There is no shortage of anime options when it comes to watching Pokémon and the best series is one of the most underrated. Pokémon's official Japanese YouTube channel has been releasing titles under the "PokeToon" heading, and it's a wonderful series that I truly believe every fan needs in their life. It has a wide range of lengths and styles, allowing it to have a variety for every type of trainer.

Thus far, there are sixteen PokeToons. There are a couple that are only a minute long, while several others range between four to eighteen minutes. The first half was ed between two and three years ago, with a resurgence in releases occurring in October of this year. Eight PokeToons have been released this year alone, hopefully with many more yet to come. Having a variety of options and so many more ways of getting new Pokémon content in my life is essential to me.

Pokémon Delivers Fan a Surprisingly Amazing Short

On X, Lewtwo - a YouTuber and Pokémon archivist - shared a snippet of the latest PokeToon episode, which is currently available to watch on YouTube. Included in the post are credit notes, mentioning that staff working on Dandadan and Urusei Yatsura were included in the animation process for this short. The sneak peek shows a glimpse of a battle between an Armarouge and a Ceruledge, with a Grimmsnarl hilariously getting caught up in the action unintentionally. Even with just this tiny glimpse, the quality is already seen to be ages beyond where Pokémon started.

At the time of writing, the episode has 2.7 million views, on a channel with a following of 3.29 million subscribers. Contrarily, the English version of the channel has 6.11 million subscribers, meaning over half of Pokémon fans subscribed on YouTube aren't currently tuning in.

My love of Pokémon began around the same time as many other American gamers, shortly after the video game was released. I was four and immediately took to watching the anime every chance I could, as my parents encouraged my obsession, playing the games themselves. I would watch the show in English, but also catch an episode on a local TV station in Spanish, just to get an extra Ash and Pikachu adventure each day. I haven't stopped since and have been watching every piece of Pokémon animation I can access as soon as possible. PokeToons extend the hit franchise's YouTube offerings, but with some significant improvements that longtime fans need to see.

This Charcadet-Centric Story is Everything Pokémon Fans Need

Pokemon Goes Back to Its Storytelling Roots By Focusing on Heartwarming Friendship

This PokeToon's title roughly translates to "Childhood Friend Charcadet," which perfectly reflects the story told within the short. Two Charcadet are best friends, living and surviving in the wild together. One day, a trainer loses his Pokedex near them, resulting in the braver Charcadet engaging in a battle and being chosen as a companion. All the while, the quieter Charcadet is aiming to help its friend by getting a berry but ultimately loses sight of its buddy. This begins a period of separation that eventually culminates in an incredibly impressive reuniting battle.

This short, with an almost standard anime episode runtime, excels in establishing a friendship worth caring about without using very many words to do it. There are a few phrases spoken occasionally, which can be translated from Japanese with readily available captions, but even without them, the story arc is clear. I couldn't refrain from shedding a single tear as I watched, entirely emotionally invested in where the Charcadets' journeys would take them. I was excited to get to the battle, particularly since the action is rendered so crisply. The battle starts dramatically, has intense moments, and is one of the most exciting battles outside the core anime.

PokeToon Deserves More Recognition & Attention

Previous animation offerings on YouTube have included animated learning videos on Pokémon Kids TV, Paldean Winds, Path to the Peak, Fun Times on Monpoké Island, Twilight Wings, and Pokémon Generations. I was particularly fond of Generations and also enjoyed the recent Netflix series, Pokémon Concierge, but the latest PokeToon has so much heart that it readily sures other animated series and shorts by itself. At the time of writing, the episode has 2.7 million views, on a channel with a following of 3.29 million subscribers. Contrarily, the English version of the channel has 6.11 million subscribers, meaning over half of Pokémon fans subscribed on YouTube aren't currently tuning in.

The latest PokeToon episode maintains a classic anime style like the rest of the series, but the battle rivals that of some of Ash's best matches. In fact, it is even more impressive than several of his most important battles from the first-ever season of Pokémon. Many of Ash's gym battles ended in draws or were never actually completed, such as in the case of the Cerulean City gym or the fight against Sabrina. While this isn't a gym battle, it has plenty of heart and intensity, making it a far more thrilling match in a lot of respects.

PokeToon is The Pokémon Animated Series Fans Need to Be Watching Right Now

With a smooth animation style that isn't even seen achieved in some older seasons of the main Pokémon anime, the latest episode doesn't feature any familiar heroes. No prior knowledge is needed to enjoy the short, making it especially accessible to fans of all generations. It is worth watching and deserves far more recognition than it currently receives. As a lifelong fan of Pokémon, I cannot recommend Ceruledge and Armarouge's touching PokeToon episode enough. Should PokeToon continue delivering shorts of this caliber, it will take the crown of best - and most affordable - Pokémon series on the air.

Source: Lewtwo