How Well Do You Remember The Original Pokémon Series?

Recently, a two-part episode in the Sun & Moon incarnation of the ongoing Pokémon anime had series’ protagonist Ash Ketchum reunite with his old friends Misty and Brock in the Kanto Region during a field-trip with his classmates from the Alola Region. So for many fans who grew up with the original show, this was a special treat. Though looking back at it, it’s amazing to see how far Pokémon has come in the past twenty years. What started as a fresh take on the Japanese RPG (Role-Playing Game) style of video-games quickly evolved into a mega-franchise with several sequels, trading cards, toys, and a show that’s lasted almost as long as the Dragon Ball Z franchise. Initially airing in Japan in 1997, it took a full year to reach the United States with some episodes not being released or taken off the air at a later time due to controversial reasons such as epileptic seizures and questionable imagery. But we still love the show for what it was, with its memorable characters and gripping action sequences though our parents weren’t always too keen on understanding our fascination with the strange but lovable creatures known as Pokémon. If you’ve seen the original series and remember it well, then come put that memory to the test in this simple trivia quiz!

Question 1

Did Ash and Pikachu get along well when they first met?

In the small community of Pallet Town lives a young boy named Ash Ketchum who is eager to obtain his first Pokémon, which can be owned by children as early as ten years old, so he can make the first step to becoming a Pokémon Master. However, Ash accidentally sleeps in and arrives at the laboratory owned by local Pokémon expert Professor Oak much later than expected. Because of this, the three Pokémon Professor Oak has available have been taken by other Trainers including Ash’s rival Gary with Pikachu being the only one left.

Question 2

What happened to Misty's bike?

When Ash throws a rock at a Spearow to get its attention, it calls the whole flock which attack both him and Pikachu. They manage to get away from them temporarily by falling into a river, though a Goldeen manages to poke Ash’s behind with its horn. From there, the two get reeled up by Misty with a Fishing Rod. A Pokémon Trainer herself, she berates Ash for Pikachu’s disheveled condition until she learns what happened. Ash then asks where the nearest Pokémon Center is, which Misty points him to before he goes on and takes her bike.

Question 3

Why do Team Rocket want Pikachu?

After Ash brings Pikachu to a Pokémon Center with Misty not too far behind, the Center’s resident Nurse Joy gets to work on curing Pikachu. However, the place soon gets attacked by Team Rocket, a notorious criminal gang who are known for stealing other people’s Pokémon and doing terrible experiments on them. Their representatives include a teenage boy and girl named James and Jessie as well as a talking Meowth. They desire the hospitalized Pokémon, but get foiled by Ash and Pikachu.

Question 4

Why did Misty leave her sisters?

Arriving in Cerulean City, where Ash hopes to win the Cascade Badge from the local Pokémon Gym, Misty seems reluctant to come there much to Ash and Brock’s confusion. So the three head for the Gym which is run by the Three Sensational Sisters who do performances with Water-Type Pokémon. When Ash demands the Cascade Badge from them, the sisters willingly give it to him as most of their Pokémon were defeated by the other Pallet Town Trainers. However, Misty prevents this by claiming she’s a Gym Leader too being the youngest Sensational Sister.

Question 5

What is the Hidden Village?

While heading for Vermillion City, our heroes find an Oddish drinking water nearby so Ash and Misty battle for it. However, the two are interrupted by the arrival of a Bulbasaur who manages to defeat both of their Pokémon and leave with Oddish in tow. Though Ash is bitter about this, the three continue on their way but soon get separated when Brock falls off a wooden bridge while Misty and Ash get caught in a trap. Soon, the two are saved by Brock who takes them to the Hidden Village which is run by a girl named Melanie.

Question 6

Who was Charmander's original owner?

Lost in the forest, Ash Misty and Brock happen upon a lone Charmander sitting on a rock. Thinking it might be wild, Ash tries to catch the Charmander only for it to reject his Poké Ball twice. So Ash has Pikachu talk to it and learns the Charmander’s waiting for its owner to return. Unable to do anything else, the three leave the Charmander and head for a nearby Pokémon Center just as it’s beginning to rain. Inside, though, they meet the owner of Charmander who brags about abandoning it on purpose.

Question 7

What did the Squirtle Squad become?

Abandoned by past owners, the Squirtle Squad don’t particularly like humans and cause all sorts of mischief around a town Ash and the gang wind up in. As a result, they become victims to the Squirtle Squad’s tricks along with Team Rocket. However, Meowth manages to trick them into capturing Pikachu by causing him to fall into a lake and get stung by a Goldeen. This severely injures Pikachu, which concerns Ash so he persuades the Squirtles to let him get a Super Potion to heal Pikachu’s injuries. But Team Rocket show up and throw bombs causing a fire.

Question 8

How did Ash beat Lt. Surge?

