In a massive stadium, two creatures known as Pokémon are having a battle, directed by their Trainers to give it their all. One of the Pokémon, a Gengar, dodges a Horn Attack from its opponent, a Nidorino, and uses its Hypnosis attack on it, causing it to fall asleep. Nidorino’s Trainer recalls it and sends out another Pokémon known as Onix to battle. The massive Rock Snake Pokémon emerges from its Poké Ball and prepares to take on Gengar, at which point it is revealed that the battle is being displayed on television. Its viewer is a boy named Ash Ketchum who lives in a small settlement called Pallet Town and has just turned ten years old, which allows him to receive his Pokémon license, pick a first partner Pokémon, and become a Pokémon Trainer. Ash declares to himself and the Pokémon of the world that he will become a Pokémon Master. His dramatic speech, however, is interrupted by his mom who tells him to get to bed as he has a big day tomorrow. Ash protests that he’s too excited to sleep, so his mom tells him that if he won’t sleep then to at least get ready for the next day as she switches on a program hosted by the town’s Pokémon expert, Professor Oak. Ash watches as Oak explains that new Trainers get to pick one of three Pokémon to start their journey: the Grass-type Bulbasaur, the Fire-type Charmander, or the Water-type Squirtle.
