Pokémon the Series: Sun & Moon

Pokémon the Series: Sun & Moon follows Ash Ketchum after he arrives in Alola with his mother, Delia, and chooses to attend the Pokémon School on Melemele Island. Instead of following the Gym circuit used in earlier series, Ash studies alongside Lillie, Kiawe, Mallow, Lana, and Sophocles under Professor Kukui. Pikachu remains his closest partner, and a talking Rotom Pokédex becomes part of the group’s daily adventures. The school’s headmaster is Samson Oak, cousin of Kanto’s Professor Oak. Ash also receives a Z-Ring from Tapu Koko, Melemele’s guardian deity, beginning his use of Z-Moves in battle during Alola’s island trials. Alola’s island challenge supplies major milestones. Ash completes trials and faces Grand Trials against kahunas Hala, Olivia, Nanu, and Hapu, earning the right to participate in the region’s first Pokémon League. The series also adapts the Aether Foundation storyline: Lusamine’s family includes her children, Lillie and Gladion, while Faba’s actions and the Ultra Beast Nihilego create a crisis. Ash and his classmates become Ultra Guardians, traveling through Ultra Wormholes to return displaced Ultra Beasts to their home worlds. A Cosmog called Nebby ultimately evolves into Solgaleo and helps confront threats connected to Ultra Space. Team Skull provides a recurring earthly opposition, led by Guzma and supported by Plumeria, though its members are often portrayed with comedy as well as menace. The show’s broad, expressive character designs marked a visual departure from XY, and its episodic school life balances comedy with battles, regional folklore, and family stories. Lillie’s fear of touching Pokémon is a central early character arc; she gradually overcomes it, notably forming a bond with the Vulpix she names Snowy. Ash catches several Alolan Pokémon, including Rowlet, Rockruff, Litten, and Meltan. Rockruff evolves into the orange-dusk-form Lycanroc, while Meltan later evolves into Melmetal. The climax takes place at the Manalo Conference, Alola’s inaugural Pokémon League. Ash defeats Gladion in the final, becoming the league’s first champion. In the ensuing exhibition match, he battles Professor Kukui, who uses the Masked Royal persona and is assisted by Tapu Koko. Ash’s Lycanroc, Torracat, Rowlet, Pikachu, Melmetal, and Naganadel contribute during the match. After the Alola League arc, Ash returns to Kanto with Delia and Professor Oak, leaving his classmates as the school prepares for new students. The television series originally aired in Japan from 2016 to 2019 and comprises 146 episodes in its Japanese broadcast, across the Sun and Moon seasons overall.