List of characters in Pokémon the Series

The following is list of the main and recurring characters from the animated series Pokémon the Series. Since the show's inception until Journeys, only the protagonist Ash Ketchum and their principal antagonists who are Jessie, James and Meowth (known as Team Rocket) have been in every single series excluding the Pokémon Chronicles, although Brock and Team Rocket have appeared in Pokémon Chronicles. In 2006, due to 4Kids Entertainment being dropped from handling the anime and being replaced by The Pokémon Company, almost all of the original voices were replaced including Ash's voice. Horizons is the first series without Ash and Team Rocket, featuring a new set of main characters Liko and Roy, as well as a new Pikachu.

Main charracters

This shows all the main characters in the anime:

Ash Ketchum

Ash Ketchum サトシ (アニメポケットモンスター) is the main character for the series for 26 years. His goal in life is to become a Pokémon Master. He is the longest running character having only being absent from the Pokémon Chronicles series. Ash is alway followed by Team Rocket whom he always defeats in the end at all costs. He uses his Pikachu to defeat him although Team Rocket have now started to use electric proof machines to stop Pikachu from ruining their plans. Ash has entered the different Pokémon Leagues from different regions numerous amount of times and has always done well at this special event although he has never won due to the fact that he faces tough opponents. Ash would end up being the Alolan and World Champion. In Horizons, Ash is no longer the protagonist.

Pikachu

Pikachu is among the main characters of the anime, which consists of both the extremely long running television series and the film franchise which spans over 23 movies. It is the Pokémon of trainer Ash Ketchum, and was his first Pokémon. Pikachu detests the idea of being kept inside a Poké Ball, whereas most Pokémon don't seem to matter. Because of this, Ash allows Pikachu to roam around free, though nonetheless Pikachu is loyal and stays by Ash's side.

In the first episode, titled Pokémon, I Choose You!, Ash was going to go to Professor Oak's and receive his very first Pokémon, which in his region (Kanto) was typically either a Bulbasaur, Squirtle, or Charmander. However, by the time he got there, all of those Pokémon had been given out so he was given a Pikachu instead. Pikachu, however, would have nothing to do with Ash, and would consistently ignore him and his requests. When attacked by a group of Spearows, however, Ash saved the Pikachu and brought it to medic where they were able to heal it. Following this, Pikachu gradually came to accept Ash and the two became the best of friends.

Another Pikachu named Captain Pikachu was introduced as a major character in Pokémon Horizons: The Series. Taito Okiura, the vice president of marketing for The Pokémon Company International, stated that Pikachu would "continue to have a significant presence in the animated series and remain an icon for the brand".

Team Rocket

An organized crime syndicate in pursuit of evil and exploitation of Pokémon based in the Kanto and Johto regions with a small outpost in the Sevii Islands. Their leader is Giovanni.

While its main focus is stealing or capturing, then selling rare and strong Pokémon, it also funds and conducts cruel experimental research on Pokémon. Their oath, as posted on the wall of one of their many bases, is "Steal Pokémon for profit. Exploit Pokémon for profit. All Pokémon exist for the glory of Team Rocket." Their ultimate goal is to take over the world using Pokémon.

Team Rocket trio

Three members of the villainous gang Team Rocket who are always on the tail of Ash and his friends. Deeming Ash's Pikachu to be extraordinarily powerful after it foiled one of their heists, they promptly decided it'd be the perfect Pokémon to steal and gift to their boss, Giovanni, and they've been following the two in hopeless pursuit ever since. Their single-minded pursuit of one particular individual Pokémon has been to their detriment, causing them to frequently be strapped for cash and struggling to support themselves through other various means, all the while still clinging to their futile goal. Their track record eventually got so poor that it led Giovanni to forget that they were members of the crime organization to begin with.

Liko and Roy

Liko and Roy are the main protagonists of Pokémon Horizons: The Series, replacing Ash Ketchum and Pikachu. Liko owns a mysterious pendant, which was given to her from her Grandmother and she attends Indigo Academy. Roy owns a mysterious Poké Ball.

