Is it just me, or did sawyer feels like the anime adaptation of wally without the sickness. Sawyer was done so good and had a dangerious team, and he makes me wish we actually saw wally grow as a trainer with more dialouge and battles between him.
Charizard's Burning Ambition hit even harder because Ash purposefully insulted Charizard and called it weak to hide how devastated he was leaving it. Combined with running and not looking back...just tears you up inside.
Partners In Time is peak pokémon. Everything Ash and Pikachu went through leads to this battle, even though Cinderace was knocked out in one hit the rest of the episode makes up for it. And this episode gave the english dub a rare W, they actually played "gotta catch em all".
@@jackxson6109 You can find subtitled episodes about a day after the original airing if you find the right site. Also, I've seen subless episodes the day of on TH-cam.
I think the two Ash vs Sawyer episodes will always have the best animation in the entire series. A close second is Ash vs Alain and then Ash vs Leon (Ash vs Leon really only had the stellar animation in the final episode with Charizard vs Pikachu).
When you watch Ash vs. Paul in the original Japanese, when Type: Wild plays... Especially hearing it as the last ending with Ash and Pikachu. Man, it makes the emotions come out.
The dub for that battle was better the part where Paul taunts Infernape by calling him pathetic, where Infernape got the strength back and the added heartbeat effect made the battle way better. Paul is better in the dub than sub (Only characters in pokemon who is better than dub than sub) just because he is an unapologetic asshole smart aleck and I love it. In the sub, he's more similar to silver, but in the dub he is a person who doesn't give a shit and he is way funnier.
@@thatgirl9532 Gardevoir no estaba de acuerdo y Max sabia que no estaba listo para ser entrenador Dedene no es el pokemon de Bonny es su mascota Max quiere un pokemon para el Ademas la relacion que Max tiene con Monchlax es igual y mejor que la de Bonny y Dedene
@@thatgirl9532 They said something along the lines of "Gardevoir did not agree and Max knew he wasn't ready for training. Dedenne is not Bonnie's pokemon, it is her mascot. Max want(ed) a pokemon of his own. Furthermore, Max's realtion with Munchlax is similar and better than the one between Bonnie and Dedenne." I'm far from fluent in spanish but I understand the gist of it :)
As a certified Sun and Moon stan, I love how the top 10 has 4 sm episodes (technically 5 because the homecoming crown is in the top 10 because of Lillie). And as someone who also has a soft spot for Black and White since it was the first pokemon anime I watched, I appreciated how many bw episodes made it on the list ^^
Something I appreciate about the Sun and Moon anime, is that it really does a good job in tackling life and death, and emotional hurt/trauma. You can't have life, without death and sometimes trauma can happen. And they do this MULTIPLE times in multiple symbolic and on the nose ways. Endings and beginnings. I think my favorite though, would have to be the Rayquaza and Minior episode in Sun and Moon. Seeing Sophocles talk about how he must've blocked the memory of the dying Minior out, is all too realistic. Couple that with Poipole not understanding at first what's going on, and then learning that Rayquaza feeds off the Minior....it's sad. But that's life. It's all a cycle. And for a series like Pokemon, which up to that point had avoided talking, like REALLY talking about death to handle it not once but SEVERAL TIMES in such a good way, and tackles things like trauma and how lack of closure can really be debilitating....I have to give sun and moon props for that.
Sun & Moon has the most stacked memorable episodes. It's the only region where I felt sad we have to move on from. Other seasons more makes you pump to go to the next in the next season. Sun & Moon made you cry leaving it.
That’s why sun and & moon holds 2nd position for the emotional episodes the final battles were amazing whilst also being a chill out series Animation & battle wise Pokémon XY is no.1 for me plus the characters/rivals I personally liked more
@@Snzn_7 Honestly, yeah. And despite everything, when early in Journeys they go back there felt amazing! So little had passed and yet I was so happy to go there
Imagine watching Charizard's Burning Ambition at the time once it was just released... No one knew if Charizard is gonna ever return again.... cause none of Ash's released pokemon returned at that point... not only sad, depressing but it was so traumatic for many of us.... cause we lost our favourite mon at that point the series and they really had courage to do that.... and we didn't even have any reliable information source from Japan at that point youtube was just new... Crazy times...
The culmination of XY, along with the culmination of Ash Vs Sawyer remain as not just my favourite episodes, but the reason that the XY anime is the best of the series IMO.
10:34 - 12:09 WHAT on Earth were you on Zac that got you so determined to club some of the most tear-jerking episodes back-to-back? So that I would keep blushing the entire night??? 😭😭😭😭😭
So many great episodes man. Personally I love the battle ones the most. Ash vs Paul, Kalos League Semi and final, Team Flare Arc, Ash vs Kukui and Ash vs Leon are my favorite episodes.
Idk about the others but Ash's Alola league victory still feels so different to me, that Lycanroc v Lycanroc battle showdown was one of my favourites and imo that episode is in Top 3 best pokemon episodes of all time
i didn't cry during goodbye butterfree, but it really got me in memories of mist. There i was, crying for torracat, happily sharing a few moments with Stoutland, before it all fades away...
While I do really enjoy Partners in Time, I still enjoy the Ash vs Paul battle episode more simply because everything about it was perfect. Nothing was poorly handled like the cinderace part was. But also just because Paul and Ash's rivalry had more weight to it from the trainers to the pokemon their interactions that lead them to that battle had feelings behind it. Ash and Pikachu had that in their battle but I always felt Leon was just seeing this as another huge battle he'd see with Cynthia or Raihan, the connection between the two trainers and Pokemon wasn't entirely there for me. Still both amazing episodes but I'd give my number one to Ash and Paul's final battle episode.
Exactly. If Ash v Paul was a 10/10, Ash v Lyon is a mere 7 or 8. It felt more like they handed Ash the victory in the end, and less like Ash truly earned it.
