Pokémon the Series: Black & White
Ash travels Unova with Iris and Cilan.
Pokémon the Series: Black & White is the fourteenth season of the Pokémon anime and the first season of the Pokémon the Series: Black & White story arc. In Japan, it is titled Pocket Monsters: Best Wishes!. The season aired on TV Tokyo channel 7 in Japan from September 23, 2010, to September 15, 2011, and on Cartoon Network in the United States from February 12, 2011, to January 7, 2012. The story follows Ash Ketchum as he explores the Unova region and aims to compete in its Pokémon League, accompanied by Iris, who hopes to become a Dragon Master, and Cilan, a Gym Leader from Striaton City who also works as a Pokémon Connoisseur.
To promote the series and the episode where Ash receives an egg, a special event was held at US Toys "R" Us stores from April 27, 2011, to May 31, 2011. During this time, players of Pokémon Black and White could receive one of three Pokémon—Axew, Pansage, or Pidove—directly via Mystery Gift. Each distributed Pokémon had standard moves, not moves matching the anime counterparts. Each player could receive only one Pokémon, and which one they got was random.
The Japanese opening theme is "Best Wishes!" performed by Rica Matsumoto. For the first two episodes in Japan, no ending theme was used; instead, instrumental tracks from the Pokémon: Black & White Japanese Anime Sound Collection played during the credits. Starting with episode three, the ending theme became "Fanfare of the Heart" by Aki Okui, though on DVD releases this song is used from episode one. Another ending theme, "Can You Name All the Pokémon? BW" by Takeshi Tsuruno, was also used. The English opening theme is "Black and White" by Erin Bowman and Joe Philips, and its instrumental version serves as the English ending theme.
In the United States, Viz Media and Warner Home Video released the season on DVD across four two-disc volume sets, each containing twelve episodes. The first volume came out on November 20, 2012, followed by the second on January 22, 2013, the third on March 19, 2013, and the fourth on May 14, 2013. A complete season collection titled Pokémon: Black & White – The Complete Season was released on DVD on July 27, 2021.
- Japanese title
- Pocket Monsters: Best Wishes!
- Original run (japan)
- September 23, 2010 – September 15, 2011
- Original run (united states)
- February 12, 2011 – January 7, 2012
- Network (japan)
- TV Tokyo channel 7
- Network (united states)
- Cartoon Network
- Main characters
- Ash Ketchum, Iris, Cilan
Lore & Background
The season follows Ash Ketchum as he travels across the Unova region to challenge its Pokémon League while joined by Iris, an aspiring Dragon Master, and Cilan, one of the Striaton City Gym Leaders and a Pokémon Connoisseur. To promote the series and the episode where Ash obtains an egg, Pokémon Black and White players were able to receive one of three Pokémon—Axew, Pansage, or Pidove—directly via Mystery Gift, exclusively at US Toys 'R' Us stores between April 27, 2011, and May 31, 2011. Each distributed Pokémon had standard moves, not moves matching the anime counterparts. Players were only able to get one Pokémon and which one they received was random.
Reader's Guide
Pokémon the Series: Black & White marks the beginning of the Best Wishes! era of the anime, introducing the Unova region and a new traveling companion dynamic. Its significance lies in being the first season of the Black & White series, which refreshed the franchise with new Pokémon and characters. The season's legacy includes a Toys 'R' Us promotion that tied the anime to the video games, offering exclusive egg items. The home media releases by Viz Media and Warner Home Video, including a complete season DVD in 2021, have preserved the season for collectors. The music, with Japanese and English openings and endings, contributed to the season's identity. Overall, it is a foundational entry in the Pokémon anime's fifth generation.
Did You Know?
- The Japanese opening song is 'Best Wishes!' by Rica Matsumoto.
- Viz Media and Warner Home Video released the complete season on DVD on July 27, 2021.
- The Toys 'R' Us promotion ran from April 27, 2011, to May 31, 2011.
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