Today is the Anniversary of One of the Pokemon Anime’s Saddest Episodes

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Today is the Anniversary of One of the Pokemon Anime's Saddest Episodes

Highlights

  • August 19 marks the emotional anniversary of Ash saying goodbye to his first captured Pokemon, Butterfree.
  • Fans still get emotional over Butterfree’s departure 27 years later, hoping it got to live a happy life with its mate.
  • Butterfree’s story gets a heartwarming conclusion in Pokemon Journeys, showcasing the impact of their bond.

As a seasoned Pokémon gamer and longtime fan of Ash Ketchum’s journey, August 19 holds a special place in my heart – it’s the day that marked the bittersweet farewell to Ash’s first-ever captured Pokémon, Butterfree, in the iconic “Bye-Bye Butterfree” episode. I still remember the lump in my throat when Ash said goodbye to his faithful companion, a feeling that remains palpable even 27 years later.

August 19 is a significant date, commemorating one of the most poignant episodes from the Pokemon series – “Bye-Bye Butterfree” from Season 1. Throughout the first 25 seasons of the original Pokemon anime, Ash Ketchum and his companions experienced numerous unforgettable adventures and emotional moments, among them were some bittersweet goodbyes to Pokémon they had once captured and developed strong connections with. The initial such separation was with Ash’s Butterfree, who he initially caught as a Caterpie in the third episode of the show.

From the very start, Ash developed a special bond with the Caterpie he caught as his first wild Pokemon. Throughout much of the initial season, this Worm Pokemon was a regular member of Ash’s team. It soon evolved into Metapod and then Butterfree. Alongside Ash, it participated in several Gym battles during their time together in Kanto. However, Ash’s adventure with his flying companion, the Butterfly Pokemon, came to an end in the 21st episode titled “Farewell, Butterfree.” This poignant moment marked the conclusion of their partnership.

According to Reddit user javier_aeoa on r/pokemon, August 19 marks the original Japanese air date for the episode “Bye-Bye Butterfree.” In this episode, Ash, while traveling towards Saffron City, encounters a group of Butterfree flying over the ocean during their mating season. Ash’s Butterfree yearns to find its own mate, which it eventually does in the form of a pink, female Butterfree. Moved by this, Ash makes the difficult decision to let his Butterfree go, bidding farewell to his insect companion as it and its new partner fly towards the sunset together.

Pokemon’s “Bye-Bye Butterfree” Episode First Aired On August 19, 1997

In the Pokémon series, Ash didn’t release Butterfree as his final companion, but the scene where he let it go is often viewed as one of the most poignant moments by fans. Redditors in r/pokemon frequently express that they are still moved when recalling Butterfree’s farewell, even 27 years after the episode first aired, and hope that Butterfree found happiness with its chosen partner in the time that followed.

As sad as it was to see Butterfree leave at the end of Pokemon’s 21st episode, its story would eventually get a happy conclusion during the show’s final Ash-centric season. As one of the Reddit users pointed out, Ash is shown meeting up with Butterfree once again in the 136th episode of Pokemon Journeys: The Series – itself one of Ash’s final appearances in the series. This heartwarming reunion served as a bookend for an emotional storyline that started way back in the early days of the Pokemon anime, one that continues to impact fans almost three decades later.

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2024-08-20 00:23