Pokemon: Essential Episodes

Pokemon: Essential Episodes
Compiled by @JulieYBM

=====Pocket Monster: Diamond & Pearl=====

Episode #001: 旅立ち！フタバタウンからマサゴタウンへ！
Scenario: Tomioka Atsuhiro
Storyboard: 須藤典彦
Episode Director: 小山賢
Animation Supervisor: 志村泉
Commentary: Diamond & Pearl Episode #1-4 are written by Tomioka Atsuhiro-san, the 'head writer' of the series (credited officially as Series Kousei; series composition). The first four episodes set up Satoshi, Hikari, and Satoshi's new rival, Shinji, a character likely based on Shingo from the 1997 series episode "バトルしようぜ！ハッサムＶＳヘラクロス！！" also written by Tomioka Atsuhiro.

Episode #002: ピカチュウをさがせ！202番道路！
Scenario: Tomioka Atsuhiro
Storyboard:
Episode Director:
Animation Supervisor:
Commentary:

Episode #003: ライバルバトル！三対三!!
Scenario: Tomioka Atsuhiro
Storyboard:
Episode Director:
Animation Supervisor:
Commentary: Satoshi and his new rival Shinji have their first battle. This is where we also see Shinji capture three of the same Pokemon and scanning their stats with his Pokemon Zukan. Upon finding that none of them are particularly useful, Shinji releases them. This interaction defines the dynamic of Satoshi and Shinji's early relationship and it's a pretty heated moment. We also see the beginning of Pikachuu's rivalry of Shinji's Elekid.

Episode #004: ポッチャマ対スボミー！ヒカリ初バトル!!
Scenario: Tomioka Atsuhiro
Storyboard:
Episode Director:
Animation Supervisor:
Commentary: Introduces Naoshi, a rival for both Satoshi and Hikari. We also see Hikari's storyline for the series--winning the Shin'ou Grand Festival--begin in earnest when she tries to capture a Mimirol.

Episode #005: ナエトル！ゲットだぜ！
Scenario: 藤田伸三
Storyboard: 小山賢
Episode Director: 渡辺正彦
Animation Supervisor: 志村泉
Commentary: Satoshi captures Naetle, the grass-type Shin'ou region starter Pokemon.

Episode #006: 迷いの森！シンジふたたび!!
Scenario: 米村正二
Storyboard: 浅田裕二
Episode Director: 浅田裕二
Animation Supervisor: Iwane Masa'aki
Commentary: Satoshi and Shinji meet again. Shinji also captures a Ringuma, which will soon become one of his major powerhouses. The episode is storyboarded and directed by the series' best director, Asada Yuuji-san. Asada has been with the Satoshi animated franchise since Episode #3 of the 1997-2002 series. Diamond & Pearl is where Asada's directing really improves as he begins to rely more heavily on BANK animation to extend battle scenes' lengths as well as including new animation that lets trainers user smarter strategies. The animation is supervised by Iwane Masa'aki-san, a franchise veteran who had been with the series since Episode #3. Both Asada and Iwane are alumni from Studio Cockpit and were a part of the original Studio Cockpit team assigned to work on Pokemon. Iwane's understanding of timing and dynamic posing allows his animation to appear flashier and more exciting. This made Iwane the series' most skilled regular animator early on and in Diamond & Pearl Iwane took that to the next level.

Episode #000:
Scenario:
Storyboard:
Episode Director:
Animation Supervisor:
Commentary:

Episode #000:
Scenario:
Storyboard:
Episode Director:
Animation Supervisor:
Commentary:

Episode #000:
Scenario:
Storyboard:
Episode Director:
Animation Supervisor:
Commentary:

Episode #000:
Scenario:
Storyboard:
Episode Director:
Animation Supervisor:
Commentary:

Episode #000:
Scenario:
Storyboard:
Episode Director
Animation Supervisor:
Commentary: