Pokemon Indigo League Season 1 Blu-ray

Just in case you might be thinking this is finally the Pokemon Blu-Ray you always wanted, think again. I'm sure that this is what most people expected but for those still holding on, are skeptical, or just hoping against hope, no this is not any kind of definitive release. Here in 2017, still releasing a decades old, digitally altered, censored hacked up, English only release of an anime, even one as essential and popular as Pokemon is pretty unforgivable. Chock full of all the altered openings, cut scenes, missing and banned episodes, digital censorship, dimmed lighting effects and embarrassing script revisions with jelly filled donuts and bad puns galore that you know and don't love. For $62.99 you're getting the same butchering of the original material that should no longer be a standard anymore. Don't waste the money.

From the looks of it, TPCi is going back to TV seasons for what they release, according to the digital release, Netflix, and Pokemon.com or the Pokémon TV app. It's because that those were the only episodes that TPCi officialy remastered themselves so far. They might do the same to seasons 2, 3, 5, & 6. Besides, TPCi is doing what Japan never did as of today, release the Pokémon series on Blu-Ray. Give it a chance. If you can look at it from a nostalgic standpoint, both Sub and Dub are good for what they are, even though I kinda agree that the Sub should get at least an official peek. I also agree that as of this writing, the suggested pricing here is atrocious compared to the 2013 78-episode DVD release of Season 1, yet better than the digital release, like always ($88 for HD overall). I might get this when it comes out, but I have my doubts for the pricing.

It sure would be nice for us old-school fans if, in the process of remastering these episodes for Blu-Ray, that they actually restore and release those missing episodes (that are purported to have been dubbed) for the first time. I'm not holding my breath for Porygon, of course, but Dratini would be a nice surprise.

The problem is this: as nostalgic as it is, Pokemon is still a kids' franchise, and they're never going to release anything deemed not kid-friendly. So we can probably also kiss "Beauty and the Beach" (which despite the uncut episode's reputation is pretty tame in its edited form) and "Holiday Hi-Jynx" goodbye as well.

So, much like the various sets of Speed Racer or the DBZ "Rock the Dragon" boxed set, this one is not for the original version purists, but purely for those nostalgic for the old dubbed episodes - and for kids, of course. Kids cool enough to want to catch up on their Pokemon history.

To be honest, I love this. When my friend told me it was coming out, I was so excited. We Pokémon fans finally get it on Blu-Ray! In a beautiful set, I might add. It also comes with a bonus booklet with some manga from the first Pokémon Adventures volume, and a cook book. But people are disappointed.

Yeah, it's censored.
Yes, there are episodes missing.
Yep, It's Expensive.
And yes, there's no Japanese Audio.

1. It's censored because it's for ages 7+.
2. There are episodes missing cause they were banned.
3. It's Blu-Ray.
4. There's no Japanese audio cause there doesn't have to be.

So people who are writing negative crap, here's what you should do:

1. Make your own Blu-Ray of it, uncensored.
2. While your making your Blu-Ray, put the missing episodes on the discs.
3. Just make your own Blu-Ray.
4. Put your own Japanese Audio on the Blu-Ray.

And if you don't have anything nice to say, don't say anything at all.

Thanks.

I bought this for my wife who is a huge Pokémon fan and loves the original show release in the US. I get the complaints about the missing episodes and yes they censored this series.

Some of the missing episodes are ones that a few of the sets in Japan have taken out as they were known to cause seizures. So they have to redo them or go over them by darkening them during those scenes as we see in many anime today.

Other than that, for the people that truly are just nostalgic fans of the original though. It is the series the way my wife watched it originally and she gets to share those memories with our daughter.

The biggest negative is the price of this series. It is definitely on the high side for an older series. Though I am used to that being the case with Pokémon stuff in general.

I expected a little bit more from a blu-ray rerelease of the original pokemon series. The nicest thing about it is the packaging, after that there's no real discernible benefit to having this over any other release really.

I was hoping this would be a product for those wanting to collect the REAL first season, yes they had to ban episodes at the time but everyone who's interested in this product *at alll* are in there 20's and 30's by now. Japanese audio and the removed episodes would have been nice.

Lets say you don't care about japanese audio and the banned episodes, fair enough, then why are episodes 52 and 53 missing?? This is baffling to me.

I wasn't expecting the full 82 episodes, but be that as it may, this did not meet my already-curbed expectations.

If you are hoping to get the Japanese version with subtitles on this disc you will be very disappointed. The Pokémon anime has been in the United States for over 20 years now and we have never gotten a legal release of the Japanese version with subtitles in America. The Pokémon company international doesn't care about quality and this dub shows. The voice acting is horrendous and the music was replaced. There is nothing unique or special about it and it only serves to ruin the mood. Now, I suggest you support the Japanese release if you want the Japanese version. Sure it may be a little bit expensive for your taste, about $60 I think, but really you should support the official release no matter what. Plus, the Japanese release Limited edition includes the first ever anime episode fully restored on Blu-ray. It should look amazing.