10 Greatest Pokemon Anime Episodes Ever
2. Charmander - The Stray Pokemon
Out of athe hundreds of episodes the Pokemon anime has produced, none is as legendary or memorable as the one depicting the day Ash caught Charmander. The story, along wtih Bye Bye Butterfree and Pokemon - I Choose You, got a full cinematic retelling in the 20th Pokemon movie, and Its the first time the idea of a Pokemon actually dying was presented, ramping up the emotional stakes to heights the show had not yet done.
To summise for the few of you who have never seen this episode or one of the few dozen where Ash flashes back to it, our heroes find a Charmander chilling on a rock, waiting for a trainer who's abandoned it, and save it from a storm that will likely extinguish its flame and thus end its life. A twenty minute struggle for this Pokemon's life and soul ensues as Ash's ideologies come out in force for the first time against the human pussbag Damian, who ultimately gets his comeuppance when he tries to weasel back into Charmander's good books after discovering how strong he truly is, only to be served up a hot plate of Flamethrower.
Instantly iconic for being the genesis of one of Ash's best known and most revered Pokemon, the episode is filled with heart, taking us through highs and lows whilst rolling out philosophies the show would build its reputation on, cementing its role in the Pokemon canon.