After wandering for several days, Ash and his friends finally reach Vermillion City which lies on the Kanto Region’s coast. Though Ash is eager to get the Thunder Badge from Vermillion City’s Gym, Pikachu’s hunger gets the better of him. So they stop in the Pokémon Center for some food only to discover several injured Pokémon. It turns out every single one of them was defeated by the Lt. Surge, the resident Gym Leader. Unafraid, Ash heads over to challenge him and learns he has a Raichu which is Pikachu’s Evolved Form.

Question 9

What happened to the St. Anne?

Once Ash defeats Lt. Surge and wins the Thunder Badge, he Misty and Brock wander around Vermillion City when they spot a cruise ship docked near the piers. Known as the St. Anne, this ship boasts luxury and comfort where Pokémon Trainers are welcome to battle onboard and partake in fine-dining. However, the three realize they can't afford it and decide to leave. Just then, they are approached by two girls who give them free tickets for the St. Anne. Unfortunately, this is nothing more than a ploy by Team Rocket to steal Pokémon from the ship's passengers.

Question 10

Which Pokémon did James get rid of?

Apart from his own Pokémon Koffing, James also buys a Magikarp off a seller onboard the St. Anne. However, Jessie and Meowth berate him for purchasing the latter Pokémon because Magikarp are known for being incredibly useless despite the seller’s claim that any person who possesses one will become very rich. So James tries to take the Magikarp back to the seller, but gets caught up in Team Rocket’s plan to steal Pokémon off the passengers when the ship suddenly sinks into the ocean. As a result, him and the others get trapped inside along with Ash and his friends.

Question 11

Where did Ash and the others end up after being blown away by Gyarados' Dragon Rage attack?

Trapped on the St. Anne, Ash and his friends are forced to work with Team Rocket to get out. While Ash and the others use Water-Type Pokémon to swim out, James’ Magikarp proves ineffective and so Team Rocket get swept up and briefly knocked unconscious. Ash and the others eventually find them and together they rest on a piece of wood that acts as a raft. Overcome by hunger, Meowth tries to eat Magikarp but gets his teeth broken. Frustrated, James kicks Magikarp off the boat which immediately evolves into Gyarados. Wanting revenge on James, Gyarados uses Dragon Rage.

Question 12

Why were the Tentacool attacking Porta Vista?

Once they escape the terrors of Pokémonland, Ash and his friends reach the island town of Porta Vista. Unfortunately, they miss the boat to the mainland and have to wait for the next ferry. While waiting, though, the three are approached by an injured Horsea which draws pictures in the water with its ink. But before they can figure out what it’s trying to say, a nearby boat explodes prompting Ash and his friends to save the drowning sailors. Paralyzed, the sailors asked to be brought to their boss Nastina.

Question 13

How did Ash win against Sabrina?

Suffering a humiliating defeat at the hands of Sabrina, the Gym Leader of Saffron City who specializes in Psychic-Type Pokémon, Ash and his friends head over to the nearby Lavender Town. Rumored for its cemeteries, the three hope to find a Ghost-Type Pokémon for Ash to catch so he can win against Sabrina as Ghost-Types are strong against Psychic-Type Pokémon. But on the way, they get lost and end up in front of an abandoned house occupied by a Gastly Haunter and Gengar.

Question 14

Why were Team Rocket trying to break into the Celadon City Gym?

As Ash and his friends arrive in Celadon City, home of the famous Grass-Type Pokémon Gym, the three soon find themselves drawn to a nearby perfume shop. While Misty and Pikachu are smitten by the various scents inside, Ash isn’t interested in the stuff. This in turn leads him to get kicked out of the store, but upon arriving at the Gym he learns the perfume comes from there. Having received word that he doesn’t like their perfume, the Gym members don’t allow Ash to enter. Meanwhile, Team Rocket is busy breaking in but get foiled by a Gloom.

Question 15

Why were Pokémon losing energy and children disappearing?

After winning the Rainbow Badge from Erika, Celadon City’s resident Gym Leader, Ash and his friends decide to head for a new town. There, they meet Officer Jenny who’s putting up missing posters for several children who’ve been disappearing over the past three days. Curious, the three decide to investigate and go to the Pokémon Center and ask Nurse Joy some questions. However, she has problems of her own as the town’s Pokémon have been losing energy for inexplicable reasons.

Question 16

How did Misty end up with Psyduck?

Among the Pokémon in Nurse Joy’s care who’ve lost their energy, there is a Psyduck with a constant headache. Then after Pikachu suddenly becomes weak, Officer Jenny picks up sleep-waves on a tracking device she has causing her Ash and the others follow it. They find themselves in a meeting-room for the Pokémon Lovers Club who have a Hypno and Drowzee with them. It turns out they’ve been using Hypno’s sleep-waves to make themselves fall asleep faster, but with the unintended side-effect of causing Pokémon to lose energy and children to go missing. Afterwards, though, Psyduck's headache doesn't go away.

Question 17

Who did Vulpix end up with?

