10 Greatest Pokemon Anime Episodes Ever

Pokemon is no stranger to getting you right in the feels, but until this point had never truly tackled the concept of death head on. That's not uncommon for what is at the end of the day, a children's cartoon. Its a tricky subject to handle for that age group, so its generally avoided. Not only did this episode of Sun & Moon choose to tackle it, it serialized it, charged straight in and then served up a pairing of grief and depression to send you home with.

At this point in the anime, Litten has been seen several times, and interacted with Ash & Pikachu, so the events hit even harder as there's already connect with the fiery feline. The episode holds little back, using the imagery of trees falling from a leaf to show Stoutland's time slipping away, the elder Pokemon using the last of his strength to prepare his charge for life without him, and how his decline and death hurts everyone around, even Meowth.

The aftermath, following several minutes without dialogue through a dark and dim colour pallet, is what makes this episode so beautiful. Litten grieves, because grief is impo9rtant, but Ash and Meowth never let him feel alone. In his time of need, they are there for him with no agenda and give him the love he needs to move on with his life, which is what Stoutland wanted for him. Clouds part and life goes on to a new chapter, the memory of Stoutland goes with them.