Pokémon in Israel

The Pokémon franchise first reached in early 2000, with the first broadcast of אש בוחר את הפוקימון שלו on the Israeli Children Channel.
While all characters, Pokémon, and locations have kept their English names in the Hebrew dub, some objects, moves, and Abilities in the franchise received Hebrew-sounding names.
The word Pokémon is written as פוקימון Pokimon in the Hebrew alphabet. Unlike in English, a plural form, פוקימונים Pokimonim, is often used. A female form, פוקימונית Pokmonit, has also been heard in the animated series. Since there is no neuter grammatical gender in Hebrew, Pokémon are always referred to as either male or female. In recent years, the transcription פוקמון Pokemon and its plural form פוקמונים Pokemonim have started to be used""פוקמון: מסעות אולטימטיביים: הסדרה" בהופעת בכורה ב-2022 בכל רחבי העולם" - The Pokémon Company International Official Press Site (primarily on Netflix beginning with Mewtwo Strikes Back—Evolutionפוקמון: מיוטו מכה שנית – התפתחות | האתר הרשמי של Netflix and Pokémon Journeys: The Seriesפוקמון: מסעות: הסדרה | האתר הרשמי של Netflix), although the old form still continues to be used""אש קטשום מוכרז אלוף העולם" - The Pokémon Company International Official Press Siteפוקימון (Pokemon) משחקי פוקמון חדשים, מרצ'נדייז ועוד | נינטנדו ישראל.
==Pokémon video games==
Pokémon games are sold in English in Israel. After 2000, there were two distributors in Israel: Mushi and All Games.https://web.archive.org/web/20050404064805/http://www.nintendo.co.il/links.htm Since 2007, games have been distributed by Ronlight Digital Ltd.https://web.archive.org/web/20071022075109/http://nintendo-israel.co.il/Index.asp?SourceID=20&CategoryID=20&ArticleID=1 After 2010, it is not known if there was any distributor in Israel.
Since April 2019, Tor Gaming is the official distributor of Nintendo products in Israel.https://nintendosoup.com/nintendo-is-opening-in-israel-soon/
==Pokémon animation==
The Pokémon animated series has been dubbed to Hebrew in Israel by since 2016. It was previously dubbed by (אולפני נ.ל.ס) from 2000 until 2010, when it went on hiatus.
The first ten seasons of the series were broadcast on (ערוץ הילדים, "The Children Channel"), beginning in 2000 with the airing of the אש בוחר את הפוקימון שלו up until 2007. 
On May 4, 2009, the series was moved to Jetix Israel, starting with season 11. On September 9, 2009, Jetix transitioned into and continued to broadcast the eleventh season along with season 12. 
However, In 2011, Disney Channel Israel decided to stop airing the series in Israel. This effected season 13 and Zoroark: Master of Illusions which were dubbed entirely but never released to the public. The Hebrew dub went on hiatus, making many Israeli fans upset.
The series returned to Israel in 2016. Due to the popularity of Pokémon GO in the country, Arutz HaYeladim reran the first two seasons of the series from July 3, 2016 to August 31, 2016, with the original Hebrew dub. 
On September 4, 2016, Arutz HaYeladim started to broadcast Pokémon the Series: XY, broadcasting the entirety of season 17, 18 and 19. Pokémon the Series: Sun & Moon premiered on Artuz HaYeladim on September 13, 2017, and beginning July 2018, the channel aired Season 21 and then aired Season 22. Movies have also aired on the channel.
Pokémon Chronicles has aired in Arutz HaYeladin in 2007.
In Israel, the series is also available on Netflix. The second season is currently airing on Channel 13.
===Pokémon movies===
The first four Pokémon movies were aired in Israeli cinemas. Mewtwo Strikes Back debuted on in May 2000, scoring the biggest movie opening ever in the country at the time. ''
The last to be dubbed in Hebrew and played in theaters was Pokémon 4Ever - Celebi: The Voice of the Forest. Pokémon Heroes: Latios & Latias, Jirachi: Wish Maker, and Destiny Deoxys were broadcasted on TV Yes 5 in English with Hebrew subtitles. In late 2010, Arceus and the Jewel of Life was broadcast on with Hebrew dub. Volcanion and the Mechanical Marvel aired in Arutz HaYeladim on May 2017. The most recent movie air on Arutz Hayeladim was I Choose You! on July 1, 2018. 
Mewtwo Returns has aired in Arutz HaYeladim in 2002.
Zoroark: Master of Illusions was dubbed into Hebrew in 2011, but was only released to the public 10 years later due to Disney Channel Israel's decision to stop airing the series at the time.
 debuted on Israeli cinemas on May 9, 2019. It aired in English with Hebrew subtitles. A pre-premier screening was held in Rishon Lezion on May 3, 2019, in collaboration with Tor Gaming, Nintendo's distributor in Israel.
===Cast and crew===
During the first ten seasons, the dub was directed by Yafa Gabay, a longtime voice actress who also voiced several minor characters in Pokémon. In 2009, Sharon Borgauker became the director of the dub. Since 2010, Talya Barkai is the director for the Hebrew dub.
The first five theme songs were performed by singer Uzi Fox, the owner of N.L.S Studios and the producer of the Hebrew dub. Uzi Fox also voiced minor characters on Pokémon, including Professor Birch.
==Community==
FXP, Israel's largest message board, has a Pokémon sub-forum.
==External links==
* Pokémon page on Nintendo Israel website
==References==
==Related articles==
* List of Hebrew Pokémon themes
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