Pokémon: Advanced

Coming off his Johto League run, Ash Ketchum ditches his old travel crew and heads to the Hoenn region with just Pikachu — fresh start energy. Then he meets May, a 10-year-old who doesn't even like Pokémon but wants to see the world, and Pikachu fries her bike. Classic. So now they're traveling together, eventually joined by Brock (because Brock always shows up) and May's little brother Max, who knows way too much about Pokémon for a kid who can't actually be a trainer yet. What makes this 192-episode TV series worth your time over the original series is that it doesn't just recycle the gym battle formula. May gets her own thing going with Pokémon Contests — basically coordinated performances that are judged on style rather than brute force. It gives the show a second track to follow, so you're not just waiting for the next gym badge. May's growth from someone who couldn't care less about Pokémon to a legit competitor is honestly one of the better character arcs in the franchise. The Hoenn region itself is a nice reset, packed with new Pokémon species and environments that keep things from feeling stale. The tone stays light and comedic but with enough action-packed battles to keep you engaged. If you grew up on Digimon Adventure or Yu-Gi-Oh and want that same "kids on a journey" vibe with a broader sense of adventure, this is a solid pick. It's the Pokémon anime growing up just a little.