Game intro

The game intro is the series of cutscenes displayed before the start of a game.

In the core series

Generation I

Pokémon Red, Green, and Blue

In Pokémon Red, Green, and Blue, as well as the international Pokémon Red and Blue, the game intro starts with the Game Freak logo and a shooting star, then stars of different colors fall below this logo.

After this, there is a short Pokémon battle cutscene (on a blank background):

• Gengar vs. Nidorino^RG
• Gengar vs. Jigglypuff^B

Due to an oversight, when Pokémon Blue is played in color, Jigglypuff appears purple instead of pink. This is a leftover from the battle between Gengar and Nidorino, as both are purple Pokémon.

At the end of the game intro, the player character Red appears below the Pokémon game logo. He throws his Poké Ball up sometimes (he does not move; only the Poké Ball moves).

The respective first partner Pokémon with the same color as the current version appears with Red at first: Bulbasaur^G, Charmander^R, or Squirtle^B. Some Pokémon then appear together with the player character, one Pokémon at a time. In each game version, there is a separate list of 16 Pokémon that can appear in this logo scene.

When the games are played in color, all these Pokémon from the logo scene have an unusual color palette. Specifically, they share the same color palette as the player (including dark purple and light pink colors). This is the same palette used in normal gameplay for Mew, Mewtwo, and Jynx.

These are the Pokémon seen together with the player Red in the title screen:

Pokémon Red (including Japanese and English versions)
#0001 Bulbasaur	#0004 Charmander	#0005 Squirtle	#0013 Weedle	#0017 Pidgeotto	#0025 Pikachu	#0032 Nidoran♂	#0035 Clefairy
#0063 Abra	#0077 Ponyta	#0092 Gastly	#0095 Onix	#0112 Rhydon	#0123 Scyther	#0129 Magikarp	#0132 Ditto

Pokémon Green
#0001 Bulbasaur	#0004 Charmander	#0005 Squirtle	#0010 Caterpie	#0017 Pidgeotto	#0025 Pikachu	#0029 Nidoran♀	#0035 Clefairy
#0063 Abra	#0077 Ponyta	#0092 Gastly	#0095 Onix	#0112 Rhydon	#0127 Pinsir	#0129 Magikarp	#0132 Ditto

Pokémon Blue (including Japanese and English versions)
#0001 Bulbasaur	#0004 Charmander	#0005 Squirtle	#0026 Raichu	#0037 Vulpix	#0044 Gloom	#0056 Mankey	#0060 Poliwag
#0084 Doduo	#0094 Gengar	#0106 Hitmonlee	#0113 Chansey	#0135 Jolteon	#0137 Porygon	#0142 Aerodactyl	#0143 Snorlax

Pokémon Yellow

In Pokémon Yellow, the game intro starts with the Game Freak logo and a shooting star, then stars of different colors fall below this logo.

After this, these cutscenes featuring Pikachu appear:

• A small Pikachu silhouette running towards the player
• Pikachu jumping while doing a flying kick
• A larger version of Pikachu running towards the player, this time colored red
• Surfing Pikachu in the sea
• An even larger version of Pikachu running towards the player
• Flying Pikachu (a Pikachu flying with balloons) in the sky
• Pikachu looking at the player and then using an electric move

At the end, a smiling Pikachu with a "Pika!" speech balloon appears below the game logo. He says his name "Pikachu" once, voiced by Ikue Otani. This is the main cry used by the player's Pikachu in places such as the Pokémon summary.

Differences

When run on a Game Boy Color, the international versions of Pokémon Yellow feature Pikachu with a separate color palette from the backgrounds it overlaps.

Normally, when games are run on a Super Game Boy, both backgrounds and overlapping objects share the same color palettes. The Game Boy Color enhancement of Pokémon Yellow mimics these restrictions throughout the majority of the game, despite being capable of assigning different color palettes (regardless of overlapping). These introduction scenes are the only known portion of the game to disobey this "overlapping" restriction.

Pokémon Yellow intro, as seen on an original Game Boy
Pokémon Yellow intro, as seen on a Super Game Boy
Pokémon Yellow (international version) intro, as seen on a Game Boy Color
Pokémon Yellow (Japanese version) intro, as seen on a Game Boy Color

Glitches

When run on a Super Game Boy, the international versions of Pokémon Yellow feature a bizarre graphical glitch when the introduction loops more than once.

