Collider ranks 15 best Pokémon seasons, highlighting Indigo League to Journeys

Collider's Eddie Possehl updated Jan. 29, 2026, published a ranking of the 15 best seasons of the Pokémon anime, noting the franchise has run 27 seasons and that quality has fluctuated over time.

According to the article, a strong Pokémon season typically includes smart, complex storytelling, well-done animation, good voice acting and compelling characters, and the show aims to appeal to viewers of all ages.

The list highlights classic entries such as the original Indigo League and the Orange Islands era, which the piece says preserved what made the early episodes beloved and introduced characters like Tracey Sketchit to replace Brock for that arc.

Collider also spotlights later eras: Pokémon Journeys (Season 23) moved to Netflix with a new art style and introduced Goh, who aims to catch every Pokémon; Sun & Moon – Ultra Legends (Season 22) includes Episode 47, when Ash wins the Alola League; and the To Be a Pokémon Master miniseries (part of Season 25) covers Ash becoming World Champion and his final battle with Leon.

The article further notes other praised seasons such as Advanced (Hoenn era), Diamond and Pearl (introducing Dawn and rival Paul), and Black & White (which focused on Unova Pokémon and introduced Iris and Cilan). Collider's full piece contains the complete ranked list and the reasoning behind each choice.

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