When it comes to trading cards, Pokemon isn’t just a game. 1999 Topps Pokemon TV Animation Edition is the first of several spinoff sets focusing on the animated TV show and the world it spawned. It’s a more traditional set of trading cards, but a relatively simple one at its most basic level. But for those looking to collect everything connected with the release, things get far more complicated — and expensive.
1999 Topps Pokemon TV Animation Edition Checklist Details
The set consists of 90 total cards. However, within that the checklist is broken down into two distinct sections. The vast majority of cards — 76 to be exact — are Pokemon profiles, highlighting many of the original creatures. The Pokemon franchise was still very much in its early stages here, so it’s a lot of iconic names like Pikachu, Charizard and Squirtle.
Thirteen additional character cards use screen grabs from the show to highlight a few more Pokemon as well as trainers. Besides the design, the numbering between these two sections is also distinct. However, they go together as one larger set.
Rounding things out is an unnumbered checklist.
Every pack of 1999 Pokemon TV has a foil parallel. These can be found with a couple of versions. Silver foil are the most common. The finish on these is darker. Rainbow Foil cards, on the other hand, a brighter, particularly under brightly lit conditions.
Packs were available in three different formats: hobby, retail blasters and tins. In addition to seven packs, tins include an exclusive over-sized Topps Chrome card not available anywhere else.
1999 Topps Pokemon TV Animation Edition Printing Variations
For those who want to keep it simple, 1999 Topps Pokemon TV Animation Edition has 90 cards and another 90 parallels. However, this is a product that received multiple print runs. With each came a slight variation.
For base cards (non-foils), the key is the color of the Topps logo on the back. It changes between printings:
- 1st Printing – Blue
- 2nd Printing – Black
- 3rd Printing – Green
- 4th Printing – Red
This wasn’t all. 1999 Topps Pokemon TV Animation Edition Series 1 was also released in several different countries. Not only does this mean different translations into French, German, Spanish and Portuguese, but another English variation back as well that was distributed in the UK. International sets, no matter the language have a blue Topps logo like the North American first printing.
The other distinguishing mark is in the Nintendo seal. North American cards have an oval-shaped logo. International sets have an alternate Nintendo logo that’s round.
Printing variations carry over to regular Foil parallels as well. These can be spotted by the background foil pattern designs (the Topps logo on the back is black no matter the printing). All 1st printing Foils have a flat finish. Things get more complicated for ensuing printings with the addition of different shapes etched into the foil:
- 2nd Printing – Pokemon: starbursts, Characters: dots
- 3rd Printing – Pokemon: flame tips, Characters: larger shapes
- 4th Printing – Pokemon: targets, Characters: specks
Pokemon Foil Printings Guide
Character Foil Printings Guide
Rainbow Foil cards have just one version.
1999 Topps Pokemon TV Animation Edition Checklist
Set size: 90 cards
Cards per pack: Hobby – 8, Retail – 8, Tins – 8
Packs per box: Hobby – 36, Retail – 11, Tins – 7
Shop for 1999 Topps Pokemon TV Animation Edition boxes and packs on eBay.
Base Set Checklist
90 cards.
Buy on eBay:
1 Bulbasaur
2 Ivysaur
3 Venusaur
4 Charmander
5 Charmeleon
6 Charizard
7 Squirtle
8 Wartortle
9 Blastoise
10 Caterpie
11 Metapod
12 Butterfree
13 Weedle
14 Kakuna
15 Beedrill
16 Pidgey
17 Pidgeotto
18 Pidgeot
19 Rattata
20 Raticate
21 Spearow
22 Fearow
23 Ekans
24 Arbok
25 Pikachu
26 Raichu
27 Sandshrew
28 Sandslash
29 Nidoran ♀
30 Nidorina
31 Nidoqueen
32 Nidoran ♂
33 Nidorino
34 Nidoking
35 Clefairy
36 Clefable
37 Vulpix
38 Ninetails
39 Jigglypuff
40 Wigglytuff
41 Zubat
42 Golbat
43 Oddish
44 Gloom
45 Vileplume
46 Paras
47 Parasect
48 Venonat
49 Venomoth
50 Diglett
51 Dugtrio
52 Meowth
53 Persian
54 Psyduck
55 Golduck
56 Mankey
57 Primeape
58 Growlithe
59 Arcanine
60 Poliwag
61 Poliwhirl
62 Poliwrath
63 Abra
64 Kadabra
65 Alakazam
66 Machop
67 Machoke
68 Machamp
69 Bellsprout
70 Weepinbell
71 Victreebell
72 Tentacool
73 Tentacruel
74 Geodude
75 Graveler
76 Golem
TV1 Ash Ketchum
TV2 Pikachu
TV3 Misty
TV4 Brock
TV5 Staryu
TV6 Geodude
TV7 Professor Oak
TV8 Gary Oak
TV9 Jesse
TV10 James
TV11 Meowth
TV12 Ekans / Arbok
TV13 Koffing / Weezing
Checklist
Foil Parallels
90 cards.
1 foil per pack.
1 Bulbasaur
2 Ivysaur
3 Venusaur
4 Charmander
5 Charmeleon
6 Charizard
7 Squirtle
8 Wartortle
9 Blastoise
10 Caterpie
11 Metapod
12 Butterfree
13 Weedle
14 Kakuna
15 Beedrill
16 Pidgey
17 Pidgeotto
18 Pidgeot
19 Rattata
20 Raticate
21 Spearow
22 Fearow
23 Ekans
24 Arbok
25 Pikachu
26 Raichu
27 Sandshrew
28 Sandslash
29 Nidoran ♀
30 Nidorina
31 Nidoqueen
32 Nidoran ♂
33 Nidorino
34 Nidoking
35 Clefairy
36 Clefable
37 Vulpix
38 Ninetails
39 Jigglypuff
40 Wigglytuff
41 Zubat
42 Golbat
43 Oddish
44 Gloom
45 Vileplume
46 Paras
47 Parasect
48 Venonat
49 Venomoth
50 Diglett
51 Dugtrio
52 Meowth
53 Persian
54 Psyduck
55 Golduck
56 Mankey
57 Primeape
58 Growlithe
59 Arcanine
60 Poliwag
61 Poliwhirl
62 Poliwrath
63 Abra
64 Kadabra
65 Alakazam
66 Machop
67 Machoke
68 Machamp
69 Bellsprout
70 Weepinbell
71 Victreebell
72 Tentacool
73 Tentacruel
74 Geodude
75 Graveler
76 Golem
TV1 Ash Ketchum
TV2 Pikachu
TV3 Misty
TV4 Brock
TV5 Staryu
TV6 Geodude
TV7 Professor Oak
TV8 Gary Oak
TV9 Jesse
TV10 James
TV11 Meowth
TV12 Ekans / Arbok
TV13 Koffing / Weezing
Checklist
Rainbow Foil Parallels
90 cards.
1 foil per pack.
1 Bulbasaur
2 Ivysaur
3 Venusaur
4 Charmander
5 Charmeleon
6 Charizard
7 Squirtle
8 Wartortle
9 Blastoise
10 Caterpie
11 Metapod
12 Butterfree
13 Weedle
14 Kakuna
15 Beedrill
16 Pidgey
17 Pidgeotto
18 Pidgeot
19 Rattata
20 Raticate
21 Spearow
22 Fearow
23 Ekans
24 Arbok
25 Pikachu
26 Raichu
27 Sandshrew
28 Sandslash
29 Nidoran ♀
30 Nidorina
31 Nidoqueen
32 Nidoran ♂
33 Nidorino
34 Nidoking
35 Clefairy
36 Clefable
37 Vulpix
38 Ninetails
39 Jigglypuff
40 Wigglytuff
41 Zubat
42 Golbat
43 Oddish
44 Gloom
45 Vileplume
46 Paras
47 Parasect
48 Venonat
49 Venomoth
50 Diglett
51 Dugtrio
52 Meowth
53 Persian
54 Psyduck
55 Golduck
56 Mankey
57 Primeape
58 Growlithe
59 Arcanine
60 Poliwag
61 Poliwhirl
62 Poliwrath
63 Abra
64 Kadabra
65 Alakazam
66 Machop
67 Machoke
68 Machamp
69 Bellsprout
70 Weepinbell
71 Victreebell
72 Tentacool
73 Tentacruel
74 Geodude
75 Groveller
76 Golem
TV1 Ash Ketchum
TV2 Pikachu
TV3 Misty
TV4 Brock
TV5 Staryu
TV6 Geodude
TV7 Professor Oak
TV8 Gary Oak
TV9 Jesse
TV10 James
TV11 Meowth
TV12 Ekans / Arbok
TV13 Koffing / Weezing
Checklist
Mega-Sized Chrome Checklist
5 cards.
1 per tin.
1 Pikachu
2 Squirtle
3 Bulbasaur
4 Charmander
5 Meowth
