The original Pokémon TV series has found a new streaming home on Disney+, with the platform now offering episodes from the Indigo League arc under the title “Pokémon the Series: The Beginning.” However, the availability of the series is fragmented across streaming services, leaving fans to piece together the full original run.
Disney+ currently hosts 27 episodes from the initial season. This number aligns with the first compilation of the Indigo League arc released on DVD in North America by Viz Media. Notably, the streaming service, like Netflix, omits the 18th episode, “Beauty and the Beach,” which had limited U.S. airtime following edits.
Netflix, which has long been the primary streaming service for much of the Pokémon franchise, continues to provide the first 52 episodes of the original series. This count corresponds to the episodes originally segmented for North American broadcast schedules.
For those seeking the complete 80-episode Indigo League arc, the remaining 26 episodes are accessible via ad-supported streaming on YouTube and Tubi. These episodes are also included in Warner Home Video's 2014 DVD re-release.
Previously, Disney+ had been streaming more recent seasons, such as the Sun & Moon arc, along with select Pokémon films like "The Rise of Darkrai" and "Zoroark: Master of Illusions." The addition of the original series marks Disney+'s most significant expansion of its Pokémon content since securing streaming rights earlier this year. The franchise has also returned to Disney XD schedules under broadcast rights acquired by Disney.
The streaming landscape for Pokémon has seen Netflix produce original content, including "Pokémon Concierge." It remains unclear what future plans Disney has for its streaming and broadcast rights, or if the complete Indigo League arc, let alone the entire original series, will eventually be available on a single platform.
This streaming rollout coincides with the Pokémon franchise's 30th anniversary, a period marked by numerous announcements across various iterations of the brand, including new Trading Card Game releases, Pokémon Go events, and LEGO sets. While the mainline Pokémon games are reportedly skipping a 2026 release, anticipation is building for Gen 10, tentatively titled "Winds and Waves," with glimpses of new starter Pokémon already revealed.