Pokémon: Indigo League, the original series of the Pokémon anime (and by far the best), has been on Netflix for a while now. It first joined the streaming platform back in 2014, with all 52 episodes of the first season available. However, starting on Friday, Aug. 7, the first season is also coming to Hulu and Disney Plus.
The first season of the anime follows Ash's journey as he slowly befriends Pikachu, despite the latter's feisty temperament, and explores the Kanto region. This is when he meets pals-for-life Brock and Misty, and catches all manner of iconic Pokémon such as Charmander (who eventually becomes Charizard), Squirtle, and Pidgeotto. It's also the season with classic episodes such as "Bye-Bye Butterfree," "Battle Aboard the St. Anne," and "Here Comes the Squirtle Squad."
Here's Disney's official nostalgic synopsis of the season:
It’s Ash Ketchum’s tenth birthday, and he’s ready to do what many 10-year-olds in the Kanto region set out to do—become a Pokémon Trainer! Things don’t go exactly the way he planned when he ends up with a Pikachu instead of a standard first Pokémon, and winning Gym Badges turns out to be much tougher than he thought. Luckily he’s got former Gym Leaders Brock and Misty at his side, along with a bevy of new Pokémon friends, including Bulbasaur, Squirtle, and Charmander.
If you want to watch every episode of the Pokémon anime, however, your best bet is the Pokémon TV YouTube channel. Every single episode of the earlier seasons is available here, all the way through to season nine at the time of writing. This means that along with the Kanto arc of Pokémon: Indigo League, you can also watch all the way through the Orange League and Johto storylines.
If classic television is more your style, you'll be pleased to know that Pokémon: Indigo League will also start airing on the Disney XD channel, starting with an all-day marathon at 9 a.m. ET on Thursday, Aug. 6. Following that, episodes will air on every weekday at 2:30 p.m. and on weekends at 8 a.m., from Monday, Aug. 10 onward.