In this year of 20th anniversaries in 2022, The Pokémon Anime Series continues its run of 20th anniversaries, 40 episodes of the Pokémon Anime from Johto League Champions to Master Quest have or are marking their 20th anniversaries of airing here in the US. Episodes; 186-227 in our order that aired from January 19th to December 21st in 2002.

By the end of this month, the anime will be 25 seasons and 1,207 episodes old since its 1st episode premiered in the state, 24 years ago on September 8th 1998. As of this essay, 23 of the 40 episodes that aired in 2002 have already marked their 20th anniversaries. That means that there are still 17 more to go, then all the episodes that aired in 2003, will have their run beginning next year.

Coming up in November, the 20th Anniversaries of Pokémon Ruby & Sapphire will mark its 20th anniversary of its release in Japan on the 21st. Plus, the release of Pokémon Advanced Generations (The Hoenn Saga) in Japan will also be on the November 21st date. For those that are curious, Pokémon: Advanced [our version] premiered on March 15 of 2003, and Pokémon Ruby & Sapphire March 15th of that year. (That’s 2 of 5 events in 2003)

Other 2002 markings in the Pokémon franchise include; the 1st release in Japan of Pokémon Heroes Latias and Latios back in July, and the Japanese release of Pokémon Tetris back in March.

Now, as the franchise pertains to me. There are Pokémon super fanatics and YouTubers who will forget more about the franchise than I’ll know. I have my own wealth of knowledge of the franchise, it’s not on the level of those groups, but enough to know what I’m talking about. Sure, I’ve played the games, not on the competitive front, but on the play through front. I consider myself an experienced Pokémon play through player, because there are certain intricacies and nuances to playing through the games, that you gain with experience.

As any fanatic of any fandom will tell you; there are certain intricacies and nuances to everything. Once you’ve experienced them enough times, you grow accustom to them, as the franchise ages. The Pokémon franchise now 24 years old here in the state, 26 years old in Japan. The franchise still has its popularity and cult today through the video games, movies, the anime, and the card game.

It has stood the test of time, and figures to last through the generations.