Pokémon: The Original Series (1997-2002)

Brock

Brock タケシ (アニメポケットモンスター) is one of the main characters and is the former Rock-type Pewter Gym Leader and he decided to travel with Ash to fulfill his dream of becoming the world's best Pokémon Breeder. He is the second longest running character having been in every single series including the Pokémon Chronicles but he was absent from most of season 2 having only being in 3 episodes of Season 2. He was also absent from most of the episodes of Pokémon Chronicles, 5 episodes of Season 1, 4 episodes of Season 4 and 1 episode of Season 9. Brock is Ash's best friend and is best known for his wonderful cooking. Brock is always attracted by most of the women on the show including, Nurse Joys, Officer Jennys, Cheryl and Cynthia. Brock is the only person that can spot differences between Nurse Joys and Officer Jennys so he can spot any fake Joys and Jennys. Whenever he is attracted with someone, either Misty, May, Max or his Croagunk stop his romance. Brock has the knowledge of Pokémon in the group and is always there to give advice. Brock has a Croagunk, Blissey and a Sudowoodo.

Misty

Misty カスミ (アニメポケットモンスター) was one of the main characters until she left and return to Cerulean City. She is now the Cerulean Gym Leader specializing at Water-type Pokémon. At first, Misty decided to travel with Ash just because Ash's Pikachu had accidentally destroyed her bicycle. Eventually though, Ash and Misty had grown feelings for each other and although Misty didn't want to admit it to Ash, she had a crush on him. Misty would always pull Brock's ear every time he was hitting on a woman like Nurse Joys and Officer Jennys. Misty was a quite stubborn girl not wanting to do anything she doesn't want to do. Misty has three sisters that she hated until they finally became kind to her when she became Gym Leader. Misty is Tracey's best friend and in the Pokémon Chronicles series everyone thinks that they are dating. Misty has a large team consisting of Water-type Pokémon. She also had a very childish, cute but courageous Togepi which eventually evolved into a strong Togetic. She had to release her Togetic so that it could look after the Togepi Mirage Kingdom.

Professor Oak

The professor of the Kanto region.

Gary Oak

Ash's very first rival and grandson of Professor Oak.

Delia Ketchum

Ash's mother.

Tracey Sketchit

A friend of Ash's, who he met on his trip to the Orange Islands, taking Brock's place. Specializes in Pokémon watching; i.e. he draws pictures of Pokémon in their natural habitat with surgical precision. Tracey primarily draws Pokémon, but there are several human subjects scattered around his various sketchbooks.

Nurse Joy

Nurse Joy is found anywhere that has a Pokémon Center. Their partner Pokémon tend to be ones with healing abilities, like Chansey, Audino and others.

Officer Jenny

If there's a town with any semblance of law enforcement, then Officer Jenny will be there. They tend to use Pokémon that help in police work, such as Growlithe, Herdier or other police dog stand-ins.

Pokémon the Series: Ruby and Sapphire (2002-2006)

May

May is a 10-year-old Pokémon trainer and Coordinator that travels with Ash, Brock and her younger brother Max during the events of Pokémon the Series: Ruby and Sapphire. May only wanted to travel the world at first. She initially disliked Pokémon before experience around them changed her mind. She aspires to be a Pokémon Coordinator, leading towards a quest similar to Ash's. She started her journey with Torchic and later became a Blaziken at the end. May also guest starred in Diamond and Pearl, participating in the Wallace Cup.

Max

May's younger brother who travels with his sister and friends, even though he has no Pokémon of his own.

Pokémon the Series: Diamond and Pearl (2006-2010)

Dawn

Dawn is a 10-year-old Pokémon trainer and Coordinator that travels with Ash and Brock and replaces May during Pokémon the Series: Diamond and Pearl. Following in her mother's footsteps as a coordinator, she chooses a Piplup, which she had already befriended at an earlier point, and sets out with the goal of winning the Grand Festival. As a native of Sinnoh, she often explains certain aspects of the region unfamiliar to both Ash and Brock, and keeps up to date with popular trends. As she participates and win in more Contests, Dawn gradually becomes more confident in her skills as a Coordinator and regularly trains with her Pokémon before every contest. She is a tough and somewhat reckless girl. Her favorite phrase is "No need to worry!", but she usually says this when there is a need to worry. Dawn reappeared in Black and White and Journeys as a guest character.

Pokémon the Series: Black and White (2010-2013)

Iris

Iris is basically described as an outgoing Jungle Girl. She has a Dragon-Type Pokémon with her named Axew, which tends to camp in her hair. She is apparently skilled at being in the outdoors. Her ultimate desire is to become a "Dragon Master", an expert in Dragon-Type Pokémon. During the events of Pokémon Journeys: The Series, Iris is now the Champion of Unova and her Axew evolved into a Haxorus.

Cilan

Cilan is a Pokémon Connoisseur. He's also one-third of the first Gym Leader trio in Unova, focusing on the Grass-Type.

