Next Episode -->
Pokémon: Pokémon I Choose You!
Ash Ketchum begins his journey as a Pokemon trainer, with the hope he will one day become a Pokemon Master. Professor Oak provides him with a Pikachu as his first charge. Pikachu however, proves to be wild, and disobedient, refusing to enter a Pokeball and electrocuting Ash several times.
Making his way into the forest, Pikachu and Ash gradually learn to bond, but will an array of wild Pokemon be too much for either to handle?
Making his way into the forest, Pikachu and Ash gradually learn to bond, but will an array of wild Pokemon be too much for either to handle?
| 9.7/10 (3 Votes cast) |
Episode Info
|
Episode number: 1x1 Production Number: 101 Airdate: Tuesday September 08th, 1998 Writer: Satoshi Tajari
Alternate Airdates:
|
Sweden
Recap
The show begins just like the game boy, with a black and white Nidorino jumping back and forth behind a Gengar. Suddenly, the whole thing becomes colorized and three dimensional as we see a great pokémon battle progressing. It is a league match being broadcasted on the television belonging to Ash Ketchum: a ten-year old boy in Pallet town who is about to begin his pokémon training. At his age, he can get a license and become a pokémon trainer! Ash vows to become the greatest pokémon master of all time!! He starts his training after receiving a beginner pokémon which will happen tomorrow!!! IF he gets some sleep, informs his mother. But Ash is too excited to sleep, so his mom has him watch a more informative pokémon show with Professor Oak teaching Pallet about the three possible pokémon young trainers can receive tomorrow. They are Bulbasaur, Charmander, and Squirtle. After the program is done, Ash dreams about which pokémon he will choose. As he dreams of throwing a pokéball to release his pokémon, he actually throws his own Voltorb alarm clock destroying it. The next morning, Ash realizes he slept in and runs in his pajamas over to Professor Oak’s house to get a pokémon. Ash arrives to find a crowd of people including a cheer leading squad that cheers for Gary. ..Read the full recap
Episode Notes
Ash's first choice Pokemon was going to be Squirtle and his second choice was Bulbasaur and last choice was Charmander.
In the Pokemon video game (red and blue), you, as Ash, can choose your Pokemon before Gary chooses his. If you choose Squirtle he will choose bulbasaur, if you choose bulbasaur he will choose Charmander and if you choose Charmander he will choose Squirtle. Basically, he will choose the Pokemon with the advantage over the one you choose.
Pilot episode of Pokemon.
Poke = Pocket
Mon = Monsters
Pokemon is Pocket Monsters.
Mon = Monsters
Pokemon is Pocket Monsters.
Some Protestant Christian groups in the USA believe Pokémon to be Satanic in origin. After the USA release of Pokémon Yellow, there was a sudden widespread criticism of it passed through Christian congregations primarily by word of mouth. The claimed parallels between Pokémon and Satanism include:
1. Pokémon parallel demons. They are captured and must be invoked to perform tasks.
2. Magical "talismans" (gym badges) are necessary to control many of them.
3. "Magical" stones are used to evolve certain Pokémon.
4. Pokémon "evolve." Evolution precludes literal creationism, therefore Pokémon denies some forms of Biblical interpretation.
5. Many Pokémon have paranormal or psychic powers. These powers are not derived from God and therefore must stem from Satan.
Note: This is not the viewpoint of the majority, it is only a minority of Christians who think that they parallel demons.
1. Pokémon parallel demons. They are captured and must be invoked to perform tasks.
2. Magical "talismans" (gym badges) are necessary to control many of them.
3. "Magical" stones are used to evolve certain Pokémon.
4. Pokémon "evolve." Evolution precludes literal creationism, therefore Pokémon denies some forms of Biblical interpretation.
5. Many Pokémon have paranormal or psychic powers. These powers are not derived from God and therefore must stem from Satan.
Note: This is not the viewpoint of the majority, it is only a minority of Christians who think that they parallel demons.
Gary choose the Pokemon, Squirtle which will not be revealed until Season 5 "The Ties That Bind", near the end of the Johto saga.
This was actually the second episode shown in the US, because they played Battle Aboard the St. Anne first, as a sort of preview.
First appearance of Ho-oh
This is the only episode where Ash's Pokédex talks while it's closed.
