A few questions about the overall Pokemon TV series

[Paladin Elric]

I've got some questions about the Pokemon anime that I'd like to drill you on.

1. When did you start watching it and what was the first episode you saw?
2. Do you still watch the show on a regular basis or did you stop at a certain point? If you stopped, when was it?
3. Do you feel the show is as good now as it was when you started watching, or do you feel that it jumped the shark? If you feel that it jumped, was it before or after the voice actors were re-cast?

My answers:
1. September of '98. Pokemon I Choose You.
2. I stopped in season 8 before the Pokemon USA dub.
3. I felt that it jumped in the Orange Island arc. I thought the writing had gotten way too juvenile and the episodes just weren't as consistent compared to the Indigo era. Although the show had been dumbed down significantly compared to the first season, I continued to watch for several more years because I had gotten so attached to the show and characters when the series was good. When you enjoy a show that much, letting go isn't always that easy, even if it does go in a direction that you don't agree with. But after a while, I knew I had to move on from it. But because of how much I used to enjoy it, I still like to keep in touch with some way, which is why I view screenshots whenever there's a new episode.

 

[Neo Blaze]

1. I have a pretty clear memory of when I saw Pokémon for the first time for some reason. Probably because Pokémon heavily influenced my life. It must have been in 1999, when I was about 6 years old. I was home alone with my dad, and he let me watch tv during the day (my mom didn't allow this). He was looking for something for me to watch and stopped at Fox Kids where The Bridge Bike Gang was airing. The first thing I saw was three kids cycling down a bridge. And the rest is history.

2. After losing some interest in Pokémon I started watching the show extensively again when BW started, watching both the subs and dubs. This continued with XY although early on in XY I stopped watching every single episode. Firstly because I'm busy and I don't have as much time on my hands as I used too, but also because I don't really enjoy sitting through every single episode anymore. I only watch the episodes that really catch my attention. But usually do watch images on filb.de of those I don't watch.

3. I don't know to be honest. It would be easy for me to say the show is worse now because I grew up with the original series, but I don't like nostalgia clouding my judgment. Looking back, the original series was far from perfect either. While some aspects of the show have become repetitive or stale over the years, I still enjoy the little things such as new characters, interactions, places and Pokémon.

 

[Karamazov]

1. First episode, the first time Pokemon ever aired in Canada, I believe. I only remember because I remember pretending to be a Ho-Oh right after the episode aired.

2. Stopped at XY, around the first Malamar episode? I wasn't really enjoying the saga and the new Yugioh series consumed more and more of my focus. I still watched all the Mega Evolution specials, though. I might watch an ep here or there if it focuses on a Pokemon I really like, or if it's an Alain episode.

3. I personally think the show was at its apex in BW, but I wouldn't say the show jumped the shark - all the sagas are unique and poorly-written in their own ways, and it's just that some sagas will appeal to me more than others. I can't say the show has gotten better or worse, it's just that each story is different, and it's more about my personal tastes and opinions. The voice actor change meant nothing for me since it didn't effect the story, and by then I was already moving into subs, anyway.

 

[GeminiAngel87]

1. When did you start watching it and what was the first episode you saw?
I started watching Pokemon when I was eleven and the first episode I ever watched was 'Pokemon, I choose you!' I believe it was a re-run as I know there were more episodes by the time I saw the first episode.
2. Do you still watch the show on a regular basis or did you stop at a certain point? If you stopped, when was it?
I watched the show religiously, all the way up to the Johto saga and then when I was able too (as I was in middle school by then and didn't always have the time). when Misty left I was crushed but I still went on to watch the Advance Generation series. I actually stopped watching right around the time DP started because I had went away to college and I didn't have time to watch it, however I picked it back up with the beginning of season 2 of the XY series. I did however, last year went back and watched all of DP on YouTube and BW & the Kanto/Orange Islands saga on Netflix and I am now re-watching the Johto saga and the Advance Generation series on the Pokemon TV app.
3. Do you feel the show is as good now as it was when you started watching, or do you feel that it jumped the shark? If you feel that it jumped, was it before or after the voice actors were re-cast?
Yes and No. In my mind the original series was the best but that might be the nostalgia talking but every series is great for their time in my opinion and we all still watch the show no matter how weird and repetitive it gets or has become and I for one still love this show, but some series are ranked higher on my favorite scale. I think it has stayed consistent and at first Ash's new voice bothered me but it grew on me and I don't think the change is a big deal to be honest.

