Above all forms of media, one rises higher than the rest. Pokemon stands as one of the most successful media franchises in the world. The franchise consists of top-selling games and a long-running anime series. Since 1997, the Pokemon anime has grown throughout the world, following unique stories not found in the games. While the quality of the show varies, it continues to get new episodes almost every week. With such a large series, it’s no surprise that fans are bustling to discover the best places to watch Pokemon online.

The Plot of the Pokemon Anime

Pokemon follows the adventures of a young boy named Ash Ketchum. He journeys the world with his partner Pokemon, Pikachu, seeking to become the greatest trainer there ever was. He commonly partners up with characters from the mainline games, letting fans experience a deeper connection with Ash than most anime protags. The anime also follows key events from the Pokemon games while mixing in some of its own unique charm.

The current iteration of the anime is called Pokemon Master Journeys. Through his journeys, Ash travels with fellow Pokemon trainers Goh and Chloe. Together, they go on an epic adventure through all major regions of the world. Recent seasons have strayed from the storylines of the Pokemon games, in favor of telling their own stories. But familiar characters – from both the games and previous anime episode- still make prominent appearances.

The Pokemon anime also consists of special movies. These movies feature Legendary and Mythical Pokemon, providing more high-stakes storytelling and heart-pounding action. While these movies aren’t required to enjoy the anime itself, they’re great bonuses for fans of the series. Numerous elements of the anime are also referenced in Pokemon games, so long-time watchers have plenty to look forward to.

5 Best Places to Watch Pokemon Online

This article will share the best websites to watch Pokemon online. However, this article will only cover legal sources. Additionally, not every episode of the series will be available in one location. The reasoning is simple – the Pokemon series is vast. Most popular anime websites do not have every Pokemon episode. Crunchyroll, for example, doesn’t have a single one. Fans will need to get creative in order to watch their favorite episodes of the Pokemon anime.

 

1. Pokemon TV

Completely free to use!

Pokemon TV is sourced directly from The Pokemon Company itself. The website has entire seasons of the anime, as well as specials not easily found anywhere else. Unfortunately, the site does not have every season available at once. Episodes and movies are rotated on a regular basis, and it’s not possible to keep anything before it leaves. Pokemon TV doesn’t require payment, but you might want to look elsewhere if you’re looking to binge.

Pros

  • Completely free to use
  • Contains numerous specials

Cons

  • Not everything is available
  • No way to keep episodes

 

2. Netflix

watch pokemon online

Netflix has a highly comprehensive list of Pokemon episodes. This includes new episodes of the latest series, Master Journeys.

But the availability of each episode varies from region to region.

Pros

  • Newer episodes are available
  • Exclusive content, including the Secrets of the Jungle movie

Cons

  • Requires a paid subscription
  • Still lacking numerous seasons

How to Watch Pokemon Indigo League and Other Seasons Online on Netflix from Anywhere in the World

This method works on both desktop PCs and mobile phones or tablets.

  1. Purchase (or start a free trial) of a VPN. I can confirm that Surfshark works for this purpose.
  2. In the settings, choose United States as your location.
  3. Fire up the VPN and wait for it to do its magic
  4. Once you’re connected, navigate to Netflix (browser or app)
  5. Search “The Rising of the Shield Hero” in the Netflix search bar and you should see the anime pop up.

Enjoy! Please note that if your Netflix library doesn’t update to reflect the country you selected in your VPN, you may have to clear the Netflix cache first and try again.

To do this on mobile, go to settings -> apps -> Netflix -> clear cache. To do this on PC, you have to clear the cache in your web browser.

I’ve had no trouble using this method and I still use Surfshark to watch anime from various Netflix country libraries daily.

 

 

3. Google Play

There are many episodes of Pokemon, including Pokemon Indigo League, available on Google Play. Not every season is available, but fans are still able to purchase and keep episodes from the anime. Additionally, Google Play gives access to numerous movies and specials. While it’s not the most comprehensive list of seasons, Google Play is a great place to start your episode collection.

Pros

  • Allows fans to purchase and keep episodes
  • Numerous movies and recent seasons available

Cons

4. iTunes

iTunes is another great option for watching classic Pokemon episodes. Once again, there are many seasons missing from this storefront. But iTunes still allows fans to keep episodes, much like Google Play does. Sadly, there’s no free option, and iTunes must be downloaded in order to watch these episodes. Fans can also visit Apple TV for a comprehensive list of every episode Apple provides.

Pros

  • Episodes can be kept

Cons

  • Payment required
  • Additional download required

 

5. Amazon Prime

watch pokemon online

Amazon Prime has a special offer for Pokemon fans. Owners of a Prime Subscription can get a 7-day free trial to watch any Pokemon anime episode they want. Almost every season can be found on Amazon, with the notable exception of Journeys and Master Journeys. In other words, Amazon is a perfect choice for binge-watching and starting a full episode collection. That’s why Amazon tops this list of the best places to watch the Pokemon anime.

Just be warned: you’ll need a paid subscription after the trial ends.

Pros

  • More movies available
  • Contains almost every season
  • Free trial available
  • Purchased episodes can be kept

Cons

  • Requires a paid subscription after trial expires

Pokemon Anime Merch

Pokemon on DVD & Blu-Ray

Get all of Pokemon Indigo League season 1 on Blu-Ray here.

Other great anime to watch

Pokemon is one of the largest franchises in the world, but it isn’t the only long-lasting anime out there. Anyone looking for large episode counts should check out these lists:

  1. 5 Best Places to Watch Dragon Ball Online
  2. 5 Best Places to Watch Naruto Shippuden Online

Additionally, Pokemon fans should keep an eye on the company’s official Twitter account. The account reports on new places to watch official episodes of the anime, so make sure you check back regularly!

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