), and after a family camping trip decides to study evolution (JN120). She watches the final from Wyndon with Dawn (JN129–JN132) and becomes the Cerise Laboratory’s weekend research fellow (JN136); her Eevee never evolves. Professor Cerise turns out to be a radio super-fan (JN106) and to have had a Clefairy as a child (JN120); his assistant Ren and his Magnemite “Francois” star in JN093, the last episode Billy Kametz recorded before his death on 9 June 2022, after which Barrett Leddy took over the role (JN098); Chrysa and Delia’s Mr. Mime, Mimey, host the clip show JN119, and Mimey goes home to Pallet Town with Delia (JN136); and Yamper plays the big brother of Cerise Park (JN107). Chloe is voiced by Cherami Leigh and Kana Hanazawa, Cerise by Ray Chase and Yūichi Nakamura.
Ash KetchumMonarch of the World Coronation Series by JN132
GohStill chasing Mew for Project Mew
ChloeFinds her own path with Eevee
Ash KetchumAsh crowned Monarch of the World Coronation Series after beating Leon in Partners in Time! (JN132)
GohGoh with his Project Mew rivals Horace and Gary in In the Palms of our Hands! (JN134)
ChloeWho becomes the Cerise Laboratory’s weekend research fellow in This Could be the Start of Something Big! (JN136)
Ash KetchumAsh and all of his travelling companions in the Japanese opening of Pocket Monsters: Aim to Be a Pokémon Master (JN137–JN147)
MistyWho beats Ash and rejoins him in A Fated Face-Off! (JN138)
BrockBack at Ash’s side from Must Be Our Heroes and the Witch! (JN139)
Team Rocket
Jessie, James, Meowth and Wobbuffet, with Morpeko in tow, drift apart and back together while chasing the Rocket Prize Master’s Pelipper, meeting Butch and Cassidy, who have left Team Rocket, in their final appearance in the franchise (JN095); host the web-radio show “Dum-Dum-Dum Z”, and James gives Ren a Premier Ball (JN106); and cover the Masters Eight Tournament on their radio show (JN115–JN132). The Rocket Prize Master is used for the last time in JN127, and Giovanni approves their plan to catch Pikachu (JN136); from JN133 a short afterword follows their “Team Rocket Expedition” to Paldea, where they meet a Sprigatito.
In To Be a Pokémon Master they manage the Squirtle Squad (JN141). JN140 is the first episode without the trio and JN144 the last; in Rocket Revengers! (JN145) Giovanni returns all of Jessie’s and James’s Pokémon from headquarters — Seviper, Yanmega, Woobat, Frillish and Gourgeist, Mime Jr., Carnivine, Yamask, Amoonguss and Inkay — giving each a full team of six for the first time, but the trio quarrel and split up, return to headquarters separately (JN146) and end up serving food in its cafeteria, until they make up, recite their motto and set off after Pikachu again as Ash leaves Pallet Town (JN147). In dub order their very last motto comes in Distant Blue Sky!, where Ash simply takes the key to Pikachu’s capsule while they recite it. Jessie is voiced by Michele Knotz and James and Meowth by James Carter Cathcart, who retired after this season following a cancer diagnosis; in Japanese by Megumi Hayashibara, Shin-ichiro Miki and Inuko Inuyama.
The Masters Eight, Project Mew & old friends
The Masters Eight are Leon, Galar’s undefeated Champion and Monarch, who beats Flint (JN100), Alain (JN115) and Diantha (JN122) before losing the final to Ash, his first defeat on screen, and declaring himself “just another challenger” (JN132); Cynthia of Sinnoh, who beats Iris (JN116–JN117) and, after losing to Ash, drops her plan to retire (JN125); Steven Stone of Hoenn, who loses to Ash (JN118); Lance, Champion of Kanto and Johto again, beaten by Diantha of Kalos (JN116); Alain, with a new Mega Ring (JN115); Iris, the Unova Champion, who cheers Ash on with Goh after her defeat; and Ash. Raihan, Marnie and Piers with Team Yell (JN099), the Elite Four’s Drasna and Wikstrom (JN103–JN104), Flint (JN100) and Leon’s brother Hop (JN115) complete the World Coronation Series cast, with Dan as referee and Sonia and Professor Magnolia in JN127.
Project Mew is led by Professor Amaranth, with the Chasers Danika and Quillon; its trials make Goh’s childhood friend Horace and Gary — who catches Regidrago, his first catch on screen (JN113) — Goh’s fellow Chasers, against the rivals Sterling and Lyla (JN110). Old friends return throughout: Sophocles (JN096, JN112); Clemont and Bonnie, in their last speaking appearance (JN103–JN104); Serena, with a Delphox, and Lisia (JN105); Lillie, Gladion, Lusamine and Mohn (JN111) and the Alola class, Kukui and Burnet (JN112); Paul (JN114); and in Wyndon for the final Dawn, May, Max, Cilan and many more — twenty human main characters in JN132, the most of any episode.
Misty, who has left the Cerulean Gym to her sisters, beats Ash, catches a Clauncher and rejoins him (JN138), and Brock follows (JN139), both as travelling companions again until they head home in the finale (JN147); Cilan makes his last appearance (JN139). Latias, rescued in JN137, follows Ash without being caught, saves him and Pikachu (JN142), reveals herself (JN145) and helps free Latios before the two fly to Alto Mare, where Bianca waits (JN146). Tracey, whose Venonat evolves, and Gary, who asks Ash how much closer becoming World Champion has brought him to being a Pokémon Master, close the series in Pallet Town (JN147). Misty is voiced by Michele Knotz and Mayumi Iizuka, Brock by Bill Rogers and Yūji Ueda, and Ted Lewis returns as Tracey’s English voice for JN147.
Voice cast
| Character | English voice actor | Japanese voice actor |
|---|---|---|
| Ash Ketchum | Sarah Natochenny | Rica Matsumoto |
| Pikachu | Ikue Ōtani | Ikue Ōtani |
| Goh | Zeno Robinson | Daiki Yamashita |
| Chloe | Cherami Leigh | Kana Hanazawa |
| Professor Cerise | Ray Chase | Yūichi Nakamura |
| Ren | Billy Kametz (to JN093), Barrett Leddy (from JN098) | Noriaki Kanze |
| Leon | Alejandro Saab | Daisuke Ono |
| Cynthia | Emily Jenness (credited as Emily Bauer) | Tomo Sakurai |
| Steven Stone | Andrew Paull | Kenichi Suzumura |
| Lance | Wayne Grayson | Susumu Chiba |
| Diantha | Vanessa Gardner | Fumiko Orikasa |
| Alain | Jonathan Silver | Kenshō Ono |
| Iris | Anairis Quiñones (from JN115) | Aoi Yūki |
| Misty | Michele Knotz | Mayumi Iizuka |
| Brock | Bill Rogers | Yūji Ueda |
| Gary Oak | James Carter Cathcart | Yuko Kobayashi |
| Jessie | Michele Knotz | Megumi Hayashibara |
| James | James Carter Cathcart | Shin-ichiro Miki |
| Meowth | James Carter Cathcart | Inuko Inuyama |
| Narrator | Rodger Parsons | Kenyu Horiuchi |
Pokémon: Captures, Changes, Encounters & Evolutions
In brief:
- Ash’s Galar team reaches its peak. Gengar Gigantamaxes for the first time after eating Max Soup — the first Pokémon shown both Dynamaxing and Gigantamaxing (JN092) — and its Dazzling Gleam against Marnie is the first Fairy-type move used by any of Ash’s Pokémon, which means they have now used moves of every type (JN099); it learns Will-O-Wisp (JN114). Lucario trains with Greninja until it Mega Evolves in sync with Ash (JN108), unleashes the Giant Aura Sphere against Raihan (JN109), learns Bullet Punch (JN114) and beats Cynthia’s Togekiss and Garchomp (JN125). Sirfetch’d masters Meteor Assault and Dracovish Dragon Rush with Clemont’s help (JN103); Dracovish’s Strong Jaw is revealed against Steven (JN118) and its spikes glow red with an “awakened” power against Leon (JN130). Dragonite suffers its first defeat, to Raihan’s Flygon (JN109), and its “Dragonite Meteor” beats Leon’s Dragapult (JN130). Pikachu wins the title by beating Charizard (JN132).
- Goh, who reaches a hundred Pokémon with a Slowpoke (JN097), adds a Shedinja (JN091), a Galarian Corsola (JN092), Gossifleur (JN100), Golbat, Graveler and Cloyster (JN102), Froakie, which evolves into Frogadier (JN103, JN108), Altaria (JN105) and the Legendary Regieleki (JN113), and his Hoothoot and Lilligant, caught off screen in Unova, are revealed (JN094). His Grookey turns down release (JN101) and learns Wood Hammer (JN134), and his Inteleon suffers its first defeat (JN110). After Mew lands on his palm he leaves his Pokémon at the Cerise Laboratory, keeping only Cinderace, Inteleon and Grookey, and catches an unrevealed Pokémon on the road (JN136). Chloe’s Eevee copies Razor Leaf, Ember, Thunder Shock, Fairy Wind, Psychic and Yawn with Copycat but never evolves.
- Old friends’ Pokémon change too. Clemont’s Bunnelby evolves into Diggersby (JN103), Serena’s Braixen has become a Delphox (JN105), Brock’s Chansey has become a Blissey (JN132), Gary’s Tyranitar and Hatterene are revealed (JN102, JN113), and Tracey’s Venonat evolves into Venomoth, the first evolution of any of his Pokémon (JN147); Lillie’s family catch a Shiny Nihilego in a Beast Ball (JN111), and Misty catches a Clauncher, the last capture by any of Ash’s friends (JN138). In Rocket Revengers! Jessie and James get back every Pokémon they had left at headquarters (JN145).