 

[SonansuMan]

I've got some questions about the Pokemon anime that I'd like to drill you on.

1. When did you start watching it and what was the first episode you saw?

-I occasionally watched Pokemon, but was not interested until about BW.
Man, what a bad time!-

2. Do you still watch the show on a regular basis or did you stop at a certain point? If you stopped, when was it?

-I usually watch the episode on a regular basis, but usually if it has TR in it. Taking a break since XY111 since these episodes have been lacking a little IMO.-

3. Do you feel the show is as good now as it was when you started watching, or do you feel that it jumped the shark? If you feel that it jumped, was it before or after the voice actors were re-cast?

-I don't really mind the status quo of the show as of now, but I have slowly stopped watching the TPCI dub. Satoshi's, Kojiro's, and Nyarth's voice are a chore to listen to in the dub.-

 

[sc190191]

1. I watched from the first episode on back in 1998, I remember watching every day after school at 2:30 before I went out to play, back when a new episode aired every day.
2. I stopped unintentionally because I was fairly young and didn't know how to find it when it stopped airing everyday, but I saw some episodes every once in a while. I then started and rewatched all the episodes (which I have done several times since), which made me realize how much more continuity there is when you don't have to wait a week and how much more you appreciate what some people call filler episodes. I now watch each episode weekly(dub only, although I have seen the subs of everything that hasn't aired in US but it just isn't as good to me), but I still am frequently rewatching a series on dvd one episode a day (right now I am in the original series).
3. I don't think the show in general is ever any better or worse, but sometimes I am more interested in what is currently going on due to different characters (MAY!!) or Pokemon (Ash's Chikorita). Speaking on the voice re-cast, it was super depressing for me because I was totally in love with May's voice, but after the original awkward stage (Max and Brock's voices started pretty rough) the show wasn't any worse (of course the writing wasn't impacted at all by the switch). Watching those episodes a second time actually made them much more enjoyable because I wasn't just paying attention to how the voices were different and being mad about it but instead began to realize they are still the same shows that I loved. There have been things I was disappointed about in every series (including now), but overall it is still a show I love, which is why I am here writing about it.

 

[Satoshi Da Ze]

1. Very first episode when it aired in my country's local TV. Around 1997 I think.
2. I stopped watching it on TV during the Gen 2 series. I started watching it (from beginning) again when I became able to watch it without the american version's edits. To be fair I wouldn't have gone back watching it if this wasn't possible. The un-edited content makes a lot of difference to me, especially from Johto onwards when it looks like they change how the personality of characters come across by completely rewriting their lines. And more importantly I can't stand the localized character names or Ash's voice even in my native language's dub.
3. My experience? The anime was OK, got progressively worse in the latter half of the original series. Then it improved quite a bit during the Advanced Generation and really peaked during Diamond & Peal. It did a nosedive on Best Wishes but currently on the XY series I'd say it's close to Diamond & Pearl quality with some things done way better. The parallel story arcs are more interesting now and even if it's nothing mindblowing the fact they conclude those things makes the current state of the anime much better than back during 96~2001. It has a lot of room for improvements but at least they seem to care more about each series' own continuity at the very least, and not throw in plot devices that are quickly abandoned or give up trying to explain things on short notice. It also helps that since AG a lot more care is put onto giving the main cast's pokemon actual personalities.

 

[UxieLover1994]

1: 2004, when I got hooked on a hand-me-down copy of Pokémon Blue, and wanted to watch the anime. I cannot remember the exact episode, but I know it was during Advance Generation. At the time, I thought it was another American cartoon (I was ten years old at the time, which today, is far too old to watch the anime).

2: I went through two periods of hiatus of the anime. The first was in 2006, when I got hooked up on Kingdom Hearts. I resumed watching the anime in 2008 (which eventually inspired me to get Platinum when it was released). I've stopped watching it again for a reason I'll explain in "3"; nowadays, I only watch the movies. I'm from Australia, so I've seen every movie in the theaters at Tea Tree Plaza since M14 (with the exception of M16 because many of us chose to boycott the film out of anger for replacing Mewtwo).

