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Pokémon the Series: Sun & Moon facts for kids
Pokémon the Series: Sun & Moon is the twentieth season of the Pokémon animated TV show. It's also the first part of the Pokémon the Series: Sun & Moon story arc. In Japan, it's called Pocket Monsters: Sun & Moon.
This season follows Ash Ketchum and his partner Pikachu as they travel to the sunny Alola region. Ash enrolls in the Pokémon school, where he meets new friends and classmates: Lillie, Lana, Mallow, Kiawe, and Sophocles. Together, they go on exciting adventures, take part in special island challenges, and learn how to use powerful Z-Moves.
The show first aired in Japan from November 17, 2016, to September 21, 2017, on TV Tokyo. In the United States, it started on May 12, 2017, and ended on December 9, 2017, on Disney XD. This was the first time a Pokémon series premiered on Disney XD!
| Pokémon the Series: Sun & Moon | |
|---|---|
 
Japanese logo (top)
International logo (bottom) |
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| No. of episodes | 43 |
| Release | |
| Original network | TV Tokyo |
| Original release | November 17, 2016 – September 21, 2017 |
Contents
Exploring Alola: Key Episodes
This season has many exciting episodes where Ash and his friends explore the Alola region. They meet new Pokémon, learn about Z-Moves, and face challenges together. Here are some of the first adventures they had!
Ash's New Start in Alola
| Jap. overall | Eng. overall | No. in season | English title Japanese title |
Original air date | English air date | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 942 | 936 | 1 | "Alola to New Adventure!" (Alola! New Islands, New Pokémon!!) Transliteration: "Arōra! Hajimete no shima, hajimete no Pokemon-tachi!!" (Japanese: アローラ! はじめての島、はじめてのポケモンたち!!) |
November 17, 2016 | May 12, 2017 | |
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Ash, his mom Delia, Mimey, and Pikachu visit Alola for vacation. They need to deliver a Pokémon egg to Professor Oak's cousin. Ash finds the Pokémon school and meets students like Mallow, Lillie, and Sophocles. He also meets Professor Kukui. Ash sees Kiawe use a powerful Z-Move against Team Skull. The island guardian, Tapu Koko, gives Ash a Z-Ring. Ash decides to stay in Alola and join the Pokémon school.
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| 943 | 937 | 2 | "The Guardian's Challenge!" (Enter the Guardian Deity Kapu-Kokeko! Let Us Attempt to Master Our Z-Move!!) Transliteration: "Mamorigami Kapu Kokeko tōjō! Chōsen, ore-tachi no Z-waza!!" (Japanese: 守り神カプ・コケコ登場! 挑戦、オレたちのZワザ!!) |
November 17, 2016 | May 12, 2017 | |
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On Ash's first day, his classmates throw a welcome party. Tapu Koko appears and battles Ash and Pikachu. They try to use a Z-Move called "Gigavolt Havoc." The Z-Crystal breaks from the power. To get Z-Move power back, Ash decides to start the island challenge.
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| 944 | 938 | 3 | "Loading the Dex!" (Good Rotomorning, I Am the Rotom Zukan Roto!) Transliteration: "Yorotoshiku, boku, Rotomu Zukan roto" (Japanese: よロトしく、ボク、ロトム図鑑ロト!) |
November 24, 2016 | May 13, 2017 | |
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Professor Kukui gives Ash a "Rotom-Dex." This Pokédex can talk and is powered by a Rotom. Ash tries to catch his first Alolan Pokémon, a Mimikyu. Team Rocket shows up and Mimikyu, who hates Pikachu, joins them. A wild Bewear carries Team Rocket away.
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| 945 | 939 | 4 | "First Catch in Alola, Ketchum-style!" (Enter Mokuroh! I Got a Pokémon in Alola!!) Transliteration: "Mokurō tōjō! Arōra de Pokemon getto da ze" (Japanese: モクロー登場! アローラでポケモンゲットだぜ!!) |
November 24, 2016 | May 14, 2017 | |
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Ash tries to catch a Grubbin but fails. He then meets a Rowlet living in a Toucannon nest. Ash feeds the hungry Rowlet. Rowlet helps Ash fight Team Rocket. Rowlet decides to join Ash and becomes his first Alolan Pokémon.
