I grew up with the original Pokémon (Seasons 1-5) and I still love it to this day. It was nice to go back to where it all started since right now I couldn't stand Best Wishes and the more recent XY. However, I feel that just 4-5 episodes is just WAY too short to fully tell a Pokémon story. In the regular show every episode was worth the watch as it was more than just formula, it felt like reading a novel. They made Red to be too perfect unlike Ash who really felt more alive. Sorry fans of this one, but Ash's faults were there for a purpose not to drive you crazy. And the whole "win only one tournament" was there for a reason as well. Here the ultra condensed version is just mostly action, very little adventure, comedy, and drama and that's it. I liked how they played it out in the fashion of the Gameboy Games, but the reason I preferred the anime more, is that it had more life. Characters thought, had deep psychology, and made tough if difficult decisions. Here we don't get that as much. Finally, I felt that the mega stone thing was out of place. The creators should stick where it was back then and what it should be.

Pokemon Origins was a really interesting shift from the normal anime as it followed closely to the original game "Pokemon: Red Version", unlike the normal anime which follows Ash Ketchum as he explores each of the worlds featured in each of the games.However there are many issues which can not be ignored; like why does the show have to ignore sections of the storyline featured in the game such as the gym leader battles. I mean some people (including me) may have had there most memorable experiences with those gym leaders.Another bad point would be that the lack of relation to in game battles, now I don't necessarily mean turn-based because who wants to watch that, but more realistic battles. Like when Red and Giovanni battled how did both Pokemon get knocked out...Finally it's got to be "Mega Charizard", firstly why? I haven't played the later games yet, however that shouldn't matter considering the series is based on the original game, right?The redeeming qualities however were the nice nostalgic hints such as the sound effects which mimicked that of the games and the music which was of a nice homage to the original music. The animation was quite nice too, it was a revamped version of the anime, much like the Pokemon movies.Overall I quite enjoyed the show, It got on my nerves from time to time, but overall pretty solid. 7/10

I've always been a fan of pokemon and I feel this is a good show. There are some strong points but on the other hand, I do feel it misses some points the original series had. I've read some of the other reviews and some say they dislike pokemon saying their names. Honestly, I miss that. I don't know how it was for everyone but I did like pokemon saying their own names. It was what set pokemon apart from the other pocket monsters. I also felt like in a way, it gave the pokemon personally. I watched a bit of pokemon when the main character Dawn and it was fun watching Piplup and his struggles. Here, there is no development of pokemon or the characaters. They just seem to be the typical pokemon formula: having a rival who thinks he's better than you are. Then again, if we come from the perspective of just any person playing the game, it makes sense to have the bland character. And it is better in some aspects: there is no team rocket and meowth. I always hated those parts. Ash was not great in the original series. He is quite annoying, and never seems to learn. Additionally, after the first season, pikachu becomes more and more boring. I didn't keep up with the original series but compared to that, this is pretty awesome.

The very first time I played Pokemon I was about 13 years old and the first game I played was Pokemon Blue, then I played the Special Pikachu Edition which was a tribute to the anime, but had little in common with it. The character of Red is very similar to his gaming counterpart, but he is not as stupid and idiotic as Ash is in the anime. Blue is similar in the games as well, but he doesn't have that jackass personality as Gary Oak in the anime, and has no cheerleaders cheering him on.At first I thought that it was gonna be as boring as the anime. Truth is, the anime WAS boring after Johto Journeys and Ash has barely won any tournaments except for one in the anime. An interesting thing in this mini-series is that the Pokemon don't talk unlike in the anime when Pikachu says "Pika pika".The Team Rocket of this short is faithful to the team in the games and have absolutely nothing to do with the two bumbling morons from the anime. Professor Oak sounds a lot better than in the anime as well. Most battles were awesome especially the one at the end which I will NOT mention. That is for all of you to see, not for me to tell.This is EXACTLY what the anime should have been like, because unlike Ash, Red was more determined and smarter. For old Pokemon fans, this is the BEST thing to see.