@@asifshahriar2894 En realidad se lo gano pero el problema es que leon no es un rival de Ash solo el jefe final tipico que sabes que el heroe derrotara al final Que Leon sea un Ash adulto en todo sentido te lo deja bastante claro
Agreed. While Ash vs Leon is very cool, especially the final battle, it's still only second best to be after Ash vs Paul. Ash vs Paul has several advantages like the emotional invest by all those involved because of how long this rivalry and moment was built up, and the fact that unlike Ash's Journey's Team(I still like that team a lot) we actually saw the training and growth of all of Ash's Pokemon and how it all plays a role in this battle, while Inferanpe is the main focus given his history with Paul, all of Ash's team manages to shine in this battle and really bring their arcs full circle with the combination of everything they went through from DP, Buziel mastering Ice Aqua Jet, Torrterra learning how to effectively battle without his speed, Staraptor's full evolution and growth, Gliscor and how far he's come from a scared Gligar to essentially an Air Battle Master, and of course, Pikachu and Infernape need no explanation of their journies.
I love Black and White because of pure nostalgia, Black and white was what dragged me into Pokémon. Now I understand that it isn’t as good as I remember it but it will still have a special place in my hearth.
Thanks for giving the Kalos League mention to Ash vs Sawyer. I saw people trying to mention Ash vs Alain in the same breath as Ash vs Leon when it aired and was thinking "C'mon, it's not even the best fight in its own league"
It was a better fight than Ash vs Sawyer. Sceptile was knocked out by Water Shurikan, a movie that, in it's Mega Form, it's 4× resistant to, after only taking one Aerial Ace and a Thunderbolt from Pikachu. At least Greninja took a minimum of 2 Tough Claws boosted Dragon Claws before Alain's Charizard used that final Blast Burn.
@@thatgirl9532I'm not underrating his battle potential, but rather his character. Dude had practically no stakes in this battle, literally beat Ash's Greninja, thrice, just to prove he's always going to be above, and still gets his redemption. Alain made almost the latter half of XYZ unwatchable for me because of how overrated and how far ahead he was compared to Ash.
I love that you appreciate time wrap heals all wounds, it has such a special place in my heart especially because of how random the pairing of May and Meowth feels haha. I feel like is kind of a forgotten episode (like most of good, third gen episodes unfortunately) so it feels really nice seeing it being placed so highly! And as a personal suggestion, I would have also included the episode where May looses her first battle against Drew, it was heartbreaking to see her cry over such humiliating loss, but it highlighted one thing; things won't always go your way and that pokemon contests are not any easier that gym battles!! Which really led everyone to not take them any less seriously
While it’s not my favorite, Star Night, Star Flight (JN083) still remains a frequent rewatch for me. This episode had Cynthia’s return which was incredible, but my favorite part of the episode was how it handled Unown and made a gripping story out of it.
So basically all of these episodes were 10/10 rated by Zac. Good work. Personally my favorite was Forming a More Perfect Union. I loved the Team Flare Arc through and through.
@@dinosaurtimeandfunnyvideos it probably is. Or there will be a alternate version of ash who's in his 20s or 30s and is the new u defeated champion who the protagonist want to defeat
The only annoying part with that was he didn’t get to battle. Love Pikachu but Ash’s Incineroar should have battled Kukui’s Incineroar in the battle royal!!!
A cool thought I had about the episode Partners In Time is that : Forget about Ash, forget about the characters, forget about the anime for a second and think just about the Pokemon in the battle . The battle is just between Pikachu Vs Charizard -- 2 of the most iconic Pokemon of all time, the 2 pokemon that made Pokemon to be spread all over the globe and loved and adored by all. This battle is so influential that it even made the non-anime watchers or anime haters to watch this, enjoy and appreciate this freaking spectacle. Anyone who doesn't even care about the Pokemon anime can love this battle! That's the beauty of this battle. ✨
Some episodes that always come to mind for me are the Orange League Championship battle episodes, the episode Ash’s Charmeleon evolves into Charizard, and just about any League episodes in which we get actual battles or good focus on the atmosphere and everything surrounding and involved with it, just to name a few.
The Ash vs Paul episodes will always be some of the greatest for me. Along with Ash vs Kukui and the finale to his battle with Leon. From OS, the episode where Charmeleon evolved was by far my fav as a little kid. I watched the VHS so many times pretty sure it broke
I'll say this, Elite Trainer Zac, having not watched Pokémon since some sporadic episodes through the Hoenn region, I found myself Really taken in by episodes 1-5 of Pokémon X&Y. It was the first time I ever watched Pokémon in sub And tuning in weekly for the next episode. That's the 1st Pokémon series since Kanto from beginning to end that I've watched and since.
Pikachu vs Charizard was the company finally figuring out who their best Mom was. I also feel like the finale of Sun and Moon, Thank You Alola, The Journey Continues! needs a mention. Not only was it heartwarming to see Ash leave Rowlet and everyone with Kukui, but also seeing Burnet and Kukui's reaction of how much of a son Ash is to them was beautiful. Not to mention Mimikyu coming to terms with itself, seeing Solgaleo one last time and Team Rocket leaving Mimikyu and Mareanie behind so they could have a good life was peak. Such a good way to end the best series. An amazing video as always Zac
14:01 This shot of Ash reaching for the sun reminded me of where they got inspiration for Liko reaching for the moon in the new Horizons series... tbh, I actually thought the first episode "Pokemon! I Choose You!" would make it into this top 25; I mean, I know, it's cliche to have the first episode as a favorite, but it was one of the best beginnings to a series that I've seen compared to other shows. The music, the chase, the climax, and the rainbow signifying hope at the end just made it all work.
broooo for me, the best pokemon episode is surely infernape vs electivire part of ash vs paul in sinnoh league. Man the song 'type-wild' makes it SO MUCH BETTER. This song gives me goosebumps maann.
My Top 10... 1. Partners in Time 2. Once More With Reeling 3. Charizard's Burning Ambitions 4. Battling a Thaw in Relations 5. One Journey Ends, Another Begins. 6. Turning Over a New Bayleef 7. Can't Beat the Heat 8. Island of the Giant Pokémon 9. Ultra Exciting from the Shocking Start! 10. A Campus Reunion.
