Join Ashley as we count down the Top 10 most iconic Pokémon anime moments that defined the franchise. From Ash meeting Pikachu to Cynthia’s legendary flex and the unforgettable Charizard vs. Magmar battle, these are the scenes that every Pokémon fan remembers.
Which Pokémon moment lives rent-free in your head? Share your favorite in the comments below!
00:05Welcome to WatchMojo and today we're counting down our picks for the most iconic Pokemon anime moments.
00:12Woah! Charizard! Amazing!
00:15It evolved into Charizard!
00:1810. Pikachu vs. Raichu
00:21There's more to raising a Pokemon than forcing it to evolve. And I like this Pikachu just the way it is.
00:27We'd seen Pikachu take a loss before, but somehow this defeat at the hands of Lieutenant Surge's Raichu was just devastating.
00:35It seemed that Ash would have no chance at getting the gym badge unless he evolved Pikachu with a Thunder Stone, something Pikachu just wasn't comfortable with.
00:44But there's a reason why Ash and Pikachu are the heroes of this story. They have courage and perseverance.
00:57They were able to figure out that, by evolving Raichu too soon, he missed out on some moves only a Pikachu could learn.
01:06Utilizing his agility technique, Pikachu was able to easily take down his seemingly far stronger foe in their rematch.
01:14You should be proud! You and your Pikachu really fought good together!
01:189. Cynthia's Flex
01:21Apparently, Paul skipped the day at trainer school where they explained how powerful a regional champ really is.
01:28On reputation alone, this fight's over before either call their first Pokemon, and nothing Paul does can change that.
01:36In fact, not even type coverage and his bench of reserve mons can stop it from becoming the most one-sided battle in the entire series.
01:52Admittedly, there's some worthwhile gratification in seeing the prideful Paul get wrecked by just one Pokemon.
02:00The fact it comes in the form of Paul's long overdue comeuppance just makes it all the better.
02:06At least he can take solace that it's a miserfully quick defeat.
02:168. Bye Bye Butterfree
02:18Well, I guess you have to leave us now, don't you?
02:21Wee!
02:22They have to cross the ocean to start their new family!
02:25As a kid, we all tuned in to the show to watch Ash collect as many Pokemon as he could.
02:30We never expected him to leave some behind, though.
02:33Being the first Pokemon Ash caught himself, he had a strong bond with Butterfree.
02:38But during their trip to Saffron City, he had no choice but to say goodbye.
02:43It was the season of love for Butterfree, who just happened to find his perfect partner in the adorable pink Butterfree.
02:50When it was time for the two to fly off into the sunset, we're given a series of flashbacks to all their times together before this parting.
03:07It's an emotional farewell that still makes us tear up to this day.
03:117. Kalos Finals
03:20This isn't the first time Ash proved himself in a regional league, and it certainly wouldn't be the last.
03:26But more than any other tournament, it really felt like he deserved to win this one.
03:30Ash's journey across Kalos pushed him to new heights, both as a person and a trainer.
03:43Just to prove it, he even unlocked a powerful new form called Ash Greninja.
03:48With that on his side, his first crack at the league's grand finals featured some of the best action the series had seen till then.
04:04Unfortunately, this bout is better remembered for Ash's eventual loss than anything else.
04:10But that doesn't take away from everything he accomplished to even get there.
04:266. Alolan League Champ
04:29After a thousand episodes of continued disappointment, most fans had accepted the fact that this perennial ten-year-old would never achieve his goal.
04:38At least, not anytime soon.
04:41So, it put the entire internet into a frenzied uproar when Ash finally won a Pokemon League.
04:56It came after a hype but rather understated tournament, though the outcome alone is enough to make it practically iconic.
05:03Given the tense rivalry between Ash and Gladeon, having their final match close with a duel of Lycanroc forms just feels right.
05:11No matter how he did it, the fact that Ash won at all marked a welcome sign that Pokemon was officially growing up.
05:365. Ash Stops Mewtwo
05:43Mewtwo was brought into this world as nothing more than a tool for power.
05:47He came to resent humanity and questioned why Pokemon would live in harmony with them.
05:52He wouldn't find that answer until the climactic moments of his clash with Mew when Ash valiantly jumped in between their attacks, sacrificing his own life.
06:02This act of selflessness and the emotion of all the Pokemon around him was a wake-up call for the feared creature.
06:18The fighting ceased and Mewtwo gave us what may just be one of the greatest lines in anime history.
06:25I see now that the circumstances of one's birth are irrelevant. It is what you do with the gift of life that determines who you are.
06:344. Charizard vs Magmar
06:36It took a little while, but Ash finally got his trademark fire type to ignite on the battlefield.
06:42Against the fiery Cinnabar gym leader Blaine, Charizard decided to stop using Rest.
06:48Instead, he spat a flamethrower and flapped those wings all the way to a shiny new gym badge.
06:54That blazing showdown with Magmar is as hot as it comes, and not just because it's in an actual volcano.
07:01However, the real novelty of this fight is finally seeing Ash earn Charizard's respect.
07:13Even though it didn't last, this glimpse of what the pair could accomplish summed up the best parts of Pokemon training with one red-hot duel.
07:213. Ash Becomes World Champ
07:37For over 25 years, Ash had dreamed of becoming a Pokemon Master.
07:42And now, by defeating Leon, he's actually done it.
07:46This is more than just an iconic Pokemon moment.
07:49It's arguably the franchise's most important episode ever.
07:53Not just for its unprecedented effect on the series, but also for its jaw-dropping epic final fight.
08:12But more than that, it succeeds because it's the culmination of everything the show had been building to since Pikachu's first Thundershock.
08:24There's no denying it now, Ash really is the very best like no one ever was.
08:392. Rivalry Showdown
08:41From the very start, Ash's priority has always been to become a Pokemon Master.
08:46But surely, knocking Oak's grandson down a peg or two was definitely high on the to-do list.
08:52As a result, their fated confrontation at the Silver Conference felt like the culmination of the entire series to that point.
08:59Fittingly, it has all the emotional heft and intense showdowns to do the climactic battle justice.
09:14Whether it's Tauros finally getting the spotlight, Snorlax's insane rampage, or Charizard's iconic seismic toss, it's clear this is Pokemon at its best.
09:30After all, nothing sums up the idea of getting stronger better than finally overcoming an age-old rival.
09:37Blast. Doors. Blast.
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09:571. Ash meets Pikachu
10:00Usually, oversleeping doesn't turn out this well.
10:03After all, instead of a Charmander, Squirtle, or Bulbasaur, his tardiness meant he was left with a certain electric mouse as his partner.
10:12It wasn't either of their first choice, and it didn't take long before the wrong kind of sparks started to fly.
10:19But after a few Spiro pecked away at their reservations, the two became the very heart and soul of the whole franchise.
10:33That shot of the two looking at the now clear sky as Ho-Oh soars past, will forever be ingrained in our memories.
10:48We knew that we were watching something truly special.
10:52What's that?
10:53There is no data.
10:54There are still Pokemon yet to be identified.
10:57Which Pokemon moment lives in your head forever?
11:00Let us know in those comments below.
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