Pokémon the Series: The Beginning

Pokémon the Series: The Beginning (ポケットモンスター Pocket Monsters and ポケットモンスター オレンジ諸島編 Pocket Monsters: Orange Islands Series) is the first series of the Pokémon anime which follows Ash and Ashley's adventures through Kanto and the Orange Islands and corresponds with Generation I. In Japan, it is the first segment of the original 1997 Pocket Monsters anime.

The series covers two rookie trainers from Pallet Town, Ash Ketchum and Ashley, who begins their journey as a trainers to become the most powerful Pokémon Masters all of time. As Ash and Ashley arrived on the day they received their starter Pokémon, Ashley ended up getting a disobedient Pikachu and Ash ended up getting a Charmander. However, after Ash and Ashley protected Pikachu from a flock of angry Spearow, Pikachu began to earn Ashley's trust and became her close companion. Joining Ash and Ashley on their journey is a Water-type specialist from Cerulean City, Misty and the Pewter City Gym Leader who wants to be a Pokémon Breeder, Brock. During the course of their journey, Brock and Misty act as Ash's mentors and guide him throughout the series. Following them are Team Rocket, a villainous group that becomes obsessed with stealing Ashley's Pikachu.

After Ash won in the Kanto Pokémon League against one of his rivals, Gary Oak, he and Ashley were asked by Professor Oak to retrieve a mysterious Poké Ball called, the GS Ball, so he could study it. In doing so, Ashley traveled through the Orange Islands with Misty while Brock decided to stay with Professor Ivy for a while and Ash decided to go on his own to train with his Pokémon. They were soon accompanied by a Pokémon Watcher named Tracey Sketchit and soon after sailing through the islands with the help of a lost baby Lapras. This season ends with Ashley managing to win the Orange League.

Once Ashley and her friends returned with the GS Ball, Professor Oak couldn't figure out how to open the ball. Gary Oak, informs them of the Johto region where an old man named Kurt makes Poké Balls out of Apricorns. Professor Oak instructed Ash to take the Poké Ball to Kurt and in doing so compete in the Johto League. During his travels to Johto, Ashley is accompanied once again by Ash, Brock and Misty, while Tracey decides to stay in Pallet Town and work as Professor Oak's assistant.

Main

 * Ash Ketchum
 * Ashley
 * Misty
 * Brock
 * Tracey Sketchit

Rivals

 * Gary Oak
 * Jack
 * John

Antagonists

 * Team Rocket
 * Jessie
 * James
 * Giovanni
 * Cassidy
 * Butch
 * Dr. Namba

Key Pokémon

 * Ash's Charizard
 * Ash's Pidgeot
 * Ash's Pikachu
 * Ash's Butterfree
 * Ash's Poliwarth
 * Ash's Vileplume
 * Ash's Sandslash
 * Ash's Kingler
 * Ash's Haunter
 * Ash's Primeape
 * Ash's Muk
 * Ash's Tauros (30x)
 * Ash's Snorlax
 * Ash's Lapras
 * Ashley's Pikachu
 * Ashley's Fearow (released)
 * Ashley's Beedrill
 * Ashley's Clefable
 * Ashley's Venusaur
 * Ash's Charmander
 * Ashley's Squirtle
 * Ashley's Rhydon
 * Ashley's Lapras (released)

Recurring Characters

 * Gym Leaders
 * Elite Four
 * Delia Ketchum
 * Professor Oak
 * Officer Jenny
 * Nurse Joy
 * Todd Snap
 * Charles Goodshow
 * Professor Ivy

Seasons

 * Pokémon: Indigo League (Seasons 1 and 2)
 * Pokémon: Adventures in the Orange Islands (Seasons 2 and 3)

Episodes

 * Main article: Episode Guide