I just love the Pokémon anime. Even I recently have started to play the games and I collected Pokémon cards when I was younger the anime is the reason why I love this franchise. It’s really hard to pick on but the best episode to me is “Battling a thaw in Relations” it’s just the perfect episode to me
Man I’m so happy that a few sun and moon episodes made it into the top ten, going into this video I was thinking it would just be a bunch of xy episodes
Most of my favorites where already mentioned, but I’d also have to say The Symbol Life as one of my favorites. It’s the first time Ash defeated a legendary in a 1-V-1, and the battle was epic Edit: I just saw it was in honorable mentions
Sun and moon is soo underated and gets hated for no reason. It has such beautiful and amazing episodes plus the storyline,characters like lillie,ash relationship with kukui,ash winning his first league and becoming champion was just soo good
I’ll go over my favorite episodes of all time 1 Z move showdown 2 partners in time 3 enter the champion 4 paring Pokémon while parrying 5 meeting up with the monarch 6 aim for the eight 7 Home coming crown 8 down to a fiery finish 9 Do A real rival rouser 10 the fires of a red hot reunion
Absolutely banger list. Obviously I have my own set of favourites (Memerories are made of Bliss immediately comes to mind) but it's hard to argue with this.
I honestly really like episodes where it's Ash with all his pokemon such as Right Place at the Right Mime, The Dream Continues and Fire Training Battle! Ash vs Paul. I also really like most episode 1s and 2s for most series, with X and Y being my particular favourite first 2 episodes.
Here are my 10/10 episodes in the orginal Pokemon anime: - Episode 116 "Enter the Dragonite, Final Battle! Kairyu Appears!!" - Orange Pokemon League finals, - Episode 1080 "Enter the Champion!, The Rise of Alola's Champion!!" - Aloa Pokemon League finals - Episode 1219 "The Finals IV: "Partner” - World Pokemon Championship finals In every one of those episodes Ash has won in regional/world Pokemon League finals, and became a champion. There are a lot of good episodes that I would rate 9/10, but only those 3 out of 1234 are the best since the anime writers didn't stick to the usual Ash losing a major Pokemon League tournament formula to rush towards the next generation. Ps.I am finally happy to be rid of the rule in my scoring were only episodes that Ash wins Pokemon League will get 10/10 in new Pokemon Horizons anime.
Just to add to your list, what makes the Finale Part IV: Partner even better is the original song tune playing in the background at the tail end of the fight. I loved the whole Ash vs Leon fight (apart from that broken Mr Crime) and that ending was even better. As a fan of battles like Ash vs Alain and Ash vs Paul, it was interesting to see Ash battle someone who is not only much stronger than him but also has move experience (like Professor Kukui) and is so much like-minded, unlike Paul. It was as if Ash was battling an older version of himself.
Ash vs Paul is always going to be number 1 for me in terms of weight and impact. Like for me Sinnoh was the real Ash finale as for that tournament he brought back all of his old Pokémon to shine. Like even Ash vs Tobias is still good of watching him defeat 2 legendaries using a strong tesm
(Comment on this after the Livestream ended) I love the choices you choose, great variety, and a lot of great moments from the anime, but god damn I never know your favorite episodes are emotions tugging episodes
No Ash vs Blaine? To me, that was a peak Charizard fight imo. This was back when Charizard disobeyed Ash yet Charizard wanted to fight for once, because of Magmar. Plus the fight itself was just rad.
Ash vs Gary, Ash vs Lt. Surge, vs Bea (all three times), vs Korrina (both times), the Last Journey’s ep with Alola, vs Visquez, vs Marnie, and probably more. Also the first time Serena won 😅
All good choices with your limitations of one episode per storyline. Cannot argue with any of them, though I'd may reshuffle due to personal preferences.
it's shown that ash's pikachu and leon's charizard are on the same level... charizard's g max move can take down most of the strong pokemon cuz it even rivaled pikachu's z move... so, if pikachu is on the same level it's obvious that pikachu can take down cinderace with one g max move... i already expected that tbh
It’s hard to choose from 26 years of episodes 😂 but my two favourite series are Pokémon XY & Sun and Moon. Pokémon XY had amazing animation & battles whilst for someone who is emotional Sun & Moon is why it’s my second favourite series, just a lot fun whilst having some heartbreaking stories. 🥺
People can agree that the Cinderace bit was a bit plot amour-ish. I mean Ash has trained Pikachu to defeat Raichus, pseudo-legendaries and legendaries throughout their journeys in the previous regions. So I Pikachu is a champion level pokemon at this point, but Cinderace is also champion level too, so it does feel a little plot armour-ish that Cinderace gets one-shotted, as that was the only damage it took in the entire final round of the World Tournament. I think the writers were stretching Pikachu's power a bit too far, and that's a bit "iffy". But it is fine. Nothing can really butcher that very last battle between Pikachu and Charizard. Not even the plot-amourish moments. Ash Ketchum and Pikachu have really earned their place as the "World's strongest trainer" and "World's strongest Pikachu". I give the overall episode a 10/10.
Great list! Forming a more perfect Union is definitely my number 1 just for the amazing cinematic storytelling. The entirety of the XY anime building the relationships, the gym leaders, culminating in this mini war to save the region was so well done and satisfying. Plus perfect Zygarde is awesome to see.
For me, the best episode in the entire anime, has to be “One Journey Ends, Another Begins”. Pokemon has touched upon the concept of Death at times, but “One Journey Ends, Another Begins” goes into more detail than ever before in the anime, showing Litten go through 2 of the 5 Stages of Grief. The episode is by far, the most powerful episode in the franchise. Even Meowth is shown to care about Litten, and have something he hasn’t had for many of Ash’s Pokemon, respect. He even outright tells Ash to not ever give up on Litten. Just, My God this episode is just so good!!!!!
