The first two seasons of Pokemon (Indigo League and Adventures on the Orange Islands) are considered to be part of the original series. Indigo League has 82 episodes, but only 80 of these episodes aired in the United States. Adventures on the Orange Islands has 36 episodes.

At the beginning of Indigo League, Ash Ketchum is just starting out on his Pokemon journey in the Kanto Region. Ash is late for his appointment with Professor Oak to get his starter Pokemon, so when he gets there, all of the regular starter Pokemon are already gone. Ash ends up with a temperamental Pikachu, but as they go on their journey, they become the best of friends.

Ash's Pikachu accidentally destroys a bike that belongs to Misty, and she starts to tag along on Ash's journey in the hopes of getting a replacement bike. They end up meeting Brock, who serves as the Gym Leader at the Pewter City Gym. After turning the operating of the gym over to his estranged father, Brock joins Ash and Misty on their journey.

During his journey through the Kanto Region, Ash must battle various gym leaders and earn the eight badges he needs to compete in the Indigo League Pokemon Tournament that's held near Viridian City. Along the way, he has run-ins with his childhood rival, Gary Oak (who is the grandson of Professor Oak). Ash gets the badges he needs, but ends up losing in his first match at the Indigo Stadium.

After this, Ash makes a quick stop at home in Pallet Town, before heading on his way to the Orange Islands to compete in the Orange League. Ash's original traveling companions are Misty and Brock, but Brock ends up leaving the group to work on Pokemon research with Professor Ivy. Ash and Misty meet Tracey Sketchit, a young man who enjoys drawing pictures of Pokemon. Tracey accompanies Ash and Misty as they journey through the Orange Islands. Unfortunately, the viewing audience didn't seem to warm up to Tracey all that much, and wished that Brock would return to rejoin Ash and Misty.

Ash earns four badges and competes against Drake, the Orange League champion. After a hard-fought battle, Ash comes out the victor and earns a spot in the Orange League Hall of Fame. Even though Ash earns this honor, it doesn't mean that this is the end of his Pokemon journey.

Title	Episodes	Release Year(s)	Director	Studio	N.A. Licensor
Pokemon: Indigo League	82	1997-1999	Masamitsu Hidaka/Norihiko Sudo	Shogakukan Productions Co., Ltd./SoftX	4Kids Entertainment
Pokemon the First Movie: Mewtwo Strikes Back	N/A	1998	Kunihiko Yuyama	OLM, Inc.	Warner Bros. Pictures
Pokemon: Adventures on the Orange Islands	36	1999	?	Shogakukan Productions Co., Ltd./SoftX	4Kids Entertainment
Pokemon the Movie 2000: The Power of One	N/A	1999	Kunihiko Yuyama	OLM, Inc.	Warner Bros. Pictures