3: Regardless of the quality of the XY series, the anime's golden days are long over in my view. The exact moment where the anime jumped the Sharpedo was the Sinnoh League, because of the Status Quo Sue named Tobias, and his Darkrai and Latios (and maybe four other powerful Legendary Pokémon we never saw). His existence to keep Ash from winning the League is proof that the anime is doomed to go through the same cycles of Ash getting badges and losing every league over and over again. Best Wishes only made things worse with the assumption that the only two Pokémon the anime cares about are Pikachu and Meowth, while the rest of the Pokemon are nothing but scenery. It may be possible that, because Hoenn and Unova had 85% and 100% new Pokémon and were in odd numbered generations, the next region will have ~90% of the Pokémon brand new, and thus, no pre-Generation VII Pokémon apart from Pikachu and Meowth again.

The anime could regain some of it's old fans by doing some specials featuring Ash's former companions and how they are doing now. My suggestions are that: Misty will help Looker with a spark plug being stolen from the Kanto Power Plant by a Team Rocket member from Unova; we see how well Brock is doing as a Pokémon Doctor (and maybe his Chansey would evolve); May wins the Johto Grand Festival, and is revealed to have caught Ralts for Max to look after; Dawn meets Lisia in Hoenn and they both take part in another Wallace Cup (maybe Buneary would evolve here); Iris is in Sinnoh to learn about Dialga and Palkia; while Cilan has returned to Unova, and does something with his brothers.

 

[MizuTaipu]

1. 1999, I think. I have no idea what the first episode was.

2. Hmmm, probably around mid-Johto dub wise though I was a big follower of the games still. I followed the anime again around the Battle Frontier voice change controversy and toppled into watching the Japanese version around Diamond and Pearl.

3. To be honest, I think the anime has improved since Kanto and Johto by actually having a contained storyline for each arc (whether they're well-handled or engaging is up to debate though). Sinnoh is probably the apex of the series so far, with AG and BW following. XY isn't over yet so I can't rank it.

 

[Mareepy]

1. Forgot what year, first was Jigglypuff's debut. Watch it on a CD.

2. My mom didn't buy all the CDs for me so I kinda never actually did watched it continuously until around AG where DVD is available. And the there comes internet ofcourse. Since then I only stopped in BW because of sheer boredom and picked it back up in XY.

3. I think the Anime have improved a lot, but the inconsistency of quality is really really bothering me.

 

[Ryu Taylor]

1. 1999. "A Chansey Operation" was my first episode, which ironically was playing on the TV in the waiting room of a pediatrician I was seeing that day.
2. I had some hiatuses here and there, but I'm back to regular viewing. In English, anyway. I checked out the original Japanese version in 2015, and regretted it about fifteen episodes in, and eventually fully defected back to the English dub.
3. To be honest, I never thought this show was high-quality, so I don't think it ever reached a "peak" where it could jump a shark from. As for the VA switch, I adjusted to it quickly.

 

[KrisiChiki]

1. When did you start watching it and what was the first episode you saw?
The ending of the episode where Ash is about to capture Caterpie. I was like "what is this??" and the next day I waited to see if they show another episode. I enjoyed what I saw and continued following the series every weekend. I don't really remember what year it was, though. Probably 2000 or something.

2. Do you still watch the show on a regular basis or did you stop at a certain point? If you stopped, when was it?
I watched almost everything up to AG, minus the few episodes I might have missed for one reason or another. It was airing during weekends only here. During early AG, there was a problem with my area and TV channels. At some point that channel became unavailable and it was the only one airing Pokemon at the time. I didn't have internet so I couldn't watch the anime anymore.

Years later I got internet and kinda started getting to know the world of watching anime online, but I was still pretty new at it and didn't know where and how to find the episodes. I was able to watch DP as it aired in Japan, but I lost interest in it fairly early into the series. I am not sure why that happened; maybe there were other anime I wanted to watch instead.

I decided to give it another try with BW, but I didn't like the first few episodes and gave up on it. It also didn't help that around the time HGSS were released, I began losing interest in the franchise. I still liked Pokemon, but I didn't really feel like playing the games or watching the anime. I did play BW and I enjoyed it, but I dropped it after finishing the main story and unlocking the new areas.

I bought Y when Gen VI was released and I enjoyed the game a lot, so I thought I should give the anime another chance. I'm glad I did because I've enjoyed XY and XYZ a lot.

This made me decide to go back and watch/finish AG. I really liked AG back when I watched it as a kid, and it had left some sort of feeling that I needed to finish watching it. Plus, I really like May. I've watched over 100 AG episodes so far. It's been quite enjoyable. I'm considering watching DP as well as people have said it's rather good.