Great list. I am surpprised JN112 (Helping the Hometown Hero) is this low on the list, but alright My personal best episodes would be: #5 - JN112 (Helping the Hometown Hero) - It's such a wonderful conclusion to Ash's arc in Alola and gives an amazing closure to his time there. This was the moment when you really feel like Ash is in fact the champion of Alola and its hero, and seeing all the characters in Sun & Moon cheering for him was incredible (seriously, the subbed version with the crowd cheering him with the music choice there was peak) #4 - XY143 (Forming a More Perfect Reunion) - Pretty much for the same reasons stated in the video #3 - Tie between DP188 (Battling a Thaw in Relations) and SM144 (From Z to Shining Z) - For the former, this is the perfect conclusion to not only the best rivalry in the series, but also to Infernape's incredible arc thar solidified it as one of Ash's all time aces. For the latter, this was basically the conclusion the Sun & Moon series, with its focus on how Ash's experiences in Alola not only made it his second home, but showing why Ash deserves to be Alola's Champion. The fact both episodes use Type: Wild in their climatic moments is also incredible #2 - JN111 (The Homecoming Crown) - Easily one of the most emotional episodes in the entire series. Lillie's arc in Sun & Moon was incredible, and the story of Mohn was incredibly touching. To see it concluded in such a beautiful way was making me so emotional, especially considering how the Aeather family (and especially Lusamine) suffered so much because of Mohn's dissapearence. #!1 - JN132 (Partners in Time) - Pretty much for the same reasons stated in the video
when u think of it the very first episode of the pokemon anime is imo one of the best openings to any anime series it had a great introduction of the main protag and the spearow climax with the music really hits hard so i`d put it in my top 10 list
Install Merge Gardens for Free link and build your own beautiful garden 🌻 clik.cc/pVz6A
Rank the movies next
Romans 10:9 because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.
Oh no. Not those merge games again. I'll pass on this sponser.
you didn't include the 1st episode
well technically hes not the best there ever was because before him that was leon lol
8:25 "Don't worry Max, you'll become a trainer... once they let Ash age."
That poor boy doesn't stand a chance then.
Is it just me, or did sawyer feels like the anime adaptation of wally without the sickness. Sawyer was done so good and had a dangerious team, and he makes me wish we actually saw wally grow as a trainer with more dialouge and battles between him.
Yeah, he gave me that vibe
My last remaining brain cell was trying to figure out who tf Wally is and kept thinking of "Wheres Wally?" 💀
I kinda wish Sawyer made more than just a cameo in Journeys.
@@Zactoshi Imagine if Both Sawyer and Wally were in Kalos, they would've fanboyed over Ash so hard.
@@Ditto.007 I don't know why I was thinking of Wally west, though I know this is unrelated
Charizard's Burning Ambition hit even harder because Ash purposefully insulted Charizard and called it weak to hide how devastated he was leaving it. Combined with running and not looking back...just tears you up inside.
Romans 10:9 because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.
@@askredditstudios8055 that's not relevant here
I’ll never forgive Suede for how he reviewed the ending of that episode.
@askredditstudios8055 There are millions of religions out there. What makes yours more true than those?
Partners In Time is peak pokémon. Everything Ash and Pikachu went through leads to this battle, even though Cinderace was knocked out in one hit the rest of the episode makes up for it. And this episode gave the english dub a rare W, they actually played "gotta catch em all".
The Cinderace knockout wasn't a problem for me, personally. Cinderace is clearly a glass Cannon: hits hard, but can't take hits well.
Wait the English dub for this episode is out?
@@jackxson6109 In Canada, yes.
@@jackxson6109 You can find subtitled episodes about a day after the original airing if you find the right site. Also, I've seen subless episodes the day of on TH-cam.
@@wikiuser92 Yeah, at that point, I don't think anyone cared about Cinderace. Just give us Ash's starter (Pikachu) vs Leon's starter (Chairzard).
I think the two Ash vs Sawyer episodes will always have the best animation in the entire series. A close second is Ash vs Alain and then Ash vs Leon (Ash vs Leon really only had the stellar animation in the final episode with Charizard vs Pikachu).
Xyz had peak animation in the entire series
Pikachu vs Tapu Koko is one that I can vividly remember how amazing the animation was despite not seeing it again in over 3 years.
@@navanithkrishnan7177 Hopefully the Generation 10 anime will match or surpass that.
@@UnwantedGhost1 theres only two episodes of the new show and I already love the animation more than all previous Pokemon.
You all are delusional
Everyone knows the best fight with the best animation in the entire series is Metapod VS Metapod
THE INCLUSION OF MALLOW'S STORY WAS SO TRUE AND RIGHT
As someone who has lost a relative, (mine was my grandfather,) I could relate to Mallow when she cried while embracing her mother.😢😢😢😢
@@tedgruver7618 I was born after my grandfather died.
When you watch Ash vs. Paul in the original Japanese, when Type: Wild plays... Especially hearing it as the last ending with Ash and Pikachu. Man, it makes the emotions come out.
Like at the power of crying
The dub for that battle was better the part where Paul taunts Infernape by calling him pathetic, where Infernape got the strength back and the added heartbeat effect made the battle way better.
Paul is better in the dub than sub (Only characters in pokemon who is better than dub than sub) just because he is an unapologetic asshole smart aleck and I love it. In the sub, he's more similar to silver, but in the dub he is a person who doesn't give a shit and he is way funnier.
@@haileyparsons3844 I see
Romans 10:9 because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.
Type: Wild? Like the Pokemon Type: Null? Does Type: Wild get it's name from Type: Null?
Everyone can agree that the Max Ralts episode would be 1000x better if May caught Ralts for Max.
Had Gardevoir given the green light, I think she very easily would have caught it for Max
Oh 1000% I mean Clemont caught Dedenne for Bonnie. Max deserved better plus that Ralts clearly didn’t really want to say goodbye 🥺
@@thatgirl9532 Gardevoir no estaba de acuerdo y Max sabia que no estaba listo para ser entrenador Dedene no es el pokemon de Bonny es su mascota Max quiere un pokemon para el
Ademas la relacion que Max tiene con Monchlax es igual y mejor que la de Bonny y Dedene
@@dgarcia2117 English bruh
@@thatgirl9532 They said something along the lines of "Gardevoir did not agree and Max knew he wasn't ready for training. Dedenne is not Bonnie's pokemon, it is her mascot. Max want(ed) a pokemon of his own. Furthermore, Max's realtion with Munchlax is similar and better than the one between Bonnie and Dedenne."
I'm far from fluent in spanish but I understand the gist of it :)
As a certified Sun and Moon stan, I love how the top 10 has 4 sm episodes (technically 5 because the homecoming crown is in the top 10 because of Lillie). And as someone who also has a soft spot for Black and White since it was the first pokemon anime I watched, I appreciated how many bw episodes made it on the list ^^
Oh my god, your description of myself fits me almost exactly :0
Yess, the second pokemon series i watched was SM, omg literally my favorite series, legendaries and league, dont get me started it was amazing
@@thanosbutididntkillloki5373yeah. Sun and Moon was great
It's crazy how SM went from a series everyone disliked and made fun of at the start to one of the absolute best by the end
@@ashhabimran239 let’s be fr. Sun and Moon only rlly got hate cuz of toxic XY fans
Something I appreciate about the Sun and Moon anime, is that it really does a good job in tackling life and death, and emotional hurt/trauma. You can't have life, without death and sometimes trauma can happen. And they do this MULTIPLE times in multiple symbolic and on the nose ways. Endings and beginnings. I think my favorite though, would have to be the Rayquaza and Minior episode in Sun and Moon. Seeing Sophocles talk about how he must've blocked the memory of the dying Minior out, is all too realistic.
Couple that with Poipole not understanding at first what's going on, and then learning that Rayquaza feeds off the Minior....it's sad. But that's life. It's all a cycle. And for a series like Pokemon, which up to that point had avoided talking, like REALLY talking about death to handle it not once but SEVERAL TIMES in such a good way, and tackles things like trauma and how lack of closure can really be debilitating....I have to give sun and moon props for that.
The episode didn't directly say Rayquaza eats them, but based on what we know of its lore, that was definitely the implication, yes.
Sun & Moon has the most stacked memorable episodes.
It's the only region where I felt sad we have to move on from.
Other seasons more makes you pump to go to the next in the next season.
Sun & Moon made you cry leaving it.
That’s why sun and & moon holds 2nd position for the emotional episodes the final battles were amazing whilst also being a chill out series
Animation & battle wise Pokémon XY is no.1 for me plus the characters/rivals I personally liked more
@@Snzn_7 it’s so sad that people hated on it just because of the animation they missed out it’s such a good series
@@Snzn_7 Honestly, yeah. And despite everything, when early in Journeys they go back there felt amazing! So little had passed and yet I was so happy to go there
Imagine watching Charizard's Burning Ambition at the time once it was just released... No one knew if Charizard is gonna ever return again.... cause none of Ash's released pokemon returned at that point... not only sad, depressing but it was so traumatic for many of us.... cause we lost our favourite mon at that point the series and they really had courage to do that.... and we didn't even have any reliable information source from Japan at that point youtube was just new... Crazy times...
The culmination of XY, along with the culmination of Ash Vs Sawyer remain as not just my favourite episodes, but the reason that the XY anime is the best of the series IMO.
10:34 - 12:09 WHAT on Earth were you on Zac that got you so determined to club some of the most tear-jerking episodes back-to-back? So that I would keep blushing the entire night??? 😭😭😭😭😭
So many great episodes man. Personally I love the battle ones the most. Ash vs Paul, Kalos League Semi and final, Team Flare Arc, Ash vs Kukui and Ash vs Leon are my favorite episodes.
Idk about the others but Ash's Alola league victory still feels so different to me, that Lycanroc v Lycanroc battle showdown was one of my favourites and imo that episode is in Top 3 best pokemon episodes of all time
Romans 10:9 because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.
I can see how much emotional Lumoise Trainer Zac had went for this ranking especially one of these episode.
i didn't cry during goodbye butterfree, but it really got me in memories of mist. There i was, crying for torracat, happily sharing a few moments with Stoutland, before it all fades away...
While I do really enjoy Partners in Time, I still enjoy the Ash vs Paul battle episode more simply because everything about it was perfect. Nothing was poorly handled like the cinderace part was.
But also just because Paul and Ash's rivalry had more weight to it from the trainers to the pokemon their interactions that lead them to that battle had feelings behind it.
Ash and Pikachu had that in their battle but I always felt Leon was just seeing this as another huge battle he'd see with Cynthia or Raihan, the connection between the two trainers and Pokemon wasn't entirely there for me.
Still both amazing episodes but I'd give my number one to Ash and Paul's final battle episode.
agreed
Exactly. If Ash v Paul was a 10/10, Ash v Lyon is a mere 7 or 8. It felt more like they handed Ash the victory in the end, and less like Ash truly earned it.
@@asifshahriar2894 En realidad se lo gano pero el problema es que leon no es un rival de Ash solo el jefe final tipico que sabes que el heroe derrotara al final
Que Leon sea un Ash adulto en todo sentido te lo deja bastante claro
Agreed. While Ash vs Leon is very cool, especially the final battle, it's still only second best to be after Ash vs Paul. Ash vs Paul has several advantages like the emotional invest by all those involved because of how long this rivalry and moment was built up, and the fact that unlike Ash's Journey's Team(I still like that team a lot) we actually saw the training and growth of all of Ash's Pokemon and how it all plays a role in this battle, while Inferanpe is the main focus given his history with Paul, all of Ash's team manages to shine in this battle and really bring their arcs full circle with the combination of everything they went through from DP, Buziel mastering Ice Aqua Jet, Torrterra learning how to effectively battle without his speed, Staraptor's full evolution and growth, Gliscor and how far he's come from a scared Gligar to essentially an Air Battle Master, and of course, Pikachu and Infernape need no explanation of their journies.
Ash vs Leon was 10/10 but Ash vs Paul was 12/10
No Bye Bye Butterfree? Do you know how many tears were shed worldwide for that episode?
