View source for Pokémon in Germany

{{redirect|Pokémon in German|Pokémon names in the German language|List of German Pokémon names}}
{{CountryInfobox
|area=Germany
|language={{wp|German language|German}}
|continent={{wp|Europe}}
|EP001=September 1, 1999
|AG001=June 8, 2004
|DP001=May 27, 2008
|BW001=May 1, 2011
|XY001=October 19, 2013{{tt|*|Sneak peek}}<br>April 3, 2014{{tt|*|Actual season premiere}}
|SM001=November 20, 2016{{tt|*|Sneak peek}}<br>April 29, 2017{{tt|*|Actual season premiere}}
|JN001=July 5, 2020
}}
The [[Pokémon]] franchise first reached '''{{wp|Germany}}''' on September 1, 1999, with the first airing of ''[[EP001|Pika - Pikachu]]'' on {{wp|RTL II}} in the German language. The German release of [[Pokémon Red and Blue Versions]] followed shortly afterwards, on October 8, 1999.

==Pokémon video games==
Most of the [[core series]] and [[Spin-off Pokémon games|spin-off]] Pokémon games have been released in Germany. All Pokémon games sold in Germany, as well as in Austria and German-speaking part of Switzerland have been translated into the German language. As in the rest of Europe, [[Pokémon Trozei!]] is sold under the title '''Pokémon Link!'''.

With some exceptions such as {{p|Pikachu}}, most of the Pokémon species names are completely localized into the German language. For more information on these translated names, see [[list of German Pokémon names]].

==Pokémon anime==
The German dub of the main [[Pokémon anime]] was initially recorded and produced by '''FFF Studio Gruppe''' in Unteraching near Munich, and then from Season 18 onwards at '''Iyuno-SDI''' in Munich proper. The German dub is based on the English adaptation produced by [[4Kids Entertainment]] and [[The Pokémon Company International]]. Most characters who did originally appear in the video games in some form or another, such as [[Brock (anime)|Brock]], [[Dawn (anime)|Dawn]] and [[Iris (anime)|Iris]], have had their names changed to mirror their respective name-changes in the German localisation of said games. Most anime-original characters meanwhile—such as the main character [[Ash Ketchum]]—do retain their English dub names in German, with a handful of exceptions, such as [[Officer Jenny]] being renamed to Officer Rocky.

In Germany, the anime was initially aired on the '''{{wp|RTL II}}''' weekday afternoon children's programming block, where it was aired along with other popular Japanese import shows, such as Sailor Moon and Dragon Ball. New Episodes ran from the debut of the [[original series]] up to ''[[Pokémon the Series: Black & White]]'', when RTL II terminated all of its children’s programming on February 24, 2013.

'''Disney XD''' and '''ProSieben MAXX''' picked up the broadcasting license for the anime in 2012 and 2013 respectively, and had aired the anime until their broadcasting rights expired in 2017 and 2018, respectively.

From there, '''Super RTL''' picked up the series for its Toggo programming strand, starting with [[S22|Pokémon the Series: Sun & Moon—Ultra Legends]]. They, along with '''Nickelodeon''' have also been rerunning many older seasons.

In Austria and Switzerland, the German dub airs on '''Nickelodeon Austria''' and '''Nickelodeon Schweiz'''.

In Germany, Austria, and Switzerland, the anime is also available on [[Netflix]] and [[Prime Video]].

===Music===
All theme songs used in the German dub of the Pokémon anime are translated versions of the songs used in the English dub, with the exception of {{so|The Power of One}}, which was replaced by [[You're Not Alone (German song)|an original German song]].

At least five Pokémon soundtrack albums have been released in Germany. The first album, released in 2000, is ''{{tt|Pokémon - Schnapp' sie dir alle|Pokémon - Catch them all}}'', a translated version of [[Pokémon 2.B.A. Master]]. It was released by KOCH Records (catalogue number 333 33-2). Also in the same year, the [[Pokémon the Movie 2000 (score)|Pokémon the Movie 2000 score]] was released with the title {{tt|Pokémon 2: Die Macht des Einzelnen - Original Musik aus dem Kinofilm|Pokémon 2: The Power of One - Original Music from the Motion Picture}} (catalogue number 333 88-2). Two albums were released in Germany in 2001: ''{{tt|Pokémon - Die Johto Reisen|Pokémon - The Johto Journeys}}'', a translated version of [[Totally Pokémon]], and ''{{tt|Pokémon 3: Der Ultimative Soundtrack|Pokémon 3: The Ultimate Soundtrack}}'', a translated version of [[Pokémon 3: The Ultimate Soundtrack]]. The fifth album is ''{{tt|Pokémon Weihnachtsparty|Pokémon Christmas Party}}'', the only international translation of [[Pokémon Christmas Bash]].