New Pokémon captured or hatched
Shedinja#0292 · Goh · obtained when a Nincada evolves and its shell enters a Poké Ball · JN091
Hoothoot#0163 · Goh · caught off screen in Unova, with a Lilligant, and revealed · JN094
Lilligant#0549 · Goh · caught off screen in Unova and revealed · JN094
Slowpoke#0079 · Goh · his hundredth Pokémon · JN097
Gossifleur#0829 · Goh · caught while Ash trains with Leon · JN100
Golbat#0042 · Goh · with a Graveler and a Cloyster in the Seafoam Islands · JN102
Graveler#0075 · Goh · in the Seafoam Islands · JN102
Cloyster#0091 · Goh · in the Seafoam Islands · JN102
Froakie#0656 · Goh · in Kalos · JN103
Altaria#0334 · Goh · in Lilycove City · JN105
Nihilego#0793 · Lillie’s family · a Shiny Nihilego, caught in a Beast Ball · JN111
Regieleki#0894 · Goh · in the final Project Mew mission; his last catch while travelling with Ash · JN113
Regidrago#0895 · Gary · his first catch on screen · JN113
Virizion#0640 · Horace · caught off screen and revealed on Faraway Island · JN133
Clauncher#0692 · Misty · the last capture by any of Ash’s friends · JN138
Pidgeot#0018 · Ash · rejoins him after 1,151 episodes · JN147
Evolutions
Eevee → Jolteon#0135 · Bernice, one of two circus Eevee whose evolutions are swapped · JN098
Eevee → Flareon#0136 · Toril, the other circus Eevee · JN098
Bunnelby → Diggersby#0660 · Clemont’s · learning Hammer Arm · JN103
Braixen → Delphox#0655 · Serena’s · off screen, revealed in Lilycove · JN105
Froakie → Frogadier#0657 · Goh · the last on-screen evolution of a friend’s Pokémon in Journeys · JN108
Nickit → Thievul#0828 · The Nickit trio · JN127
Chansey → Blissey#0242 · Brock’s · off screen, seen in Wyndon · JN132
Wailmer → Wailord#0321 · A Wailmer met on Ash’s reunion with Lapras · JN143
Venonat → Venomoth#0049 · Tracey’s · the first evolution of any of his Pokémon · JN147
Releases, departures and returns
Ash releases no Pokémon this season, but he is reunited with three he had released: Greninja, whom he visits in Kalos — the first time Ash meets a released Pokémon outside the series in which it left him (JN108); Butterfree, with its mate, 1,200 episodes after their farewell (JN136); and Lapras, 971 episodes after he last saw it (JN143). Pidgeot, released in EP081, rejoins him after 1,151 episodes once the flock gives its approval (JN147), and he visits Squirtle, still training with the Squirtle Squad (JN141). Latias travels with him for most of To Be a Pokémon Master but is never caught and returns to Alto Mare with Latios (JN146).
Goh offers to release Grookey, which chooses to stay (JN101); he entrusts Eternatus to Leon (JN127) and leaves all his Pokémon but Cinderace, Inteleon and Grookey at the Cerise Laboratory (JN136). Mew, which lands on his palm, is befriended rather than caught (JN134), and his attempts at Applin, Thwackey (JN101) and Lugia (JN136) fail. Team Rocket’s prize-machine Pelipper leaves them (JN095). At the end of the season Ash carries only Pikachu: his other Pokémon are at Professor Oak’s lab, with Kukui and Burnet, in training, like Squirtle and Primeape, or free.
Ash’s Pokémon this season
| Pokémon | What happens | Episodes |
|---|---|---|
| Pikachu | 10,000,000 Volt Thunderbolt in the Battle Royal and against Steven and Leon; last official defeat, by Spiritomb’s Destiny Bond; Gigantamaxes for the first time since JN013 (G-Max Volt Crash) and beats Leon’s Charizard; the only Pokémon on hand at the end | JN112, JN118, JN123, JN131–JN132 |
| Gengar | First Gigantamax, with Max Soup; Dazzling Gleam, Sludge Bomb and G-Max Terror against Marnie; Max Starfall against Raihan; learns Will-O-Wisp; its Ability, Cursed Body, against Leon | JN092, JN099, JN109, JN114, JN129 |
| Lucario | Mega Evolves in sync with Ash; Giant Aura Sphere; learns Bullet Punch; Ability Inner Focus; beats Togekiss and Garchomp; its only defeat after Mega Evolving, to Dragapult | JN108–JN109, JN114, JN124–JN125, JN130 |
| Sirfetch’d | Learns Meteor Assault; beats Mega Altaria and Milotic; last physical appearance | JN103–JN104, JN124, JN143 |
| Dracovish | Learns Dragon Rush; Ability Strong Jaw; its spikes glow red with an “awakened” power | JN103, JN118, JN130 |
| Dragonite | First defeat, to Raihan’s Flygon; the “Dragonite Meteor”; beats Dragapult | JN109, JN114, JN130 |
| Greninja (released) | Reunion in Kalos; feels the Giant Aura Sphere in its last physical appearance | JN108, JN125 |
| Butterfree (released) | Reunion with Ash and its mate, a female Pink Butterfree | JN136 |
| Squirtle (in training) | Reunion with Ash and the Squirtle Squad | JN141 |
| Lapras (released) | Reunion, 971 episodes after Ash last saw it | JN143 |
| Corphish | Learns Metal Claw and Aqua Jet; loses to Misty’s Politoed; confirmed male | JN138 |
| Infernape, Incineroar, Torterra | Fire Punch (JN114) and Flare Blitz (JN145); Darkest Lariat, Incineroar’s first new move since evolving (JN140); Frenzy Plant (JN143) | JN114, JN140, JN143, JN145 |
| Swellow | Learns Air Slash, the last new move learned by any of Ash’s Pokémon | JN146 |
| Pidgeot | Rejoins Ash after 1,151 episodes | JN147 |
| Latias | Rescued; follows Ash without being caught and flies to Alto Mare with Latios | JN137, JN145–JN146 |
The Masters Eight Tournament, match by match
| Round | Result | Pokémon | Episodes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Quarterfinal | Leon beats Alain | Leon: Rillaboom (Gigantamax), Charizard · Alain: Chesnaught, Charizard (Mega Charizard X), Malamar | JN115 |
| Quarterfinal | Diantha beats Lance | Diantha: Aurorus, Gourgeist, Gardevoir (Mega) · Lance: Dragonite (Dynamax), red Gyarados, Hydreigon | JN116 |
| Quarterfinal | Cynthia beats Iris | Cynthia: Gastrodon, Milotic, Garchomp (Mega) · Iris: Excadrill, Dragonite, Haxorus | JN116–JN117 |
| Quarterfinal | Ash beats Steven | Ash: Dracovish, Gengar, Pikachu · Steven: Metagross (Mega), Aggron, Cradily | JN118 |
| Semifinal (Full Battle) | Leon beats Diantha | Leon: Rillaboom, which knocks out four, and Charizard (Gigantamax) — he loses only Rillaboom · Diantha: Hawlucha, Tyrantrum, Aurorus, Gourgeist, Goodra, Gardevoir (Mega) | JN122 |
| Semifinal (Full Battle) | Ash beats Cynthia | Ash: Dragonite, Gengar, Pikachu, Dracovish, Sirfetch’d, Lucario (Mega) · Cynthia: Spiritomb, Roserade, Togekiss (Dynamax), Gastrodon, Milotic, Garchomp | JN123–JN125 |
| Final (Full Battle) | Ash beats Leon — Ash becomes Monarch | Ash: Pikachu (Gigantamax), Gengar (Gigantamax), Sirfetch’d, Lucario (Mega), Dracovish, Dragonite · Leon: Cinderace (Gigantamax), Inteleon, Mr. Rime, Dragapult, Rillaboom, Charizard (Gigantamax) | JN129–JN132 |
Goh’s Pokémon this season
| Episode | Caught or obtained | Other changes |
|---|---|---|
| JN091 | Shedinja, when a Nincada evolves | — |
| JN092 | Galarian Corsola | — |
| JN094 | Hoothoot and Lilligant revealed, caught off screen in Unova | Pinsir’s X-Scissor wins back Heracross |
| JN096 | — | Raichu uses Nuzzle |
| JN097 | Slowpoke — his hundredth Pokémon | — |
| JN100 | Gossifleur | — |
| JN101 | — (fails with Applin and Thwackey) | Offers to release Grookey, which stays |
| JN102 | Golbat, Graveler, Cloyster | Three tokens in the Articuno trial |
| JN103 | Froakie | — |
| JN105 | Altaria | — |
| JN107 | — | Suicune returns; Panpour uses Water Gun |
| JN108 | — | Froakie → Frogadier |
| JN110 | — | Inteleon learns Mud Shot and suffers its first defeat; second in the battle royal |
| JN113 | Regieleki | Flygon uses Mud Shot; becomes a Chaser |
| JN127 | — | Entrusts Eternatus to Leon |
| JN134 | — (befriends Mew) | Grookey learns Wood Hammer |
| JN136 | An unrevealed Pokémon (fails with Lugia) | Leaves all but Cinderace, Inteleon and Grookey at the lab |
Ash’s team in To Be a Pokémon Master
| Episode | Pokémon travelling with Ash and Pikachu |
|---|---|
| JN137 | Donphan, Sceptile, Noivern, Buizel |
| JN138 | Totodile, Corphish, Leavanny, Rowlet — the first Alolan Pokémon back on his team |
| JN140 | Oshawott, Talonflame, Snorlax, Incineroar |
| JN141 | Bulbasaur, Charizard |
| JN142 | Snivy |
| JN143 | Kingler, Sirfetch’d, Heracross, Bayleef, Torterra — the arc’s only full team of six |
| JN144 | Gengar, Dragonite |
| JN145–JN146 | Infernape, Hawlucha, Swellow |
| JN147 | Pikachu alone at first; Pidgeot rejoins him |
Rivals’ and friends’ Pokémon this season
| Trainer | Pokémon | Episodes |
|---|---|---|
| Marnie / Drasna / Raihan | Grimmsnarl (Gigantamax) / Noivern, Altaria (Mega) / Flygon, Goodra, Duraludon (Gigantamax) | JN099, JN104, JN109 |
| Clemont / Wallace / Paul | Luxray, Diggersby / Milotic / Gyarados, Garchomp, Metagross | JN103, JN105, JN114 |
| Gary | Tyranitar, Hatterene, Blastoise, Arcanine, Umbreon; Regidrago | JN102, JN113, JN133–JN134 |
| Horace | Bayleef, Gardevoir, Indeedee; Virizion | JN102, JN110, JN133 |
| Danika / Quillon | Azumarill, Urshifu, Jellicent / Urshifu, Weavile, Honchkrow; Regirock, Regice, Registeel | JN113, JN133–JN134 |
| Misty | Politoed, Clauncher, Starmie, Staryu, Psyduck, Azurill, Gyarados | JN138–JN147 |
| Brock | Blissey, Steelix, Ludicolo, Forretress, Marshtomp, Croagunk | JN132, JN139–JN147 |
| Jessie | Wobbuffet; Seviper, Yanmega, Woobat, Frillish, Gourgeist (returned by Giovanni) | JN145 |
| James | Morpeko; Mime Jr., Carnivine, Yamask, Amoonguss, Inkay (returned by Giovanni) | JN145 |
Pokémon making their anime debut this season
The last wave of Galar Pokémon arrives: Sinistea with Allister (JN091), Drakloak (JN092), Toxtricity in both forms and Obstagoon with Team Yell (JN099), Applin and Thwackey, which completes the Galar starter lines (JN101), Cursola (JN106), Hatterene, Frosmoth, Runerigus, Sandaconda and the Legendary Regieleki and Regidrago in the Crown Tundra (JN113), Snom, Pincurchin, Hattrem, Toxel and Clobbopus in the Wyndon crowd (JN115), Morgrem and Stonjourner (JN127) and Leon’s Mr. Rime (JN129); Rillaboom, Gossifleur, Dottler, Eldegoss, Thievul, Dubwool, Perrserker, Cramorant, Arrokuda, Flapple and Virizion make their TV-episode debuts. Forms debut too — Ash’s Gigantamax Gengar (JN092), Galarian Corsola (JN092), Galarian Slowbro and Slowking (JN097), Marnie’s Gigantamax Grimmsnarl (JN099), Galarian Darmanitan (JN113), Galarian Darumaka and Zigzagoon (JN115), Galarian Meowth (JN127), Jungle Pattern Vivillon (JN133) and Leon’s Gigantamax Cinderace (JN132) — and Hatenna (JN139) is the final Pokémon debut of Ash’s series. Generation IX is glimpsed only in Japan’s afterwords, from the Sprigatito that Team Rocket meet after JN133. Long absences end everywhere: Erika returns after 1,153 episodes (JN094), Spiritomb after 654 (JN091), Typhlosion after 858 and Articuno after 777 (JN102), Steven’s Aggron after 907 (JN118), Misty’s Starmie after 1,164 (JN140) and Ash’s Butterfree after 1,200 (JN136).
Sinistea#0854 · JN091 · debut; Allister’s
Drakloak#0886 · JN092 · debut
Toxtricity#0849 · JN099 · debut, in both forms
Obstagoon#0862 · JN099 · debut
Rillaboom#0812 · JN099 · TV-episode debut
Gossifleur#0829 · JN100 · TV-episode debut; Goh’s
Applin#0840 · JN101 · debut
Thwackey#0811 · JN101 · debut, completing the Galar starter lines
Cursola#0864 · JN106 · debut
Hatterene#0858 · JN113 · debut; Gary’s
Frosmoth#0873 · JN113 · debut, in the Crown Tundra
Runerigus#0867 · JN113 · debut
Sandaconda#0844 · JN113 · debut
Regieleki#0894 · JN113 · debut; caught by Goh
Regidrago#0895 · JN113 · debut; caught by Gary
Snom#0872 · JN115 · debut, in the Wyndon crowd
Pincurchin#0871 · JN115 · debut, in the Wyndon crowd
Hattrem#0857 · JN115 · debut, in the Wyndon crowd
Toxel#0848 · JN115 · debut, in the Wyndon crowd
Clobbopus#0852 · JN115 · debut, in the Wyndon crowd
Dottler#0825 · JN115 · TV-episode debut
Eldegoss#0830 · JN115 · TV-episode debut
Morgrem#0860 · JN127 · debut
Stonjourner#0874 · JN127 · debut
Thievul#0828 · JN127 · TV-episode debut; the Nickit trio evolve
Dubwool#0832 · JN127 · TV-episode debut
Perrserker#0863 · JN127 · TV-episode debut
Cramorant#0845 · JN127 · TV-episode debut, in its Gulping Form
Arrokuda#0846 · JN127 · TV-episode debut
Mr. Rime#0866 · JN129 · debut; Leon’s
Flapple#0841 · JN131 · TV-episode debut
Virizion#0640 · JN133 · TV-episode debut; Horace’s
Hatenna#0856 · JN139 · debut — the last Pokémon debut of Ash’s series
Key Events, the Masters Eight Tournament & Project Mew
Events of note
- Allister drives a Spiritomb’s spirit out of Ash; Goh obtains Shedinja (JN091 – The Spectral Express!)
- Ash’s Gengar Gigantamaxes for the first time; Goh catches a Galarian Corsola (JN092 – The Winding Path to Greatness!)
- Billy Kametz’s last episode as Ren (JN093 – It’s All in the Name!)
- Erika returns after 1,153 episodes; Chloe meets Leafeon (JN094 – Suffering the Flings and Arrows!)
- Butch and Cassidy’s last appearance; the day Pokémon Legends: Arceus was released (JN095 – The Good, The Bad, and The Lucky!)
- Goh catches Slowpoke, his hundredth Pokémon (JN097 – An Evolution in Taste!)
- Chloe receives a Fire Stone and a Thunder Stone (JN098 – Out of Their Elements!)
- Ash beats Marnie: rank 15 (JN099 – Battling Turned Up to Eleven!)
- Ash trains with Leon, who beats Flint; Goh catches Gossifleur (JN100 – Meeting Up with the Monarch!)
- Project Mew’s first trial: the Articuno Raid Battle is lost (JN102 – Battling in the Freezing Raid!)
- Sirfetch’d learns Meteor Assault and Dracovish Dragon Rush; Bunnelby evolves into Diggersby (JN103 – The Future is Now, Thanks to Strategy!)
- Ash beats Drasna: rank 9; the anime’s 25th-anniversary special in Japan (JN104 – Taking Two For The Team!)
- Chloe’s first Contest; Serena and Sylveon; Ash’s second Rain Badge (JN105 – Reuniting for the First Time!)
- Greninja returns; Lucario Mega Evolves in sync with Ash; Froakie evolves into Frogadier (JN108 – Catching the Aura of Fate!)
- Ash beats Raihan and enters the Masters Eight at rank 8 (JN109 – Aim For The Eight!)
- Horace wins Project Mew’s battle royal (JN110 – Narrowing the Chaser Chase!)
- Lillie’s family find Mohn (JN111 – The Homecoming Crown!)
- Ash’s Alola homecoming and Battle Royal (JN112 – Helping the Hometown Hero!)
- Goh catches Regieleki and Gary Regidrago; the three new Chasers are chosen (JN113 – Chasing to the Finish!)
- Ash beats Paul at Professor Oak’s lab (JN114 – Friends, Rivals, Lend Me Your Spirit!)
- The Masters Eight Tournament opens; Leon beats Alain (JN115 – Curtain Up! Fight the Fights!)
- Diantha beats Lance (JN116 – Pride of a Champion!)
- Cynthia beats Iris (JN117 – The Fiery Road to Mastership!)
- Ash beats Steven (JN118 – Battling as Hard as Stone!)
- The first of four Japan-only clip shows (JN119 – Koharu and Eievui – The Miracle of Evolution)
- Leon beats Diantha (JN122 – It’s… Champion Time!)
- Pikachu’s last official defeat, to Spiritomb’s Destiny Bond (JN123 – Bewitch, Battle, and Bewilder!)
- Ash beats Cynthia (JN125 – Whittle While You Work!)
- Goh entrusts Eternatus to Leon and leaves for Project Mew (JN127 – Just a Scone’s Throw From Here!)
- The last undubbed episode of Journeys (JN128 – Climax! The Night Before the Decisive Battle! Satoshi VS Dande!!)
- Eternatus appears over Wyndon Stadium (JN131 – Paring Pokémon While Parrying!)
- Ash beats Leon and becomes Monarch and World Champion (JN132 – Partners in Time!)
- Goh befriends Mew; Project Mew is disbanded for now (JN134 – In the Palms of our Hands!)
- Ash and Goh part ways; Ash is reunited with Butterfree (JN136 – This Could be the Start of Something Big!)
- To Be a Pokémon Master begins; Ash rescues Latias (JN137 – The Road Most Traveled!)
- Misty beats Ash and rejoins him (JN138 – A Fated Face-Off!)
- Brock rejoins Ash; Cilan’s last appearance; Hatenna, the final Pokémon debut (JN139 – Must Be Our Heroes and the Witch!)
- Ash is reunited with Squirtle and the Squirtle Squad (JN141 – A Squad’s Worth of Passion!)
- Ash is reunited with Lapras (JN143 – Ride, Lapras, Ride!)
- Jessie and James get their old Pokémon back; Team Rocket split up (JN145 – Rocket Revengers!)
- Latios is freed; Latias and Latios return to Alto Mare (JN146 – Ash and Latios)
- Pidgeot rejoins Ash; the last episode with Ash and Pikachu as protagonists (JN147 – The Rainbow and the Pokémon Master!)
- Ash receives a new hat from his father (JNS05 – Distant Blue Sky!)