I love Black and White because of pure nostalgia, Black and white was what dragged me into Pokémon. Now I understand that it isn’t as good as I remember it but it will still have a special place in my hearth.
That episode where stoutland dies always makes me cry
Ash vs Olympia was pure ingenuity and I fucking loved it
Thanks for giving the Kalos League mention to Ash vs Sawyer. I saw people trying to mention Ash vs Alain in the same breath as Ash vs Leon when it aired and was thinking "C'mon, it's not even the best fight in its own league"
It was a better fight than Ash vs Sawyer. Sceptile was knocked out by Water Shurikan, a movie that, in it's Mega Form, it's 4× resistant to, after only taking one Aerial Ace and a Thunderbolt from Pikachu. At least Greninja took a minimum of 2 Tough Claws boosted Dragon Claws before Alain's Charizard used that final Blast Burn.
@@tomnorton4277 people still underrating Alain these days lol
@@thatgirl9532I'm not underrating his battle potential, but rather his character.
Dude had practically no stakes in this battle, literally beat Ash's Greninja, thrice, just to prove he's always going to be above, and still gets his redemption.
Alain made almost the latter half of XYZ unwatchable for me because of how overrated and how far ahead he was compared to Ash.
Ash ketchum.
You will never be forgotten.
I love that you appreciate time wrap heals all wounds, it has such a special place in my heart especially because of how random the pairing of May and Meowth feels haha. I feel like is kind of a forgotten episode (like most of good, third gen episodes unfortunately) so it feels really nice seeing it being placed so highly!
And as a personal suggestion, I would have also included the episode where May looses her first battle against Drew, it was heartbreaking to see her cry over such humiliating loss, but it highlighted one thing; things won't always go your way and that pokemon contests are not any easier that gym battles!! Which really led everyone to not take them any less seriously
What are your favorite Pokémon Episodes?
Ash Vs Paul part 3, and the episode where Ash beats Leon
So far I'm on season 10 so right now it's adress unown the one where they go into latvitar's mind
Probably ash vs kukui
Top Worst Episodes
👑 Tobias
Pokemon Journeys Episode 111 is the True GOAT. Tied with Journeys episode 132 of course
While it’s not my favorite, Star Night, Star Flight (JN083) still remains a frequent rewatch for me. This episode had Cynthia’s return which was incredible, but my favorite part of the episode was how it handled Unown and made a gripping story out of it.
Basically an abridged version of the third movie.
I'd say the battle between Ash and Clemont was when Clemont finished developing as a character.
I wish this becomes one of your top viewed videos. You deserve for all of your hard work Zac.
Thank you :)
So basically all of these episodes were 10/10 rated by Zac. Good work. Personally my favorite was Forming a More Perfect Union. I loved the Team Flare Arc through and through.
Yeah. The only episode he gave 10/10 but not mentioned in the video was EP100, Wherefore Art Thou Pokemon
@@northstarpokeshipper2148 U mean Nidoran Romeo & Juliet?
@@darkdragon7210 yep.
@@northstarpokeshipper2148
I believe that purely filler, but a perfect filler nonetheless.
@@kwdgolden2716 Yeah. One of my favorite Orange Islands episodes as well. (My third favorite behind Charizard Chills and Misty Meets her Match.)
The top 5 episodes were crafted so BEAUTIFULLY, it was art, PURE art ✨
It would be sick if we see max and bonnie in the new series as actual trainers on a journey
You assume it's even set in the same universe as the Ash show.
@@dinosaurtimeandfunnyvideos it probably is.
Or there will be a alternate version of ash who's in his 20s or 30s and is the new u defeated champion who the protagonist want to defeat
Ash’s Torrocat was the best Evo in the entire Anime it was literally 🔥
Yup. Until it ended up being a waste with incineroar doing practically nothing after that
The only annoying part with that was he didn’t get to battle. Love Pikachu but Ash’s Incineroar should have battled Kukui’s Incineroar in the battle royal!!!
A cool thought I had about the episode Partners In Time is that :
Forget about Ash, forget about the characters, forget about the anime for a second and think just about the Pokemon in the battle .
The battle is just between Pikachu Vs Charizard -- 2 of the most iconic Pokemon of all time, the 2 pokemon that made Pokemon to be spread all over the globe and loved and adored by all.
This battle is so influential that it even made the non-anime watchers or anime haters to watch this, enjoy and appreciate this freaking spectacle.
Anyone who doesn't even care about the Pokemon anime can love this battle! That's the beauty of this battle. ✨
Ash lost his first league to a Pikachu versus Charizard
And became the very best after a Pikachu versus Charizard.
19:22
Primeape: am i a joke to you?
Primeape also appears briefly
10:54-13:47 Was just multiple gut punches in the feels. Pokemon's gotten way too good at pulling the heart strings.
Meawoth's origin episode is so heart touching yet so underrated
Some episodes that always come to mind for me are the Orange League Championship battle episodes, the episode Ash’s Charmeleon evolves into Charizard, and just about any League episodes in which we get actual battles or good focus on the atmosphere and everything surrounding and involved with it, just to name a few.
The Ash vs Paul episodes will always be some of the greatest for me. Along with Ash vs Kukui and the finale to his battle with Leon. From OS, the episode where Charmeleon evolved was by far my fav as a little kid. I watched the VHS so many times pretty sure it broke
If Ash ever returns one day as his main canonical self instead of a unique version, then I hope it's with the best team with the best animation.
I'll say this, Elite Trainer Zac, having not watched Pokémon since some sporadic episodes through the Hoenn region, I found myself Really taken in by episodes 1-5 of Pokémon X&Y.
It was the first time I ever watched Pokémon in sub And tuning in weekly for the next episode.
That's the 1st Pokémon series since Kanto from beginning to end that I've watched and since.