Normally, color palette 16 (0x10) is intended for introduction scenes of Pikachu against a white background. Instead, the color palette information from the previous title screen is not correctly overwritten—which results in half of color palette 14 (0x0E) and half of color palette 16 displaying the screen. The color palettes are then changed at a later part in the introduction, such that color palette 16 and color palette 0 (0x00) are displaying the screen. Once the title screen is reached a second time, the "Pokémon" logo is displayed in color palette 16, with Pikachu displayed in color palette 0. Repeating the introduction again does not result in any further color palette changes - correct, or incorrect.

• Introduction scenes of Pikachu against a blue background (using color palette 37) are not affected by this graphical glitch.
• This graphical glitch is not present when the international version of Pokémon Yellow is run on a Game Boy Color.
• This graphical glitch is also not present when the japanese version of Pokémon Yellow is run on a Super Game Boy.

Pokémon Yellow intro looped, with graphical glitches, as seen on a Super Game Boy

Generation II

Pokémon Gold and Silver

In Pokémon Gold and Silver, the game intro starts with a star quickly moving in a spiral, which turns into the Game Freak logo.

Then, three Shellder appear underwater. The camera goes upwards, revealing five Magikarp swimming (only four can be seen in clear sight), and then a Lapras travelling on the water surface. Lapras then swims out of view. The camera goes left and quickly transitions into a forest where a Jigglypuff is singing in a forest. A Pikachu appears and attacks Jigglypuff by jumping into it. The camera goes downwards.

In another cutscene, the three Johto first partner Pokémon appear one at a time (Chikorita, Cyndaquil, and Totodile), while a Charizard outline appears on a black screen. The black screen then changes to white, revealing Charizard; it then uses a fire move.

The game logo then appears, with the respective Legendary Pokémon: Ho-Oh flying^G or Lugia swimming^S.

Game Freak logo	Shellder	Magikarp	Lapras	Jigglypuff and Pikachu
ChikoritaS	CyndaquilS	TotodileS	Charizard
Pokémon Gold (English)	Pokémon Silver (English)	Pokémon Gold (Japanese)	Pokémon Silver (Japanese)	Pokémon Gold (Korean)	Pokémon Silver (Korean)

Pokémon Crystal

In Pokémon Crystal, the game intro starts with a Ditto dropping in the middle of a black screen, which transforms into the Game Freak logo.

An Unown A appear on a black screen, uttering some noise and releasing some form of energy. There is then a separate scene with some grass. Unown I and H appear. It cuts back to the grass scene, where a Suicune silhouette runs across the screen. A Wooper and a Pichu appear in front of the grass, startled by the sound of Suicune running.

Unown U, W, G, T, B, E, S, L appears on the black screen. After that, Suicune appears more clearly running on the grass, until it jumps and an Unown F teleports in front of it. After Suicune looks at it, it jumps up, and the third group of Unown appear and surround Suicune. Suicune turns into a silhouette.

The word "Crystal" appears, written by Unown letters. After that, a red-eyed purple Suicune silhouette is seen continuously running under the Pokémon Crystal logo.

Ditto	Game Freak logo	Suicune running	Wooper and Pichu	Unown
Unown
Unown			Suicune and Unown
Pokémon Crystal (Unown letters)	Pokémon Crystal (English)	Pokémon Crystal (Japanese)

Generation III

Pokémon Ruby and Sapphire

In Pokémon Ruby and Sapphire, the game intro starts with some plants dripping dew on a puddle. Then, the Game Freak logo appears and disappears. The camera goes up, where mountains are seen on the horizon, then a small silhouette of an Eon duo Pokémon is seen flying towards a mountain.

Afterwards, it cuts to the following scene:

• In Pokémon Ruby, a forest is seen in the background. The sky is clear, and there are mountains behind the forest.
• In Pokémon Sapphire, the ocean is seen in the background. The sky is cloudy, and there are no mountains visible.

The player character is seen riding a bicycle. The gender of the player character is randomized each time the game is booted and the color of the bicycle is tied to whichever sprite is chosen, with Brendan riding a blue bicycle and May riding a green one. The flying Legendary Pokémon (Latios^R/Latias^S) is fully revealed as it appears flying closer, and then the player character slows down the bicycle and turns their head to look at it. The Pokémon flies out of view and the player character follow it.

