Why are all the seasons of Pokémon not on Pokémon TV?
Pokémon TV is a free, official streaming service by The Pokémon Company offering select episodes, movies, and specials from the Pokémon anime‘s 25-season run. However, not every episode is available on Pokémon TV. So why are all seasons of Pokémon missing from the platform? Let‘s take a closer look.
An Overview of Pokémon TV
Launched in 2016, Pokémon TV provides fans a legal way to watch Pokémon animation online. It‘s available as a website and mobile app. The service has a rotating library – episodes come and go every few weeks. This encourages fans to keep returning to see fresh content.
Only the first two seasons – Pokémon: Indigo League (Season 1) and Pokémon: Adventures on the Orange Islands (Season 2) – have their full episode runs on Pokémon TV. From Season 3 onwards, the service only offers select episodes from each season.
Why Are Only Certain Episodes Available?
There are a few factors behind Pokémon TV‘s limited episode selection:
- Rotating library to drive engagement and get fans watching elsewhere
- Licensing restrictions preventing worldwide streaming rights
- Avoiding controversial or culturally insensitive episodes
By only offering select episodes per season, Pokémon TV promotes interest without undercutting other ways to watch Pokémon. Fans are incentivized to buy DVDs and use streaming platforms like Netflix to see full season runs.
Additionally, The Pokémon Company may not hold worldwide streaming rights for all episodes. Making only certain installments available could be a licensing issue.
Finally, controversial episodes like the frequently banned "Electric Soldier Porygon" are understandably not included on Pokémon TV. The service avoids episodes with sensitive content.
Which Seasons Are On Pokémon TV?
Here‘s a quick overview of Pokémon season availability on Pokémon TV as of February 2023:
- Season 1: Indigo League – YES (all 82 episodes available)
- Season 2: Adventures on the Orange Islands – YES (all 36 episodes available)
- Season 3: The Johto Journeys – NO (select episodes only)
- Season 4: Johto League Champions – NO (select episodes only)
- Season 5: Master Quest – NO (select episodes only)
- Season 6: Advanced – NO (select episodes only)
- Season 7: Advanced Challenge – NO (select episodes only)
- Season 8: Advanced Battle – NO (select episodes only)
- Season 9: Battle Frontier – NO (select episodes only)
- Season 10: Diamond and Pearl – NO (select episodes only)
- Season 11: DP Battle Dimension – NO (select episodes only)
- Season 12: DP Galactic Battles – NO (select episodes only)
- Season 13: DP Sinnoh League Victors – NO (select episodes only)
- Season 14: Black & White – NO (select episodes only)
- Season 15: BW Rival Destinies – NO (select episodes only)
- Season 16: BW Adventures in Unova – NO (select episodes only)
- Season 17: XY – NO (select episodes only)
- Season 18: XY Kalos Quest – NO (select episodes only)
- Season 19: XYZ – NO (select episodes only)
- Season 20: Sun & Moon – NO (select episodes only)
- Season 21: Sun & Moon Ultra Adventures – NO (select episodes only)
- Season 22: Sun & Moon Ultra Legends – NO (select episodes only)
- Season 23: Journeys – NO (select episodes only)
- Season 24: Master Journeys – NO (select episodes only)
- Season 25: Ultimate Journeys – NO (select episodes only)
As shown above, fans need to look beyond Pokémon TV to watch anything beyond the first two seasons in full.
How to Watch Other Pokémon Seasons
While not every episode is on Pokémon TV, you still have options to watch Pokémon seasons, including:
- Pokémon TV app (wider selection than the website)
- DVD collections
- Digital rental or purchase on platforms like Amazon Prime Video and iTunes
- Streaming services like Netflix, Hulu, or Disney+ (availability varies by region)
The Pokémon TV mobile app typically grants access to more episodes than the website. Fans in the U.S. can watch a good selection of episodes spanning the various seasons on Netflix. Check services in your country to see what‘s offered on each platform.
Controversial/Banned Episodes
Certain Pokémon episodes have been pulled from circulation and are unavailable to stream due to controversial content. While cultural norms change over time, these episodes remain banned for insensitive depictions. Two of the most notorious banned episodes are:
- "Electric Soldier Porygon" – This episode triggered seizures in Japanese viewers upon initial airing in 1997 due to flashing red and blue lights. It has never re-aired or been made available digitally.
- "The Legend of Dratini" – In this early episode, safari warden Kaiser threatens Ash with a gun. The frequent firearm imagery led to international bans.
Due to concerns over photosensitive seizures or impressionable children imitating dangerous behavior, controversial episodes like these are excluded from Pokémon TV and official streaming sources.
Ash Ketchum‘s 25-Year Journey Concludes
Ash Ketchum has served as the upbeat protagonist of the Pokémon anime since 1997, endearing himself to generations of fans. After 25 seasons, Ash finally achieved his goal of becoming a Pokémon Master in 2022.
This milestone marks the end of Ash‘s central role in the show when the Pokémon anime returns in 2024. After decades of adventures, Ash is passing the torch to new protagonists named Liko and Roy. He‘ll get a celebratory goodbye episode highlighting his growth across 25 years as the face of Pokémon.
The Future of Pokémon
While longtime fans will certainly miss Ash, his departure opens exciting new possibilities for the Pokémon anime moving forward. The full episodes collection will always exist to revisit Ash‘s journey. Pokémon TV will likely continue offering select installments highlighting his legacy.
With new characters, stories, and regions on the horizon, the future remains bright for Pokémon. This enduring franchise continues evolving while keeping its classic spirit alive. Ash‘s departure closes one chapter, but many more await in this never-ending adventure.
