Oh man, Pokemon is an absolute childhood memory. And to this day as of current, I can't believe I am saying this, but Pokemon has seen the best daylights ever since XY.
Now, I started watching Pokemon all the way back when I was 6. I luckily had a VHS that had some episodes of the very first Pokemon, and that was the only information that I had with the series, I didn't knew anything else, I was enjoying the episodes as they were, and I would like to replay them again, but sadly, I don't have the VHS with me to this day.
Fast forward to 2012 - 2013, I started checking out Pokemon Black and White. Let me be honest, that was one of my first guilty pleasures. Back then, I enjoyed Black and White. Plot-wise, it was standard forward. Visual-wise, it was interesting. I absolutely adore the Meloetta arc, it really got my taste of what Pokemon can be, a funny kids shot, but with some serious moments. And that is a formula that the series always follows. Things can turn up to be funny, only then to be discovered that there will be some serious moments.
However, it wasn't until 2014 when I discovered Pokemon XY. My god, that was a different change of an atmosphere. Pokemon still manages to keep up with the same formula, but in a more-so serious way. Now note, if you want to have a certain anime to get interesting, you better spice things up. That is exactly what XY did. Story, plot, characters, battles, I could go on, but I might wanna do a separate review on that someday.
Same goes for Sun & Moon, and let's be honest, we didn't like Sun & Moon at first because of the art style. It was a completely different style that felt awkward to us at first, but we then got used to it when some heated moments started to burst. To those that think that Sun & Moon is NOT canon, I'm sorry to say this, but it is, and it honestly should. In some ways, I find it better than XY, actually.. both are equally even in some parts.
Now, I didn't first watch Sun & Moon back in 2016 when it first came out, I had other stuff to do. But it was until this year of January when I got back my interest to this series when I did a re-watch of XY. And I jumped to this and it became one of my favorites at an instant. It felt unusual to me, but I got used to it when I reached a few episodes in. I really underestimated Sun & Moon.
I would like to watch Advance, Diamond & Pearl and the rest of the movie, but that'll take a while. ~~I'm kidding, I just wanted to have SoL and Romance to be one of my top Genres, I'm trying guys, trust me~~
Now, let's talk about Pokemon Journeys.
For the most part, I would like to get a few things out of the way. Let's talk about the 1st episode.
The 1st episode travels back when Ash was 6 when he went to Professor Oak's Pokemon Camp. (Yes, the Pokemon Camp where we got a bit of back history with him and Serena in XY Episode 7) But instead of Ash, we focus on Pikachu, when he was a Pichu back then. Pichu actually had an interesting past of his life. He befriended a Kangaskhan. They ate food together, played together, and even had some trouble together. It was only brief, but Pichu decided to be strong, and eventually, would end up with a family like Kangaskhan and the child. With this, he evolves into Pikachu, and makes his first few moves. Thus, the very 1st episode of Pokemon was set.
This would also be the time where Gou and Koharu would appear and... yes, they appear in the same camp that Ash was suppose to go to, ~~but of fucking course he wakes up late and starts running in his PJ's because he's Ash, the lowsy boy that he is.~~ When both Gou and Koharu ended up wandering around the forest to find Pokemon, the two of them eventually find Mew, and seeing as how Mew is happy with himself living his life, Gou sets a goal for himself and that goal is for him to catch Mew.
Episode 2 would be the next set-up for the show. This is where Ash and Pikachu head out to go to Vermilion City where the newly opened Cerise Laboratory would hold an introduction to the lab. However, the program would be quickly interrupted when signs of a Legendary Pokemon would start to appear in the Vermillion Port. We'd eventually see Gou at a far distant land where he could eventually wait for the Legendary Pokemon to arrive. (Spoiler alert, it's Lugia). Then a raid battle would start to commence as trainers who arrived at the port started to battle Lugia, but surprise surprise, they end up failing. Eventually when Ash started fighting it, it would start to set off, thus both him and Pikachu would follow, and eventaully, Gou would follow too, with the both of them managing to arrive and the two being shocked seeing one another on a Lugia. Their meet would become friendship when the two of them arrived back at the lab with Professor Sakuragi would ask them to become official fellow researchers. Without hesitation, the both of them agreed. And the stage for Pokemon Journeys was set.
Now take note on this, their goals are still the same as ever. Ash wanting to become a Pokemon Master while at the same time, see the entire world, which was a goal that he set up on the second to last episode of Sun & Moon. And Gou also wanting to catch Mew, although, he realized that Mew might take a hard time to catch, so instead, after episode 5, when he caught Scorbunny, he decided to catch every Pokemon until he has them all to start catching Mew.
I'm saying this right now, what they set up is worth the watch. However, if you are not a fan of those episodic episodes that they set up (Well I am a fan thanks to Bokuben, Kaguya-Sama and recently, Working and Saiki K.), then this might not be for you. I mean, it's a show meant for the kids and the whole family, so it's kinda obvious that you might not like it. But is worth it, when it gets to there serious moments. I kid you not, they always set up those certain moments and it gives me the CHILLS.
Art is something that is still looking good for itself, especially after Sun & Moon. And the visuals are the same as ever, not really much to say right over there. For the most part of the characters, they are great, side characters as well, and who the hell would not like Team Rocket? They've been on the midst of trying to capture Pikachu ever since they first fought with it, and they are still trying. I appreciate this quad. Gou is indeed one of those great companions out there, the whole cast of characters that appear as Ash's companions in Pokemon always bring something to the table. (With some being interesting, while others... just act like filter, I hate to admit it.).
And I'm a man that enjoys the Seiyuu's best work when it comes to anime, and if you REALLY think that an anime like Inu x Boku or Demon Slayer had the all stars of seiyuu's, allow me to show examples of seiyuus that are in Pokemon.
(If you click, this list will be long)
Yeah, that's a whole lot of people if you ask me. If someone is also willing to tell me that either some of the long running shows also had a lot of the famous seiyuu's feel free to message me about it.
I honestly grew up with English dub, but I've gotten so much used to the sub that I can't even remember what the dub sounds like anymore. But I did take a glimpse from it and it was pretty alright.
But yeah, Pokemon so far is seemingly getting better and better when the series progresses. That alone shows how far Pokemon has come. A grand total of 1000+ episodes in total, being one of the long time running anime in japan, alongside One Piece or Sazae-San. Here's to hoping that the Pokemon World Championships be as good as the Sun & Moon's Alola Leauge. ~~If it fails, it'll automatically get a 70 or lower.~~
So far, it gets a 90. But the tables could turn when more episodes come in. This is not a final review, this is only temporary, the opinions could change depending on how the series progress.
Welp, I spent a whole 3 hours making this review, I need some sleep. I'll probably do my review on XY or Sun & Moon some other time soon. Only time will tell when I have the zest and drive to make another one.
Childhood memories do take me back to those days...
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