Pokémon the Series: Diamond and Pearl

This article is about the third series of the anime. For other uses, see Diamond and Pearl.

The Diamond & Pearl series (Japanese: ポケットモンスター　ダイヤモンド＆パール Pocket Monsters Diamond & Pearl) of the Pokémon anime is the third series of the long-running anime, starting after the end of the Advanced Generation series. Like the previous series, Ash Ketchum is the main character who is joined by Brock, his longtime companion, as well as Dawn, a rookie Pokémon Coordinator who wishes to follow in the footsteps of her mother. Like what happened in the Advanced Generation series, both Ash and Brock received a change of clothes.

As well, a similarity to the previous series is that Ash attempted to travel to Sinnoh with only Pikachu. He was unsuccessful, however, as his recently-caught Aipom insisted on accompanying him.

So far, it covers Pokémon: Diamond and Pearl, which ended with DP052, and Pokémon Diamond & Pearl: Battle Dimension, which started with DP053, in the dub.

Like Advanced Generation before it, Ash's previous female companion made a cameo appearance for a short while wearing new clothes just as Ash and Brock do. May's outfit was based on that of her game counterpart during Pokémon Emerald.

Diamond & Pearl is different than the previous two series in that it is more story driven. While there have to date been less episodes dedicated to Ash's Gym quest or the resident Coordinator's (currently Dawn) Contest quest than previous series had in the same amount of time, more captures, more departures, and more rivals have been introduced when compared to earlier series. Additionally, this series is the most violent and dramatic of the three so far, in part stemming from the character Paul whose training method contrasts sharply with Ash's so much that he nearly abuses his Pokémon for not doing well.

Episodes of the Diamond & Pearl series begin with the prefix DP in their numbering. For complete listing, see the list of Diamond & Pearl episodes.