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| 946 | 940 | 5 | "Yo, Ho, Ho! Go, Popplio!" (Ashimari, Do Your Balloonest!) Transliteration: "Ashimari, ganbarūn!" (Japanese: シマリ、がんバルーン!) |
December 1, 2016 | May 15, 2017 | |
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Ash helps Lana train her Popplio to make a big water balloon. This balloon would let people travel underwater. During a fishing trip, Team Rocket steals the class's Ride Pokémon. Popplio makes a huge water balloon to save them from falling.
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| 947 | 941 | 6 | "A Shocking Grocery Run!" (Zing Zap Togedemaru!) Transliteration: "Biribiri chikuchiku Togedemaru!" (Japanese: びりびりちくちくトゲデマル!) |
December 8, 2016 | May 16, 2017 | |
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Ash and Sophocles get separated from their Pokémon at a mall. Team Rocket accidentally sets off the security system. Pikachu, Rotom-Dex, and Togedemaru are trapped with Team Rocket. Sophocles reveals his biggest fear. A chase through the mall ends in a rooftop battle.
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| 948 | 942 | 7 | "That's Why the Litten Is a Scamp!" (Nyabby, The Marketplace Wanderer!) Transliteration: "Ichiba no fūraibō Nyabī!" (Japanese: 市場の風来坊ニャビー!) |
December 15, 2016 | May 17, 2017 | |
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Ash keeps running into a stray Litten that causes trouble. When Ash decides to catch it, he learns why it steals food. Later, Ash helps Litten deal with a mean Alolan Persian.
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| 949 | 943 | 8 | "Lillie's Egg-xhilarating Challenge!" (Who's in Charge of the Egg?) Transliteration: "Tamago-gakari wa dāre da?" (Japanese: タマゴ係はだ～れだ?) |
December 22, 2016 | May 18, 2017 | |
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Ash's class gets a new Alolan Pokémon egg to care for. Lillie agrees to take the egg home to try and overcome her fear of touching Pokémon. A Salandit follows them home. During a practice battle, the Salandit attacks Lillie and the egg.
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| 950 | 944 | 9 | "To Top a Totem!" (The Leader Pokémon Is Dekagoos!) Transliteration: "Nushi Pokemon wa Dekagūsu!" (Japanese: ぬしポケモンはデカグース!) |
January 5, 2017 | May 19, 2017 | |
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Ash meets Hala, the Kahuna of Melemele Island, who made his Z-Ring. For his first Island Trial, Ash must solve a Rattata and Raticate problem without battling them. He decides to get help from Yungoos and Gumshoos. Ash must defeat their leader, Totem Gumshoos, to get their help. Tapu Koko watches secretly.
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| 951 | 945 | 10 | "Trial and Tribulation!" (Will the Z-Move Work?! Challenging the Grand Trial!!) Transliteration: "Deru ka Z-waza! Daishiren e no chōsen!!" (Japanese: 出るかZワザ! 大試練への挑戦!!) |
January 12, 2017 | May 20, 2017 | |
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Ash faces Hala for his first Island Grand Trial Challenge. He uses the Z-Crystal he got from Totem Gumshoos. After the battle, Hala gives Ash a Fightinium Z. But Tapu Koko swaps it for an Electrium Z.
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| 962 | 956 | 21 | "One Journey Ends, Another Begins..." (It's Time for Nyabby to Move On) Transliteration: "Nyabī, tabidachi no toki!" (Japanese: ニャビー、旅立ちの時!) |
April 6, 2017 | July 1, 2017 | |
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Ash and Pikachu find Litten again, but its friend, Stoutland, is very sick. Stoutland is old, and Nurse Joy cannot help. Stoutland passes away during the night. Litten is heartbroken. After Litten accepts its loss, Ash asks it to join him. Litten battles Pikachu to test Ash. The battle is a draw, and Litten becomes one of Ash's Pokémon. Team Rocket's Meowth, who watched secretly, seems happy.