Three singles have been released in Germany as well. The first, ''{{tt|Pokémon Welt|Pokémon World}}'', is a translated version of the English {{single|Pokémon World}} single. There were also {{single|Misty's Song|two different singles}} released for the song ''{{tt|In der Dunkelheit der Nacht|In the Darkness of the Night}}'' ([[Misty's Song]]). One single with a pink cover has the original instrumentation in English and German, while a version with a blue cover has a remixed version in English and German. Both singles also contain a karaoke version. All versions on these singles are performed by Barbi Schiller. Many of the television theme songs in the German dub have been performed by {{wp|Noel Pix}} and were also released on CD through compilation albums of the broadcasting channel titled ''RTL II: Anime Hits''.

<gallery>
File:2BA Master German CD.png|Cover artwork for [[Pokémon 2.B.A. Master|Pokémon - Schnapp' sie dir alle]]
File:Mistys Song German single.png|Cover artwork for the {{single|Misty's Song|In der Dunkelheit der Nacht}} CD single
File:Movie 2 score German.png|Cover artwork for the {{OBP|Pokémon the Movie 2000|score}} score
</gallery>

===Cast and crew===
Many voice actors and actresses have contributed to the production of the German dub of the Pokémon anime.

[[Ash Ketchum]] was originally voiced by '''Caroline Combrinck''' from [[EP001]]-[[EP157]] before she quit the show to study in New York City. Ash was voiced by '''Veronika Neugebauer''' from [[EP158]]-[[DP104]]. Neugebauer had earlier provided the voices of {{OBP|Marina|EP091}} in the [[Orange Archipelago|Orange Islands]] episodes and {{OBP|Lisa|M03}} in the [[M03|third movie]]. After Neugebauer's sudden death, Combrinck returned to voice Ash beginning with episode [[DP105]]. As of [[SM001]], Ash is now voiced by '''Felix Mayer'''.

During most of the first season, [[Ash's Pikachu]] was dubbed over by '''Sabine Bohlmann'''. Starting with the Orange Islands season, '''[[Ikue Ohtani]]'s''' Japanese voice has gone undubbed. However, Bohlmann returned to voice Pikachu in [[M20]].

{{an|Misty}} was voiced by '''Angela Wiederhut''' and {{an|Brock}} (''Rocko'') was voiced by '''Marc Stachel'''. [[Tracey Sketchit]] was voiced by '''Dirk Meyer'''.

{{an|May}} (''Maike'') has been voiced by '''Nicola Grupe-Arnoldi''' throughout the series and was voiced by '''Stephanie Kellner''' in movies six and seven. Grupe-Arnoldi has also voiced [[Erika]]'s {{p|Gloom}} (''Duflor''), [[Jessie]] as a child, {{OBP|Rebecca|EP029}}, [[Misty's Horsea]] (''Seeper''), [[Sabrina]] as a child, and [[Misty's Togepi]]. May's brother, [[Max]], has been voiced by '''Ute Bronder''' in the series and by '''Solveig Duda''' in the sixth and seventh movies. {{an|Dawn}} (''Lucia'') was voiced by '''Jana Kilka'''. 

{{an|Iris}} (''Lilia'') was voiced by '''Marieke Oeffinger''' and {{an|Cilan}} (''Benny'') by '''Tim Schwarzmaier'''. Both of them have voiced several characters before.

{{an|Serena}} is voiced by '''Gabrielle Pietermann''', {{an|Clemont}} (''Citro'') by '''Tobias Kern''' and {{an|Bonnie}} (''Heureka'') by '''Shandra Schadt'''.

[[James]] has been voiced by '''Matthias Klie'''. [[Jessie]] has been voiced by '''Scarlet Cavadenti''' for the series but by '''Claudia Lössl''' in a few movies (4–7 & 10). {{MTR}} (''Mauzi'') has been voiced by '''Gerhard Acktun''' for the entire series.

[[Gary Oak]] (''Gary Eich'') is voiced by '''Niko Macoulis'''. His grandfather, {{an|Professor Oak}} (''Professor Eich''), is voiced by '''Achim Geisler'''. Another of Ash's rivals, [[Paul]], is voiced by '''Johannes Wolko'''. 

[[Nurse Joy]] (''Schwester Joy'') has been voiced by four voice actresses:  '''Christine Stichler''' (season 1–6 & 8), '''Melanie Manstein''' (season 7 & 9), '''Tatjana Pokorny''' (season 10–13) and '''Katharina Iacobescu''' (season 14–present), who currently voices her.  [[Officer Jenny]] (''Officer Rocky'') has been voiced by five different voice actresses:  '''Stefanie von Lerchenfeld''' (season 1–6 & 8), '''Beate Pfeiffer''' (season 7 & 9–13), '''Solveig Duda''' (season 14), '''Nina Kapust''' (season 15) and '''Angela Wiederhut''' (season 16–present), who currently voices her.

