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{{DISPLAYTITLE:''Best Wishes'' series}}
{{DISPLAYTITLE:''Pokémon the Series: Black & White''}}
{{move|Pokémon the Series: Black & White}}
{{redirect|Best Wishes!|the similarly named first Japanese opening theme of ''Pokémon the Series: Black & White''|Best Wishes! (song)}}
{{redirect|Best Wishes!|the similarly named first opening of the Best Wishes series|Best Wishes! (song)}}
{{redirect|Pocket Monsters Best Wishes! Season 2|the similarly named CD|Pocket Monsters Best Wishes! Season 2 (CD)}}
{{redirect|Pocket Monsters Best Wishes! Season 2|the similarly named CD|Pocket Monsters Best Wishes! Season 2 (CD)}}
[[File:Pokémon the Series Black and White logo.png|thumb|English logo]]
[[File:Pokémon the Series Black and White logo.png|thumb|English logo]]
[[File:Pokemon Best Wishes Series.png|thumb|Japanese logo]]
[[File:Pokemon Best Wishes Series.png|thumb|Japanese logo]]
'''''Pokémon the Series: Black & White''''' (Japanese: '''ポケットモンスターベストウイッシュ''' ''Pocket Monsters Best Wishes!'') is the fourth [[series]] of the [[Pokémon anime]] and is based on the events of the [[Generation V]] [[core series]] [[Pokémon games]]. It follows ''[[Pokémon the Series: Diamond and Pearl]]'' and was succeeded by ''[[Pokémon the Series: XY]]''. It ran from September 23, 2010 to October 3, 2013 (with a [[BWS02|special episode]] on March 27, 2014) in Japan and from February 12, 2011 to December 7, 2013 in {{pmin|the United States}}. It was not given an English name until after the release of ''[[Pokémon the Series: XY]]''.


'''''Pokémon the Series: Black & White''''' (Japanese: '''ポケットモンスターベストウイッシュ''' ''Pocket Monsters Best Wishes!''), referred to by fans as the '''''Best Wishes'' series''', is the fourth [[series]] of the [[Pokémon anime]] and is based on the events of the [[Generation V]] [[core series]] [[Pokémon games]]. It follows the {{series|Diamond & Pearl}} and was succeeded by the {{series|XY}}. It ran from September 23, 2010 to October 3, 2013 (with a [[BWS02|special episode]] on March 27, 2014) in Japan and from February 12, 2011 to December 7, 2013 in {{pmin|the United States}}. It was not given an English name until after the release of ''[[XY series|Pokémon the Series: XY]]''.
As with both ''[[Pokémon the Series: Ruby and Sapphire]]'' and ''[[Pokémon the Series: Diamond and Pearl]]'' before it, ''Pokémon the Series: Black & White'' begins with only [[Ash Ketchum]], headed off to the [[Unova]] [[region]] with his {{AP|Pikachu}}, accompanied by a girl by the name of {{an|Iris}} and with one of the first Unova Gym Leaders, {{an|Cilan}}, who is also a [[Pokémon Connoisseur]]. As before, Ash receives a change of clothes. For the first time in the entire show, the [[Team Rocket trio]] also receives a change of clothes, but they later change back to their original outfits. ''Black & White'' is also notable for [[Jessie]], [[James]], and {{MTR}} not being present in all episodes outside of the clip show episode [[AG120]] and the [[EP001|first episode]], a trend that continued into subsequent series. For a majority of the series, they play a significantly more antagonistic role than in any other series, displaying very little humor (although this was restored during the [[Decolore Islands]] arc).


As with both the {{series2|Advanced Generation}} and {{series|Diamond & Pearl}} before it, the ''Best Wishes'' series begins with only [[Ash Ketchum]], headed off to the [[Unova]] [[region]] with his {{AP|Pikachu}}, accompanied by a girl by the name of {{an|Iris}} and with one of the first Unova Gym Leaders, {{an|Cilan}}, who is also a [[Pokémon Connoisseur]]. As before, Ash receives a change of clothes. For the first time in the entire show, the [[Team Rocket trio]] also receives a change of clothes, but they later change back to their original outfits. ''Best Wishes'' is also notable for [[Jessie]], [[James]], and {{MTR}} not being present in all episodes outside of the clip show episode [[AG120]] and the [[EP001|first episode]], a trend that continued into the {{series|XY}} and the {{series|Sun & Moon}}. For a majority of the series, they play a significantly more antagonistic role than in any other series, displaying very little humor (although this was restored during the [[Decolore Islands]] arc).
Additionally, a new art style was introduced in this series. To match [[Ken Sugimori]]'s most recent character art, all characters are now drawn with the new eye style previously introduced in ''Pokémon the Series: Diamond and Pearl''. This style includes rounder eyes with larger irises and visible pupils. Ash's new design now clearly depicts his brown eyes. Jessie and James have also been redesigned similarly, while also being given a straighter hairstyle. Additionally, the [[Nurse Joy]] and [[Officer Jenny]] in Unova are designed differently than those of the regions visited by Ash before, a trend that would continue in later series.  


