Original Timeline of Pokémon Anime
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Satoshipedia is based on the original timeline of the Pokémon anime, according to the criteria described in our guidelines.
→What is the original timeline of the Pokémon anime?
By “original timeline,” we do not mean to claim that the other series are not official or not part of the franchise. All Pokémon anime series are official productions.
With this expression, we instead refer to the narrative line in which Ash Ketchum shows coherent and continuous progression from the Original Series, both in terms of experience and personal maturation.
The First Breaking Point: The End of Diamond & Pearl (2010)
The continuity built throughout the early series (Original Series) reaches a clear point of closure in the Diamond & Pearl finale.
The final scene shows Ash walking away with his back turned, without any direct reference to the following series. This type of ending differs from the transitions between previous generations, which maintained a more explicit connection from one region to the next.
Starting with Black & White, elements emerge that highlight a narrative discontinuity: regressions in Ash’s maturity, his level of experience, and the way past experiences are handled. These aspects are directly observable in the episodes and can be verified by anyone who rewatches them in chronological order.
For this reason, we believe it is necessary to consider the narrative line built up to Diamond & Pearl as a coherent and self-contained sequence.
The Case of XY / XYZ (2013–2016)
The XY series presents a particular case.
In XY, Ash demonstrates a level of competence and maturity consistent with the journey seen up to Diamond & Pearl. Furthermore, there are no substantial references to the events of Black & White, even with the presence of a character (Alexia) introduced in that series.
From a temporal perspective as well, there is no explicit continuity between the conclusion of Black & White (set at the beginning of autumn) and the beginning of XY (set in late spring).
Similarly, XYZ concludes with a scene analogous to that of Diamond & Pearl: Ash walks away with his back turned, without introducing the next series.
An additional element of discontinuity is represented by a public statement from the anime’s sound director, Masafumi Mima, who literally says: “Sun & Moon is NOT a continuation of XYZ”.
Is XY a Sequel or an Alternate Line?
There is no official statement explicitly defining XY as a direct sequel to Diamond & Pearl.
For this reason, strictly speaking, we continue to consider the series up to and including Diamond & Pearl as the core of the “original timeline.”
However, the psychological consistency shown by Ash in XY, combined with the fact that his age is never definitively redefined, allows us to include XY and XYZ in the encyclopedia as a compatible extension of the original narrative line.
It is therefore an argued choice, not an arbitrary one.
Series that constituite the original timeline
Pokémon (Original Series)
Original title: “Pocket Monsters”
Seasons in english: “Pokémon” ; “Pokémon: Adventures in the Orange Islands” ; “Pokémon: The Johto Journeys” ; “Pokémon: Johto League Champions” ; “Pokémon The Master Quest”
Regions: Kanto ; Orange Islands ; Johto
Pokémon Advanced Generation
Original title: “Pocket Monsters Advanced Generation”
Seasons in english: “Pokémon Advanced” ; “Pokémon Advanced Challenge” ; “Pokémon Advanced Battle” ; “Pokémon Battle Frontier”
Regions: Hoenn ; Kanto
Pokémon Diamond&Pearl
Original title: “Pocket Monsters Diamond&Pearl”
Seasons in english: “Diamond&Pearl” ; “DP Battle Dimension” ; “DP Galactic Battles” ; “DP Sinnoh League Victors”
Regions: Sinnoh
Pokémon XY / XYZ
Original title: “Pocket Monsters XY” ; “Pocket Monsters XY&Z”
Seasons in english: “XY” ; “XY Kalos Quest” ; “XYZ”
Regions: Kalos