==Pokémon Trading Card Game==
The [[Pokémon Trading Card Game]] has been sold in Germany since December 1999 with the introduction of {{TCG|Base Set}}. The game was originally distributed by [[Wizards of the Coast]] and later by [[The Pokémon Company International]] after Wizards of the Coast lost their license to distribute the TCG. Both partnered with local board and card game company {{wp|Amigo Spiele|Amigo}} to utilise their distribution channels and for game store-centred organised play.

Most expansion sets released in English are also available in German, with only a handful of exceptions, such as [[Gym Heroes (TCG)|Gym Heroes]] and [[EX Team Rocket Returns (TCG)|EX Team Rocket Returns]]. Prior to the release of the [[XY (TCG)|XY base-set]], German TCG product typically became available about two or three months after it had been in English, mirroring the then-staggered international release schedule of the video games. Since XY, German TCG product now releases concurrently with the English product. German-language cards are recognized as tournament legal by [[Play! Pokémon]].

==Pokémon manga==
[[File:Pokémon Adventures DE volume 3.png|thumb|200px|left|{{PAV|3}} of Pokémon Adventures in German]]
[[File:Pokémon Adventures DE volume 43.png|thumb|200px|right|''{{PAV|43|Pokémon: Schwarz und Weiss'' volume 1}}]]
The first three volumes of the [[Pokémon Adventures]] manga were released in German language by Egmont Manga & Anime. The names of characters such as [[Professor Oak]] and [[Lt. Surge]] were switched to their German names from the games and anime. Additionally, {{adv|Red}} and {{adv|Blue}} were renamed to "{{Ash}}" and "{{Gary}}" to match the {{pkmn|anime}}.

Publisher [[Panini Comics]], who has already distributed an official Pokémon Magazine, acquired the rights to Pokémon Adventures in 2013. It began releasing the manga, starting with {{chap|Black & White}} under the title ''{{tt|Pokémon: Schwarz und Weiss|Pokémon: Black and White}}''. Then in May 2015, before the final volume of Black & White chapter released, the first volume of {{chap|X & Y}} (adapted from the [[List of Pokémon Adventures XY volumes|Japanese mini volume edition]]) hit store shelves. The following January then, Panini started releasing the series from the very beginning, with {{chap|Red, Green & Blue}} and following chapters being released with the title ''{{tt|Pokémon: Die Ersten Abenteuer|Pokémon: The First Adventure}}''. New volumes from different chapters were released monthly between 2016 and 2021. As of December 2021, the publication is (with the exception of {{chap|HeartGold & SoulSilver}}, scheduled to be released in 2022) up to current with the Japanese publication. 

Like with Egmont’s version beforehand, Panini’s German edition changes the characters’ names to their localised equivalent from the German version of the video games wherever one exists. As such, characters like {{adv|Red}}, {{adv|Blue}} and {{adv|Green}} are named “Rot”, “Blau” and “Grün” respectively. Nicknames for Pokémon, on the other hand tend to be reinterpreted, such as {{adv|Sun}}’s convention for naming his Pokémon: While in the English version he names them after common names for US-coins and bills, in German he names them after common slang words for money: “[[Cent|Moos]]”, “[[Dollar (Adventures)|Kies]]” and “[[Sun_(Adventures)#Penny|Knete]]”, just to name a few.

==Community==
One of the largest German-language Pokémon sites is [[Filb.de]]. Filb offers Pokémon-related news, game and anime information, a forum and a wiki named [[PokéWiki]].

Other notable German-language Pokémon communities include Bisafans and Pokefans, who also offer Pokémon-related news and host their own forums.

==Events==
{{bulbanews|XY Trainer Tour 2014 traveling around Germany}}
Like in other European countries, a German {{OBP|Pokémon Day|Germany}} is held every year. This event celebrates Pokémon and distributes items, trading cards, and event-exclusive Pokémon to participants.

To commemorate the release of the {{TCG|XY Trainer Kit}} from the [[Pokémon Trading Card Game]], a small promotional tour was announced, with stops in Germany and Austria. The tour began on March 15, 2014 and ended April 19, 2014. On this tour, attendees were able to exchange 50 cards from a non-Pokémon-related trading card game and would receive an XY Trainer Kit in return. The intention of the tour was to introduce new players to the TCG and offered them the opportunity to learn how to play the Trading Card Game.

==External links==
* [http://www.pokemon.com/de/ The official Germany Pokémon website] (full website)
* [http://www.mypokito.de/pokemon.htm Pokémon on RTL II's website] (in German)

==Related articles==
*[[List of German Pokémon names]]
*[[List of German Pokémon themes]]

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{{Pokémon around the world}}<br>
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[[de:Pokémon in Deutschland]]
[[ja:ドイツにおけるポケモン]]