Additionally, a new art style was introduced in this series. To match [[Ken Sugimori]]'s most recent character art, all characters are now drawn with the new eye style previously introduced in the ''Diamond & Pearl'' series. This style includes rounder eyes with larger irises and visible pupils. Ash's new design now clearly depicts his brown eyes. Jessie and James have also been redesigned similarly, while also being given a straighter hairstyle. Additionally, the [[Nurse Joy]] and [[Officer Jenny]] in Unova are designed differently than those of the regions visited by Ash before, a trend that would continue in later series.
With the beginning of this series, many attacks also have had their visual appearances changed. {{type|Fire}} moves and {{m|Stone Edge}} are now rendered in CGI, while [[physical attack|physical]] {{type|Steel}} moves make the corresponding body part steel-colored rather than white (although this was reverted in ''[[Pokémon the Series: XY]]''). {{m|Hyper Beam}} has also been changed considerably, to match how it looks in the games.
 
With the beginning of this series, many attacks also have had their visual appearances changed. {{type|Fire}} moves and {{m|Stone Edge}} are now rendered in CGI, while [[physical attack|physical]] {{type|Steel}} moves make the corresponding body part steel-colored rather than white (although this was reverted in the {{series|XY}}). {{m|Hyper Beam}} has also been changed considerably, to match how it looks in the games.


The series also saw the return of ''Who's That Pokémon?'' in the English dub of [[BW001|the first episode]], and the return of ''[[Who's That Pokémon?|Dare da?]]'' in [[BW061]] after an absence of 444 episodes.
The series also saw the return of ''Who's That Pokémon?'' in the English dub of [[BW001|the first episode]], and the return of ''[[Who's That Pokémon?|Dare da?]]'' in [[BW061]] after an absence of 444 episodes.


Episodes in the ''Best Wishes'' series are numbered with {{bp|epicode|the prefix}} '''BW''' on [[Bulbapedia]]. For a complete episode listing, see the [[list of Best Wishes series episodes|list of ''Best Wishes'' series episodes]].
Episodes in ''Pokémon the Series: Black & White'' are numbered with {{bp|epicode|the prefix}} '''BW''' on [[Bulbapedia]]. For a complete episode listing, see the [[list of Pokémon the Series: Black & White episodes|list of ''Pokémon the Series: Black & White'' episodes]].


==Blurb==
==Blurb==
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==Japanese seasons==
==Japanese seasons==
The ''Best Wishes'' series has been divided into multiple arcs in the Japanese release, similar to the "chapters" of the {{series|original}}.
''Pokémon the Series: Black & White'' has been divided into multiple arcs in the Japanese release, similar to the "chapters" of the [[original series]].


===Pocket Monsters Best Wishes! ([[BW001]]-[[BW084]])===
===Pocket Monsters Best Wishes! ([[BW001]]-[[BW084]])===
[[File:Pokemon Best Wishes Series.png|thumb|Best Wishes! logo]]
[[File:Pokemon Best Wishes Series.png|thumb|Best Wishes! logo]]
''Pocket Monsters Best Wishes'' (Japanese: ポケットモンスター ベストウィッシュ) includes Ash's arrival in Unova, his meeting Iris and Cilan, and collecting the [[Gym Badge]]s of the region. Several times throughout the arc, Ash and his friends come into major conflicts with Team Rocket.
''Pocket Monsters Best Wishes!'' (Japanese: ポケットモンスター ベストウィッシュ) includes Ash's arrival in Unova, his meeting Iris and Cilan, and collecting the [[Gym Badge]]s of the region. Several times throughout the arc, Ash and his friends come into major conflicts with Team Rocket.
{{-}}
{{-}}
===Pocket Monsters Best Wishes! Season 2 ([[BW085]]-[[BW108]])===
===Pocket Monsters Best Wishes! Season 2 ([[BW085]]-[[BW108]])===
[[File:Best Wishes 2 logo.png|thumb|Best Wishes! Season 2 logo]]
[[File:Best Wishes 2 logo.png|thumb|Best Wishes! Season 2 logo]]
''Pocket Monsters Best Wishes Season 2'' (Japanese: ポケットモンスター ベストウイッシュ シーズン2) mainly consists of [[Pokémon World Tournament Junior Cup]] and [[Vertress Conference]] tournaments. [[Cynthia]] and {{an|Dawn}} return, and the group meets {{an|Meloetta}}. {{an|Giovanni}} returns as a major character to lead Team Rocket in Operation Tempest, a mission to capture Meloetta and the [[Forces of Nature]].
''Pocket Monsters Best Wishes! Season 2'' (Japanese: ポケットモンスター ベストウイッシュ シーズン2) mainly consists of [[Pokémon World Tournament Junior Cup]] and [[Vertress Conference]] tournaments. [[Cynthia]] and {{an|Dawn}} return, and the group meets {{an|Meloetta}}. {{an|Giovanni}} returns as a major character to lead Team Rocket in Operation Tempest, a mission to capture Meloetta and the [[Forces of Nature]].
{{-}}
{{-}}


