Pokémon the Series: XY

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This article is about the fifth series of the anime. For other uses, see XY.
If you were looking for the series of the Pokémon Trading Card Game, see Pokémon Trading Card Game → XY Series.
XY & Z redirects here. For the opening song, see XY&Z (song).
English logo
Japanese logo for Pocket Monsters: XY

Pokémon the Series: XY (Japanese: ポケットモンスターXY Pocket Monsters XY), referred to by fans as the XY series, is the fifth series of the Pokémon anime and is based on the events of the Generation VI core series Pokémon games. It follows the Best Wishes series. It premiered on October 17, 2013 in Japan, and January 18, 2014 in the United States, although the first two episodes aired as a sneak peek in the United States on October 19, 2013.

As with the previous three series, the XY series began with only Ash Ketchum, headed off to a new region with his Pikachu while wearing a new set of clothes. His previous companions, Iris and Cilan, left the series. Joining him this time are Serena, a new Trainer who previously met Ash in her childhood; Clemont, an aspiring inventor and scientist who is also the Gym Leader of the Lumiose Gym; and Bonnie, Clemont's younger sister. Jessie, James and Meowth continue to follow Ash and his friends through the Kalos region, and have gone back to their more traditional methods of capturing Ash's Pikachu and other Pokémon, although their appearances are less frequent, just like in the Best Wishes series. Jessie's Wobbuffet returns to her roster. This series also features a series of side story episodes following the adventures of a Trainer named Alain, who is working to find Mega Stones and defeat all Mega Evolutions using his Mega Charizard X. In the XY & Z season, Ash and his friends journey continues as their story merges with the plot of the Mega Evolution specials, with the group becoming involved with the Legendary Pokémon, Zygarde, and the villainous organization, Team Flare.

A new art style was instituted at the beginning of the series. A notable difference is that the stock 'effect' backgrounds have been almost entirely removed (only appearing so far in cases where a main character captures a Pokémon or whenever Ash wins a Gym Badge). The characters are consistently drawn with fingernails. Also, the character models (as seen in the artworks) are slightly taller in comparison to the previous four series. In addition, much like the core series Pokémon games from Generation III onwards, a VS. player overview screen appears before starting some battles and Showcase rounds. Similarly to In The Shadow of Zekrom!, Ash also receives a physical redesign, now having softer and slightly smaller birthmarks on his cheeks, his hair covers the top of his ears and is spikier, and he has more locks on his forehead.

So far, it has been divided into two seasons for audiences outside of Japan.

Episodes in the XY series are numbered with the prefix XY on Bulbapedia. For a complete episode listing, see the list of XY series episodes.

Japanese seasons

The XY series has been divided into multiple arcs in the Japanese release, similar to the "chapters" of the original series and Best Wishes series.

  • Pocket Monsters: XY (ポケットモンスターXY) (XY001 - XY092)
  • Pocket Monsters: XY & Z (ポケットモンスターXY&Z) (XY093 - present)

Dub seasons

Unlike what was previously done, when the XY series came to be dubbed into English and other languages, it was localized as a whole. While it is still divided into seasons, they share a common title:

Gallery

Characters

Main characters

Secondary characters

Antagonists

Trivia

  • This is the only series in which:
  • The XY series shares a few similarities with the Advanced Generation series:
    • Ash is traveling with three companions instead of two.
    • Two of the traveling companions are siblings, with one of them being too young to have Pokémon of their own.
      • In addition, both sets of siblings are somehow related to the fifth Gym Leader of their respective region, and both May and Clemont tried to hide this fact at first.
    • Neither May nor Serena had a specific goal in mind at the beginning of their respective journeys, but later become inspired to pursue a career that focuses more on displaying a Pokemon's style rather than its power.
      • Both were expected to pursue the same career as one of their parents: May was expected to become a Gym Leader like her father, and Serena was expected to become a Rhyhorn racer like her mother.
      • Both began their Pokémon journeys for unorthodox reasons: May began her journey in order to travel, and Serena began her journey to reunite with Ash.
      • Both only figures out their goals later in their journey: May wishing to become a Top Coordinator, and Serena is aiming for the position of Kalos Queen.
      • Both obtained an Eevee.
    • The three older main characters have one starter Pokémon each.
      • The main female protagonist chooses the Fire-type starter Pokémon.
  • The dub of episodes from A PokéVision of Things to Come! up until Heroes - Friends and Faux Alike! were first aired in the United Kingdom before the United States (except the postponed episode An Undersea Place to Call Home!).
  • The dub of episodes from A Relay in the Sky! onward were first aired in Canada before the United States.

In other languages


External links

Original series (list) Indigo LeagueAdventures in the Orange Islands
The Johto JourneysJohto League ChampionsMaster Quest
Ruby and Sapphire (list) AdvancedAdvanced ChallengeAdvanced BattleBattle Frontier
Diamond and Pearl (list) Diamond and PearlBattle DimensionGalactic BattlesSinnoh League Victors
Black & White (list) Black & WhiteRival DestiniesAdventures in Unova and Beyond
XY (list) XYKalos QuestXYZ (Mega Evolution Specials)
Sun & Moon (list) Sun & MoonUltra Adventures‎Ultra Legends
Journeys (list) JourneysMaster JourneysUltimate Journeys (The Arceus Chronicles)
Horizons (list) Horizons
Specials (list) Pikachu's Winter VacationSide StoriesPokémon Chronicles
Planetarium specialsPikachu shorts
Mewtwo ReturnsThe Legend of Thunder!Pichu Bros. in Party Panic
The Mastermind of Mirage PokémonPokémon Ranger: Guardian SignsA Ripple in Time
Complete listMoviesOther anime series


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