ThePokémonanime is making a return that should excite long-time fans of the franchise, following the shutdown of its own streaming app earlier this year. Now, fans will be able to catch episodes of the classic series on their own time via YouTube.
In January 2024, it was announced that the Pokémon Company’s long-time streaming app,Pokémon TV, would be shutting down. This left fans in a difficult situation, as the app was the main streaming home for a significant portion of the anime series, and following the shut-down, they were left with a complicated situation of various seasons on various services, requiring as many as 10 different apps to be able to watch only about half the series. The situation improved somewhat with the release ofa Pokémon-themed Pluto TV channel, but that doesn’t allow on-demand watching that fans may desire.
Pokémon TV’s Return Offers Fans the Freedom to Watch Anytime
The Series Will Finally Be Easily Available to Fans
According toreliable fan site Serebii, the new YouTube channel will be@OfficialPokémonTV, and the channel will begin uploading videos on June 15, 2025. The channel promises full episodes, live streams, and compilation videos, which should be enough to satisfy any fan of classicPokémon. While it’s not yet been made clear exactly what episodes will be uploaded, or how frequently they will be uploaded, it’s certainly a big relief for the series to finally be easily streaming again.
While the first season and most recent seasons of thePokémonanime have been made more easily available on mainstream services like Netflix, many of the later seasons were difficult to find streaming, with some only available for digital purchase, while others simply weren’t available at all. If the Pokémon TV YouTube channel is to be anything like its predecessor, it should (eventually) have several seasons of the series available, from the original all the way toJourneys. The channel description explicitly mentions Ash and Pikachu, soHorizonsis not likely to be available on YouTube.
Pokémon TV’s Return Will Ensure The Series Isn’t Lost
The Series Has Been Too Difficult to Find for Too Long
While a series as popular as thePokémonanime isn’t likely to become true lost media any time soon, it was becoming increasingly difficult for fans to find legal avenues for watching the show, especially middle seasons likePokémon Diamond and PearlorPokémon Black and White. This also opens up the opportunity to bring back some media that has effectively been lost; for example,the spinoff seriesPokémon Chroniclesnever received a DVD release in the US, and hasn’t been available on streaming through any service. There are also special episodes, such as the amazing Mega Evolution Specials, which are necessary to understanding the plot ofPokémon XY,but weren’t streaming alongside their season.
Pokémon
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Pokémon follows Ash Ketchum on his journey to become a Pokémon Master, accompanied by his loyal Pikachu. Released in 1997, the series explores Ash’s travels through various regions, where he encounters new friends and challenges, underscoring the themes of adventure and teamwork.
The return of Pokémon TV is worth getting excited about, as it ensures that the classicPokémonanime with Ash and Pikachu remains available, both for long-time fans and children tuning in to experience Ash’s adventures for the first time.