===Pocket Monsters Best Wishes! Season 2: Episode N ([[BW109]]-[[BW122]])===
===Pocket Monsters Best Wishes! Season 2: Episode N ([[BW109]]-[[BW122]])===
[[File:Best Wishes Season 2 Episode N logo.png|thumb|Best Wishes! Season 2: Episode N logo]]
[[File:Best Wishes Season 2 Episode N logo.png|thumb|Best Wishes! Season 2: Episode N logo]]
''Pocket Monsters Best Wishes Season 2 - Episode N'' (Japanese: ポケットモンスター ベストウイッシュ シーズン2 エピソードN) focuses on {{an|N}} and [[Team Plasma]]. Ash, Iris and Cilan learn of the {{an|White Ruins}} and decide to visit [[Cedric Juniper]]'s expedition there. On their way, they meet N and become involved in [[Ghetsis]]'s plot to have Team Plasma take control of the world using [[Colress]]'s Pokémon control device.
''Pocket Monsters Best Wishes! Season 2 - Episode N'' (Japanese: ポケットモンスター ベストウイッシュ シーズン2 エピソードN) focuses on {{an|N}} and [[Team Plasma]]. Ash, Iris and Cilan learn of the {{an|White Ruins}} and decide to visit [[Cedric Juniper]]'s expedition there. On their way, they meet N and become involved in [[Ghetsis]]'s plot to have Team Plasma take control of the world using [[Colress]]'s Pokémon control device.
{{-}}
{{-}}
===Pocket Monsters Best Wishes! Season 2: Decolora Adventure! ([[BW123]]-[[BW142]], [[BWS01]]-[[BWS02]])===
===Pocket Monsters Best Wishes! Season 2: Decolora Adventure! ([[BW123]]-[[BW142]], [[BWS01]]-[[BWS02]])===
[[File:Best Wishes Season 2 Decolora Adventure logo.png|thumb|Best Wishes! Season 2: Decolora Adventure logo]]
[[File:Best Wishes Season 2 Decolora Adventure logo.png|thumb|Best Wishes! Season 2: Decolora Adventure logo]]
''Pocket Monsters Best Wishes Season 2 - Decolora Adventure!'' (Japanese: ポケットモンスター ベストウイッシュ シーズン2 デコロラアドベンチャー!) comprises Ash and his friends touring the [[Decolore Islands]] on their way back to [[Kanto]]. On their way, they meet [[Alexa]], a Pokémon photographer from the [[Kalos]] region.
''Pocket Monsters Best Wishes! Season 2 - Decolora Adventure!'' (Japanese: ポケットモンスター ベストウイッシュ シーズン2 デコロラアドベンチャー!) comprises Ash and his friends touring the [[Decolore Islands]] on their way back to [[Kanto]]. On their way, they meet [[Alexa]], a Pokémon photographer from the [[Kalos]] region.
{{-}}
{{-}}
==Dub seasons==
==Dub seasons==
When the ''Best Wishes'' series came to be dubbed into English and other languages, it was divided into three seasons:
When ''Pokémon the Series: Black & White'' came to be dubbed into English and other languages, it was divided into three seasons:
* [[S14|Pokémon: Black & White]] ([[BW001]] - [[BW048]])
* [[S14|Pokémon: Black & White]] ([[BW001]] - [[BW048]])
* [[S15|Pokémon BW: Rival Destinies]] ([[BW049]] - [[BW097]])
* [[S15|Pokémon: BW Rival Destinies]] ([[BW049]] - [[BW097]])
* [[S16|Pokémon BW: Adventures in Unova]] ([[BW098]] - [[BW142]]) (retitled as ''Pokémon BW: Adventures in Unova and Beyond'' starting from [[BW123]])
* [[S16|Pokémon: BW Adventures in Unova]] ([[BW098]] - [[BW142]]) (retitled as ''Pokémon BW: Adventures in Unova and Beyond'' starting from [[BW123]])


