Enter Pikachu!
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First broadcast
Japan
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November 17, 2019
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United States
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June 12, 2020
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English themes
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Japanese themes
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Credits
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Enter Pikachu! (Japanese: ピカチュウ誕生! Pikachu is Born!) is the first episode of Pokémon Journeys: The Series, and the 1,086th episode of the Pokémon animated series. It premiered in Japan at a special screening on November 15, 2019. It first aired in Japan two days later on November 17, 2019, as a one-hour special, in Canada on May 9, 2020, in the United Kingdom on May 25, 2020, as a sneak peek, and in the United States on June 12, 2020.
Blurb
In Pallet Town, a young Ash Ketchum is beside himself with anticipation—he’s going to Professor Oak’s Pokémon Camp! But when the day arrives, he oversleeps, and Professor Oak and the other campers leave without him. Two of the young campers, Goh and Chloe, become separated from the group and encounter the Mythical Pokémon Mew—and Goh vows to catch it someday!
Meanwhile, a once-lonely Pichu is spending its days with a group of friendly Kangaskhan, but when the time comes for it to set off on its own, it suddenly evolves into Pikachu! After some time, Pikachu ends up at Professor Oak’s lab…and the rest is history!
Plot
Four years prior to when he began his Pokémon journey, a six-year-old Ash rushes downstairs to show his mother a poster advertising Professor Oak's Pokémon camp. Seeing her son's enthusiasm, Delia agrees to sign him up, but she admits he will have to get himself up since she will be busy that morning. However, Ash is too excited to listen. Meanwhile, in the forested outskirts of Pallet Town, a young Pichu observes his surroundings before being attacked by an Ekans, though Pichu uses Thunder Shock to defend himself. Ekans slithers away, while the electrical discharge leaves Pichu exhausted.
Pichu quickly recovers and notices, unlike all the other wild Pokémon, that he is alone. Just then, a group of Koffing floats by and unleashes an odor, leaving Pichu so disoriented that he falls over a cliff. However, he is caught by a Kangaskhan. Pichu is initially frightened by the large Kangaskhan mother, but he quickly takes a liking to her and her child. As the Kangaskhan herd prepares to leave, the mother places Pichu in her pouch. The herd later stops by some Oran Berry trees to eat, with both the Kangaskhan baby and Pichu each getting a Berry to enjoy. Having finally found a place where he belongs, Pichu continues to live with the Kangaskhan.
Several weeks later, Professor Oak's camp begins. While many of the attendees, including Chloe and her friend Goh, have arrived on time, Ash is still sleeping as he broke his alarm clock in his excitement. Since Goh and Chloe are eager to begin their field trip, Professor Oak decides to set off without Ash. Ash eventually wakes up, and in a panic, he rushes out of the house while still in his pajamas, desperate to make it to the lab before everyone leaves. During the trip, the kids and Oak observe a young Trainer catching herself a Caterpie. Throughout the day, Goh continues to show off his Pokémon knowledge, identifying every Pokémon in sight and reciting facts about them. While the other kids are impressed, Chloe orders Goh to allow Professor Oak to do the talking instead. However, Goh continues to provide his input, even correcting Oak on his statement that all Pokémon evolve.
While Oak leads the group over a bridge, Goh and Chloe lag behind. Chloe tells Goh that he should focus on making friends instead, but Goh insists that he wants to find a rare and never-before-seen Pokémon. Chloe dismisses Goh's ambition as a dream, but Goh asserts that it is the future. The cry of a Nidoking attracts their attention, and Goh hones in on Nidoking's opponent, a Mew. Nidoking uses Earth Power, but Mew simply Teleports to evade. Mew replies with the same move, which easily hits the Nidoking. As Nidoking attempts a Sludge Wave, Mew Teleports away again before retaliating with the same move once again. Nidoking becomes frustrated and launches a Fire Blast at his shifty opponent, though Mew again evades and proceeds to defeat Nidoking with its own Fire Blast. Chloe and Goh are impressed by the mysterious Pokémon, and they give chase as it flies away. In their search, the pair come across a Magmar, though Mew quickly Transforms to its regular form to reveal itself. Mew leaves yet again with Goh and Chloe in pursuit, transforming into a Tauros to run across the land before changing into a Lapras to travel downstream.
Elsewhere, Pichu continues to enjoy his time with the Kangaskhan family. He plays a game of hide-and-seek but is quickly spotted by the Kangaskhan baby, ending the round. While searching for Pichu again, the young Kangaskhan spots a Lapras as it cruises down the river. Lapras reveals itself to be Mew, who quickly takes interest in the Kangaskhan baby. Mew overhears Goh and Chloe’s voices and flies away, though the Kangaskhan baby scales some ledges to follow its mysterious encounter. Meanwhile, the Kangaskhan mothers call their babies out for a Chansey egg meal. Pichu and the Kangaskhan mother soon notice the infant's absence and begin to search for it. The search party makes their way over to the stream, where they overhear the young Kangaskhan's cries. While chasing after Mew, the ledge underfoot gives way, sending the young Kangaskhan hurtling towards the water below. Chloe and Goh stop as they hear the young one's screams. Mew turns back and promptly uses Psychic to save the Kangaskhan baby from harm, and returning her to her mother’s arms. With the family united, Mew soars away. Afterward, Professor Oak rushes towards the two kids, relieved to have finally found them. While returning to the rest of the group, Oak speculates they encountered a Mew, a Mythical Pokémon believed to contain the genes of all Pokémon. Hearing this, Goh sets his sights on catching Mew one day. Ash, meanwhile, sits on his bed at home, miserable at having missed the camp entirely.