The shadowed trainer shown at the very beginning with the Nidorino and Onix was Bruno
In the unedited/Japanese version, after Ash said to Misty, "I'm okay," she slapped him. This was cut from the English dub due to network standards.
The Japanese title is kept.
Ash choose a Pikachu as his starter Pokémon.
Character Debuts: Ash, Professor Oak, Delia, Misty, and Gary.
Pikachu is the first Pokémon that willfully disobeys Ash in the series. However, the disobedience ends at the end of the episode.
Ash is based off of Red, a character from the Pokémon Adventures manga and main character of the Red, Green, Blue, and Yellow video games.
This episode is on the VHS/DVD I Choose You! Pikachu!
This is the only episode without Team Rocket in it at all until Season 8 (though the Season 8 episode was not dubbed).
Ash and Gary begin their Pokemon journey.
Ash meets Misty and steals her bike.
In the end of this episode, Ash reaches Viridian City.
Pokémon Debuts: Gengar, Nidorino, Onix, Dodrio, Pikachu, Rattata, Pidgey, Spearow, Sandshrew, Mankey, Gyarados, Ho-Oh, Magikarp, Voltorb.
Who's That Pokémon?: Pikachu
The legendary bird Ash saw at the ending of the episode was Ho-Oh. This makes Ho-Oh the first Generation II Pokémon seen in the series.
This is the first (but not last) time the Japanese title of a Pokémon episode is directly translated into English instead of rewritten.
In the Who's That Pokémon for this season, 4Kids Entertainment always uses a Pokémon that is in that particular episode.
Ash has a Voltorb clock.
This is the only episode where we can see Pikachu in its Poké Ball.
The widescreen opening mimics the opening to Pokémon Red and Blue, which seamlessly moves into a Pokémon battle Ash is watching on television.
Pikachu's Poké Ball has a lightning bolt on it.
The English voice actors started recording for the first season in April 1998.
Ash tries and fails to capture a Pidgey, though he will later succeed in capturing its evolution in "Ash Catches A Pokémon".
The Spearow that Ash throws a rock at (and subsequently angers) in this episode makes a return appearance as a Fearow in the final Kanto-based episode, "Pallet Party Panic".
This episode can be found on the third GBA video.
This is one of the few episodes where Rachael Lillis {aka: the voices of Misty and Jessie]provides the voice of Pikachu in a few scenes. This happened when another character spoke over Ikue Ohtani's Pikachu voice and the audio could not be saved.
Despite this episode's centering around receiving a starter Pokémon, neither Bulbasaur, Charmander, or Squirtle actually appeared in the flesh until Bulbasaur and the Hidden Village, Charmander - The Stray Pokémon, and Here Comes The Squirtle Squad, respectively. This is unlike the following generations where at least two of the starter Pokémon appeared in the first episode of that generation.
This was the first episode dubbed by Master Sound
In other languages around the world,
French: Le départ
Canadian French: Pokémon, c'est toi que je choisis !
Brazilian Portuguese: Pokémon, Eu Escolho Você
Spanish: Pokémon, Yo te Elijo
Russian: Покемон, я выбираю тебя
Italian: L' inizio di una grande avventura
Czech: Pokémone, volím si tebe!
French: Le départ
Canadian French: Pokémon, c'est toi que je choisis !
Brazilian Portuguese: Pokémon, Eu Escolho Você
Spanish: Pokémon, Yo te Elijo
Russian: Покемон, я выбираю тебя
Italian: L' inizio di una grande avventura
Czech: Pokémone, volím si tebe!
When this episode was originally going to be created, Ash's starter was going to be a Clefairy.
Ash's Japanese name was named for the creator of the Pokémon games: Satoshi Tajiri.
Gary's Japanese name, Shigeru, was named for the creator of the Mario games, Shigeru Miyamoto.
This was meant to be an inside jab indicating that Pokemon rivaled Mario as the top character/game series from Nintendo. The titles are kept pretty close the Japanese titles for the first 10 episodes before going with pun titles.
. This is the first episode to have the word Pokemon in the dub title.
The Japanese names for Ash (Satoshi) and Gary (Shigeru) have some significance.
