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The saddest moments of the Pokémon anime
Grab handkerchiefs, tears are coming

- June 24, 2023
- Updated: July 2, 2025 at 1:51 AM

Now that we have a new Pokémon anime underway, it’s time to remember some of the most emblematic moments that the series starring Ash Ketchum gave us. And the fact is that, although there were many years in which the children’s audience was the target and action and humor came first, we also had some of the most tearful scenes.
Throughout the different seasons of the anime, we have come across some of the most emotional moments of the entire series, collected by Screen Rant in a list of our own. Below, we go on to describe them and reminisce about some of them and why we loved the Pokémon story so much.

The story of the bones of Cubone
It is well known that, since the company’s first game, Cubone’s story is very, very sad. This pokémon wears the skull of his deceased mother on his head and holds her precious bone in his memory, something very, very depressing.
We never see this directly in the series, but there is a moment, in Pokémon Origins, where such a story is mentioned. In this series, Team Rocket attempts to poach a mother Marowak and her baby Cubone. Although Marowak tries to protect her child, the poachers hit her with an electric baton hard enough to kill her. The ending of the story is happy because they adopt Cubone, but the backstory is very tear-jerking.

Charmander’s near-death
Another very sad moment of the anime comes at the beginning of the series, and it is when we discover that, if the flame of a Charmander’s tail is extinguished, this little pokémon dies without remedy. In one episode we see that Charmander is abandoned and attacked by a heavy rain, and is about to die until, finally, they find it and manage to save it.

Meowth’s tragic past
Meowth is one of the three charismatic Pokémon villains, teaming up with Jessie and James. But what few people know is that his story is very, very sad. Meowth’s first memory is of waking up alone, with no friends or family around. He had to wake up on his own, learning to talk, so that he would be considered and not be alone again.

The unfortunate birth of Larvitar
Although it appeared briefly, the story of the Johto Larvitar is also worth remembering. It was just an unhatched egg when Ash and the others found it, but it was already a complete wretch. Its mother was attacked by Pokémon poachers who wanted to keep the egg. But even after the poachers lost it, it was mistreated and nearly torn apart, and only sheer luck brought it to safety.

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Cultural journalist specialized in film, series, comics, video games, and everything your parents tried to keep you away from during your childhood. Also an aspiring film director, screenwriter, and professional troublemaker.
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