Some time passes, and both Pichu and the Kangaskhan baby have grown. The Kangaskhan herd seeks refuge from a rainstorm in a cave, but Pichu notices his adoptive mother is having trouble carrying both of them at once now. He tries to jump out to lighten her load, but the mother Kangaskhan picks him back up. As night falls, Pichu knows it is time to move on. While the Kangaskhan are fast asleep, Pichu leaves his adoptive mother's pouch, takes a moment to observe his family as they sleep, and tearfully ventures outside. Grateful for their kindness and company, Pichu suddenly evolves into a Pikachu. Looking in a nearby puddle, Pikachu is initially startled by his reflection before twirling around in excitement. Pikachu waves goodbye to his adoptive family and departs.
Four years later, Professor Oak gives this very Pikachu to Ash, who is now an aspiring young Trainer. Pikachu, however, isn't happy with Ash's enthusiasm and shocks him with Thunder Shock. However, as time passes, Ash and Pikachu become close friends. In the present day Vermilion City, Goh is pumped up to realize his dream.
Major events
- For a list of all major events in the animated series, please see the history page.
Debuts
Humans
Pokémon debuts
Characters
Humans
Pokémon
Who's That Pokémon?: Pichu
Trivia
- An illustration of this episode was drawn by Atsuko Nishida.[1]
- Pichu is attacked by an Ekans and Koffing, both species that once belonged to Jessie and James, respectively.
- This is the first episode to air in Japan after the release of Pokémon Sword and Shield.
- This episode serves as a prequel to the original series.
- This is the first debut episode of a new series that does not showcase a new Pokémon or region.
- This marks the first time in the animated series where Ash is voiced by someone other than Rica Matsumoto in the Japanese version.
- This episode marks the first appearance of a number of Pokémon species in the main series after long absences:
- Kakuna, who last appeared in Danger, Sweet as Honey!, 305 episodes ago.
- Nidoking, who last appeared in Mystery on a Deserted Island!, 294 episodes ago.
- Dodrio, who last appeared in From A to Z!, 193 episodes ago.
- Beedrill, who last appeared in A Windswept Encounter!, 183 episodes ago.
- A regular Diglett, who last appeared in Making Friends and Influencing Villains!, 170 episodes ago.
- Weedle and a regular Rattata, both of whom last appeared in Seeing the Forest for the Trees!, 166 episodes ago.
- Farfetch'd, who last appeared in Forming a More Perfect Union!, 151 episodes ago.
- One, Two, Three replaced Your Adventure as the Japanese opening theme.
- This episode's opening theme is played near the end of the episode, instead of before the title card.
- This is the season premiere of Pokémon Journeys: The Series, and The Journey Starts Today replaces The Challenge of Life as the English opening.
- This is the first episode to be dubbed by Iyuno, taking over from DuArt Media Services.
- Megan Hollingshead returns to voicing characters for the English dub.
- This is the first episode to premiere on Netflix in the United States.
- It is also the first episode to begin with an epilepsy warning outside of Japan. Previously, epilepsy warnings have been broadcasted in the original Japanese versions of episodes since EP038.
- This episode was uploaded to YouTube on July 13, 2020, by Pokémon's official YouTube channel, making it the first time a full episode was uploaded there.
- Professor Cerise, Ash, several Trainers, Goh, and Pikachu narrate the preview for the next episode.
- This marks the first time where a Pichu is seen evolving onscreen in the anime.
Errors
- In one shot when Ash is running to the camp, the pocket on his pajama shirt is colored yellow instead green.
- When Pichu notices the baby Kangaskhan on a cliff, his tail is colored yellow instead of black.
Dub edits
- The opening theme is played and the title card is shown after Pichu meets Kangaskhan rather than at the end of the episode. The opening credits are therefore no longer shown over the beginning of the episode.
- The post-credits scenes featuring Chloe and Goh are moved before the ending credits.
- Beginning with this episode, the "To Be Continued" text at the end is removed. The version of the episode on Pokémon TV and the official Pokémon YouTube channel for the United States retain the text, however.
- The original title card music is replaced with dub music; the version of the episode on Pokémon TV and the official Pokémon YouTube channel for the United States retain the original title card music, however.
- Beginning with this episode, the English dub title card design is based on the title card originally used during the previews for the next episodes. On Netflix, the original title card design is used to label the show as a Netflix Original Series at the start of the episode.
- In the Brazilian Portuguese dub, the narrator says "So let's go! As the journey continues!" at the end of the episode. In the English dub, he just says "As the journey continues!".
"A Netflix Original Series" card
Original preview title card
References
In other languages