Enter Pikachu! (Japanese:ピカチュウ誕生！Pikachu is Born!) is the first episode ofPokémon Journeys: The Series, and the 1,086th episode of thePokémon 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.
Spoiler warning: this article may contain major plot or ending details.
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 hisPokémon journey, a six-year-oldAsh rushes downstairs to showhis mother a poster advertisingProfessor 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 ofPallet Town, a youngPichu observes his surroundings before being attacked by anEkans, though Pichu usesThunder Shock to defend himself. Ekans slithers away, while the electrical discharge leaves Pichu exhausted.
Pichu quickly recovers and notices, unlike all the otherwild Pokémon, that he is alone. Just then, a group ofKoffing floats by and unleashes an odor, leaving Pichu so disoriented that he falls over a cliff. However, he is caught by aKangaskhan. 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 someOran 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, includingChloe and her friendGoh, 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 youngTrainercatching herself aCaterpie. 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. Thecry of aNidoking attracts their attention, and Goh hones in on Nidoking's opponent, aMew. Nidoking attacks, but Mew simplyTeleports to evade. Mew replies with the samemove, which easily hits the Nidoking. As Nidoking attempts to attack, Mew Teleports away again before retaliating with the same move once again. Nidoking becomes frustrated and launches aFire 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 aMagmar, though Mew quicklyTransforms to its regular form to reveal itself. Mew leaves yet again with Goh and Chloe in pursuit, transforming into aTauros to run across the land before changing into aLapras 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 aChansey 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 usesPsychic 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, aMythical 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 suddenlyevolves into aPikachu. 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 dayVermilion City, Goh is pumped up to realize his dream.
Major events
A youngGoh andChloe encounter aMew at age six, and Goh decides tocatch it one day.
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 sinceEP038.
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.
In one shot when Ash is running to the camp, the pocket on his pajama shirt is colored yellow instead green.
WhenPichu notices the babyKangaskhan on a cliff, his tail is colored yellow instead of black.
Ash's miscolored pocket
Pichu's miscolored tail
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 featuringChloe andGoh 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 onPokémon 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 theBrazilian Portuguese dub, thenarrator 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!".
Ash's miscolored pocket
Pichu's miscolored tail
Original title card
"A Netflix Original Series" card
Original preview title card
Dub title card