World Coronation Series, Masters Eight & other battles
- Ash (Gengar, Gigantamax) beats Marnie (Grimmsnarl, Gigantamax) → rank 15 — JN099
- World Coronation Series: Leon (Charizard) beats Flint (Infernape) — JN100
- Project Mew trial: Ash, Goh, Gary and Horace v Articuno (Raid Battle lost; tokens Goh 3, Gary 4, Horace 4) — JN102
- Double Battle: Ash (Sirfetch’d, Dracovish) beats Clemont (Luxray, Diggersby) — JN103
- Ash (Sirfetch’d, Dracovish) beats the Elite Four’s Drasna (Noivern, Mega Altaria) → rank 9, the top of the Ultra Class — JN104
- Ash (Pikachu) beats Wallace (Milotic) → a second Rain Badge — JN105
- Masters Eight entrance battle: Ash (Dragonite, Gengar, Lucario) beats Raihan (Flygon, Goodra, Duraludon) → rank 8 and the Master Class — JN109
- Project Mew trial: the Sea Mauville survival match — Horace first, Goh second — JN110
- Alola Battle Royal: Ash, Kukui, Kiawe and Gladion (with Lillie’s Nihilego) — Ash v Kukui unresolved — JN112
- Project Mew final mission: Goh catches Regieleki and Gary Regidrago; Goh and Gary win a Tag Battle against Lyla and Sterling — JN113
- Training battle: Ash beats Paul (Gyarados, Garchomp, Metagross) two to one — JN114
- Exhibition: Ash (Pikachu) beats Hop (Wooloo) — JN115
- Quarterfinal: Leon (Rillaboom, Charizard) beats Alain (Chesnaught, Mega Charizard X, Malamar) — JN115
- Quarterfinal: Diantha (Aurorus, Gourgeist, Mega Gardevoir) beats Lance (Dragonite, red Gyarados, Hydreigon) — JN116
- Quarterfinal: Cynthia (Gastrodon, Milotic, Mega Garchomp) beats Iris (Excadrill, Dragonite, Haxorus) — JN116–JN117
- Quarterfinal: Ash (Dracovish, Gengar, Pikachu) beats Steven (Mega Metagross, Aggron, Cradily) — JN118
- Semifinal: Leon beats Diantha in a Full Battle, losing only Rillaboom — JN122
- Semifinal: Ash beats Cynthia in a Full Battle, decided by Mega Lucario’s Reversal — JN123–JN125
- Final: Ash beats Leon in a Full Battle, Pikachu beating Charizard → Monarch and World Champion — JN129–JN132
- Project Mew: the Faraway Island expedition — JN133–JN134
- Raid Battle: Ash and Goh v Lugia (called off) — JN135–JN136
- Misty (Politoed) beats Ash (Corphish) — Ash’s last proper Trainer battle — JN138
- Ash and Latios v the Pokémon hunter’s Hydreigon — JN146
- Pikachu beats Len’s Machamp — JNS05
The road to the Masters Eight

Ash begins the season in the Ultra Class of the World Coronation Series. Misdirected by Team Yell to Spikemuth, he meets Marnie and beats her at Wyndon Stadium in a one-on-one battle between Gigantamax Gengar and Gigantamax Grimmsnarl, which ends with Gengar’s Shadow Ball after a Stomping Tantrum: he is 15th (JN099). In Kalos, after Clemont’s training machines have taught Sirfetch’d Meteor Assault and Dracovish Dragon Rush (JN103), he beats the Elite Four’s Drasna: Sirfetch’d’s Meteor Assault knocks out her Mega Altaria before fainting, and Dracovish’s Dragon Rush overpowers Noivern’s Dragon Pulse. Ash is 9th, at the top of the Ultra Class — his only win over an Elite Four member (JN104). Meanwhile Leon beats Flint’s Infernape with Charizard’s Dragon Claw, and Flint later drops out of the Master Class (JN100).
The last entrance battle is against Raihan at Hammerlocke Stadium, three-on-three with free switching and one power-up each. Raihan’s Flygon hands Dragonite its first defeat; Gigantamax Gengar, using Max Starfall for the first time, knocks out Flygon and goes down together with Goodra; and when Raihan Gigantamaxes Duraludon, Lucario answers with the Giant Aura Sphere — a G-Max-style Aura Sphere in Japanese — to win. Ash rises to 8th and the Master Class, completing the Masters Eight: Leon, Cynthia, Steven, Lance, Diantha, Alain, Iris and Ash (JN109).
The Masters Eight Tournament

The tournament at Wyndon Stadium (JN115–JN132) seeds its eight finalists by random shuffle. The quarterfinals are three-on-three, with no time limit and free switching, and each Trainer may use one of Dynamax, Mega Evolution or a Z-Move; the semifinals and the final are six-on-six Full Battles under the same one-power-up rule, refereed by Dan, and the prize is the Monarch’s golden trophy. Leon, the undefeated Galar Champion and Monarch, is joined by every current regional Champion — Cynthia, Steven, Lance, Diantha and Iris — as well as Alain, winner of the Lumiose Conference, and Ash, the Alola Champion: the first time all the Champions appear together.
In the quarterfinals Leon Gigantamaxes Rillaboom at once against Alain’s Chesnaught; Alain’s Charizard knocks out Rillaboom with Flare Blitz, but Leon’s Charizard beats Malamar and then Mega Charizard X with a point-blank Dragon Pulse (JN115). Diantha’s Gourgeist and Mega Gardevoir beat Lance’s red Gyarados, Hydreigon and Dynamax Dragonite (JN116). Iris’s Excadrill knocks out Gastrodon with Horn Drill, but Cynthia’s Milotic beats Excadrill and Dragonite, and after Haxorus beats Milotic, Mega Garchomp’s Draco Meteor bursts through its Dragon Pulse (JN116–JN117). Ash’s Dracovish damages Steven’s Metagross before falling to Aggron; Gengar burns and outlasts Aggron but falls to Cradily; and Pikachu beats Cradily and then Mega Metagross with a curving 10,000,000 Volt Thunderbolt and Iron Tail — Steven’s first on-screen loss (JN118).
In the first semifinal Leon routs Diantha, partly off screen while Ash, Goh and Cynthia search for Toria: she uses her six in her X and Y team order, Rillaboom alone knocks out four of them, and after Gardevoir beats Rillaboom, Leon’s Gigantamax Charizard defeats Mega Gardevoir with G-Max Wildfire — Diantha’s first defeat on screen (JN122). The second, Ash against Cynthia, takes three episodes. Spiritomb beats Dragonite with Hypnosis and Dream Eater and Gengar with Sucker Punch; Pikachu slices through Gastrodon’s Stone Edge with Iron Tail to win, then falls together with Spiritomb to Destiny Bond, its last official defeat (JN123). Dracovish beats Roserade while poisoned and falls to Milotic’s Iron Head; Sirfetch’d clears Garchomp’s Stealth Rock with Brutal Swing, beats Milotic with Meteor Assault and faints standing against Garchomp’s Draco Meteor (JN124). Cynthia Dynamaxes Togekiss, but Mega Lucario beats it with the Giant Aura Sphere and Bullet Punch and outlasts Garchomp with Reversal — both fall, and Lucario rises (JN125). At least one move of every type is used, making it the only battle in the anime with that distinction.
The final: Ash vs Leon

For the final Leon asks that Ash be allowed all three power-ups, and the World Coronation Series management agrees (JN129). Pikachu and Cinderace open, Libero turning Cinderace into a Ground type, before both are recalled. Gigantamax Gengar traps Inteleon with G-Max Terror and beats it with Max Ooze, though Inteleon’s critical Dark Pulse shrinks Gengar back to normal size, and Mr. Rime, its Freeze-Dry disabled by Gengar’s Cursed Body, beats Gengar with Psychic Terrain and Expanding Force (JN129). Sirfetch’d breaks the terrain with Fury Cutter; Mega Lucario beats Mr. Rime with an Aura Sphere guided by its Aura; Dracovish’s spikes glow red against Dragapult; Dragapult beats Lucario with Thunderbolt and Flamethrower; and Dragonite’s “Dragonite Meteor” beats Dragapult (JN130). Rillaboom beats Dragonite with Drum Beating and Acrobatics, then Sirfetch’d; Dracovish beats Rillaboom with Ice Fang and Dragon Rush; Cinderace beats Dracovish with High Jump Kick; and Pikachu’s 10,000,000 Volt Thunderbolt meets Gigantamax Charizard’s G-Max Wildfire, the clash rousing Eternatus (JN131).
Eternatus stabilises the Galar particles and recharges both Dynamax Bands. Gigantamax Pikachu’s G-Max Volt Crash beats Gigantamax Cinderace’s G-Max Fireball — the last move to debut in the series — making Ash the first Trainer to Gigantamax two Pokémon in one battle and Pikachu the first Pokémon to use a Z-Move and Gigantamax in the same battle. In the last exchange, Thunderbolt against Fire Blast, Pikachu is rallied by a vision of every Pokémon Ash has ever owned and beats Charizard. Ash becomes the Monarch and World Champion, his team helps him lift the heavy golden trophy, and Leon, beaten on screen for the first time, calls himself “just another challenger” (JN132). After Leon’s loss every regional Champion has lost at least one battle on screen, counting Alder’s forfeit in BW052. In Japan the episode aired on 11 November 2022 with a live-streamed support special and screenings of the victory ceremony in Shibuya, and The Pokémon Company announced Ash’s victory in a press release the same day.
Project Mew
Goh’s trial missions for Project Mew run through the season. In the Seafoam Islands he, Gary and Horace each use three Pokémon in a Raid Battle against Articuno, which they lose, though tokens are awarded — three to Goh, four each to Gary and Horace (JN102). On Sea Mauville a field-research survival match is won by Horace, his Gardevoir’s Moonblast handing Inteleon its first defeat, with Goh second and the rivals Sterling and Lyla scoring one token each (JN110). The final mission, in the Crown Tundra’s Split-Decision Ruins, is to catch Regieleki and Regidrago: Goh and Gary win a Tag Battle against Lyla and Sterling with Cinderace and Blastoise, Goh catches Regieleki and Gary catches Regidrago and Gary (15 tokens), Horace (11) and Goh become the three new Chasers (JN113).