After a quick Poké Ball-like battleground transition, a Sharpedo and then a Duskull move on the screen. The player character throws two Poké Balls, sending Mudkip and Torchic out to battle. There is a Double Battle between them and the two foes (Sharpedo and Duskull), all four use moves, creating a large sphere in the middle. The Pokémon logo appears on a screen alternating between black to white, and then the respective super-ancient Pokémon appears (Groudon^R/Kyogre^S) with the full game logo.

Game Freak logo		Pokémon Ruby	Pokémon Sapphire

Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen

In Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen, the game intro starts with a shooting star with sparkles, which transitions into the Game Freak logo.

In the middle of a forest, there is a battle between a Gengar and a Nidorino; the Nidorino makes its cry and the Gengar flails at it. The Nidorino then jumps at the Gengar.

This battle transitions into a monochrome version of Charizard^FR/Venusaur^LG. This Pokémon is soon colorized (a red palette is applied to Charizard; a green palette is applied to Venusaur), and the game logo appears. In the FireRed background, there is some fire erupting; in the LeafGreen background, there are some leaves in the wind.

Game Freak logo		Pokémon FireRed	Pokémon LeafGreen

Pokémon Emerald

In Pokémon Emerald, the game intro starts with the Game Freak logo appearing and disappearing, with some plants dripping dew on a puddle in the background. The camera pans up, showing mountains on the horizon, then a silhouette of a Pokémon is seen flying towards a mountain.

Afterwards, it cuts to a scene in a forest, where the player character is seen riding a bicycle (the gender of the player character is randomized each time the game is booted). The player character appear in their Emerald-style clothing and is riding a red bicycle. A Manectric and a Volbeat moves in the same direction as the player character, followed by a Torchic and the previous flying Pokémon revealed to be a Flygon. Everyone, excluding Torchic move out of view, just as the Torchic trips and falls to the ground. It gets up and quickly tries to catch up again.

After a quick Poké Ball-like battleground transition, a Groudon appears and growls with rocks rising, then a Kyogre appears with bubbles. After a short animation of clouds surrounding the sun, lightnings from the clouds reveal a Rayquaza shadow. Rayquaza then appears as a silhouette and shoots an energy beam in the direction of the player. The Pokémon logo appears on a screen alternating between black to white, and then the Rayquaza appears with the full game logo.

Game Freak logo		Pokémon Emerald

Generation IV

Pokémon Diamond and Pearl

In Pokémon Diamond and Pearl, some sparkles appear at the start of the intro, falling from the top DS screen to the bottom one. The Game Freak logo appears at the top, and the text "Game Freak presents" text at the bottom. Some sparkles fall again.

Pokémon Diamond and Pearl are the first core series games where the Pokémon logo appears at the start (rather than at the end) of the game intro. In those games, the Pokémon logo remains in black and white at the top screen during most of the game intro.

While the monochrome Pokémon logo is shown above, scenes from the Sinnoh overworld appear at the bottom screen. Some of these scenes use a regular camera angle, while others have a tilted camera angle. These scenes often have subtle differences from the actual gameplay.

The following overworld locations can be seen:

• The north of Route 204
  • In the game intro, Aroma Lady Taylor is facing south near the stairs and thus would be easily avoidable by the player (rather than facing east near the grass, where the player must battle her to proceed in the game), Bug Catcher Brandon is blocking the way between fences at the west in a way that would make the small area behind the fence permanently inaccessible to the player (while in actual gameplay he is near the east grass instead), and there is a Youngster (possibly Youngster Tyler) near the grass in the east where Bug Catcher Brandon is located in normal gameplay.
  • Twins Liv & Liz, the east cuttable plant, and the Awakening item ball are absent from the game intro.
• The south of Floaroma Town (seen once the camera moves north from Route 204)
  • In the intro, there is a Bug Catcher west of the Pokémon Center, a female character between the Pokémon Center and Poké Mart, and a young girl near the Poké Mart (they are not seen in normal gameplay).
  • In the intro, the female character near the Pokémon Center and the male character between the two west patches of flowers are absent.
  • The male character near the sign and the female character near the flower shop have different sprites (or are different characters) between the game intro and the normal gameplay.
  • The house to the west of the flower shop is smaller in the intro and has four rows of flowers at the east; in normal gameplay, this larger house has only three rows of flowers there.
• A small portion of the east of Route 205 (seen once the camera moves east from Floaroma Town)
• The northwest of Route 205
  • There are two groups of three Starly quickly flying in the game intro.
  • In the intro, the Bug Catcher near the exit of Eterna Forest is absent, although a Bug Catcher (possibly the same) is found near the place where Picnicker Siena is located in normal gameplay.
  • In the intro, a Picknicker (possibly Siena) is located in place of Battle Girl Kelsey (which is absent from the intro).
  • In the intro, Camper Jacob appears to be on the bridge instead of being near the sign.
  • Hikers Daniel and Nicholas appear to be absent from the intro as well, although a Hiker (possibly one of them) is seen north of the ledge near the four trees.
  • Picnicker Karina and the four Underground air ducts near her are also absent from the intro.
  • In the intro, there is a male character near the bottom level of the stairs south of the bridge.
  • Aroma Lady Elizabeth is nearer to the grass in the intro.
  • The Antidote (west of the grass patch north of the bridge) and the Poké Ball (at the lower level, west of the bridge) item balls are absent from the game intro.

