Pokémon Origins, known in Japan as Pocket Monsters: The Origin (ポケットモンスター THE ORIGIN Poketto Monsutā Za Orijin?), is a Japanese anime television special based on Nintendo's Pokémon franchise. Unlike the on-going television series, this special features the setting and characters from the original video games Pokémon Red and Blue. Animation is handled by Production I.G, Xebec, and OLM, Inc., and the special is split into four parts, each directed by a different director from these studios. It was broadcast on TV Tokyo on October 2, 2013, ten days before the release of the X and Y video games,[1][2][3][4][5] and will be streamed internationally on Nintendo's Pokémon TV service from November 15, 2013.[6]
Serving as a more faithful adaptation of the Pokémon Red and Blue games, the story follows a young boy named Red who begins a journey with his Pokémon partner, Charmander, as he seeks to capture all the known Pokémon in the Kanto region and become the Pokémon League Champion. Along the way he comes up against his rival, Blue ("Green" in Japan), various Pokémon Gym Leaders, and the nefarious crime organization, Team Rocket.