Summoned by Project Mew, Goh entrusts Eternatus to Leon and leaves Ash in Wyndon (JN127). While the final is being fought, the Chasers explore Faraway Island, where Horace reveals a Virizion and every Chaser now owns a Legendary Pokémon (JN133). The “Groudon” and “Kyogre” they find there turn out to be Mew transformed; a crystal shows them the birth of the universe, and Goh’s gratitude stops Mew’s rampage; it lands on his palm. Project Mew is disbanded for now (JN134).
Chloe and Eevee
Chloe’s search for Eevee’s future takes her to every remaining Eeveelution. she meets Erika’s Leafeon at the rebuilt Celadon Gym (JN094); two trapeze artists’ Eevee, Bernice and Toril, evolve by mistake into Jolteon and Flareon, and Chloe is given a Fire Stone and a Thunder Stone (JN098); and at the Lilycove Contest Spectacular she makes her debut in the Normal Rank, with a Contest Pass and Pokéblock Case from Lisia, and meets Serena’s Sylveon, the last Eeveelution on her list, while Serena and Lisia tie in the Master Rank (JN105). In Alola Lana suggests that Eevee might stay as it is (JN112); a camping trip with her family and a Clefairy Moon Stone ritual make Chloe want to study evolution (JN120); and in JN136 she becomes the Cerise Laboratory’s weekend research fellow. No decision is ever shown, and her Eevee ends the series unevolved.
To Be a Pokémon Master
Ash’s last journey brings back old friends and old Pokémon rather than new rivals. Misty, who has left the Cerulean Gym to her sisters, beats him in a seaside one-on-one, her Politoed learning Bounce, Focus Blast and Hydro Pump against Corphish — Ash’s last proper Trainer battle and his first loss to a companion since BW042 — before catching a Clauncher and rejoining him (JN138). Brock, a travelling companion again for the first time in 567 episodes, and Cilan join them against a Hatterene “forest witch” (JN139). Ash is reunited with Squirtle and the Squirtle Squad (JN141) and with Lapras (JN143), returns a Banette to Nurse Joy (JN144) and, with Latias, frees Latios from a Pokémon hunter’s Hydreigon and petrifying blaster, Swellow learning Air Slash in the fight (JN146).
Team Rocket’s story ends in parallel: Jessie and James get every one of their Pokémon back from headquarters, a ploy with Mime Jr. brings Latias out of hiding, and the trio split up (JN145); they meet again in Viridian Forest, make up and resume the chase as Ash leaves Pallet Town (JN147). In the finale Misty and Brock go home, Tracey’s Venonat evolves, Gary asks Ash how much closer becoming World Champion has brought him to being a Pokémon Master, and Pidgeot returns to cut Pikachu free from Team Rocket’s net and rejoin Ash. Under a rainbow Ash gives his answer: a Pokémon Master is someone who has befriended every Pokémon in the world (JN147). In the dub the season closes with Distant Blue Sky!, in which Pikachu beats Len’s Machamp and Ash shares the feeling of touching Pikachu with a ghost boy, Sunny, through his Aura (JNS05).
Other battles & contests
Ash’s Sirfetch’d and Dracovish beat Clemont’s Luxray and Diggersby in a Double Battle (JN103); Pikachu beats Wallace’s Milotic in an informal battle in Lilycove, and Wallace gives Ash a second Rain Badge — the only time he has received a Badge he already owned (JN105); and in Alola Ash, Professor Kukui, Kiawe and Gladion, using Lillie’s Nihilego, fight a homecoming Battle Royal in which Marowak knocks out Nihilego and Incineroar’s Darkest Lariat knocks out Marowak, but the final clash of 10,000,000 Volt Thunderbolt and Malicious Moonsault is never resolved (JN112). At Professor Oak’s lab, with all of Ash’s Pokémon watching, Ash beats Paul two to one against Gyarados, Garchomp and Metagross, the aces of Lance, Cynthia and Steven (JN114), and before the tournament he beats Leon’s brother Hop, Pikachu against Wooloo (JN115). Ash and Goh’s Lugia Raid Battle is called off, and Lugia carries them on a flight across the world, where they glimpse Ho-Oh (JN135–JN136).
Movies & Specials Released During the Season
No new Pokémon film was released during the season. The twenty-third movie, Pokémon the Movie: Secrets of the Jungle, had reached Netflix on 8 October 2021, two months before JN091 aired; within the season’s window it came out digitally in the US in August 2022 and on DVD on 18 October 2022, three days before Ultimate Journeys arrived on Netflix, and TV Tokyo gave it its terrestrial premiere in the anime’s slot on 18 November 2022 — the day Pokémon Scarlet and Violet were released, when no new episode aired. Like the special Distant Blue Sky!, it belongs to the continuity of I Choose You! and The Power of Us.
Pokémon: The Arceus Chronicles (ポケットモンスター 神とよばれし アルセウス, JNS01–JNS04), four special episodes promoting Pokémon Legends: Arceus, were released in Japan on Amazon Prime Video in pairs on 21 and 28 January 2022, the weeks of JN094 and JN095. Written by Atsuhiro Tomioka, they take Ash and Goh to Sinnoh, where a message from Arceus, Team Galactic’s commanders and a rampaging Heatran lead to Dialga, Palkia, Giratina and Cynthia at Mount Coronet; they also reveal that Brock’s Chansey has become a Blissey. In English they were combined into a 63-minute film, screened at the Pokémon World Championships in London on 19 August 2022 and released on Netflix worldwide outside Asia on 23 September 2022, a month before Ultimate Journeys; a Japanese DVD had come out on 3 August 2022.
Distant Blue Sky! (ポケットモンスター 遥かなる青い空, JNS05), a TV special written by Shōji Yonemura and storyboarded by Kunihiko Yuyama, aired on TV Tokyo on 23 December 2022, the Friday after JN136, with no opening, ending or title card and archive narration by the late Unshō Ishizuka. Set in the world of the I Choose You! films, it follows Ash on his way to meet his father and ends with his father’s gift of a new Pokémon League Expo hat. Japan does not count it as an episode and has not released it on video, but the dub made it the season’s 54th episode, released on Netflix on 8 September 2023. TV Tokyo also filled the slot with a Pocket Monsters: Aim to Be a Pokémon Master special on 6 January 2023, an anime music festival on 31 March and a preview of the new series on 7 April 2023.
Side Stories, Specials & Crossovers
Side-story tie-ins

- Pokémon: Hisuian Snow. WIT STUDIO’s three-part web series, directed by Ken Yamamoto and released on YouTube and Pokémon TV on 18 May, 8 June and 22 June 2022, follows Alec as he remembers his first journey to ancient Hisui with his father. The last of the eight Pokémon Evolutions shorts, “The Discovery”, had appeared on 23 December 2021, the week after JN091.
- Pokémon Horizons: The Series. On 16 December 2022, the day JN136 ended the Pocket Monsters arc, The Pokémon Company announced that Ash and Pikachu’s story would close with an eleven-episode final chapter and that a new series starring Liko and Roy would follow. Horizons premiered in Japan on 14 April 2023 with a one-hour special — the first series not to feature Ash and Pikachu as main characters — and reached the US on 7 March 2024; a Horizons preview followed JN144 in Japan.
- Pokémon: Paldean Winds and more. WIT STUDIO’s Paldean Winds, directed by Ryohei Takeshita, began on YouTube with “Breathe Out” on 6 September 2023, two days before Netflix’s final part, and Pokémon Concierge, a stop-motion series for Netflix, was announced at Pokémon Presents on 27 February 2023.
Characters from the games, manga and specials

- Pokémon Legends: Arceus came out on 28 January 2022: JN094 was the last episode to air in Japan before it and JN095 premiered the same day, The Arceus Chronicles promoted it, and Mimey is recoloured from JN135 after its Legends: Arceus and HOME model. Several pairings nod to Pokémon Masters EX sync pairs, among them Erika’s Leafeon (JN094) and Leon and Eternatus (JN127).
- Pokémon Scarlet and Violet were released on 18 November 2022. JN132 was the last episode in Japan before them; JN133 was the first after, and its afterword, in which Team Rocket meet a Sprigatito, brought the first Generation IX Pokémon and the first mention of Paldea to the anime, with Fuecoco and Quaxly following in later “Team Rocket Expedition” segments (JN134, JN135). That made Journeys the first anime series focused on a generation not to end within that generation; JN125’s scarlet sunset and violet starry sky may also nod to the games.
- Sword and Shield’s expansions supply the Max Soup and Max Mushrooms that let Gengar Gigantamax (JN092) and the Crown Tundra of JN111 and JN113, whose Dynamax Regigigas references a hidden Max Raid Battle in the games’ Giant’s Bed and whose unseen mission to follow three sets of virtuous footprints references the Swords of Justice quest. Team Rocket’s radio show (JN106) refers back to their 2012 radio programme Team Rocket’s Secret Empire, and Alain’s new Chesnaught and Malamar later received Mega Evolutions in Pokémon Legends: Z-A.
- The films become canon. JN146 sends Latias and Latios home to Alto Mare, past Bianca, confirming Pokémon Heroes as part of the series, and its background music reuses the film’s score; Distant Blue Sky! ties into the I Choose You! trilogy, and Ash’s new hat is his original Pokémon League Expo cap. Brock’s Blissey first appeared in The Arceus Chronicles, and Kunihiko Yuyama, the original chief director, storyboarded JN136 — with a cameo as a Trainer battling Ash with a Lapras — and JNS05.
Opening & Ending Themes
In Japan, the season opens with Mafumafu’s 1·2·3, still in the version by Karaage Sisters (Erika Ikuta and Sayuri Matsumura of Nogizaka46) until JN099; from JN100 Ash and Goh’s voice actors, Rica Matsumoto and Daiki Yamashita, sing it as Satoshi & Go. Counting JN001 and JN136, which use it as their ending, it ran for 136 consecutive episodes, beating Together’s record of 94. The ending is Pokémon Music Club’s Supereffective Type, which teaches type match-ups. For the final eleven episodes Rica Matsumoto sings a 25th-anniversary arrangement of the 1997 opening, Aim to Be a Pokémon Master, and the endings go back to the original series: One Hundred Fifty-One, Takeshi’s Paradise, Riding on Lapras, Face Forward Team Rocket! and, for the finale, the 1998 recording of Type: Wild. In English, Echosmith’s “With You” opens JN091 to JN136 and Ben Dixon and The Sad Truth’s “Gotta Catch Em All”, a new arrangement of the original Pokémon Theme, the final arc, making this the first English season with more than one opening theme on television since Advanced. Yūki Hayashi composed the series’ music, and Shinji Miyazaki’s scores for earlier series and films are often reused.











Past themes return as insert songs: Meowth’s Ballad and Team Rocket’s Team Song in JN095, the first older theme used as an insert in Journeys; the Slowpoke Song in JN097; 1·2·3 in JN107; an instrumental of Aim to Be a Pokémon Master as Pikachu fires 10,000,000 Volt Thunderbolt at Steven (JN118); and the 1997 Aim to Be a Pokémon Master itself during the final clash with Leon (JN132), which the dub replaces with the Pokémon Theme. Goodnight, My Pikachu -2017 ver.- plays in JN142 (an instrumental of the twentieth movie’s ending in the dub), and JN145 uses Takeshi’s Paradise and both versions of Team Rocket’s Team Song. From JN137 Team Rocket’s motto music includes vocals for the first time, the score borrows from Shinji Miyazaki’s music for Kyurem VS. The Sword of Justice (JN122, JN125) and Pokémon Heroes (JN145–JN146), and JN147 ends with an arrangement of the Red and Green title-screen music.
“With You” — Echosmith’s English opening, used for JN091 to JN136, in the sing-along version on the official channel. Video: The Official Pokémon YouTube channel.
TV Broadcasts & Original Airing Dates

Japan. TV Tokyo broadcast the season on Fridays at 6:55 p.m., the slot the series had held since October 2020, beginning with The Spectral Express! (JN091) on 17 December 2021. There was no episode on 31 December or 7 January; JN095 aired on 28 January 2022, the day Pokémon Legends: Arceus was released, and JN103 and JN104 were shown together as a one-hour special on 1 April 2022 for the anime’s 25th anniversary. JN106, first scheduled for 8 April, aired on 15 April. After JN115 on 17 June the series paused for two weeks, and the four clip shows took the slots of 29 July (JN119), 12 August (JN121), 23 September (JN126) and 14 October 2022 (JN128), with no episode on 19 August or 7 October. Partners in Time! (JN132), in which Ash wins the title, aired on 11 November 2022 with a live-streamed support special; on 18 November, the day Scarlet and Violet came out, TV Tokyo showed Secrets of the Jungle instead. JN136 closed the Pocket Monsters arc on 16 December 2022, and the special Distant Blue Sky! followed on 23 December. No Japanese ratings have been found.
Aim to Be a Pokémon Master. On 16 December 2022 The Pokémon Company announced that Ash and Pikachu’s story would end with an eleven-episode final chapter, Pocket Monsters: Aim to Be a Pokémon Master, with Kunihiko Yuyama back as chief director, Atsuhiro Tomioka as series composer, a new arrangement of the 1997 opening and the original series’ endings. After a special on 6 January 2023 it ran from JN137 on 13 January to the series finale, The Rainbow and the Pokémon Master! (JN147), on 24 March 2023, about a week before the anime’s 26th anniversary, with highlights of Ash’s journey shown at Shinjuku Station. A music festival special (31 March) and a preview of the new series (7 April) filled the slot until Pokémon Horizons premiered on 14 April 2023.
The US: Netflix. The Pokémon Company International announced Pokémon Ultimate Journeys: The Series as the 25th season on 11 May 2022, and it premiered on Netflix in the US in four parts: JN091–JN102 (12 episodes) on Friday 21 October 2022; JN103–JN117 (15) on 24 February 2023; JN118, JN120, JN122–JN125, JN127 and JN129–JN136 (15) on 23 June 2023; and the final twelve, JN137–JN147 with JNS05, on 8 September 2023 under the separate title Pokémon: To Be a Pokémon Master: Ultimate Journeys: The Series. That last part, announced at San Diego Comic-Con for the US and Latin America, arrived 25 years to the day after the first English episode aired on US television, on 8 September 1998. The four clip shows were never released, the season was never shown on US broadcast television, and Netflix published no viewing figures.
Canada, the UK, Australia and South Africa. Canada’s Teletoon gave every episode its first English broadcast, on Saturdays from 28 May 2022 (JN091) to 29 July 2023 (JNS05) — JN118 aired there on 17 December 2022, six months before Netflix, and JN147 on 22 July 2023. Australian iTunes released several episodes even earlier: JN111 on 18 October 2022 and JN113 to JN115 between 30 October and 13 November 2022, within two days of the tournament’s conclusion in Japan. In the UK, POP began weekday runs on 1 September 2022 (JN091–JN102 by 16 September, JN105–JN117 in January 2023, JN120–JN130 from 3 April 2023), cutting about six seconds of the opening before JN118; Australia’s 9Go! began on 15 September 2022; and South Africa’s e.tv aired the season on Tuesdays from 2 August 2022 to 8 August 2023.
The numbering. The English season has 54 episodes, numbered 1 to 54 on Bulbapedia, on Netflix’s first listing and on the DVD: JN091–JN118 are 1–28, JN120 is 29, JN122–JN125 are 30–33, JN127 is 34, JN129–JN147 are 35–53 and JNS05 is 54. Netflix numbers To Be a Pokémon Master separately, 1 to 12, so its main listing has 42 episodes. In Japan the season is the last 57 episodes of Pocket Monsters — JN091 to JN136 of its first arc, which Japanese Wikipedia counts as 136 episodes, and the eleven of Aim to Be a Pokémon Master — plus the uncounted special. English Wikipedia numbers the dubbed regular episodes 1171 to 1223 in English and the Japanese episodes 1178 to 1234, and Bulbapedia’s alternate codes run from EP1176 to EP1232.
Dub Edits & the Undubbed Clip Shows
The four undubbed clip shows
Four episodes of the Japanese run were never dubbed: Koharu and Eievui – The Miracle of Evolution (JN119, 29 July 2022), a “Mime Channel” special hosted by Chrysa and Mimey on Chloe and her Eevee; The Climax Begins! Satoshi’s Masters Tournament Experience!! (JN121, 12 August 2022) and Climax! The Night Before the Decisive Battle! Satoshi VS Dande!! (JN128, 14 October 2022), World Coronation Series news programmes that recap the Masters Eight Tournament before the semifinals and the final; and GO FOR DREAM! Go’s Road to Mew!! (JN126, 23 September 2022), in which Grookey unlocks Goh’s Rotom Phone and looks back at his journey. They are recap episodes, built from earlier footage around a short new framing story, with no staff credits and no main character appearing in person.
They were not banned. Bulbapedia’s season page says simply that the season “skips JN119, JN121, JN126, and JN128, due to those episodes being clip shows”: none was dubbed into any language, Netflix never released them, and Dogasu’s Backpack lists all four with “-NO ENGLISH TITLE-”. Outside Japan only South Korea showed JN121 and JN128. The English season instead closes with the special Distant Blue Sky! (JNS05), so it still has 54 episodes, and no other episode was skipped or cut. The four are the first regular-broadcast clip shows since DP120, the first time more than two aired in one series and the first main-series episodes in which no main character appears in person; JN128 is the last episode of Journeys left undubbed. Japan’s rental DVDs include them in volumes 40 to 43.
Changes in the English version

Who made the dub. The Pokémon Company International produced the English version, recorded by Iyuno and Goldcrest Post, with James Carter Cathcart as script adapter for the last time. Nothing was banned, and the only episodes skipped are the four clip shows. Dogasu’s Backpack has no comparison pages for the 2019 series, so the changes below come from the “Dub edits” sections of Bulbapedia’s episode pages.
On-screen text. As throughout Journeys, the Japanese captions naming places are removed — Wyndon, Stow-on-Side, the Celadon Gym, the Mossdeep Space Center, Spikemuth, Wyndon Stadium, the Seafoam Islands, Kalos, Lilycove, Hammerlocke Stadium, Sea Mauville, the Crown Tundra, Alola, Professor Oak’s Laboratory, Slateport and Faraway Island — along with Pokémon name captions (JN094, JN095, JN127), the Z-Move captions of JN112, JN118 and JN131 and Professor Oak’s senryū (JN137). From JN137 the “To Be Continued” text is removed, and JN147 loses its closing “Next Time… A New Beginning!” card. The title cards of JN095, JN106 and JN145, which show Team Rocket or Meowth in Japanese, show Pikachu in the dub.
Dialogue. Ash’s explicit mention of zombies becomes “something is coming out of the ground” (JN091); Goh’s congratulations become cheering (JN092); Goh calls Grookey male (JN096); the Rotom Phone does not give Galarian Slowking’s type (JN097); the Ingredients Seller becomes a “Hiker” (JN101); Ash’s comparison of Lucario’s attack to a G-Max move becomes the “Giant Aura Sphere” (JN109, JN125), although Pokémon.com and most other dubs keep the G-Max wording; Gary names Thunder Cage, an “electric cage” in Japanese (JN113); Iris is introduced as a “Dragon Master” rather than an aspiring one (JN115); Brock flirts to a modified first line of the Pokémon Theme instead of Aim to Be a Pokémon Master (JN141); and in JNS05 the “Tonari Town” where Ash’s father waits is left unnamed.