After the overworld scenes are done, the male player character Lucas is seen walking towards the camera, then Turtwig appears and uses a leaf move. The female player character Dawn is seen walking towards the camera as well, with the rival Barry in the background, then Chimchar appears and uses a fire move. Lucas and Dawn appear both walking together the same way as before, then Piplup appears and uses a bubble move.

The monochrome Pokémon logo disappears from the top screen. Both the top and bottom screens together form an image of Mount Coronet below a purple sky with lightning. The camera zooms in the mountain, and a diamond^D/pearl^P symbol appears at the bottom screen, while the Pokémon logo appears with the normal colors (rather than the previous black and white version) at the top, and forms the full game logo.

The diamond^D/pearl^P symbol zooms out to a CGI rendering of the respective Pokémon of Myth (Dialga^D/Palkia^P) at the bottom screen, below the game logo (with normal colors).

Game Freak logo		Pokémon Diamond	Pokémon Pearl

Pokémon Platinum

In Platinum, some sparkles appear at the start of the intro, falling from the top DS screen to the bottom one. The Game Freak logo appears at the top, and the text "Game Freak presents" text at the bottom. Some sparkles fall again.

A monochrome version of the Pokémon logo appears at the top screen, while the following overworld locations are seen on the bottom screen (some of these scenes use a regular camera angle, while others have a tilted camera angle. These scenes often have subtle differences from actual gameplay):

• The south of Route 204
  • Youngster Tyler is located in a slightly different place.
  • Lass Samantha is absent from the intro.
  • A Picnicker is in the game intro, near the north exit of the Ravaged Path. The Youngster that would normally be there is absent from the intro.
  • The Paralyze Heal and Awakening item balls are absent from the game intro.
• The west of Eterna Forest
  • The Moss Rock is absent from the intro. The rock and the four tiles with no grass found in normal gameplay are simply filled with grass in the intro.
  • Bug Catcher Jack, Lass Briana, Psychics Kody and Rachael, and the other Bug Catcher near the west entrance are absent from the game intro.
• The north of Eterna City
  • In the game intro, there is a Lass (near the Team Galactic Eterna Building) and a male character (west of the Pokémon Center) that do not appear in normal gameplay.
  • The male Team Galactic Grunt west of the Pokémon Center is absent from the intro.
  • The TM46 (Thief) is absent from the intro.

Two characters introduced in Platinum appear as full body sprites in front of the Eterna City scene: Looker and then Charon.

After the overworld scenes are done, the monochrome Pokémon logo disappears from the top screen. Both Lucas and Dawn (wearing their Platinum-style outfits) appear running together towards the camera: Lucas at the top screen and Dawn at the bottom screen. Lucas's background is filled with tall buildings and a clear sky, while Dawn's background is filled with small houses and a cloudy sky. Then they appear to battle each other, as each throws a Poké Ball. Lucas's Pokémon are Prinplup, Chimchar, and Torterra; Dawn's Pokémon are Infernape, Piplup, and Grotle. Torterra uses a leaf move, while Infernape uses a fire move. Lightning bolts strike both screens.

Cyrus appears and looks at the player on the bottom screen. A swirling black portal appears, from which Giratina looks at the player with red eyes and smiles. The camera then enters the portal. At the end, a CGI rendering of Origin Forme Giratina appears at the bottom screen, below the game logo (with normal colors).

Game Freak logo	Pokémon Platinum

Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver

In Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver, the game intro starts with the white text "Game Freak presents" on a black background on the bottom screen. Once the opening animation starts, the text remains for a moment, before disappearing.

