u/New-Cable-6484

Anime, movies, and even video games keep improving their quality, colors, and graphics year after year.

But at some point, they reach their peak. And while they still keep improving, the changes don’t seem DRASTIC and almost seem like they don’t improve at all once that one major improvement in quality happened.

So with that in mind, at what point did the Pokemon anime reach its PEAK, and the quality didn’t seem to improve much at all?

At the end of the day, I think we have already reached so much in technology that there isn’t even anything left to improve anymore.

I put SM above DP because it does a better job at making you care about the characters, their relationships, and the world they live in. DP is a great series with some amazing battles and one of Ash’s best rivalries with Paul, but a lot of the story is focused around Ash becoming a stronger trainer and preparing for the next challenge. SM feels more like a complete journey because it focuses on the growth of the entire cast, not just Ash.

The biggest strength of SM is the character development. Every member of the main group feels important and gets their own moments to shine. Lillie’s story is one of the best examples because she starts off being afraid of Pokémon because of her past, but slowly grows into a confident and brave person. Watching her overcome her fears feels rewarding because you actually see how much she changes throughout the series. Characters like Kiawe, Mallow, Lana, and Sophocles also get their own personalities, struggles, and development, which makes the group feel like a real family.

Compared to DP, SM has much stronger character chemistry. Ash, Pikachu, and the Alola group have a bond that feels more natural because they spend so much time together. The Pokémon School setting allows the characters to interact every day, creating more memorable moments and making the audience feel connected to them. In DP, Ash, Dawn, and Brock have a good friendship, but sometimes it feels like they are mainly traveling together from one location to another.

Another reason SM is better is because it shows a different side of Ash. In DP, Ash is more serious and focused on improving as a battler, which is one of the reasons people love that series. However, SM brings back Ash’s fun and energetic personality while still showing how talented and experienced he is. He can be funny and playful, but when a battle or important moment happens, he knows when to become serious. This makes Ash feel more like a complete character.

SM also has stronger emotional storytelling. The series takes time to explore the personal struggles of its characters instead of only focusing on battles and competitions. Lillie’s relationship with her family, Mallow’s connection with her past, Ash’s bond with the Alola region, and the final episodes of the series all carry a lot of emotional weight. DP has emotional moments as well, especially with Ash and Paul’s rivalry and Dawn’s struggles, but SM consistently gives every main character moments that matter.

While DP has some of the best battles in the anime and one of Ash’s greatest rivalries, SM proves that Pokémon is about more than just battling. It shows that the friendships, memories, and experiences along the way are just as important as winning. Ash’s victories in SM feel meaningful because they are built from everything he learned and everyone he connected with throughout his journey.

Overall, I think SM is better than DP because it feels more complete. DP is an amazing battle-focused series with great moments, but SM has stronger character development, better relationships, more emotional storytelling, and a world that feels more alive. It is a series that makes you laugh, care about the characters, and appreciate the journey instead of only focusing on the destination.

That’s why I would rank SM above DP. It’s not just about Ash becoming a stronger trainer; it’s about Ash and his friends growing together and creating memories that make the journey special.

I RESPECT EVERYONE’S OPINIONS, THIS IS MINE! ❤️

7. BW - Really don’t have to explain myself here

8. JN - Okay, by far had the highest expectations. Could’ve done so many things and had so many opportunities that no series ever had. Failed to do SO MUCH. The finale arc could’ve been way better. I think the Alola reunion and M8 is done very well and sadly that’s about it. I hate talking about JN because it makes me sad that this series had so much potential so I’ll just stop here.

9. AG - Overall, a good series. I loved the friend group, the Pokemon, and the arcs. I wish they did a better job with handling the main villains such as team aqua and magma. Was a let down.

10. OS/Johto - The original gang, first ever Pokemon, and a wave of nostalgia. When most people think of Pokemon, most think of this series. It may not be your favourite, but i can confidently say that everyone loves atleast some parts of it. Whether it be the nostalgia or the friend group/rivals, or even the Pokemon.

11. DP - BEFORE you come at me, (because I know this series is beloved and I absolutely agree.) please hear me out. I absolutely love DP. It was my first ever series that I ever watched live on television. It will always be THE series that I will remember when I think of my childhood. Dawn and Ash’s chemistry, Brock’s classic role as the big brother, THE GREATEST RIVAL PAUL, and the greatest arc of Chimchar leading into Ash vs Paul’s insane battle. Absolute cinema. The only downside to this series is the ending of the league and how badly the final battle was written. (Now you may be questioning why another series is above this since Ash lost in that league as well, please wait and I’ll explain why that’s above this when I get to it’s spot)

12. SM - I know Sun & Moon isn’t everyone’s favorite because of the art style, but for me, once I got past that, it became one of the most enjoyable Pokémon series. It has some of the best character development in the entire anime, not only including Ash. The classmates actually felt like real FAMILY instead of just traveling companions, and every one of them got time to grow. Ash also felt more mature despite acting goofy at times, and seeing him finally become the first Alola Champion made the whole journey worth it.

13. XYZ - The peak of Pokemon for me. The best version of Ash. For the first time ever, Ash was the oldest and most mature inspiring everyone around him. The battles, the coolest way to show a bond between Pokemon and Trainer, (Ash and Greninja) and the greatest arc ever made in AniPoke HISTORY (Team Flare) was all a part of this! The whole Kalos gang wasn’t as iconic like DP or a family like Alola, but they felt the most mature, actually looked up to Ash, had an insane amount of growth, and to me, that’s just perfect! Serena’s growth as a character was done fabulously. Her not knowing her goals, and then finally figuring one out that lead to her growth as a character was heart touching. Failing her first ever performance which made her cut her hair was soo peak because it showed so much growth!! Clemont’s growth as a gym leader was amazing. Him going back to Lumiose and then battling Ash was arguably the greatest gym battle of all time. Bonnie’s bond with Squishy was absolutely cinema. Yes, just like DP, Ash has an upsetting loss. BUT, the reason why it’s above DP is because Ash vs Alain wasn’t unfair. Both trainers were arguably neck and neck. I would’ve put XYZ below DP still BECAUSE of this but the reason why I didn’t is because of the arc that came after the league. The team flare arc is in my opinion the greatest arc written in the anime. The writers literally gave us an entire movie ending the series. This series just felt the most complete to me. Everything about this was just so amazing. The greatest art style and battles to this day.

(I know that team flare is the obvious answer but other series also had evil organizations and team rocket still showed up a lot, why not xyz?)