3. Do you feel the show is as good now as it was when you started watching, or do you feel that it jumped the shark? If you feel that it jumped, was it before or after the voice actors were re-cast?

XY and XYZ has been my favourite saga thus far. I guess it doesn't say much since I've missed a lot of Pokemon episodes...

The animation is rather good and the battles look really great. There are also other neat details like how Pokemon don't get the generic action background when they are using a move, and that makes things a lot better. I absolutely love the current traveling group. I even enjoyed the fillers, some of which were really darn good. Sure it has its flaws, but I consider XY/Z the best one so far. Maybe DP is better, but I won't know until I watch it.

 

[Flynn]

1. When did you start watching it and what was the first episode you saw?
I'm not sure when I started watching exactly. I didn't watch the show until they started releasing VHS tapes of it. I liked the games, but I didn't know there was a show until I bought a tape that had EP013 - EP015 on it, so "Mystery at the Lighthouse" was the first episode I ever saw.

2. Do you still watch the show on a regular basis or did you stop at a certain point? If you stopped, when was it?
I still watch every week. I didn't really watch the show on a regular basis until 2009. Prior to that, I only watched the Kanto and some of the OI episodes as I thought the episodes after that were bad. I remember trying to get back into the anime when DP came out, but I lost interest at some point early on.

Since 2009, there were some instances during BW where I got behind due to lack of interest. I pretty much dropped the show after the first episode of Season 2 since it seemed like it was more of the same. I did watch TR's "final battle" though. I started watching the show regularly again in Episode N and have ever since.

3. Do you feel the show is as good now as it was when you started watching, or do you feel that it jumped the shark? If you feel that it jumped, was it before or after the voice actors were re-cast?
I think XY is good. There are some aspects of OS I like better, but overall I feel XY is the better series.

 

[Gabo2oo]

1. When did you start watching it and what was the first episode you saw?
I don't really remember. I guess it was around 1999 or 2000, when I was 2 or 3 years old. I can't tell for sure if those were my first episodes, but I do remember watching a lot a VHS with A Chansey Operation and Holy Matrimony.

2. Do you still watch the show on a regular basis or did you stop at a certain point? If you stopped, when was it?
I still watch it on a regular basis. That said, I did stop mid-DP, mostly because I felt it had too much filler (I was young and wrong), and the dub in my language was a disaster at that point. I came back with BW, even though I didn't really liked it as much as the other series.

3. Do you feel the show is as good now as it was when you started watching, or do you feel that it jumped the shark? If you feel that it jumped, was it before or after the voice actors were re-cast?
Oh please, I feel the show is better now than it was when I started watching. The only thing that I think the first season definetly does better than the new ones is the comedy. About the shark, Pokémon has remained so... "the same" during the years, I don't think it has ever jumped it at all. There have been some really weird fillers that kind of break the status quo here and there, but that's been going on since the early days. In fact, it was much more usual in the early days, when said status quo wasn't really established... so it'd be hard for Pokémon to jump the shark, because that means they would have to do something more mindblowing than what the early episodes already did, in my opinion.

 

[Moe]

1. When did you start watching it and what was the first episode you saw?
2. Do you still watch the show on a regular basis or did you stop at a certain point? If you stopped, when was it?
3. Do you feel the show is as good now as it was when you started watching, or do you feel that it jumped the shark? If you feel that it jumped, was it before or after the voice actors were re-cast?

1 - Would have started watching in 98 or 99 - no idea of the episode. Given that I probably would have started watching just because it was the cartoon on before I went to school, I might well have seen it from the start.
2 - Stopped watching around the time I started going to high school - again because of TV, I had to leave for school earlier in the morning, so no Pokemon.
3 - I think it is a better show now - there have been low points, but I vastly prefer AG, DP and XY to the original series.

On the voice actor thing - In 2010 I started watching my way through the entire run of Pokemon to catch up to new episodes - after picking the games back up and getting hooked on Pokemon again. I did stop at the Mastermind of Mirage Pokemon special - the voice acting was painful - and the original episodes of the Battle Frontier were just about as bad. But I luckily pressed on - the Battle Frontier became my favourite arc of the show, even with the VA changes, and by DP beginning, they'd settled in to their roles well enough (or were replaced with new characters) that I didn't care anymore.

 

[MRStealth64]

1. Started around the summer of '99, right before the second season started. I believe the first episode I saw on Kids' Wb! was a rerun of "The Water Flowers of Cerulean City."

2. I still catch the Japanese version if the episode seems interesting, but I stopped watching the dub entirely towards the end of Best Wishes. The quality of it just fell too much for me. It was the constant replacing of the music that did it for me. I honestly didn't really care about the voice actor switch.

3. Personally, I think the show was a lot better towards the start. There wasn't the need to make the whole thing acceptable for international audiences, and the people behind the show weren't afraid to tell real stories. These days, the whole thing just seems like the same basic plots recycled over and over. The Kanto episodes did have their flaws, like the inconsistent pacing of the gyms, but at least they took risks. I feel the show kind of died for me around the middle part of Johto with all those uninspired fillers. While there have been some good moments here and there in the later sagas, like Satoshi and Shinji's rivalry, it just wasn't the same.

 

[Poke Trey]

1. started with season 3 from the 1st episode. I saw this also on kids' WB as soon as I turned on the TV I was hooked in seconds and watched it every episode I could.
2. I still watch the show everyday and can only watch the dub because I just can't understand the Japanese, I even went through all of the dreaded gen 5 anime series in English and did not care
3. I think the show has gotten better because by gen 4 things were looking so good for the show and even the dub gotten more respect from what I seen, and by gen 6 definitely the show is at it's best because of signs of maturity and ash is just so goddamn good. As for the voice actor switch didn't bother me because I didn't honestly really care for the 4kids voices even though to me they were all right, least now these days the dub is expanding to just more than 4kids actors.

 

[pokemon fan 132]

Somehow I missed out on this topic which in my opinion encourage fruitful and diverse stream of opinions as we remember our starting days in watching this anime.

So as one of oldest pokemon fans out there. Being with pokemon since 90's its only appropriate that i tell my own story of how i got into this show.

1. When did you start watching it and what was the first episode you saw?

First episode I ever saw was "Pokemon Emergency!" through satellite TV. It was somewhere in 1998. But i didn't started following it at that time due to other interests i had in life and issues with satelite cable. However in 1999. I saw on TV some small kid challenging gym leader with Charizard in engaging battle vs Magmar(at that time I was unfamiliar with its name of course). .And it was "Volcanic Panic!" where Ash fought Blaine for 7th badge.

Intensity of battle and variety of interesting designs this creatures which fought each other had got me hooked on. Not seeing anything similar before, Not to mention human characters were interesting and charming as well so I decided to start following pokemon anime consistently. And in meantime rewatched all episodes in between remaining faithful viewer ever since than.

I watched just around every episode ever made so far. Even banned ones which were not easy to come by and watch at all(even though this wasn't always legally, since in moat countries this episodes never saw light of day on any TV station).

Followed by seeing all 18 pokemon movies so far and various specials(chronicles, Mewtwto return, mega evolution acts etc).

2. Do you still watch the show on a regular basis or did you stop at a certain point? If you stopped, when was it?

To be perfectly honest i never stopped watching pokemon until i started following it regularly. But two instances almost made me quit.

First one was when Misty got replaced. Being shocked just as most other fans were and disappointed. Because she was well rounded and one of most complex characters this anime had imo. Finding it to be reckless and poor move to replace so much emotionally explored female they had and who had lot of things unfinished in her story(Hoenn was especially big missed chance with all water themes prevailing there). Regarding her relationship with other characters, dreams of becoming water pokemon master, her sad past etc. Feeling anime lost lot of humor, identity and stable atmosphere by removing one of most iconic and recognizable characters out there undermining on continuity and story it followed.

However even though I still consider Misty removal that early and out of blue to be mistake, i decided to give chance to new generations and characters earning my liking and sympathy. Growing fond of many over the years. Especially May who became my second favorite pokemon female protagonist of all time.

Second time i thought to quit with pokemon was during big overhaul of dub company. With 4kids VA's being replaced by new ones. Once again stability was shaken up, but again in my opinion for worse. With new voice actors, especially in early years being painful to listen to. Making me irritated in how jarring and unnatural Ash and others sounded, after getting used to their 4Kids voices for years. Ever since pokemon roots.

But thankfully there were other dubs to follow like Croatian and Italian( they have great voice actors). As time went on subbed versions of original Japanese version became available. Alongside PUSA voice actiors becoming tolerable enough so that I could still enjoy in English version of pokemon series , even though in my book they aren't on height original voice actors had been at all.