This short scene appears at the bottom screen, while the top screen displays the top portion of the sky:

• In HeartGold, the sun rises in the twilight sky, with some clouds. The sky is above a body of water, with pine trees at the sides. The sun stops, and seconds later Ho-Oh flies into the direction of the camera, and both screens become completely white.
• In SoulSilver, the moon rises in a clear night sky, without any clouds. The sky is above a body of water, with rocks at the sides. The moon stops, and seconds later Lugia flies into the direction of the camera, and both screens become completely white.

In another scene, the camera moves quickly above the grass in both screens, until it stops and the bottom screen becomes completely black. At the top screen, Ethan is standing near some small houses. The camera moves right, and Lyra is also standing with a similar pose. Each of them is holding a Poké Ball and looking at the camera. The camera moves up into a tree, and the scene changes again.

Some overworld scenes are seen at the top screen (while the bottom screen remains black). Some of these scenes use a regular camera angle, while others have a tilted camera angle. These scenes often have subtle differences from actual gameplay.

These are the overworld locations seen at the game intro:

• New Bark Town
  • In the game intro, the blue fence at the right of Professor Elm's lab is absent, the male NPC is located close to the player's house (instead of close to the opposite-gender rival), and the female NPC is located near the lab (instead of near the sign).
• Goldenrod City
  • In the game intro, a Lass is near the Game Corner (but not in normal gameplay) and a School Kid is located at the south entrance (instead of a Beauty as in normal gameplay).
• Ecruteak City
  • In the game intro, the Barrier Station (the house on the way to the Bell Tower) is missing the sign at the front. Both the Barrier Station and the smaller house to the left have a red color scheme (including red doors and windows), unlike in normal gameplay. The old man is also closer to it than in normal gameplay.
  • The Lass is closer to the Burned Tower sign than in regular gameplay as well.

The top screen (where these locations appeared) becomes black, and on the bottom screen, the rival Silver appears as a black silhouette on a red background, and then a full shot of his face.

This is quickly replaced by the faces of the Legendary beasts with blank eyes: Entei, Suicune, and Raikou. Then, Eusine appears on their left as a full body sprite, and quickly disappears. Some Unown move on the screen and push the Legendary beasts out of view. The four Team Rocket Executives (Proton, Petrel, Ariana, and Archer) appear together, under the large "R" logo of their team.

In another scene, Ethan and Lyra quickly appear again, this time as close-ups of their faces: Ethan at the top screen with a silver-colored background, and Lyra at the bottom screen with a gold-colored background. Chikorita (at the bottom screen) uses a leaf move, then Cyndaquil (at the top screen) uses a fire move, and Totodile (at the bottom screen) uses a water move. Then, both screens become black.

Suicune appears (at the bottom-left corner of the screen) on a cliff, looking at the sea.

• In HeartGold, the camera goes up into the sky. In the bottom screen, a CGI rendering of Ho-Oh appears continuously flying in the sky. This scene is an enhanced remake of Ho-Oh flying at the end of Pokémon Gold's game intro.
• In SoulSilver, the camera goes down into the sea. In the bottom screen, a CGI rendering of Lugia appears continuously swimming under the water. This scene is an enhanced remake of Lugia swimming at the end of Pokémon Silver's game intro.

While the Legendary Pokémon is moving on the bottom screen, the game logo appears at the top screen. The camera occasionally goes closer or further from this Legendary Pokémon, or the camera moves and displays this Legendary Pokémon in another angle.

Game Freak logo	Pokémon HeartGold	Pokémon SoulSilver

Generation V

Pokémon Black and White

In Pokémon Black and White, the game intro starts with a star moving and hitting the ground, scattering letters of the Game Freak logo, before forming properly.

N's Castle appears on the top screen, where the coronation of N as king takes place. Ghetsis (face not shown) walks towards the throne with a crown in hand, while some members of the Seven Sages are at the side. The screen changes to the crown with Ghetsis's face in the background, before showing the throne. Then, Ghetsis raises his hands and the crown. N appears walking towards Ghetsis and a close-up side view shot of N is shown, before changing to a close-up shot of his eyes. He closes his eyes, while he reminisces himself as a child with a Darmanitan, a Zorua, and two Woobat in a forest. The camera zooms into young N. Back to the present, Ghetsis raises the crown while Anthea and Concordia watch on. Ghetsis places the crown on top of N's head and N opens his eyes. He raises his right hand and the camera pans out.