Pokémon the Series: XY (2013-2016)

Serena

Serena is girl who lives with her mother in the Kalos region. After seeing Ash's face on a news report, she's certain that he's the same boy she met when she was younger. Serena joins Ash on his quest despite not knowing to what end, though she eventually decided that her dream was to become a Pokémon Performer. Her Pokémon are Delphox, Pancham and Sylveon. At the end of XY, she would kiss Ash. Serena returned in Journeys, now a Pokémon Coordinator.

Clemont

Gym leader of Lumiose City. He specializes on Electric-type Pokémon.

Bonnie

Clemont's younger sister.

Pokémon the Series: Sun and Moon (2016-2019)

Lillie

Lillie is the resident bookworm, highly knowledgeable about Pokémon from her studies, but terrified by the thought of touching them due to a deeply rooted trauma she suffered in the past. With the constant support of her friends and their Pokémon, however, she slowly but surely works to overcome her fear.

Kiawe

The eldest pupil in class, and oftentimes the most mature. He is the only student who possesses a Z-Ring by the time Ash joins the class. He works on his family farm on Akala Island, using his Sky Ride Charizard to make deliveries. He specializes on Fire-types.

Lana

Ash first runs into her while she is fishing a Bruxish out of the sea, meeting her formally at school later. Her primary Pokémon is a Popplio, but also has a Lapras who serves as her ride Pokémon in the sea. She specializes on Water-types.

Mallow

The daughter of the owners of a local restaurant. She specializes on Grass-types.

Sophocles

The smart guy of the class, he's depicted as very adept with technology. His first Pokémon is a Togedemaru. He specializes on Electric-types.

Pokémon Journeys: The Series (2019-2023)

Goh

Goh is Ash's traveling companion in Pokémon Journeys: The Series. A native of Vermillion City, Kanto, Goh attended one of Professor Oak's Pokémon summer camps at age 6, during which he first saw the Mythical Pokémon Mew, which he witnessed saving a baby Kangaskhan. His mission, besides becoming a top-tier Pokémon trainer (though not explicitly a Pokémon Master like Ash), is to someday find and catch Mew. His starter Pokémon is Scorbunny, later evolved into Cinderace and also owned a Sobble (later Inteleon) and a Grookey.

Chloe Cerise

Chloe Cerise is Professor Cerise's daughter and a childhood friend of Goh. It was at her behest that Goh went to Professor Oak's summer camp when they were younger. She, too, witnessed Mew, and now helps her father with his research.

Professor Cerise

The professor of the Cerise Institute in Vermillion City, Kanto. He researches Pokémon from all around the world on an even deeper level than Professor Oak, and enlists Ash and Goh to travel the world to assist in his research.

Pokémon Horizons: The Series (2023-present)

Friede

Friede is a Pokémon Professor. He is the leader of the Rising Volt Tacklers. His Pokémon is Captain Pikachu and Charizard.

Amethio

Amethio is one of the members of the mysterious organization Explorers. After witnessing the efforts of the Rising Volt Tacklers to protect Liko, Amethio decided to discover the secrets that Liko's pendant hides at all costs. His Pokémon are Ceruledge and Corviknight.

Nidothing/Dot

Dot is a skilled programmer and a member of the Rising Volt Tacklers. Online, she is known as Nidothing, a popular streamer that makes videos on various topics of the Pokémon world.

Uruto

Uruto is Roy's rival, introduced in season 28.

Explorers

The Explorers are a villainous organization led by Gibeon, and the main antagonists of Pokémon Horizons: The Series, replacing Team Rocket from Ash-era of the anime. Initially, the Explorers were just a small group of adventurers formed only by Lucius, Gibeon, and Rystal, which over time became a huge and powerful organization with greater interests. Their goal is to reach Laqua and obtain the Laquium found there for its powers beyond human comprehension. To reach it, they've pursued Terapagos and the Six Heroes (specially Rayquaza). Their actions led them to become enemies with the Rising Volt Tacklers.

After Gibeon's death in HZ089, Spinel took over as the leader of the Explorers.

Gibeon

Gibeon is the the main antagonist in Pokémon Horizons: The Series for the first 89 episodes and former leader of the Explorers. He is also Amethio's grandfather.

Spinel

Spinel is an admin of the Explorers, and the main antagonist in Pokémon Horizons: The Series as of season 28. As of HZ089, Spinel has become director of Exceed and the new leader of the Explorers after Gibeon's death.