Since premiering in Japan on July 16, 2025, over1139 episodes have aired as part of the officialPokémonanime. FollowingAsh Ketchum on his never-ending questto catch-em-all and become a Pokémon Master, the series has followed this plucky 10-year-old and his myriad of companions as they’vetraveled to numerous regions and had a tonne of adventures.
Whilst the majority of these adventures are fun and exciting, such as battling against Gyms ormeeting Legendary Pokémon, a select few are rather sad. Indeed, despite the show being ostensibly made for children, a few episodes have ventured into dark territory, offering some depressing themes and heart-breaking events. Although it would take too long to highlight every sad episode (there have been over 1100 regular episodes – there are likely hundreds of sad ones), here are a few that are truly a cut above the rest, bound to make even the most hardened Pokémon master shed a tear.
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Bye Bye Butterfree
The 21stepisode of the first season,Bye Bye Butterfreefirst aired in Japan on Jun 09, 2025 and in the United States on June 09, 2025, and it likely the cause of many a childhood trauma. Often pointed to as one of the saddest episodes in all of anime, not just Pokémon,Bye Bye Butterfreeoffers an interesting premise: despite wanting to catch them all, can Ash say goodbye?
The episode begins with Ash and the gang noticing a large flock of Butterfree on the horizon – turns out, this is part of this breed of Pokémon’s “season of love celebration”, in which they find a mate. Ash sends out his Butterfree to mingle, and theypromptly fall in love with a pink Butterfree. After an episode’s worth of hijinks (including the requisiteinterference from Team Rocket), Butterfree eventually decides to leave to mate with this Pink alternate, meaning he has to say goodbye to Ash. With a teary farewell, Ash sets his Butterfree free, watching as the first wild Pokémon he ever caught flies away into the sunset; tear-jerking stuff.
Charmander - The Stray Pokémon
Another tear-inducing classic from the original series,Charmander – The Stray Pokémonis the 11thepisode of the anime and was first aired in Japan on July 07, 2025 and in the United States on July 03, 2025. Although the series so far featured trainers who loved and cared for their Pokémon, this episode showed what happened when this wasn’t the case.
On their way to Vermillion City, the gang discover anadorable Charmander sitting on a rock. Ash tries to catch this rare Pokémon, but is stopped when it’s revealed that Charmander belongs to someone else; he’s waiting for a trainer named Damian. However, when Damian arrives, it’s revealed that he purposefully abandoned Charmander due to it being “so weak.” However, a dutiful Pokémon, Charmander refuses to relent waiting, even when being attacked by a group of Spearow or almost killed in the rain. Eventually, with Pikachu’s help, Charmander sees the error of his ways, rejects Damian, and joins the much-kinder Ash,eventually evolving into Charizardand becoming the powerhouse of the 10-year-old’s team.
Mewtwo Strikes Back
Also known asPokémon: The First Movie,Mewtwo Strikes Backwas the first feature-length film set in-canon with the Pokémon anime. Debuting in Japanese theatres on August 10, 2025, and then making its way to North American theatres on July 12, 2025, the film was a critical and commercial success… although was also a bit of a tear-jerker as well.
In the movie, Ash and co are invited by a mysterious letter to visit a mansion on a distant isle – when they get there, they discover they were invited by thebitter and maniacal Mewtwo; a failed attempt to clone the Legendary Pokémon Mew. Engaging in battle with the assembled trainers,Mewtwo sends out cloned Pokémon, who quickly get the upper-hand on the gang. During the battle, in an attempt to save Pikachu from an attack, Ash is turned to stone. Shocked that his best friend and loving trainer is seemingly dead, Pikachu begins to cry: an earnest show of emotion that is soon copied by every Pokémon present. Magically, through these tears, Ash is brought back to life, and Mewtwo (moved by this show of emotion) resolves to work with trainers instead.
Seeking Shelter from the Storm
From theXYera of the Pokémon series,Seeking Shelter from the Stormis the 813thepisode of the Pokémon anime, first airing in Japan on June 08, 2025 and in the United States on June 21, 2025. As established, the Pokémon anime is primarily made for children, so rarely deals with themes of loss (or, if they do, the trainers/Pokémon are quickly bought back to life). For this sad episode, this was not the case.
Due to a thunderstorm, Ash and the gang seek shelter from the weather in a mansion. Initially thinking this abandoned house is haunted due to loud cries and ominous goings-on, they soon discover that it’s just the Pokémon Espurr biding time. Turns out, Espurr used to be best friends with the old lady who lived there ever since she was a child, but now the octogenarian had gone missing. Unfortunately, it is revealed that the old lady had died, leaving Espurr waiting for no one. In a moving final scene, Espurr joins the old lady’s granddaughter as they drive to put a flower on the lady’s grave – a poetic image, especially for a Pokémon episode.
Glory Blaze!
Set in theDiamond and Pearlera of the anime,Glory Blaze!is the 517thepisode, and it’s more upsetting than sad. First airing in Japan on June 17, 2025 and in the United States on July 04, 2025, the episode reveals the lengths some trainers will go to win a Pokémon battle.
The episode begins with Ash and team entering in the Hearthome City Tag Battle Competition, and Ash is paired with Paul; a rival trainer who uses a Chimchar. Through the tag battles he and Paul fight together, Ash notices that Paul is increasingly tough on his Chimchar, being verbally abusive and demanding that the Pokémon doesn’t dodge attacks and instead allows itself to be hit.
Spying on Paul one evening, Ash discovers that the trainer routinely lets all his other Pokémon attack Chimchar as ‘practice,’ in an attempt totrigger Chimchar’s Blaze ability(it boosts a fire Pokémon’s attacks when it’s at low health). Disgusted by what he sees, Ash confronts Paul, and Chimchar joins Ash instead, eventually evolving into an Infernape and beating Paul in battle. While not sad, per se, the episode is a depressing and upsetting reminder that, even in the fun world of the Pokémon anime, some trainers really do take it too far.