Music
| Artist | Song Title | Played When |
| Pokemon | Gotta Catch 'em All |
Episode Quotes
Narrator: This is just the beginning of the amazing adventures of Ash and Pikachu. Their journey is destined to be packed with non stop action, millions of laughs, heart pounding perils, and endless excitement. Together they will encounter fantastic friends, evil enemies, and meet creatures beyond their wildess imagination, and as their story unfolds we'll unlock the magic and mystery of the most wonderous place. The Incredible world of Pokemon!
Ash: Professor Oak, where's my Pokemon?
Oak: Your Pokemon?
Ash: Yeah, I'm ready.
Oak: You look more like you're ready for bed, not for Pokemon training. I hope you're not going to train in your pyjamas.
Oak: Your Pokemon?
Ash: Yeah, I'm ready.
Oak: You look more like you're ready for bed, not for Pokemon training. I hope you're not going to train in your pyjamas.
Ash: Hey, get out of there! (Rattata runs away from his backpack.)
PokéDex Voice: A forest Pokémon - Rattata. It likes cheese, nuts, fruits and berries.
Ash: Yeah, but this isn't a forest, it's an open field.
PokéDex Voice: It also comes out in open fields to steal food from stupid travellers.
Ash: So that means, I'm stupid?
Pikachu: (Laughs) Pika... pika!
PokéDex Voice: A forest Pokémon - Rattata. It likes cheese, nuts, fruits and berries.
Ash: Yeah, but this isn't a forest, it's an open field.
PokéDex Voice: It also comes out in open fields to steal food from stupid travellers.
Ash: So that means, I'm stupid?
Pikachu: (Laughs) Pika... pika!
Misty: Are you okay?
Ash: Yeah I'm fine...
Misty: (walks up to Pikachu) I was meaning your pokemon!
Ash: Yeah I'm fine...
Misty: (walks up to Pikachu) I was meaning your pokemon!
(Ash looking at the sky sees Ho-oh.)
Ash: I wonder what that is?
PokéDex Voice: There is no data. There are still Pokémon, yet to be identified.
Ash: I wonder what that is?
PokéDex Voice: There is no data. There are still Pokémon, yet to be identified.
Ash: Oh! It looks so cute. It's the best of all. Oh, hi Pikachu.
Pikachu: Pika (as he thunderbolts Ash) CHUU!
Pikachu: Pika (as he thunderbolts Ash) CHUU!
Ash: (shakes while he's talking) I see what you mean.
Ash:: (To Pikachu) Pikachu, get inside the Pokéball. I know your afraid of going in there, but if your inside maybe I can save you. Please Pikachu. After that then...after that...just trust me!
Episode Goofs
When Ash goes into Professor Oak's laboratory the poke balls have Japanese writing on them, however when Ash picks one up, the Japanese writing has gone.
At the start Pikachu's poke ball has a lighting bolt on it, later this disappears.
When Misty first sees Pikachu she exclaims "Oh, a Pokemon!", as though Pokemon are rare and she does not see them often..
In Dub, When Delia switches the channel on Ash's TV. We see Prof. Oak talking about tomorrow being the newest day for Pokémon students. However, when we see the whole view of the TV when Ash moves his head into view, look under Charmander, Bulbasaur, and Squirtle. They have their Japanese names written below each picture. But when they zoom in on each picture and then the camera eases out, the Japanese names are gone.
Professor Oak was supposed to give 4 trainers Pokemon, he should have more than 3 available (at least as far as everyone knows).
The pokéballs for the three starters shouldn't have been there at all because the Pokémon had already been chosen.
Gary: Hey, watch where you're going! Well, you must be Ash. Better late than never, I guess. At least you get the chance to meet me!
Why would Gary, who should be Ash's lifelong rival, say something like that? It sounds like Gary had heard all about Ash from some other people and this was the first time they met.
Why would Gary, who should be Ash's lifelong rival, say something like that? It sounds like Gary had heard all about Ash from some other people and this was the first time they met.
'Idol' Crowns Another Winner!!
American Idol had their Season Finale and as all of their finales go, they crowned a new..
MSNBC.com To Become Liberal Political News Hub?
If you've ever wondered what the MS in MSNBC stands for, it's short for Microsoft...
The Simpsons Returns To The Big Screen, At Least For A Few Minutes
Simpsons fans have long wondered whether 2007's The Simpsons Movie..
Info Center | Contact | Advertise | TOS |
Privacy | Copyright | RSS | Banners | Writers Wanted