Ash and Pikachu have finally made their long-awaited return, but Pokémon enthusiasts are less than thrilled. The iconic pocket monster anime series has officially arrived on Disney+, but its debut has landed with a major disappointment.
As initially announced back in July, the classic Pokémon television series premiered on Disney+ on Friday, August 7, 2026. However, excitement quickly turned into frustration when viewers discovered just how few episodes were actually included on the platform. At launch, only 27 episodes of the Indigo League arc are available to stream.
To put that in perspective, the English dub originally consisted of 80 episodes, while the Japanese broadcast featured 82. Compounding the issue, the first 52 episodes remain available on Netflix. For Disney+ subscribers hoping to dive into a full wave of nostalgia for the franchise’s 30th anniversary, the offering feels severely incomplete.
Disney+ Is Missing More Than 50 Episodes of Pokémon’s Original Anime Series
At this time, it remains uncertain whether Disney+ plans to roll out additional episodes of the original run over time.
Until then, Netflix continues to be a more reliable destination for followers of the franchise, housing the classic series alongside newer entries like Pokémon Horizons: The Series and Pokémon Concierge. Even so, Netflix’s library still only scratches the surface of the nearly three decades of anime history.
Fortunately, there are alternative options. Tubi, a free ad-supported platform, currently offers 52 episodes of the original run alongside a broader selection of content. Since July 5, 2026, the following titles have been available to stream without a subscription:
- Pokémon: Indigo League
- Pokémon the Movie 2000
- Pokémon the Movie: I Choose You!
- Pokémon the Movie: The Power of Us
- Pokémon: Mewtwo Strikes Back—Evolution
- Pokémon: The First Movie
- Pokémon the Series: Sun & Moon S20–22
- Pokémon the Series: The Beginning S1-2
Naturally, these featured films represent only a fraction of the 23 animated movies produced throughout the franchise’s lifespan.
On the cinematic front, the absence of a brand-new theatrical release is palpable. It has been six years since the premiere of Pokémon the Movie: Secrets of the Jungle, which hit Japanese theaters on December 25, 2020.
Despite the lack of new feature films on the big screen, the Pokémon brand is pushing forward with force as it marks its milestone 30th anniversary with multiple initiatives across various platforms.
Undoubtedly, the most anticipated upcoming project is Pokémon Winds and Waves, slated as a Nintendo Switch 2 exclusive for 2027. Unlike the mixed reactions that met titles like Pokémon Legends: Z-A, Winds and Waves has generated considerable excitement due to its charming aesthetic and nostalgic nods to Pokémon Red and Blue.
Moreover, the unexpected critical and commercial triumph of Pokémon Pokopia proves that the series can still innovate. By blending a cozy, social-simulation style akin to Stardew Valley with classic Pokémon companions, the game struck gold—a success further amplified by its recent expansion updates.
- Release Date
- 1997 – 2023
- Network
- TV Tokyo, TV Osaka, TV Aichi, TVh, TVQ, TSC
- Directors
- Shigeru Omachi, Koji Ogawa, Fumihiro Ueno, Hideki Hiroshima, Maki Kodaira, Makoto Ooga, Ayumi Moriyama, Keitaro Motonaga, Shigeru Ueda, Fumihiro Yoshimura, Minoru Ohara, Yoshitaka Makino, Kiyoshi Egami, Makoto Sokuza, Bjarne Heuser, Naoki Murata, Kenichi Nishida, Tomoe Makino, Masahiko Watanabe, Hiroaki Takagi, Tazumi Mukaiyama, Ryohei Horiuchi, Yoshihiro Oda, Hiromichi Matano
- Writers
- Junki Takegami, Atsuhiro Tomioka, Hideki Sonoda, Yukiyoshi Ôhashi, Yuka Miyata, Takeshi Shudo, Shouji Yonemura, Shinzo Fujita, Michihiro Tsuchiya, Deko Akao, Reiko Yoshida, Aya Matsui, Junichi Fujisaku
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Rica Matsumoto
Satoshi (voice)
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Ikue Otani
Pikachu (voice)