Pikachu vs Charizard was the company finally figuring out who their best Mom was. I also feel like the finale of Sun and Moon, Thank You Alola, The Journey Continues! needs a mention. Not only was it heartwarming to see Ash leave Rowlet and everyone with Kukui, but also seeing Burnet and Kukui's reaction of how much of a son Ash is to them was beautiful. Not to mention Mimikyu coming to terms with itself, seeing Solgaleo one last time and Team Rocket leaving Mimikyu and Mareanie behind so they could have a good life was peak. Such a good way to end the best series. An amazing video as always Zac
14:01 This shot of Ash reaching for the sun reminded me of where they got inspiration for Liko reaching for the moon in the new Horizons series...
tbh, I actually thought the first episode "Pokemon! I Choose You!" would make it into this top 25; I mean, I know, it's cliche to have the first episode as a favorite, but it was one of the best beginnings to a series that I've seen compared to other shows. The music, the chase, the climax, and the rainbow signifying hope at the end just made it all work.
broooo for me, the best pokemon episode is surely infernape vs electivire part of ash vs paul in sinnoh league. Man the song 'type-wild' makes it SO MUCH BETTER. This song gives me goosebumps maann.
My Top 10...
1. Partners in Time
2. Once More With Reeling
3. Charizard's Burning Ambitions
4. Battling a Thaw in Relations
5. One Journey Ends, Another Begins.
6. Turning Over a New Bayleef
7. Can't Beat the Heat
8. Island of the Giant Pokémon
9. Ultra Exciting from the Shocking Start!
10. A Campus Reunion.
I just love the Pokémon anime. Even I recently have started to play the games and I collected Pokémon cards when I was younger the anime is the reason why I love this franchise. It’s really hard to pick on but the best episode to me is “Battling a thaw in Relations” it’s just the perfect episode to me
I was fucking crying through Mallow's backstory, Litten and Stoutland, and even the Lusamine family arc.
Man I’m so happy that a few sun and moon episodes made it into the top ten, going into this video I was thinking it would just be a bunch of xy episodes
Number 10 I had to stop myself from tearing up. Even in the dub version the music and the voice actor really shows sadness and grief.
Most of my favorites where already mentioned, but I’d also have to say The Symbol Life as one of my favorites.
It’s the first time Ash defeated a legendary in a 1-V-1, and the battle was epic
Edit: I just saw it was in honorable mentions
I watch the anime infrequently. It makes me appreciate Pokétubers like you that can sum things up.
Thanks Zac 🤟🤘🤟🤘
Zac is the 🐐 man, couldn't have picked a better list. Absolutely brought back all the memories esp the emotional ones
Ok. For putting memories in the mist so high, I completely sympathise with this video. I cried when I watched that episode for the first time.
Sun and moon is soo underated and gets hated for no reason. It has such beautiful and amazing episodes plus the storyline,characters like lillie,ash relationship with kukui,ash winning his first league and becoming champion was just soo good
Honestly great episode choices, can't disagree on any of them
👌
The last episode of XY was my favourite
It felt like perfect ending
The 1st episode is the best one because it is where ash meets misty, and starts to have a strong bond with Pikachu
Oh man, those emotional episodes got us right in the feels, even during this list. Did not expect that.
Fantastic list. Great send off
Underrated part of the dub is that in the final Pikachu Charizard showdown they play the original theme song
19:01 I just saw the English version!!! so awesome to hear "I wanna be the very best" together with Pikachu fighting Charizard!
How? The English dub wasn't out in America yet? Do you live in Canada?
@@Temporary-u3h it was on Cartoon Network and uploaded on anime websites like gogoanime.
I can't believe that I watched over 1000 episodes of Pokémon ever since I was a kid in the 90s and 2000s man do I feel like an old timer.
I’ll go over my favorite episodes of all time
1 Z move showdown
2 partners in time
3 enter the champion
4 paring Pokémon while parrying
5 meeting up with the monarch
6 aim for the eight
7 Home coming crown
8 down to a fiery finish
9 Do A real rival rouser
10 the fires of a red hot reunion
When the Original song came on in Partners in Time, I freaked the hell out and yelled so loud. I cried.
I'm proud to say I now have the entire DP anime on DVD!
Absolutely banger list. Obviously I have my own set of favourites (Memerories are made of Bliss immediately comes to mind) but it's hard to argue with this.
I honestly really like episodes where it's Ash with all his pokemon such as Right Place at the Right Mime, The Dream Continues and Fire Training Battle! Ash vs Paul. I also really like most episode 1s and 2s for most series, with X and Y being my particular favourite first 2 episodes.
Going from numbers 11-8 made me teary-eyed...
The episode where team Rocket left Arbok and Weezing to fight the tyrannitar will always be my top episode
One Journey Ends, Another Begins.
Is the Ep where I couldn't hold my tears back. The best Pokemon episode out there for me
Really loving the updated Zac drawings!
Ash vs guzma has got to be my favorite 2 episodes because of how much character growth it gives to guzma
Here are my 10/10 episodes in the orginal Pokemon anime:
- Episode 116 "Enter the Dragonite, Final Battle! Kairyu Appears!!" - Orange Pokemon League finals,
- Episode 1080 "Enter the Champion!, The Rise of Alola's Champion!!" - Aloa Pokemon League finals
- Episode 1219 "The Finals IV: "Partner” - World Pokemon Championship finals
In every one of those episodes Ash has won in regional/world Pokemon League finals, and became a champion. There are a lot of good episodes that I would rate 9/10, but only those 3 out of 1234 are the best since the anime writers didn't stick to the usual Ash losing a major Pokemon League tournament formula to rush towards the next generation.
Ps.I am finally happy to be rid of the rule in my scoring were only episodes that Ash wins Pokemon League will get 10/10 in new Pokemon Horizons anime.
Do you notice how many episodes are from SM? It really was the best season
When Pokémon hits, it hits hard
I think all 50 eps Zac mentioned are top tier
Such a *W* list🔥
Just to add to your list, what makes the Finale Part IV: Partner even better is the original song tune playing in the background at the tail end of the fight. I loved the whole Ash vs Leon fight (apart from that broken Mr Crime) and that ending was even better. As a fan of battles like Ash vs Alain and Ash vs Paul, it was interesting to see Ash battle someone who is not only much stronger than him but also has move experience (like Professor Kukui) and is so much like-minded, unlike Paul. It was as if Ash was battling an older version of himself.