The following scenes then take place:

• The male player character Hilbert crosses the Skyarrow Bridge, while the word "Hopes!" appears.
• An Emolga is placed on a bed, while the word "Dreams!" appears.
• The female player character Hilda passes through to the multi-player side of the Entralink and turns into a Lass, while the word "Discoveries!" appears.
• A male Frillish, a Minccino, an Audino, and Pansage performing in the Pokémon Musical, while the words "Adventures Await" appears.
• A Pokémon battle between a Haxorus and Darmanitan, with Haxorus using Dragon Pulse, while the words "You and Your Pokémon!" appears.

A CGI rendering of Reshiram^B or Zekrom^W appears at the bottom screen, below the game logo. The two screen switches place, with the top screen showing zoomed-in shots of the Pokémon, and the bottom screen with the game logo. If the player presses A or Start, the Pokémon will let out its cry and the camera shows a close-up shot of its face.

Game Freak logo	Pokémon Black	Pokémon White

Pokémon Black 2 and White 2

In Pokémon Black 2 and White 2, the game intro starts with a star moving and hitting the ground, scattering letters of the Game Freak logo, before forming properly.

A black silhouette of Black Kyurem^B2/white silhouette of White Kyurem^W2 appears on the top screen, with the eyes and horn shining yellow. The game logo is then shown.

Nate appears with a Poké Ball in hand and looks at the camera with Rosa posing in the background. Both player characters switch places, with Rosa in the front with a Poké Ball and Nate in the back posing. Tepig appears while Nate walks in the Marine Tube in the background, Snivy appears while scenes from Pokéstar Studios are shown in the background, and Oshawott appears while Rosa activates the Entralink in the background. A group shot of several Team Plasma members (a male Team Plasma Grunt, a female Team Plasma Grunt, a Shadow Triad, and one of the Seven Sages), a shot of rival Hugh posing with a Poké Ball, then Colress holding a book appear. Colress closes the book.

A shot of crystal zooms out to a Zekrom with a blue background and outline of Black Kyurem behind it. The shot is followed by a view of a Reshiram with a red background that shows a silhouette of White Kyurem. Afterward, the Swords of Justice (Cobalion, Terrakion, and Virizion), then regular Kyurem appear.

A CGI rendering of Black Kyurem^B2 or White Kyurem^W2 appears at the bottom screen, below the game logo. The two screen switches place, with the top screen showing zoomed-in shots of the Pokémon, and the bottom screen with the game logo. If the player presses A or Start, the Pokémon will let out its cry and the camera shows a close-up shot of its face.

Game Freak logo	Pokémon Black 2	Pokémon White 2

Generation VI

Pokémon X and Y

In Pokémon X & Y the game intro starts with a light flash in the color and letter of their corresponding versions (Blue X for Pokémon X and a red Y for Pokémon Y respectively) which transitions to displaying the corresponding letter for each version. The Pokémon logo subsequently appears. And the corresponding version mascot legendary appears as a CGI render on the bottom screen. If left alone it's followed by a montage of in game footage of the segments where a trainer rides a Skiddo and Rhyhorn. Transitioning to a shot of Lumiose tower. Lumiose City itself and then the forest leading to the Battle Chateau. Before switching to footage of Torchic, Pikachu and Sylveon and footage of Pokémon Aime. Footage in a sports stadium, grinding on rails, showing the female trainer in different outfits. Ending with the animation of using the HM Fly.

Pokémon X	Pokémon Y

Generation VII

Pokémon Sun and Moon

In Pokémon Sun and Moon, a nebulous view of a starry night is shown, quickly revealed to be a close up of the respective Legendary Pokémon Solgaleo^S/ Lunala^M, roaring and posing at the bottom screen, with the game logo above.

The respective celestial bodies of each game appear right behind the logo, moving to the upper right^S/left^M corner, while the respective Legendary Pokémon runs^S/flies^M) until the shine of the heavenly body covers them.

The bottom screen turns to black, and in the top the female player character, Selene, is seen launching a Poké Ball, then Popplio appears with a blue background filled with bubbles and does a pirouette, followed by Rowlet in a green background flying to the front. The male player character, Elio, is seen with a Poké Ball on his right hand and pointing to the sky with his left, then Litten appears, jumping towards the camera in a red background.

This is followed by small clips of multiple cinematics we can see in-game:

• Elio and a female Pikachu are about to start Catastropika and Selene with Pikachu finishing up the synchronized dance and pose for the same move.

• The kahuna of Melemele Island, Hala, getting ready for a Grand Trial Battle.

