Pokémon: Indigo League comes to Disney+ and Hulu: Ash and Pikachu’s original adventure returns

Pokémon: Indigo League, the first season of the Pokémon anime, starts streaming on Disney+ and Hulu on August 7, 2026. That puts Ash and Pikachu’s original run back on major streaming platforms.

Disney+ Download

The season first aired in 1997, and it was the one that introduced viewers to Ash, Pikachu, Team Rocket, and the Kanto gym journey. Its arrival on Disney+ and Hulu makes a real difference for anyone trying to watch the show now, especially after years of the anime being scattered across Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Tubi, YouTube, and other services. The move also comes after The Pokémon Company launched the @OfficialPokémonTV YouTube channel in December 2024, along with its WildBrain FAST deal covering the first 22 seasons. Still, the Disney+ and Hulu release feels a little different. Pokémon Horizons is already on Netflix with Liko and Roy, so bringing back Ash reads less like a standard catalog add and more like a nod to Pokémon’s history.

If you’ve been looking for a simpler way to go back to the original series, or you’re finally checking out Pokémon: Indigo League for the first time, this is an easy one to put on your list. Fan reaction so far has been pretty excited, too. In the U.S., Pokémon: Indigo League hits Disney+ and Hulu on August 7. Disney XD will also run a marathon on August 6, with regular broadcasts expected after that. International availability, for now, hasn’t been clarified.

Hulu Download