Pokémon: Pokémon - I Choose You!

  • TV-Y7
  • Release year: 1997
Meet Ash Ketchum, a 10-year-old boy full of imagination, confidence, and dreams that are almost too big for his village of Pallet Town—plus the desire to become a Pokémon Master! Ash is finally old enough to receive his first Pokémon from Professor...read more
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Meet Ash Ketchum, a 10-year-old boy full of imagination, confidence, and dreams that are almost too big for his village of Pallet Town—plus the desire to become a Pokémon Master! Ash is finally old enough to receive his first Pokémon from Professor Oak, the town's Pokémon expert-but on the morning Ash is supposed to claim it, he oversleeps! By the time he arrives at Professor Oak's, the three Pokémon he wanted have already been chosen by the other Trainers-in-training, including his rival, Gary! The only Pokémon remaining is a strong-willed Pikachu. Trainer and Pokémon don't get along right away. Not only does Pikachu refuse to enter its Poké Ball, it would rather climb a tree than battle a Pidgey that Ash encounters! Disagreements aside, they start to bond when they find themselves chased by an angry flock of Spearow. The Spearow wound Pikachu, but Ash risks his own safety to protect his Pokémon. To further their escape, Ash "borrows" a bike owned by a young girl named Misty. He soon wrecks the bike, however, and he and Pikachu are surrounded by the Spearow. When Ash fearlessly confronts the Spearow, Pikachu is inspired to summon its remaining energy to repel the Pokémon with a powerful electric shock. Finally out of harm's way, the wild experience makes Ash and Pikachu realize that they've begun what promises to be a blooming friendship.

Original Release

04/01/1997

US Release

09/08/1998

Cast

(see additional cast & crew)

Directors

Masamitsu Hidaka

Writers

John Touhey, Thomas D. Sullivan, Crispin Freeman, Takeshi Shudo, Ken Sakamoto, Satoshi Tajiri, Michael Haigney, Norman J. Grossfeld

Creators

Satoshi Tajiri, Junichi Masuda, Ken Sugimori

Cast

Producers

Editors

Yutaka Itô, Toshio Henmi

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