• Gladion, one of the game rivals and the Team Skull Enforcer, grabbing his right hand and posing, ready for battle.

• Elio pumping up a Rockruff in the middle of a Breakneck Blitz.

• Elio riding a Poké Ride Lapras, encountering Wishiwashi, the Totem Pokémon of Brooklet Hill under the rain.

• Another view of Catastropika, now being executed by a male Pikachu, against a Bewear.

• Rockruff's Breakneck Blitz connecting against a foe's Alolan Exeggutor.

• The first Totem Pokémon encountered by the player, Gumshoos^S/Alolan Raticate^M) roaring in Verdant Cave.

• A quick glimpse of an Eevee in the middle of performing Extreme Evoboost.

Right after these, there are scenes from the Alolan overworld and non-battle oriented gameplay. The following locations can be seen:

• Hau'oli City, a daytime view from above followed by a nighttime view at the beachfront.

• Route 7, showing Elio in Riding gear performing a Tauros Charge.

• Route 15, with Elio now surfing on a Poké Ride Sharpedo, destroying some breakable rocks.

• Melemele Meadow, Route 3, specifically in a Poké Finder photo spot zooming in to take a picture of a Cutiefly and a Pom-Pom Style Oricorio.

• Near tall grass, a session of Pokémon Refresh with a Togedemaru, being groomed with a comb.

• The Alolan high sea, with Elio and Hau riding on Professor Kukui's boat on their way from Melemele to Akala.

• Mahalo Trail, with Lillie, Selene, and Nebby surprised looking at Tapu Koko (off view).

The top screen turns black and the Legendary Pokémon reappear, moving towards the camera. After a bright light, both CGI models are now on the lower screen right as the game logos come back on top, we get a quick 360 degree shot of the CGI models, followed by a zoom in into their faces and a final pose.

Pokémon Sun	Pokémon Moon

Pokémon: Let's Go, Pikachu! and Let's Go, Eevee!

In Pokémon: Let's Go, Pikachu! and Let's Go, Eevee!, the Game Freak logo appears, and changes to the player's room. The player character is not seen (until their gender and appearance are specified later in the new game), although this game intro is viewed in first-person from the perspective of the player inside the room.

At the beginning, the player is looking at a TV with a Nintendo Switch console. It is implied that the player character is playing a game on the Nintendo Switch, which may be an in-universe representation of the real-life person playing Let's Go, Pikachu! or Let's Go, Eevee!

Although the TV initially only displays an empty light blue screen, the Partner Pikachu^P/Eevee^E soon appears in the TV. First, its tail and ears appear as it says its own name, then this Partner Pokémon looks at the player and jumps from the TV screen into the player's room.

The first-person view moves around (implying that the player is moving) as Pikachu^P/Eevee^E jumps from the TV table to the ground, then runs to the player's lap and happily jumps back to the ground. Ultimately, this Partner Pokémon jumps onto the TV table and back inside the TV screen, and the player follows it into the TV screen as well.

Afterwards, the game screen becomes completely white, and then a black Pikachu^P/Eevee^E silhouette runs from left to right, leaving a trail of stars that becomes the Pokémon logo. This logo moves to the top-left^P/top-right^E corner and expands into the full title screen of the current game, while Pikachu^P/Eevee^E appears on a forest background, happily looking at the camera.

If the player does not leave the title screen yet, then Pikachu^P/Eevee^E will start to happily walk around and look around its surroundings.

Pokémon: Let's Go, Pikachu!	Pokémon: Let's Go, Eevee!

Generation VIII

Pokémon Sword and Shield

In Pokémon Sword and Shield, the Game Freak logo appears in white on a black background. The game's camera pans to a stadium's spotlights, across the logos of various sponsors along the edge of the battlefield, and to empty bleachers. Finally, it moves through the challenger entrance of the stadium.

At the title screen, the game's logo is displayed with a shining effect and a white smoky border around it. If the player has not become the Champion, there is a Poké Ball on top of a faded black X marked in the middle of the battlefield. The camera pans around the empty stadium from various perspectives, showing parts of the stadium in greater detail. Pokémon Sword and Shield are the first games in which the intro changes after the player has beaten the game; if the player has become the Champion, the player character and their party will be in the middle of the battlefield and the bleachers will be full of people. If the player idles on the title screen, it will fade to black, then replay the previous cutscene.

If the player presses A, a sound resembling the clanging of metal will play.

