Pokémon: The Johto Journeys

Lore & Background

The season was directed by Masamitsu Hidaka and produced by the animation studio OLM. In 2000, during the show's run in the United States, it was ranked as the number 1 program among boys 2–11 years old. The Japanese opening song is 'OK!' by Rica Matsumoto for 42 episodes, with multiple ending songs including 'Meowth's Party' for 26 episodes and 'Exciting Pokémon Relay' for 11 episodes. The English opening song is 'Pokémon Johto' by the musical group called Johto.

Reader's Guide

Pokémon: The Johto Journeys marks the transition of the Pokémon anime into its second generation, introducing the Johto region and new Pokémon while retaining the core trio of Ash, Misty, and Brock. Its popularity in the United States, where it became the top-rated program among young boys in 2000, solidified the franchise's cross-cultural appeal. The season's music, including the English theme 'Pokémon Johto,' became iconic for a generation of viewers. Home media releases included 13 VHS and DVD volumes by Viz Video and Pioneer Entertainment, though the last two episodes were omitted from those sets. A complete collection was later released on DVD by Viz Media and Warner Home Video on November 10, 2015.

Did You Know?

• The season originally aired in Japan from October 14, 1999, to July 27, 2000.
• The last two episodes, 'The Psychic Sidekicks!' and 'The Fortune Hunters,' were not included on the VHS and DVD sets released by Viz Video and Pioneer Entertainment.

Production & Broadcast Run

Produced by the animation studio OLM and helmed by director Masamitsu Hidaka, Pokémon: The Johto Journeys stands as the third season of the broader Pokémon anime franchise and marks the inaugural season under the Gold and Silver branding. In its native Japan, where the series carries the title Pocket Monsters, the season premiered on TV Tokyo on October 14, 1999, and ran through July 27, 2000. The American broadcast followed roughly a year later, debuting on The WB network's Kids' WB block on October 14, 2000, and concluding on August 11, 2001. The production team's work clearly resonated with young viewers: during its 2000 run in the United States, the show earned the top spot among boys aged two through eleven, a testament to the season's ability to capture a key demographic. The nearly year-long gap between the Japanese and American premieres reflects the typical localization pipeline of the era, during which episodes were dubbed, re-edited, and scheduled to fit the Western broadcast calendar.

Story & Character Focus

The narrative of The Johto Journeys centers on Ash Ketchum's journey across the Johto region, where his ultimate goal is to challenge the region's Pokémon League. This season is notable for the return of two long-standing companions: Misty and Brock, who rejoin Ash's traveling party and form the familiar trio dynamic that fans of the franchise recognize. The Johto region serves as the geographic and competitive backdrop, offering a fresh landscape distinct from the Kanto region explored in earlier seasons. The League challenge functions as the season's structural spine, giving the episodic adventures a clear long-term destination. The inclusion of Misty and Brock alongside Ash creates a three-person ensemble that allows for varied interpersonal interactions and shared responsibilities during their travels. As the first season branded under the Gold and Silver title, The Johto Journeys also signals a transitional moment in the franchise, bridging the original run with the next generation of Pokémon anime storytelling while retaining the core premise of a young trainer pursuing regional mastery.

Musical Identity & Soundtrack

The season's musical identity is remarkably layered, with a rotating cast of performers and songs across both Japanese and English broadcasts. In Japan, Rica Matsumoto's "OK!" served as the opening theme for 41 episodes, while the ending credits cycled through multiple tracks: "Meowth's Party" performed by Nyasu (voiced by Inuko Inuyama) for 25 episodes, "Exciting Pokémon Relay" by Rikako Aikawa and Chorus for 10 episodes, a harder version of that relay song for 5 episodes, and a single-episode appearance of "Takeshi's Paradise" performed by Takeshi (voiced by Yūji Ueda). The English adaptation featured its own opening, "Pokémon Johto" by the group Johto, with a shortened version doubling as the end credit song. The English ending rotation included "You & Me & Pokémon," "Pikachu (I Choose You)" by Élan Rivera and Johto, "Song of Jigglypuff" by Rachael Lillis, "All We Wanna Do" by Élan Rivera, and "Two Perfect Girls" by Eric Stuart as Brock, the latter sourced from the Pokémon Karaokémon project.

Home Media & Collectibility

American audiences first accessed The Johto Journeys through a 13-volume VHS and DVD set released by Viz Video in partnership with Pioneer Entertainment. However, collectors and dedicated fans noted a notable gap: the final two episodes, "The Psychic Sidekicks!" and "The Fortune Hunters," were excluded from those physical releases, leaving the season incomplete on home media for years. That omission was finally resolved on November 10, 2015, when Viz Media and Warner Home Video jointly released Pokémon: The Johto Journeys – The Complete Collection on DVD, presenting the full season in a single package. This belated complete release came fifteen years after the season's original American broadcast ended in August 2001, reflecting the long tail of demand among the franchise's fanbase. The multi-volume format of the earlier releases also meant that viewers had to purchase the entire set to experience the season in order, a common practice for anime home media of that era that made the 2015 collection a significant convenience for both new and returning fans.