Reaching a Pokémon Salon, Ash and his friends are greeted by a young woman named Suzie who gives Pokémon therapeutic massages for a living. She’s also a professional Pokémon Breeder, and is Brock’s idol as he wants to become a Pokémon Breeder too. In her care is a Vulpix, which Misty becomes smitten with and picks it up. However, the Vulpix merely incinerates Misty’s face with a Flamethower attack as it’s not too fond of strangers in general. Then Misty decides to head over to the rival Salon Roquet, which turns out to be a scam by Team Rocket.

Question 18

Why was Pikachu's electricity not working properly?

In the polluted gloomy town of Gringey City, Ash and his friends arrive only for Pikachu to come down with strange symptoms including sparks coming from his red cheeks. So the three head for a nearby Pokémon Center where Nurse Joy diagnoses Pikachu as having a cold, which should clear up by the next day. But then the power goes out, forcing Ash and the others to fix it so the hospitalized Pokémon with critical injuries won’t potentially die. Arriving at the power-plant, they encounter a Magnemite which becomes attracted to Pikachu and a whole bunch of Grimers.

Question 19

Why did Ekans and Koffing evolve?

On their way to Fuchsia City, Ash and his friends get lost in the mountains and come across some construction workers. They’re trying to build a dam in the area, but several Diglett have been showing up and causing problems for them. So out of frustration, the workers offer a large reward for any Trainer who can successfully get rid of the Digletts leading Team Rocket to get in on the action so they can steal the Trainers’ Pokémon. Unfortunately, they realize the combined strength of their own Pokémon wouldn’t be enough to combat the others unless they evolve.

Question 20

Why did Jigglypuff get mad after singing in front of Ash and his friends?

Heading through Neon Town, where everyone is mean and cranky, Ash and his friends come across a lone Jigglypuff. Wanting it for herself, Misty tries to catch Jigglypuff but Brock soon notices that the Pokémon known for its great singing ability doesn’t sing. Feeling bad, the Jigglypuff starts crying so the three try to cheer it up by teaching it to sing. Unfortunately, none of their techniques (or lack thereof) seem to work. Meanwhile, Team Rocket is lurking nearby hoping to record Jigglypuff’s famous song for their own purposes.

Question 21

Who won the Princess Festival Contest?

With the Princess Festival underway, Misty and Jessie rejoice as they can now buy as many things as they want on discount forcing their male companions to help them. However, the two find themselves fighting over the same article of clothing and consider having a Pokémon Battle over it. Fortunately, an announcement is made for the Princess Festival Contest where female Trainers battle one another for the prize of an entire set of Pokémon Princess Dolls. So Jessie and Misty decide to use the Contest to settle things using their Pokémon as well as borrowing some from their companions.

Question 22

What was the mysterious Pokémon Giovanni used to defeat Gary?

Having gotten almost all the Badges he needs to enter the Pokémon League, Ash arrives in Viridian City which is where Misty decided to follow him and they encountered Team Rocket for the first time. Making their way to the Gym, the three are interceded by Gary and his posse. Because Gary’s confident in his own skills, he enters the Viridian City Gym first. Inside Gary meets the Gym Leader who turns out to be Giovanni, the head of Team Rocket. After Gary’s Pokémon beat most of Giovanni’s, Giovanni resorts to sending out a mysterious Pokémon of unknown origin.

Question 23

Who replaced Brock originally?

After almost winning the Pokémon League but ultimately losing to Ritchie, Ash heads back to Pallet Town where his friends and family celebrate how far he’s come since his journey began. Then after the party’s over, Professor Oak asks Ash to pick up a mysterious new Poké Ball from a colleague of his who lives in the Orange Islands Region. Willingly, Ash and his friends accept this task and arrive on Valencia Island after nearly getting kidnapped by Team Rocket on a blimp. There, they met a woman named Professor Ivy who has a GS Ball which hasn’t been opened.

Question 24

Why did Lapras travel with Ash?

Leaving Brock with Professor Ivy, Ash and Misty end up in the same blimp Team Rocket ran which ends up crashing into another island. There, they come to a town where some thugs are picking on a baby Lapras. The two manage to stop them and in the process meet a Pokémon Watcher named Tracey. Tasked with observing Pokémon and studying their behavior for research purposes, Tracey is able to determine that the Lapras is hurt and needs to be put back into the ocean. Unfortunately, the Lapras doesn’t trust humans because of how the thugs treated it.

Question 25

Did Ash win the Orange League?

Upon learning that the Orange Islands have Gym Leaders of their own as well as a League, Ash begs Professor Oak to participate in it before delivering the GS Ball to him. Though Oak does want the GS Ball safely delivered, he allows Ash to go for the League. So with Lapras as the main mode of transportation, Ash Misty and Tracey travel to the different islands challenging each Gym Leader in a series of challenges that result in him earning four Badges shaped like shells. After that, Ash heads to the Orange League to challenge the reigning Champion Drake.

See Your Result
Questions Left
Current Score