Music and sound. In the final the 1997 Aim to Be a Pokémon Master becomes the Pokémon Theme, the muffling of Pikachu’s panting is removed, and Kingler and Nebby, audible in Japanese, are silent, while Larvitar, Melmetal and Naganadel are heard only in the dub (JN132). In JN136 the theme plays at the beginning instead of the end, a Lugia cry that explains Ash’s understanding of it is removed, and the shortened credits lose the Cerise Laboratory scene and Danika and Quillon’s scene. Goodnight, My Pikachu becomes an instrumental of the twentieth movie’s ending (JN142), a Black & White track is dropped (JN144), Takeshi’s Paradise becomes instrumental and Brock’s maracas disappear (JN145), and Type: Wild is replaced with a piano arrangement of the first English opening (JN147). Beartic freezes Ash only partly in the international versions, completely in Japanese (JN140).
Fixes and slips. The dub fixes Togedemaru’s lip sync (JN096) and the layering of Eevee’s tail (JN107), but Ray Chase is credited twice in JN105, the credits of “With You” and “Gotta Catch Em All” list Shūhei Yasuda as “Series Construction”, the closed captions misspell Erika as “Erica” (JN094) and garble the lyrics in JN132, and JNS05’s credits name Takashi Shinohara instead of Masaaki Iwane and list “With You”, though the special has no opening.
Who’s That Pokémon? In Journeys the English quiz follows Japan’s Dare da?, a magnified body part read by Ash, so both versions agree; where Japan used eyecatches of Ash, Goh and Pikachu instead, neither has a quiz. JN137 shows the answer before the break by mistake, and from JN142 the English version shows the segment in full after the break. JN147’s answer, Pikachu, was also the first, in EP001. Japan’s Poké Riddle and “Team Rocket Expedition” segments were not dubbed.
Voices and names. Billy Kametz, the voice of Ren, Ash’s Rotom Phone and Goh’s Inteleon, died on 9 June 2022 after recording JN093, and the Netflix release carries a dedication; Barrett Leddy took over Ren (JN098), the Rotom Phone (JN100) and Inteleon (JN102). Anairis Quiñones replaces Eileen Stevens as Iris (JN115), Stephen Fu and Bill Rogers replace Tom Wayland as Ash’s Gible and Boldore (JN114), Emlyn McFarland returns to the dub (JN094), Michele Knotz voices James’s Mime Jr. (JN145) and Ted Lewis reprises his original role as Tracey (JN147). James Carter Cathcart is absent only from JN144 and retired after the season following a cancer diagnosis; Sarah Natochenny misses only JN133, in which Ash does not appear. The Japanese names Koharu, Sakuragi, Renji, Dande, Kibana, Shirona, Daigo, Wataru, Carne, Kasumi, Takeshi and Dent become Chloe, Cerise, Ren, Leon, Raihan, Cynthia, Steven, Lance, Diantha, Misty, Brock and Cilan.
Episode titles explained
Many of this season’s English titles play on familiar phrases, songs, plays and films:
- Suffering the Flings and Arrows! — Hamlet’s “the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune”, for the love-struck Pinsir and Heracross
- The Good, The Bad, and The Lucky! — the 1966 western The Good, the Bad and the Ugly, for Team Rocket’s meeting with Butch and Cassidy
- Battling Turned Up to Eleven! — the phrase “turn it up to eleven”, from This Is Spinal Tap (1984), for Marnie and her rock-band fans
- A One-Stick Wonder! — the phrase “one-hit wonder”, for the Thwackey with one drumstick
- The Future is Now, Thanks to Strategy! — Clemont’s catchphrase “The future is now, thanks to science!”
- Taking Two For The Team! — the phrase “taking one for the team”, for Ash’s two-Pokémon win over Drasna
- Radio Lulled the Mischievous Stars! — the song “Video Killed the Radio Star”, for Team Rocket’s radio show
- Aim For The Eight! — the tennis manga Aim for the Ace!, as Ash battles for the Masters Eight
- The Homecoming Crown! — the American “homecoming queen”, for Mohn’s reunion with his family in the Crown Tundra
- Friends, Rivals, Lend Me Your Spirit! — Mark Antony’s “Friends, Romans, countrymen, lend me your ears” from Julius Caesar
- Bewitch, Battle, and Bewilder! — the song “Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered”, as JN030’s title had been
- Whittle While You Work! — “Whistle While You Work” from Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937)
- Just a Scone’s Throw From Here! — the phrase “just a stone’s throw away”
- Toying With Your Motions! — the phrase “toying with your emotions”
- Partners in Time! — the phrase “partners in crime”, for Ash and Pikachu’s victory
- In the Palms of our Hands! — Goh’s catchphrase about holding the future in the palm of his hand, as Mew lands on it
- This Could be the Start of Something Big! — Steve Allen’s song “This Could Be the Start of Something Big”, as Ash and Goh go their separate ways
- Must Be Our Heroes and the Witch! — Donovan’s song “Season of the Witch”, for the Hatterene “forest witch”
- Ride, Lapras, Ride! — the refrain “Ride, Sally, ride” of “Mustang Sally”, for Ash’s reunion with Lapras
- Ash and Latios — a direct translation of the Japanese title, and the first dub title since Crossing Paths, 692 episodes earlier, without “!” or “?”
DVD & Blu-ray / Streaming
Pokémon Ultimate Journeys: The Series came out in North America as a single six-disc set from VIZ Media, distributed by Warner Home Video, in July 2024, holding the 54 dubbed episodes in the English order; no separate part volumes have been found. In Japan, Shogakukan released the 57 Japanese episodes, clip shows included, on rental DVDs of three episodes each, but Distant Blue Sky! has not been released on video there. No Australian or UK DVD release of the season has been found.
North America (Region 1)
| Release | Date | Contents |
|---|---|---|
| Pokémon Ultimate Journeys: The Series – The Complete Season (VIZ Media, 6 discs) | 23 July 2024 | 54 episodes: disc 1 JN091–JN099; disc 2 JN100–JN108; disc 3 JN109–JN117; disc 4 JN118, JN120, JN122–JN125, JN127, JN129, JN130; disc 5 JN131–JN139; disc 6 JN140–JN147 and JNS05; optional English captions, creditless opening and ending |
| Pokémon the Movie: Secrets of the Jungle (DVD) | 18 October 2022 | The twenty-third movie, three days before Netflix’s first part |
Japan
Shogakukan’s rental DVDs of Pocket Monsters (2019) cover the season in volumes 31 to 45: Vol. 31 (JN091–JN093) on 28 December 2022, Vols. 32–33 on 25 January 2023, Vols. 34–35 on 22 February, Vols. 36–37 on 22 March, Vols. 38–39 on 26 April, Vols. 40–41 (JN118–JN123) on 24 May, Vols. 42–43 on 28 June, and Vols. 44 (JN130–JN132) and 45 (JN133–JN136) on 26 July 2023. Pocket Monsters: Aim to Be a Pokémon Master followed in four volumes, JN137–JN142 on 23 August 2023 and JN143–JN147 on 27 September 2023. The clip shows are included like any other episode; no Blu-ray box has been found.
The Arceus Chronicles (Pocket Monsters: Arceus, the One Called God, JNS01–JNS04, 69 minutes) came out on DVD for sale on 3 August 2022.
Streaming
Netflix premiered the season in the US in four parts between 21 October 2022 and 8 September 2023, the last twelve episodes as a separate listing, Pokémon: To Be a Pokémon Master; Part 4 was also released in Latin America. Australian iTunes sold several episodes before their Canadian broadcasts, and in Japan Amazon Prime Video carried the series, premiering The Arceus Chronicles. Check your local service, as availability changes often.
Covers
The Complete Season (Region 1, VIZ Media, 2024)
Japanese rental DVD Vol. 31, JN091–JN093 (2022)
Japanese rental DVD Vol. 41, with the undubbed clip show JN121 (2023)
Japanese rental DVD Vol. 44, the end of the final, JN130–JN132 (2023)
Aim to Be a Pokémon Master rental DVD Vol. 1, JN137–JN139 (2023)
Aim to Be a Pokémon Master rental DVD Vol. 4, JN146–JN147 (2023)
Arceus, the One Called God (The Arceus Chronicles), Japanese DVD (2022)
Where to Watch & Buy
Availability changes constantly, so treat this as a snapshot (October 2026) and check your local service. Links will be added here once we have settled on referral partners.
- NetflixPremiered the season in the US in four parts from 21 October 2022 to 8 September 2023, the last twelve episodes as Pokémon: To Be a Pokémon Master; availability varies by region.
- DVD – North AmericaThe Complete Season (VIZ Media, 6 discs, 2024) has all 54 dubbed episodes, Distant Blue Sky! included.
- Netflix – The Arceus ChroniclesThe 63-minute English edition of the four Legends: Arceus specials, on Netflix outside Asia since 23 September 2022.
Trading Cards Released During the Season
Seven English expansions bracket the Netflix run, from Lost Origin, six weeks before the premiere, to 151, two weeks after the final part — the last of the Sword & Shield era and the first of Scarlet & Violet:
- Lost Origin — 9 September 2022 — six weeks before the Netflix premiere; 196 cards
- Silver Tempest — 11 November 2022 — three weeks after Netflix’s first part, and the day Ash became World Champion in Japan (JN132); 245 English cards from Paradigm Trigger, Incandescent Arcana and Lost Abyss, among them Regieleki V and VMAX, Lugia VSTAR, Serena, Milotic and Gardevoir
- Crown Zenith — 20 January 2023 — between the first and second parts; 159 cards and a 70-card Galarian Gallery from VSTAR Universe, including Charizard V and VSTAR, Radiant Charizard, Mew V and Cynthia’s Ambition
- Scarlet & Violet — 31 March 2023 — a week after JN147 ended the Japanese run; 258 cards from Scarlet ex and Violet ex
- Paldea Evolved — 9 June 2023 — two weeks before the third part
- Obsidian Flames — 11 August 2023 — four weeks before To Be a Pokémon Master; 230 cards from Ruler of the Black Flame, including Pidgeot ex
- 151 — 22 September 2023 — two weeks after the last Netflix part
The English sets drew on Japanese expansions released months earlier, among them Paradigm Trigger, Incandescent Arcana and Lost Abyss for Silver Tempest, VSTAR Universe (2 December 2022) for Crown Zenith, Scarlet ex and Violet ex for the first Scarlet & Violet set and Ruler of the Black Flame for Obsidian Flames. While the season was airing in Japan, before it reached Netflix, the English Brilliant Stars (25 February 2022), Astral Radiance (27 May 2022) and Pokémon GO (1 July 2022) sets were released.
