10 Greatest Pokemon Anime Episodes Ever

This episode is as great as it is almost for one reason only, but man what a reason.

After over twenty years, Ash Ketchum finally won the big one and became Pokemon League Champion, breaking the internet in the process. Seriously, the day after this episode aired in Japan the result was trending on Twitter and being reported by any media outlet that had so much as a toe in television. It was a big moment for the show, something fans had waited years for, and it was thankfully very much earned.

Over 100 episodes after Gladion debuted in the anime, his rivalry with Ash came to a head in their Alola League finals match. Both having grown across their adventures in Alola, the match was presented as the two and their Pokemon colliding at the peak of their powers. Coming down to each trainer's Lycanroc, with not even a Z-Move to fall back on, their story came full circle. Ash's Lycanroc beat the Pokemon it had admired and emulated and been molded by, cinching the biggest victory for both him and his trainer.

Extra points are given for Ash's own disbelief at his victory, and the anime's handling of it in later episodes. The full battle with Kukui might have rounded off the Alolan journey perfectly, but this episode completed a goal over 1000 episodes and 21 years in the making.