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| 977 | 971 | 36 | "Trials and Determinations!" (Lychee's Grand Trial! The Hardest Pokémon Match!!) Transliteration: "Raichi no dai shiren! Ichiban hādona Pokemon shōbu!!" (Japanese: ライチの大試練! 一番ハードなポケモン勝負!!) |
August 3, 2017 | October 21, 2017 | |
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Ash, with his new Grassium Z-crystal, faces Olivia in the Akala Island Grand Trial. Rockruff wants to battle Lycanroc right away. It's a Double Battle: Olivia uses Probopass and Lycanroc, while Ash chooses Rowlet and Rockruff. Both use Z-moves. Ash's Bloom Doom defeats Probopass. Rockruff accidentally attacks Rowlet, but Ash forgives it. Rockruff then defeats Lycanroc. Olivia gives Ash a Rockium Z-crystal and says Rockruff might evolve soon. Tapu-Lele appears to honor them.
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| 978 | 972 | 37 | "Rising from the Ruins!" (Iwanko and the Guardian Deity of the Ruins of Life!) Transliteration: "Iwanko to inochi no iseki no mamorigami!" (Japanese: イワンコといのchi no iseki no mamorigami!) |
August 10, 2017 | October 28, 2017 | |
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Rockruff, close to evolving, leaves at night and meets Tapu Lele. Rockruff battles Tapu Lele but loses easily. Ash and Pikachu find Rockruff, but it attacks Ash and runs away, ashamed. Everyone searches for Rockruff the next day. Olivia's and Gladion's Lycanroc find Rockruff, injured, and take it to the Ruins of Life. Ash, Olivia, and Professor Kukui arrive. Tapu Lele heals Rockruff using energy from Ash and both Lycanroc. Rockruff then evolves into Dusk Form Lycanroc.
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| 983 | 977 | 42 | "Alola, Kanto!" (Kanto, Alola! Takeshi and Kasumi!!) Transliteration: "Kantō de Arōra! Takeshi to Kasumi!!" (Japanese: カントーでアローラ! タケシとカスミ!!) |
September 14, 2017 | November 25, 2017 | |
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Ash and his friends visit Kanto with Professor Kukui and Principal Oak. They learn about differences between Kanto and Alolan Pokémon. Misty and Brock meet them at the airport. Brock shows he still likes pretty girls. The Alolan gang enjoys seeing Kanto Pokémon at Professor Oak's lab. Ash reunites with his old Pokémon. Team Rocket tries to steal Pokémon with a giant robot. Bewear and Jigglypuff interrupt the battle. The day ends with a big feast.
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| 984 | 43 | "When Regions Collide!" (Gym Battle! Z-Move VS Mega Evolution!!) Transliteration: "Jimu batoru! Z-Waza tai Mega Shinka!!" (Japanese: ジムバトル! Zワザ対メガシンカ!!) |
September 21, 2017 | December 9, 2017 | ||
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Ash and the Alolan visitors go to Misty's Gym in Cerulean City. Professor Kukui explains Gym Battles and Pokémon Leagues. The class will battle Brock and Misty. After practice battles, Kiawe battles Brock, and Ash battles Misty. Brock and Misty use Key Stones to Mega-Evolve their Pokémon. Kiawe's Z-Move fails against Brock's Mega-Evolved Steelix. Ash and Pikachu's Z-move, Gigavolt Havoc, defeats Misty's Mega-Evolved Gyarados.
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Music from the Show
The Japanese opening songs are "Alola!!" sung by Satoshi (Ash Ketchum's Japanese voice actor, Rica Matsumoto) and Pikachu. This song was used for 29 episodes. The other Japanese opening song was "Aim to Be a Pokémon Master (20th Anniversary)" by Rica Matsumoto. This song promoted the Pokémon the Movie: I Choose You! movie.
The Japanese ending song is "Pose" by Taiiku Okazaki. The English opening song is "Under the Alolan Sun" by Jannel Candrice and The Sad Truth, with music by Ed Goldfarb. The instrumental version of this song is used as the English ending theme.
Home Video Releases
Viz Media and Warner Home Video released the full series on a 6-disc DVD set. It became available in the United States on May 21, 2019.
See also
In Spanish: Anexo:Episodios de Pokémon (vigésima temporada) para niños