There's One New Pokémon Anime Episode Every Classic Fan Needs To Watch (2024)

The Pokémon anime has been running for so long that there are many different eras of fans, with the most notable being those who watched the original series as children. While they may not have watched the series all the way through, the memory of those early episodes still holds a place close to many fans' hearts. However, I'd like to point out that there's at least one modern episode that I feel every Pokémon fan needs to watch, as it contains one of the most moving moments the series has ever seen.

In , fans see a stray Litten that's well known around the area, who lives with an old dog Pokémon, Stoutland, under a bridge. Litten is very independent but has had a few encounters with Ash so far in the series. It's always heartwarming to see two different species of Pokémon living together in harmony like this, especially when they happen to be dog and cat Pokémon. However, the episode takes a turn when it's revealed that Stoutland's health is failing, causing Litten to get Ash in hopes that he can help.

Pokémon Deals With a Topic Everyone Must Face: Death

Fans Get to See a Side of Ash That's Rarely Shown

Ash, of course, helps get Stoutland to the Pokémon Center, but Nurse Joy laments that there's not a lot that she can do; it's merely Stoutland's time. Ash wonders if Litten understands what's happening, and Nurse Joy says that it does. With little they can do to treat Stoutland, Stoutland and Litten head back to their home under the bridge. They cuddle up and go to sleep, but Litten dreams of Stoutland leaving it, and awakens to find Stoutland is completely gone. Searching everywhere to no avail, Litten returns under the bridge, realizing that Stoutland isn't coming back.

Ash is put in an unusual spot here, forced to do something he's never really been all that good at in the past: providing emotional support. Despite it all, Ash actually excels at it, bringing Litten food and being there for it without forcing himself into Litten's business in an unwelcome fashion. It's a surprisingly mature response from Ash, proving just how far his character has grown from the boisterous, dense 10-year-old who started out from Pallet Town so long ago. With nowhere else to go, Ash offers to bring Litten with him, and Litten agrees, but first demands a battle before being caught.

The episode handles this difficult topic with great care; at no point does anyone say the Pokémon is "dead" or "dying," but it's clear exactly what is happening. Using a pet-like Pokémon such as Stoutland also helps drive the point home, as it's very likely that a child's first experience with death would involve a pet. It also goes beyond just Ash's reactions to Litten; Meowth plays a big role in this episode as well, extremely sympathetic to Litten's plight, and he's just as eager to do what he can to help as Ash is. Even characters like Nurse Joy and Professor Kukui are at their best here, ready to support Ash in his attempts to help Litten.

This Episode Marks Big Growth for Ash

Ash Helps Litten to Achieve Its Dreams, in Stoutland's Memory

Ash has certainly had Pokémon with tragic backstories before; in fact, it's somewhat common among Ash's fire-type Pokémon in particular, which Litten is. Litten's story is very different from most of Ash's other Pokémon, however, because of the way that it plays out on screen. There's no cruel trainer to deal with, nor is there a willful abandonment of the Pokémon; Litten is simply suffering from the cold, hard facts of life, which are just as true in the Pokémon world as they are in reality. The Pokémon world is a wonderful place, indeed, but even it isn't beyond the reach of death.

The portrayal of Litten's grief is very realistic, with it unwilling to eat or even move, but Ash is there for it the entire time, the way a good friend should be. The episode also has some fantastic music which helps to underscore the moment perfectly. With time, Litten begins to feel better, and it happens to see a cloud shaped like Stoutland, giving it the chance to say goodbye that it never got. While Litten will be sad about Stoutland's loss for some time, the time for mourning is over, and new journeys lay ahead.

Litten and Stoutland Have Had a Profound Impact

Litten and Stoutland's Tragic Parting Paved the Way for Good

I'm not the only one who feels like this episode happens to be one of Pokémon's best, and it's even inspired people to do real good for the world. The voice actor for Ash, Sarah Natochenny, and the voice actor for Litten, Lisa Ortiz, came together after this episode to create a charity, known as Voices for Fosters, designed to help animals get foster homes that can eventually lead to full adoption, and help shelters which are overcrowded with pets. The charity is still running to this day, and has worked with dozens of fostering organizations across the country, although its main focus is in New York City.

After all, there are countless real animals out there like Litten and Stoutland who could use help, and what better lesson could there be to take from this episode than to be like Ash and provide that help? Knowing that Stoutland was no longer around to look after it, Ash volunteered to take responsibility for young Litten, and helped raise it into a powerful Pokémon that could take pride in what it had accomplished.

For fans who want to see a very different side of Ash Ketchum, a more emotionally mature version of the character, this episode of Sun & Moon is the peak. The fact that the episode has been able to prompt real people to take action just makes it all the more special, and I can think of no greater way to honor one's love of Pokémon.

Pokémon (1997)

TV-PG

Action

Adventure

Animation

Ash Ketchum, a ten-year-old from Pallet Town, embarks on an adventure to become a Pokémon Master. With his first Pokémon, Pikachu, Ash sets out to capture and train Pokémon while battling other trainers in Pokémon Gyms to earn badges. Joined by his friends Brock and Misty, Ash consistently thwarts the plans of the nefarious Team Rocket, all while making new friends and encountering Pokémon across various regions.

Cast

Rica Matsumoto , Mayumi Iizuka , Yūji Ueda , Tomokazu Seki , Kaori Suzuki , Fushigi Yamada , Megumi Toyoguchi

Release Date

March 7, 1992

Seasons

25

Streaming Service(s)

Hulu , Netflix

Franchise(s)

Pokemon

Writers

Takeshi Shudo , Junki Takegami , Atsuhiro Tomioka , Aya Matsui , Shoji Yonemura , Dai Saito

Directors

Kunihiko Yuyama , Daiki Tomiyasu , Jun Owada , Saori Den

Main Genre

Adventure

Creator(s)

Naoko Takeuchi