29 Years Later, The Original Pokémon Anime Is Back With Ash And Pikachu's Grand Return
Nearly three decades after the Pokémon anime first introduced audiences to Ash Ketchum and Pikachu, the series that launched one of entertainment's biggest franchises is making a major streaming comeback. Pokémon: Indigo League, which debuted in Japan in 1997, is expanding its streaming availability once again, giving longtime fans and newcomers another chance to experience the adventure that started it all.
Beginning tomorrow, August 7, the complete first season of the Pokémon: Indigo League anime arrives on both Hulu and Disney+, bringing Ash's earliest adventures in the Kanto region to two of the world's largest streaming platforms, according to Anime Updates. The return also coincides with a television revival, making it easier than ever to revisit the original anime that helped define a generation of Pokémon fans.
Ash And Pikachu's First Adventure Finds A New Streaming Home
The original Pokémon: Indigo League anime is still one of the franchise's most beloved chapters because it introduced nearly everything fans associate with Pokémon today. Across its 52 first-season episodes, viewers watched Ash receive the famously stubborn Pikachu instead of one of Professor Oak's traditional starter Pokémon before gradually building one of anime and gaming's most iconic and unforgettable friendships.
Ash's earliest journey also introduced iconic companions Brock and Misty while showcasing many of the franchise's most recognizable Pokémon. Fans watched Charmander eventually evolve into Charizard, met Squirtle before it joined Ash's team, and followed adventures featuring Bulbasaur, Pidgeotto, and countless other creatures that became household names.
Many of the anime's most memorable episodes also debuted during this first season. Emotional stories like "Bye-Bye Butterfree," exciting adventures aboard the S.S. Anne in "Battle Aboard the St. Anne," and the fan-favorite "Here Comes the Squirtle Squad" helped establish the heartfelt storytelling and humor that would define Pokémon for years to come.
Disney XD Marathon Celebrates Pokémon's Historic Return
The streaming launch is paired with a special television event celebrating the Pokémon: Indigo League anime's arrival. Disney XD will kick things off with an all-day Pokémon: Indigo League marathon on August 6, airing from 9:00 a.m. until 10:30 p.m. ET. After the marathon concludes, the network will continue broadcasting episodes on a regular schedule beginning August 10.
Starting that week, viewers can catch episodes of Pokémon: Indigo League every weekday at 2:30 p.m. ET, while weekend broadcasts will air at 8:00 a.m. ET. The expanded television schedule gives fans another traditional way to enjoy Ash's earliest adventures, recreating the excitement of following the original Pokémon anime through scheduled broadcasts instead of on-demand viewing.
While Hulu and Disney+ are adding the first season, they are not the only destinations for classic Pokémon adventures. Fans hoping to continue beyond the Indigo League storyline can also find the franchise's earlier eras through the official Pokémon TV YouTube channel, where multiple classic seasons are available, including the Orange Islands and Johto arcs. That means viewers who rediscover Ash and Pikachu's beginning on August 7 can continue following their journey long after the Kanto League adventure reaches its conclusion, making this one of the Pokémon franchise's biggest nostalgia celebrations in years.