Ash vs Paul is always going to be number 1 for me in terms of weight and impact. Like for me Sinnoh was the real Ash finale as for that tournament he brought back all of his old Pokémon to shine. Like even Ash vs Tobias is still good of watching him defeat 2 legendaries using a strong tesm
Strong team is a bit of a stretch, but I agree. The Sinnoh League was awesome in every way.
(Comment on this after the Livestream ended) I love the choices you choose, great variety, and a lot of great moments from the anime, but god damn I never know your favorite episodes are emotions tugging episodes
Neither did I 🥲
Partners In Time is my favourite. Next would probably be The Homecoming Crown, its just so beautiful at the end
It peaks volumes that DP got so many honourable mentions
No Ash vs Blaine? To me, that was a peak Charizard fight imo. This was back when Charizard disobeyed Ash yet Charizard wanted to fight for once, because of Magmar. Plus the fight itself was just rad.
Partners in time and Pikachu turning super saiyen with a Shonen style friendship flashback was superb
Ash vs Gary, Ash vs Lt. Surge, vs Bea (all three times), vs Korrina (both times), the Last Journey’s ep with Alola, vs Visquez, vs Marnie, and probably more. Also the first time Serena won 😅
When Charizard respects ash, vs Drake, Vs Noland, Cynthia vs Iris, Diantha vs Lance, Ash vs Raihan, everytime Ash reunites with his pkmn at oak’s lab.
All good choices with your limitations of one episode per storyline. Cannot argue with any of them, though I'd may reshuffle due to personal preferences.
it's shown that ash's pikachu and leon's charizard are on the same level... charizard's g max move can take down most of the strong pokemon cuz it even rivaled pikachu's z move... so, if pikachu is on the same level it's obvious that pikachu can take down cinderace with one g max move... i already expected that tbh
I never realized how many episodes of Pokémon made me cry until this video
It’s hard to choose from 26 years of episodes 😂 but my two favourite series are Pokémon XY & Sun and Moon.
Pokémon XY had amazing animation & battles whilst for someone who is emotional Sun & Moon is why it’s my second favourite series, just a lot fun whilst having some heartbreaking stories. 🥺
People can agree that the Cinderace bit was a bit plot amour-ish.
I mean Ash has trained Pikachu to defeat Raichus, pseudo-legendaries and legendaries throughout their journeys in the previous regions. So I Pikachu is a champion level pokemon at this point, but Cinderace is also champion level too, so it does feel a little plot armour-ish that Cinderace gets one-shotted, as that was the only damage it took in the entire final round of the World Tournament. I think the writers were stretching Pikachu's power a bit too far, and that's a bit "iffy".
But it is fine. Nothing can really butcher that very last battle between Pikachu and Charizard. Not even the plot-amourish moments. Ash Ketchum and Pikachu have really earned their place as the "World's strongest trainer" and "World's strongest Pikachu".
I give the overall episode a 10/10.
Great list! Forming a more perfect Union is definitely my number 1 just for the amazing cinematic storytelling. The entirety of the XY anime building the relationships, the gym leaders, culminating in this mini war to save the region was so well done and satisfying. Plus perfect Zygarde is awesome to see.
If Mewtwo's origin counted as an epsiode, I would've personally put it at number 1.
For me, the best episode in the entire anime, has to be “One Journey Ends, Another Begins”. Pokemon has touched upon the concept of Death at times, but “One Journey Ends, Another Begins” goes into more detail than ever before in the anime, showing Litten go through 2 of the 5 Stages of Grief. The episode is by far, the most powerful episode in the franchise. Even Meowth is shown to care about Litten, and have something he hasn’t had for many of Ash’s Pokemon, respect. He even outright tells Ash to not ever give up on Litten. Just, My God this episode is just so good!!!!!
Great list. I am surpprised JN112 (Helping the Hometown Hero) is this low on the list, but alright
My personal best episodes would be:
#5 - JN112 (Helping the Hometown Hero) - It's such a wonderful conclusion to Ash's arc in Alola and gives an amazing closure to his time there. This was the moment when you really feel like Ash is in fact the champion of Alola and its hero, and seeing all the characters in Sun & Moon cheering for him was incredible (seriously, the subbed version with the crowd cheering him with the music choice there was peak)
#4 - XY143 (Forming a More Perfect Reunion) - Pretty much for the same reasons stated in the video
#3 - Tie between DP188 (Battling a Thaw in Relations) and SM144 (From Z to Shining Z) - For the former, this is the perfect conclusion to not only the best rivalry in the series, but also to Infernape's incredible arc thar solidified it as one of Ash's all time aces. For the latter, this was basically the conclusion the Sun & Moon series, with its focus on how Ash's experiences in Alola not only made it his second home, but showing why Ash deserves to be Alola's Champion. The fact both episodes use Type: Wild in their climatic moments is also incredible
#2 - JN111 (The Homecoming Crown) - Easily one of the most emotional episodes in the entire series. Lillie's arc in Sun & Moon was incredible, and the story of Mohn was incredibly touching. To see it concluded in such a beautiful way was making me so emotional, especially considering how the Aeather family (and especially Lusamine) suffered so much because of Mohn's dissapearence.
#!1 - JN132 (Partners in Time) - Pretty much for the same reasons stated in the video
Ash vs sawyer depends to be higher on the list along with ash vs alain
Alola has so many good episodes
But still it remains underrated
The Pokemon Xyz finale felt like an Avengers moment Pokemon Universe.
I just hope the one with the origin of Litten makes it into the TOP10 or Top5 at least.
It’s No.10
Most of the pokemon episodes of the Sun & Moon series are very awesome .
The way pikachu got back up with the old teams cheering for him made me cry
when u think of it
the very first episode of the pokemon anime is imo one of the best openings to any anime series
it had a great introduction of the main protag and the spearow climax with the music really hits hard
so i`d put it in my top 10 list