3. Do you feel the show is as good now as it was when you started watching, or do you feel that it jumped the shark? If you feel that it jumped, was it before or after the voice actors were re-cast?

Its both.

Anime obviously improved as far as technical issues go. With battles being more complex and diverse thanks to higher amount of tehniques and styles introduced in newer generations. Animation is better because technology advanced since late 90's,. And so did couple of other things like characters when receiving development receiving more rounded and compact arcs dedicated to it, rather than being scattered through individual episodes. Rivalries being handled with more substance and attention as noticed with more frequent appearances compared to let say Gary etc.

However older sagas like Original series and to lesser extent Hoenn had much better humor. Group dynamic felt more rounded, natural and vivid. Containing lot of playful banter, witty remarks, moments of disagreements and arguing, tension, drama, care and spontaneous, gradual built upon friendship between protagonists. As they learn more about each other flaws, interests and qualities changing first impressions. Especially notable for original trio(Ash, Misty and Brock).

Plots were more original and varied due to anime still being fresh and new not needing to rely on overused ideas and rehashed plots from past times.
And most importantly continuity is nowadays a lot weaker than before.

Pokemon journey was originally treated like actual sequel through journey from Kanto to Orange and later Johto being mutually connected. Feeling like its on going story which builds on itself and use elements from past, experiences, relationship established with other characters as means of advancing forward(like some other long running shows practice such as One Piece, Naruto Fairy Tail etc).

Hoenn was a bit weaker in that aspect. But it still maintained connections to past thanks to chronicles giving insight in lives of older main characters. Bringing them back in person or referring to their existence and importance they played in Ash life. Reuse of Ash older pokemon or revisit of older places helped too making it seem like anime is still set in same universe.

But ever since pokemon became highly formulaic. As its noticed when Ash goes to new region. Major incident happens that makes Pikachu weak. We get new girl. Journey. League. Dump the girl. Rinse and Repeat.

The word continuity lost its place in pokemon series.

Whole formula of girls replacing and later males on frequent basis didn't helped things either. Discouraging viewers from investing emotionally in their stories and never staying long enough to be used to full potential. Getting one after another who also end up unfinished products never to be heard from again.
With Misty being first one to be met with such fate.

Only deepening on issues. As far as following and chance to have stable consistent storyline goes.

Now to make no mistakes, pokemon is when we judge each region individually not bad anime persay. But if were looking at it as whole with all regions included. As show set in same timeline and continuity. Show with time started to lose identity and destination in which writers wanted to take story and characters overall.

 

[Gengarzilla]

1. When did you start watching it and what was the first episode you saw?
I don't remember when, but I think the first episode I saw was The Kangaskhan Kid. At the scene where Tommy's dad dropped him out of the helicopter.
What a crappy way to start, eh?

2. Do you still watch the show on a regular basis or did you stop at a certain point? If you stopped, when was it?
I never truly got into the show until very late into the Battle Frontier. The first episode I watched in years was Ash's final rematch against Brandon in which he gets that Brave Symbol.

3. Do you feel the show is as good now as it was when you started watching, or do you feel that it jumped the shark? If you feel that it jumped, was it before or after the voice actors were re-cast?
Do I feel the show is as good now as it was when I started watching?
Considering that the first episode I watched is one that really should have been banned, it's gotten way better in comparison. I don't hold any nostalgia towards the OS despite my age group, prefer the new voice actors, and place DP as my favorite series. BW is where they jumped that shark, it was such a painful regression and also brought forth both my least favorite rival (Trip. The poor attempt at blending Paul and Gary. Never failed to piss me off at every turn and I absolutely loved seeing Cilan and Bianca show him the door in the first round of the Club Battle and Clubsplosion tournaments respectively), and my least favourite Pokémon character (Ash's Oshawott. Not going to take that back, I found him to be insufferably annoying by the time Ash and Trip were having their third battle and genuinely wished that he was released in the Scalchop tournament episode).

 

[PokePete]

1. I started watching back in 1998 and the first episode was "Pokemon! I Choose You!"
2. I was really into the anime until high school and then a few years back I decided to check it out to see what I've been missing and now I'm back into it.
3. In some ways the show is better now such as the anime quality and in some ways it's gone downhill such as the when the dub changed the voice actors, though the voices have improved greatly since the BF series, and the dubs substituting the original BGM for some scenes which makes those scenes less exciting. I enjoy watching the Japanese subbed episodes which I find better than the english dub.