==Movies==
==Movies==
{{main|Pokémon movie#Best Wishes series|Pokémon movie → Best Wishes series}}
{{main|Pokémon movie#Pokémon the Series: Black & White|Pokémon movie → Pokémon the Series: Black & White}}
* ''[[M14|Pokémon the Movie: White—Victini and Zekrom / Pokémon the Movie: Black—Victini and Reshiram]]''
* ''[[M14|Pokémon the Movie: White—Victini and Zekrom / Pokémon the Movie: Black—Victini and Reshiram]]''
* ''[[M15|Pokémon the Movie: Kyurem vs. The Sword of Justice]]''
* ''[[M15|Pokémon the Movie: Kyurem vs. The Sword of Justice]]''
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* [[List of English language Rival Destinies home video releases (Region 4)]]
* [[List of English language Rival Destinies home video releases (Region 4)]]
* [[List of English language Adventures in Unova and Beyond home video releases (Region 4)]]
* [[List of English language Adventures in Unova and Beyond home video releases (Region 4)]]
===Japanese DVD releases===
* [[List of Japanese language Best Wishes! home video releases]]


==Gallery==
==Gallery==
:''For more images, please see [[a:Category:Art from the Best Wishes anime series|artwork from the Best Wishes anime series]] on the [[Bulbagarden Archives]].''
:''For more images, please see [[a:Category:Art from Pokémon the Series: Black & White|artwork from Pokémon the Series: Black & White]] on the [[Bulbagarden Archives]].''
===Posters===
===Posters===
====Japanese====
====Japanese====
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==Trivia==
==Trivia==
* Prior to the series' debut, for several weeks, previews explicitly excluded {{Ash}} and he did not appear on one of the pre-release posters. His absence was specifically commented on by the hosts of [[Pokémon Sunday]].
* Prior to the [[series]]' debut, for several weeks, previews explicitly excluded {{Ash}}, and he did not appear on one of the pre-release posters. His absence was specifically commented on by the hosts of [[Pokémon Sunday]].
* This is the only series in which:
** [[Jessie's Wobbuffet]] is not part of the regular cast. His only appearance in this series was in ''[[BW142|The Dream Continues!]]'' and movie shorts.
** Every main character has at least one [[rival]].
** None of Ash's [[Gym]] {{pkmn|battle}}s are interrupted by Team Rocket.
** There are no [[boss fantasy|boss fantasies]].
** No [[doppelgänger]]s of main characters appear.
** Ash regresses his finishing placement in a Pokémon League.
** No Pokémon are {{pkmn2|released}} by a main character (excluding Cilan's temporary Basculin).
** Extra Pokémon Ash caught were not sent to {{an|Professor Oak}}'s [[Professor Oak's Laboratory|lab]] in [[Pallet Town]]; instead, they were sent to the laboratory of the region's [[Pokémon Professor]], [[Professor Juniper]].
** Ash actively cycles his Pokémon between those in his [[party]] and in [[Pokémon Storage System|storage]], though only with the Pokémon he caught in Unova.
** Ash does not have a [[Full Battle|full six-on-six battle]].
*** He does, however, use six Pokémon in his battle against {{un|Cameron}}, although Cameron only uses five Pokémon due to his belief that a Full Battle is a five-on-five battle.
** After the Pokémon League ended, Ash and his friends still journeyed in the respective region for a while.
** Team Rocket changes their outfit during the series, but changes back to the white uniforms they've worn from previous series.
** Ash's traveling companions do not meet {{Delia|his mother}}, either by phone call or in person.
** A starter Pokémon belonging to Ash doesn't fully [[evolution|evolve]].
* Ash {{pkmn2|caught|catches}} the [[Unova]] [[starter Pokémon]] in reverse [[Pokédex]] order, obtaining {{AP|Oshawott}}, then {{AP|Tepig}}, and finally {{AP|Snivy}}. During all of the other times where he caught multiple starter Pokémon, he caught the {{t|Grass}} type first, following up with the {{t|Fire}} type, and finally catching the {{t|Water}} type among the group in [[Kanto]] and [[Johto]] only.
* Ash {{pkmn2|caught|catches}} the [[Unova]] [[starter Pokémon]] in reverse [[Pokédex]] order, obtaining {{AP|Oshawott}}, then {{AP|Tepig}}, and finally {{AP|Snivy}}. During all of the other times where he caught multiple starter Pokémon, he caught the {{t|Grass}} type first, following up with the {{t|Fire}} type, and finally catching the {{t|Water}} type among the group in [[Kanto]] and [[Johto]] only.
* This series features many allusions to the [[original series]], especially in its first few episodes, including:
* This series features many allusions to the [[original series]], especially in its first few episodes, including:
** Both of Ash's {{ashfr|traveling companions}} are based on Gym Leaders.
** Both of Ash's {{ashfr|traveling companions}} are based on [[Gym Leader]]s.
** Ash meets his female traveling companion first.
** Ash meets his female traveling companion first.
** Ash meets his male traveling companion in the fifth episode, who leaves behind his Gym Leader duties to travel with Ash.
** Ash meets his male traveling companion in the fifth episode, who leaves behind his Gym Leader duties to travel with Ash.
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** Ash's traveling companions leave in the second-to-last episode of the series.