Our TCG section has a full card list, print variations and the most valuable cards for every one of them.
Cards with a link to the season
Three cards from those sets follow the season’s big moments:
Lugia VSTAR · Silver Tempest 139/195A 280 HP Colorless Rare VSTAR with the attack Tempest Dive and the VSTAR Power Summoning Star, illustrated by PLANETA Mochizuki and released in Silver Tempest on 11 November 2022 — a month before Ash and Goh’s Lugia Raid Battle aired in Japan in Heroes Unite! (JN135, 9 December 2022) and seven months before it reached Netflix (23 June 2023).
Regieleki VMAX · Silver Tempest 58/195A 310 HP Lightning-type Rare VMAX with the Ability Transistor and the attack Max Thunder and Lightning, illustrated by N-DESIGN Inc. and released in Silver Tempest on 11 November 2022 — three months before Netflix released Chasing to the Finish! (JN113, 24 February 2023), in which Goh catches Regieleki to become a Project Mew Chaser.
Pidgeot ex · Obsidian Flames 164/197A 280 HP Colorless Double Rare with the Ability Quick Search and the attack Blustery Wind, illustrated by takuyoa and released in Obsidian Flames on 11 August 2023 — four weeks before Netflix released The Rainbow and the Pokémon Master! (JN147, 8 September 2023), in which Ash’s Pidgeot rejoins him after 1,151 episodes.
Firsts & Lasts

- First time Ash becomes World Champion: Monarch of the World Coronation Series, in Partners in Time! (JN132).
- First English season with more than one opening theme on television since Advanced: “With You” and “Gotta Catch Em All”.
- First special in a dubbed season that official Japanese sources do not count as an episode: Distant Blue Sky! (JNS05).
- First regular-broadcast clip shows since DP120, and the first series with more than two of them (JN119, JN121, JN126, JN128).
- First Pokémon shown both Dynamaxing and Gigantamaxing: Ash’s Gengar (JN092), whose Dazzling Gleam was the first Fairy-type move used by one of Ash’s Pokémon (JN099).
- First time Ash meets a released Pokémon outside the series it left him in: Greninja (JN108).
- First time all the current regional Champions appear together: the Masters Eight Tournament (JN115).
- First Trainer to Gigantamax two Pokémon in one battle, and the first Pokémon to use a Z-Move and Gigantamax in the same battle: Ash and Pikachu in the final (JN132).
- First episode without the Team Rocket trio: Bearing Down Easy! (JN140).
- First evolution of any of Tracey’s Pokémon: Venonat into Venomoth (JN147).
- Last Pokémon debut (Hatenna, JN139), last move debut (G-Max Fireball, JN132) and last move learned by an Ash Pokémon (Swellow’s Air Slash, JN146) of Ash’s series.
- Last undubbed Journeys episode (JN128), last episode with the eyecatches (JN134) and last time Ash uses a Pokédex (JN144).
- Last season with Ash and Pikachu as protagonists and with James Carter Cathcart in the English cast, and the last opening composed by Hirokazu Tanaka.
Trivia & Facts
- World Champion at last. On 11 November 2022 in Japan, Pikachu beat Leon’s Charizard and Ash became Monarch and World Champion (JN132), three years after his first League victory in Alola; The Pokémon Company announced it in a press release the same day.

Pikachu and Leon’s Charizard clash in the final of the Masters Eight Tournament, Partners in Time! (JN132). Screenshot: Pokémon anime, JN132 “Partners in Time!” · via Bulbapedia - The end of an era. JN147 is the last episode with Ash and Pikachu as the protagonists, the Team Rocket trio as the antagonists and a Who’s That Pokémon? segment; the end of Ash’s story was announced on 16 December 2022, together with Pokémon Horizons.

Ash and Pikachu head off under a rainbow in The Rainbow and the Pokémon Master! (JN147), the last episode of their story. Screenshot: Pokémon anime, JN147 “The Rainbow and the Pokémon Master!” · via Bulbapedia - A 25th-anniversary farewell. Netflix released the final twelve episodes on 8 September 2023, exactly 25 years after the first English episode aired on US television; in Japan JN103 and JN104 formed a one-hour 25th-anniversary special on 1 April 2022.
- What is a Pokémon Master? JN147 gives the series’ answer: someone who has befriended every Pokémon in the world — becoming World Champion, Ash says, was never his final goal.
- Four clip shows, none dubbed. JN119, JN121, JN126 and JN128 are the first regular-broadcast clip shows since DP120 and the first time more than two aired in one series; the dub skipped them and added Distant Blue Sky! instead.
- A special that isn’t an episode. Like XYZ, the season ends in English with a special, but JNS05 is the first that official Japanese sites, rental DVDs and video services do not count as an episode, and it has never been released on video in Japan.
- The longest-running opening. 1·2·3 opened or ended 136 consecutive episodes in four versions — the last sung by the voice actors of Ash and Goh — beating Together’s record of 94.
- Everyone comes back. JN132 features 20 human main characters, the most of any episode, and by then every human main character has appeared in Journeys; Misty and Brock become travelling companions again (JN138, JN139).
- Longest absences. Ash’s Butterfree returns after 1,200 episodes (JN136), the longest gap for a main character’s Pokémon; Pidgeot after 1,151 (JN147); Lapras after 971 (JN143); and Erika after 1,153 (JN094), the longest gap for a human character.
- Lasts. Hatenna (JN139) is the final Pokémon debut of Ash’s series, G-Max Fireball (JN132) the final move debut, Swellow’s Air Slash (JN146) the last move learned by one of Ash’s Pokémon, Misty’s Clauncher (JN138) the last capture by any of his friends, and JN144 the last time Ash uses a Pokédex.
- Voices lost and retired. Billy Kametz, the English voice of Ren, Ash’s Rotom Phone and Goh’s Inteleon, died on 9 June 2022 after recording JN093; James Carter Cathcart, the voice of James, Meowth and Gary and the dub’s script adapter, retired after this season following a cancer diagnosis.
- Every type in one battle. Ash’s semifinal against Cynthia (JN123–JN125) uses at least one move of every type, the only battle in the anime to do so, and ends Cynthia’s unbeaten record on screen.
- Mew on a palm. Goh’s search ends on Faraway Island, where Groudon and Kyogre prove to be Mew transformed and Mew lands on his hand (JN134); every Chaser by then owns a Legendary Pokémon (JN133).
- Film canon. JN146 sends Latias and Latios home to Alto Mare past Bianca, confirming Pokémon Heroes as part of the series, and JNS05 ties into the I Choose You! trilogy and gives Ash his original Pokémon League Expo hat.
- A generation that didn’t end. JN095 premiered the day Legends: Arceus launched, and JN133’s afterword introduced Sprigatito, making Journeys the first anime series focused on a generation not to end within it.
- Kunihiko Yuyama returns. The original chief director storyboarded JN136, with a cameo as a Trainer using a Lapras, and JNS05, and was chief director of Aim to Be a Pokémon Master, whose opening was the last composed by Hirokazu Tanaka.
- Every Champion falls. JN115 was the first time all the current regional Champions appeared together, and after Leon’s defeat in JN132 every one of them has lost at least one battle on screen, counting Alder’s forfeit in BW052.
- A Rain Badge twice. Wallace gives Ash a second Rain Badge (JN105), the only time Ash received a Badge he already owned.
- Games and cards. The English card sets of the Netflix run — Silver Tempest, Crown Zenith, Scarlet & Violet, Paldea Evolved and Obsidian Flames — carried Lugia VSTAR, Regieleki VMAX, Mew V, Cynthia’s Ambition, Serena and Pidgeot ex; see our TCG section.
Reception

Ratings and viewing. No Japanese ratings have been found for the season, and Netflix, its only home in the US, has published no viewing figures. The final drew attention in Japan nonetheless: TV Tokyo streamed a live “Satoshi vs Dande” support special, Shibuya held screenings of the victory ceremony, and before the finale highlights of Ash’s journey were shown at Shinjuku Station.
Press and awards. Ash’s victory made news worldwide: The Pokémon Company’s press release of 11 November 2022 quoted Taito Okiura, its vice president of marketing, praising “Ash Ketchum’s determination and perseverance to achieve his goal of becoming the world’s top Pokémon Trainer”, and outlets from My Nintendo News and Nintendo Everything to the Free Press Journal (“After 25 years, Ash Ketchum finally achieves World’s Top ‘Pokemon’ Trainer status”) covered it the same day. The announcement on 16 December 2022 that Ash and Pikachu would leave after an eleven-episode final chapter drew similarly wide coverage, from Kidscreen to Vooks. According to English Wikipedia, Pokémon Ultimate Journeys won Anime Series of the Year at the 4th VP Choice Awards in the Philippines on 29 March 2023.
Fan scores. MyAnimeList has no separate entry for the season; its Pokémon (2019) entry, covering the 136 episodes of the Pocket Monsters arc, scores 7.54 with some 106,000 members, and the Aim to Be a Pokémon Master episodes are listed separately. IMDb’s episode ratings could not be checked for this page, and no reviews of the VIZ DVD set have been found.
Continue the journey with Pokémon Horizons: The Series, go back to Season 24: Pokémon Master Journeys: The Series, or browse every season of the Pokémon anime.





























