Game Freak logo
Pokémon Sword (pre-Champion)	Pokémon Sword (post-Champion)
Pokémon Shield (pre-Champion)	Pokémon Shield (post-Champion)

Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl

Pokémon Brilliant Diamond	Pokémon Shining Pearl

Pokémon Legends: Arceus

In Pokémon Legends: Arceus, if the player was starting on a new save file, they would be allowed to pick a preset character, and the opening cutscene with Arceus would then play.

Pokémon Legends: Arceus

Generation IX

Pokémon Scarlet and Violet

In Pokémon Scarlet and Violet, the Game Freak logo appears in gray on a white background. Afterwards, it displays the title screen with the game's logo. There is a static illustration of a classroom with desks, a window with the sun shining through it, and floating specks of sunlight, all surrounded by a cloudy white frame. In the background is ambient noise such as footsteps, talking, Rotom Phones, and the main theme song.

If the player has not completed the game, the Scarlet Book^S/Violet Book^V will be on the bottom-left desk with a Poké Ball on top of it, it will be a sunny day outside, and the window will be closed. After the credits, neither the book nor the Poké Ball will be present and the window will be open, showing the clouds, a tree, and the roof of the school. If the player has completed The Teal Mask and The Indigo Disk, the sun will be setting and the Scarlet Book^S/Violet Book^V will appear on the bottom-left desk, rotated vertically from its previous position.

If the player presses A, a jingle resembling a school bell will play.

Game Freak logo
Pokémon Scarlet (pre-credits)	Pokémon Scarlet (post-credits)	Pokémon Scarlet (post-DLC)
Pokémon Violet (pre-credits)	Pokémon Violet (post-credits)	Pokémon Violet (post-DLC)

In the spin-off games

Pinball series

Pokémon Pinball

In Pokémon Pinball, the main menu with Pikachu's face and a large Poké Ball appears immediately after the copyright text, with no further introduction.

Pokémon Pinball

Pokémon Pinball: Ruby and Sapphire

In Pokémon Pinball: Ruby and Sapphire, the game intro starts with a black screen and the white text "Pokémon Pinball". Specifically, the words are formed by the letters individually appearing, each of them quickly jumping once until the text is fully formed.

After a quick sparkle and an explosion in the background, a Poké Ball is sent towards the camera and then quickly travels through several scenes with different Pokémon (with the words "Pokémon Pinball" appearing several times in the background, written with different types and styles): Torchic, Pichu with Pikachu, Treecko, Minun with Plusle, Mudkip, then the ball bounces between two Chinchou. In another scene, Makuhita, Spoink, Pelipper, and Wailmer are seen bouncing, until Wailmer releases the Poké Ball from its mouth, launching this ball far away.

After the Poké Ball is launched, the main menu with the game logo appears. The logo includes Torchic, Pikachu, Mudkip, Treecko, holding onto the Poké Ball and Pichu holding onto Treecko's tail. In this logo screen, the ball appears larger than those five Pokémon.

Pokémon Pinball: Ruby and Sapphire

References to game intros

In the core series games

In Pokémon: Let's Go, Pikachu! and Let's Go, Eevee!, the player's room has a Gengar vs. Nidorino battle poster, referencing the battle seen in the game intros from Pokémon Red, Green, FireRed, and LeafGreen.

In animation

Pokémon the Series

At the start of the first episode, there is a Gengar vs. Nidorino battle displayed on Ash's television, referencing the battle seen in the game intros from Pokémon Red, Green, FireRed, and LeafGreen.

In this version's battle, Nidorino uses Horn Attack, then Gengar dodges it and uses Hypnosis on Nidorino, causing it to fall asleep.

Pokémon Origins

At the start of the first episode, there is a Gengar vs. Nidorino battle displayed on Red's television, referencing the battle seen in the game intros from Pokémon Red, Green, FireRed, and LeafGreen.

In this version's battle, Gengar uses Double-Edge on Nidorino.

POKÉTOON

At the end of the third episode, Blossom's Nidoran♂ has evolved into a Nidorino and is seen attacking a Gengar, referencing the battle in the game intros from Pokémon Red, Green, FireRed, and LeafGreen.

Trivia

• In the core series, there are six player characters that have never appeared in the game intro cutscenes: Kris, Leaf, Chase, Elaine, Juliana, and Florian.

See also

• Game credits
• New game

This game mechanic article is part of Project Games, a Bulbapedia project that aims to write comprehensive articles on the Pokémon games.