** Ash's traveling companions leave in the second-to-last episode of the series.
** This series and the original series are the only series in which Ash wears his attire for the following series in the final episode.
** This series and the original series are the only series in which Ash wears his attire for the following series in the final episode.
** The main heroine from the ''Best Wishes'' series, {{an|Iris}}, also shares some similarities to the main heroine from the original series, {{an|Misty}}. Both of them:
** The main heroine from ''Pokémon the Series: Black & White'', {{an|Iris}}, also shares some similarities to the main heroine from the original series, {{an|Misty}}. Both of them:
*** Try to avoid returning to a specific [[Gym]].
*** Try to avoid returning to a specific [[Gym]].
*** Debut in the first episode of the series, but are not introduced in full until the second episode.
*** Debut in the first episode of the series, but are not introduced in full until the second episode.
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* This is the first anime series that did not premiere on the same day its respective games were released since the original series.
* This is the first anime series that did not premiere on the same day its respective games were released since the original series.
* Its first Japanese opening theme, {{so|Best Wishes!}}, is currently the longest running opening theme which hasn't been re-mixed.
* Its first Japanese opening theme, {{so|Best Wishes!}}, is currently the longest running opening theme which hasn't been re-mixed.
* This is the first series in which all episodes that were originally aired in Japan were dubbed. Previously, the [[original series]] had four [[banned episodes]] ([[EP018]], [[EP035]], [[EP038]], [[EP250]]) and the {{series|Advanced Generation}} and the {{series|Diamond & Pearl}} dubs each skipped recap episodes ([[AG120]], [[DP048]], [[DP120]]). There were two unaired episodes in the ''Best Wishes'' series (intended to be {{OBP|BW023|unaired}} and {{OBP|BW024|unaired}}), but they were also unaired in Japan.
* This is the first series in which all episodes that were originally aired in Japan were dubbed. Previously, the [[original series]] had four [[banned episodes]] ([[EP018]], [[EP035]], [[EP038]], [[EP250]]) and ''[[Pokémon the Series: Ruby and Sapphire]]'' and ''[[Pokémon the Series: Diamond and Pearl]]'' dubs each skipped recap episodes ([[AG120]], [[DP048]], [[DP120]]). There were two unaired episodes in ''Pokémon the Series: Black & White'' (intended to be {{OBP|BW023|unaired}} and {{OBP|BW024|unaired}}), but they were also unaired in Japan.
** This is also the first series to not feature [[Misty's special lure]].
** This is also the first series to not feature [[Misty's special lure]].
* ''[[BW097|Unova's Survival Crisis!]]'', the last appearance of {{an|Meloetta}}, aired in Japan during the same week that Meloetta's debut, ''[[BW082|An Epic Defense Force!]]'', aired in the United States.
* ''[[BW097|Unova's Survival Crisis!]]'', the last appearance of {{an|Meloetta}}, aired in Japan during the same week that Meloetta's debut, ''[[BW082|An Epic Defense Force!]]'', aired in {{pmin|the United States}}.
** Similarly, ''[[BW122|What Lies Beyond Truth and Ideals!]]'', the final episode of ''Season 2: Episode N'', aired in Japan during the same week that ''[[BW109|New Places... Familiar Faces!]]'', the first episode of said arc, aired in the United States.
** Similarly, ''[[BW122|What Lies Beyond Truth and Ideals!]]'', the final episode of ''Season 2: Episode N'', aired in Japan during the same week that ''[[BW109|New Places... Familiar Faces!]]'', the first episode of said arc, aired in the United States.
* This is the only series in which:
* This is the last series to date in which the final episode ends with the message "Next Time... A New Beginning!"
** [[Jessie's Wobbuffet]] is not part of the regular cast. His only appearance in this series was in ''[[BW142|The Dream Continues!]]''.
* This series has Ash conduct the fewest Gym battle [[rematch]]es of any series with Gyms, with just one at the [[Nacrene Gym]].
** Every main character has at least one [[rival]].
* This is the first series not to be dubbed by [[TAJ Productions]], and the first series to be dubbed by [[DuArt Film & Video]] from start to finish.
** None of Ash's Gym battles are interrupted by Team Rocket.
** This is also the first series not to have background music produced by [[4Kids Entertainment]] in the dub.
** There are no [[boss fantasy|boss fantasies]].
* This is the first series of the Pokémon anime where all episodes are widescreen, or 16:9 aspect ratio.
** No [[doppelgänger]]s of main characters appear.
** No Pokémon are {{pkmn2|released}} by a main character (excluding Cilan's temporary Basculin).
** Extra Pokémon Ash caught were not sent to {{an|Professor Oak}}'s [[Professor Oak's Laboratory|lab]] in [[Pallet Town]]; instead, they were sent to the laboratory of the region's [[Pokémon Professor]], [[Professor Juniper]].
** Ash actively cycles his Pokémon between those in his [[party]] and in [[Pokémon Storage System|storage]], though only with the Pokémon he caught in Unova.
** Ash does not have a [[Full Battle|full six-on-six battle]].
*** He does, however, use six Pokémon in his battle against {{un|Cameron}}, although Cameron only uses five Pokémon due to his belief that a Full Battle is a five-on-five battle.
** After the Pokémon League ended, Ash and his friends still journeyed in the respective region for a while.
** Team Rocket changes their outfit during the series, but changes back to the white uniforms they've worn from previous series.
** Ash's traveling companions do not meet {{Delia|his mother}}, either by phone call or in person.
** A starter Pokémon belonging to a main character doesn't fully [[evolution|evolve]].
* This series has Ash conduct the fewest Gym battle rematches of any series with Gyms (one, at the [[Nacrene Gym]]).


