Pocket Monsters Review
Pokémon
ポケットモンスター

Since the Community Anime Reviews site has periodic issues, I’m republishing some of my OG reviews from there. I have corrected obvious spelling errors though. I will add new notes in parenthesis, labeled “ANB  note.”  😅 I won’t count these as part of the “Back to the Vaults” series as I have not rewatched them.

–> Buy Pokémon Season 1 DVD/BD Collection on Amazon.com!

Community Anime Review of Pocket Monsters

(ANB Note: This series was originally reviewed on 29-June-2003.)

CAR Note: The review below is from having seen this in the bastardized English version. I’ve now seen a few episodes in Japanese and I think that the Japanese version is more intelligent (imagine that) and the names are different (Misty is actually Kasumi). However, unless you understand Japanese and can import those DVD’s, it is impossible to get an accurate translation in the states as 4Kids will not allow it (as I understand it).

(ANB Note: As I now understand things, it was Nintendo that decided to rename the characters for the West.)

Original Review w/ Edits

Since I’ve seen WAY too many episodes of Pokemon, I figured I’d write a review. (I have not watched them all.) This is a kid’s show and as such is written for kids. Based off of the card game of the same name, Ash (Satoshi) is a boy who wants to be the best pocket monster trainer ever. He soon acquires the KAWAII Pikachu who won’t go into the storage ball, so rides on Satoshi’s shoulder. As he travels, he meets Misty (Kasumi) and another guy who team up with him.

Opposing him are Team Rocket with Jesse (Musashi, voiced by HAYASHIBARA Megumi, who also does the voice of Lina Inverse, female Ranma, and many more iconic characters) and James (Kojirou), who want Pikachu.

It has been a while since I saw anything new so I’ve no idea if that’s still true or not. (As I look, I may have only watched the first season.)

Bottom line: kids will love it but that’s about it. It is watchable if you want to watch it with your kids, just make sure to have your backup intelligence circuits on standby! 😜

Update (24-Aug-2008):

I managed to catch the first six episodes, unedited and in Japanese. ‘Twas an eye-opening experience. Heck, I even laughed during the first episode and chuckled in the 2nd one, something I never did for the 4Kids version. I’ve also seen the banned episode Dennou Senshi Porygon (click link for my review) and one other. (I think it was the swimsuit episode.) If I get a chance, I’ll watch some more of the Japanese show because it actually holds a bit of interest to me. (But only a bit.)