==In other languages==
==In other languages==
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==External links==
==External links==
* [http://sg.portal-pokemon.com/anime/series/s4/ Pokémon: Black and White at the Pokémon official site for Asia]
* [http://sg.portal-pokemon.com/anime/series/s4/ Pokémon: Black and White at the Pokémon official site for Asia]
*[http://www.tv-tokyo.co.jp/anime/pokemon_bw/ TV Tokyo] (Japanese)
* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s-z5GPuRlJE Pokémon: Black and White PV]
* [http://www.tv-tokyo.co.jp/anime/pokemon_bw/ TV Tokyo] (Japanese)


{{anime series}}
{{anime series}}
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[[es:Serie Negro y Blanco]]
[[es:Serie Negro y Blanco]]
[[fr:Cycle 4]]
[[fr:Cycle 4]]
[[it:Best Wishes! (serie)]]
[[it:Pokémon - Serie Nero e Bianco]]
[[ja:ポケットモンスター ベストウイッシュ]]
[[ja:ポケットモンスター ベストウイッシュ]]
[[zh:寶可夢 超級願望]]
[[zh:寶可夢 超級願望]]

Revision as of 17:16, 23 February 2021

Best Wishes! redirects here. For the similarly named first Japanese opening theme of Pokémon the Series: Black & White, see Best Wishes! (song).
Pocket Monsters Best Wishes! Season 2 redirects here. For the similarly named CD, see Pocket Monsters Best Wishes! Season 2 (CD).
English logo
Japanese logo

Pokémon the Series: Black & White (Japanese: ポケットモンスターベストウイッシュ Pocket Monsters Best Wishes!) is the fourth series of the Pokémon anime and is based on the events of the Generation V core series Pokémon games. It follows Pokémon the Series: Diamond and Pearl and was succeeded by Pokémon the Series: XY. It ran from September 23, 2010 to October 3, 2013 (with a special episode on March 27, 2014) in Japan and from February 12, 2011 to December 7, 2013 in the United States. It was not given an English name until after the release of Pokémon the Series: XY.

As with both Pokémon the Series: Ruby and Sapphire and Pokémon the Series: Diamond and Pearl before it, Pokémon the Series: Black & White begins with only Ash Ketchum, headed off to the Unova region with his Pikachu, accompanied by a girl by the name of Iris and with one of the first Unova Gym Leaders, Cilan, who is also a Pokémon Connoisseur. As before, Ash receives a change of clothes. For the first time in the entire show, the Team Rocket trio also receives a change of clothes, but they later change back to their original outfits. Black & White is also notable for Jessie, James, and Meowth not being present in all episodes outside of the clip show episode AG120 and the first episode, a trend that continued into subsequent series. For a majority of the series, they play a significantly more antagonistic role than in any other series, displaying very little humor (although this was restored during the Decolore Islands arc).

Additionally, a new art style was introduced in this series. To match Ken Sugimori's most recent character art, all characters are now drawn with the new eye style previously introduced in Pokémon the Series: Diamond and Pearl. This style includes rounder eyes with larger irises and visible pupils. Ash's new design now clearly depicts his brown eyes. Jessie and James have also been redesigned similarly, while also being given a straighter hairstyle. Additionally, the Nurse Joy and Officer Jenny in Unova are designed differently than those of the regions visited by Ash before, a trend that would continue in later series.

With the beginning of this series, many attacks also have had their visual appearances changed. Fire-type moves and Stone Edge are now rendered in CGI, while physical Steel-type moves make the corresponding body part steel-colored rather than white (although this was reverted in Pokémon the Series: XY). Hyper Beam has also been changed considerably, to match how it looks in the games.

The series also saw the return of Who's That Pokémon? in the English dub of the first episode, and the return of Dare da? in BW061 after an absence of 444 episodes.

Episodes in Pokémon the Series: Black & White are numbered with the prefix BW on Bulbapedia. For a complete episode listing, see the list of Pokémon the Series: Black & White episodes.

Blurb

When Ash and his mother accompany Professor Oak to the distant Unova region, Ash discovers Pokémon that he’s never seen before… and that he can’t wait to catch! He may have Pikachu at his side together with new friends Iris and Cilan, but he’ll still need plenty of new Pokémon on his team if he wants to challenge Unova’s expert Gym Leaders. His quest to become a Pokémon Master just got even tougher!

Japanese seasons

Pokémon the Series: Black & White has been divided into multiple arcs in the Japanese release, similar to the "chapters" of the original series.

Pocket Monsters Best Wishes! (BW001-BW084)

Best Wishes! logo

Pocket Monsters Best Wishes! (Japanese: ポケットモンスター ベストウィッシュ) includes Ash's arrival in Unova, his meeting Iris and Cilan, and collecting the Gym Badges of the region. Several times throughout the arc, Ash and his friends come into major conflicts with Team Rocket.

Pocket Monsters Best Wishes! Season 2 (BW085-BW108)

Best Wishes! Season 2 logo

Pocket Monsters Best Wishes! Season 2 (Japanese: ポケットモンスター ベストウイッシュ シーズン2) mainly consists of Pokémon World Tournament Junior Cup and Vertress Conference tournaments. Cynthia and Dawn return, and the group meets Meloetta. Giovanni returns as a major character to lead Team Rocket in Operation Tempest, a mission to capture Meloetta and the Forces of Nature.

Pocket Monsters Best Wishes! Season 2: Episode N (BW109-BW122)

Best Wishes! Season 2: Episode N logo

Pocket Monsters Best Wishes! Season 2 - Episode N (Japanese: ポケットモンスター ベストウイッシュ シーズン2 エピソードN) focuses on N and Team Plasma. Ash, Iris and Cilan learn of the White Ruins and decide to visit Cedric Juniper's expedition there. On their way, they meet N and become involved in Ghetsis's plot to have Team Plasma take control of the world using Colress's Pokémon control device.

Pocket Monsters Best Wishes! Season 2: Decolora Adventure! (BW123-BW142, BWS01-BWS02)

Best Wishes! Season 2: Decolora Adventure logo

Pocket Monsters Best Wishes! Season 2 - Decolora Adventure! (Japanese: ポケットモンスター ベストウイッシュ シーズン2 デコロラアドベンチャー!) comprises Ash and his friends touring the Decolore Islands on their way back to Kanto. On their way, they meet Alexa, a Pokémon photographer from the Kalos region.

Dub seasons

When Pokémon the Series: Black & White came to be dubbed into English and other languages, it was divided into three seasons:

Movies

Main article: Pokémon movie → Pokémon the Series: Black & White

Home video releases

North American DVD releases

Australian DVD releases

Japanese DVD releases

Gallery

For more images, please see artwork from Pokémon the Series: Black & White on the Bulbagarden Archives.

Posters

Japanese

English

Characters

Main characters

Rivals

Supporting characters

Antagonists

Etymology

The Best Wishes title was likely selected using words beginning with B and W as an allusion to its counterpart games, Black and White. Additionally, the katakana transcription of the English word "Wishes" (ウイッシュ Uisshu) contains the Japanese name of Unova (イッシュ Isshu), the region the games and anime series take place in.

"Best wishes" is exclaimed at various points in the series, usually when Ash and his friends are saying goodbye to a recurring character or a character of the day. This carries over even to the dub.

Trivia

  • Prior to the series' debut, for several weeks, previews explicitly excluded Ash, and he did not appear on one of the pre-release posters. His absence was specifically commented on by the hosts of Pokémon Sunday.
  • This is the only series in which:
    • Jessie's Wobbuffet is not part of the regular cast. His only appearance in this series was in The Dream Continues! and movie shorts.
    • Every main character has at least one rival.
    • None of Ash's Gym battles are interrupted by Team Rocket.
    • There are no boss fantasies.
    • No doppelgängers of main characters appear.
    • Ash regresses his finishing placement in a Pokémon League.
    • No Pokémon are released by a main character (excluding Cilan's temporary Basculin).
    • Extra Pokémon Ash caught were not sent to Professor Oak's lab in Pallet Town; instead, they were sent to the laboratory of the region's Pokémon Professor, Professor Juniper.
    • Ash actively cycles his Pokémon between those in his party and in storage, though only with the Pokémon he caught in Unova.
    • Ash does not have a full six-on-six battle.
      • He does, however, use six Pokémon in his battle against Cameron, although Cameron only uses five Pokémon due to his belief that a Full Battle is a five-on-five battle.
    • After the Pokémon League ended, Ash and his friends still journeyed in the respective region for a while.
    • Team Rocket changes their outfit during the series, but changes back to the white uniforms they've worn from previous series.
    • Ash's traveling companions do not meet his mother, either by phone call or in person.
    • A starter Pokémon belonging to Ash doesn't fully evolve.
  • Ash catches the Unova starter Pokémon in reverse Pokédex order, obtaining Oshawott, then Tepig, and finally Snivy. During all of the other times where he caught multiple starter Pokémon, he caught the Grass type first, following up with the Fire type, and finally catching the Water type among the group in Kanto and Johto only.
  • This series features many allusions to the original series, especially in its first few episodes, including:
    • Both of Ash's traveling companions are based on Gym Leaders.
    • Ash meets his female traveling companion first.
    • Ash meets his male traveling companion in the fifth episode, who leaves behind his Gym Leader duties to travel with Ash.
      • Both male companions are the first Gym Leader that Ash faces battles and obtains Badges from in that region.
    • The sixth episode of each series features a Pokémon that evolves via Moon Stone.
    • Ash catches the Unova starters in the same circumstances as he caught the Kanto starters: the Water-type Pokémon follows him, the Fire-type Pokémon is abandoned by its original Trainer, and the Grass-type Pokémon is found in the wild.
      • The Fire type's Original Trainer tries to get their former Pokémon back after witnessing their powers, but fails.
      • The Grass type had left its Trainer and distrusted humans, but Ash gained its respect and it allowed him to battle and catch it.
      • Of the three, only the Fire type evolved.
    • Ash caught more than six Pokémon.
    • Ash caught a Bug-type Pokémon with a three-stage evolutionary line who evolved into its final form.
    • Ash's Charizard returns near the end of the series.
    • Ash's traveling companions leave in the second-to-last episode of the series.
    • This series and the original series are the only series in which Ash wears his attire for the following series in the final episode.
    • The main heroine from Pokémon the Series: Black & White, Iris, also shares some similarities to the main heroine from the original series, Misty. Both of them:
      • Try to avoid returning to a specific Gym.
      • Debut in the first episode of the series, but are not introduced in full until the second episode.
      • Are aiming to master a specific Pokémon type.
      • Are afraid of a specific Pokémon type (Misty is scared of Bug types, while Iris is scared of Ice types).
      • Traveled with a Pokémon which they kept outside the Poké Ball (Misty with Togepi and Iris with Axew).
      • Are the only female traveling companions who do not own a Pokédex.
      • Caught a Pokémon in a special episode after parting ways with Ash (Misty caught Gyarados in the side story Cerulean Blues and Iris caught Gible in the special episode BWS02).
  • This is the first anime series that did not premiere on the same day its respective games were released since the original series.
  • Its first Japanese opening theme, Best Wishes!, is currently the longest running opening theme which hasn't been re-mixed.
  • This is the first series in which all episodes that were originally aired in Japan were dubbed. Previously, the original series had four banned episodes (EP018, EP035, EP038, EP250) and Pokémon the Series: Ruby and Sapphire and Pokémon the Series: Diamond and Pearl dubs each skipped recap episodes (AG120, DP048, DP120). There were two unaired episodes in Pokémon the Series: Black & White (intended to be BW023 and BW024), but they were also unaired in Japan.
  • Unova's Survival Crisis!, the last appearance of Meloetta, aired in Japan during the same week that Meloetta's debut, An Epic Defense Force!, aired in the United States.
  • This is the last series to date in which the final episode ends with the message "Next Time... A New Beginning!"
  • This series has Ash conduct the fewest Gym battle rematches of any series with Gyms, with just one at the Nacrene Gym.
  • This is the first series not to be dubbed by TAJ Productions, and the first series to be dubbed by DuArt Film & Video from start to finish.
    • This is also the first series not to have background music produced by 4Kids Entertainment in the dub.
  • This is the first series of the Pokémon anime where all episodes are widescreen, or 16:9 aspect ratio.

In other languages

Pokémon the Series: Black & White


Pocket Monsters Best Wishes! Season 2


Pocket Monsters Best Wishes! Season 2: Episode N


Pocket Monsters Best Wishes! Season 2: Decolora Adventure!


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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