Summary:

Alola!! is the 1st opening song used as part of the Pocket Monsters Sun and Moon anime in Japan and is sung by Rica Matsumoto.

Satoshi runs up the hill towards the Pokémon School has he introduces himself by saying: "I'm Satoshi from Masara Town. My dream is to become a Pokémon Master!". Pikachu then appears and he introduces him as his partner and that they would like to go search for Pokémon. The Pocket Monsters Sun and Moon logo then fades in with the Pokémon School in the background.

Exhausted from running, Satoshi's classmates run up to him. Each are then introduced with a quick splash card with their main Pokémon. Lilie's scene is with Pikachu and she is almost immediately scared of it. They all then slide down the outside of the school but crash into a Alolan Exeggutor at the bottom. They quickly recover and dance in union in a line.

Nyabby is seen with a berry in its mouth but it quick fires a flame at Satoshi. Rocket Gang are then seen in the forest looking around when they are startled by Kiteruguma who comes out from behind a bush. Junsa and Joy join the gang as they walk down the middle of the road. Okido makes a quick appearance as well but is hit in the head by Nekkoara.

Satoshi is in the forest where he encounters a Grubbin and he throws a monster ball at it and tries to capture it. The scene transitions to a battle featuring Pikachu fighting a Yungoos, Salandit and Rattata in a wasteland area when Solgaleo runs by them. The scene scene from the first episode where Tapu Koko gives Satoshi the Z-Ring at night is shown and Tapu Koko flies off towards the moon just as Lunala then appears flying from the moon.

Another quick transition then shows Pikachu using its Z-Move and the opening ends with Satoshi and Pikachu sitting on a roof looking at the ocean.

Variants:

Variant 1: SM001 - SM029 - Initial Version.
Variant 2: SM044 - SM060 - The second Alola variant replaced the second Pocket Monsters Sun and Moon opening theme Aim to be a Pokémon Master 20th Anniversary. Various scenes were changed to show main characters new evolved Pokémon and new captures.

During the scene where the main characters are walking on the road, Mao's Amakaji is replaced by Mao's Amamaiko while Lilie's Rokon was added.



During the dance line up scene after they come down the slide, Mao's Amamaiko, Lilie's Rokon, Satoshi's Z-Power Ring and Suiren's Z-Ring were added in Variant 2.


The Rocket Gang scene was changed from them being in the forest to 3 separate scenes of them at: in front of their kitchen car, at the Aether Paradise and then at the Altar of the Sunne.


On another scene of the cast walking on the road, Starcloud, Satoshi's Lugarugan, Mao's Amamaiko, Lilie's Rokon, Māmane's Dendimushi, Kaki's Garagara as well as Satoshi's Z-Power Ring and Suiren's Z-Ring were added in Variant 2.

Oha Suta - Thursday, November 17th, 2016

From Monday, November 14th, 2016 until Thursday, November 17th, 2016, Oha Suta held the special POKE FES. 2016 (おはスタポケモンフェス2016) to help promote the Pokémon franchise and the launch of the games Pokémon Sun and Moon.

Day 4: Thursday, November 17th, 2016 - Rica Matsumoto and Taiiku Okazaki were special guest on this episode and they sang the opening and ending themes for the Pocket Monsters Sun and Moon anime. Rica sang Alola!! while Taiiku sang Pose.

Pokénchi #58

Rica Matsumoto was a special guest on Pokénchi #58 and she sang a live performance of Alola! in the studio with the Pokénchi hosts and Yamamoto dancing along beside her.

Sunshine City Pokémon Fes 2017

On Saturday July 28th, 2017, a "Special Rica Matsumoto & Asuca Hayashi Pokémon Movie Premiere Commemoration Concert" was held as part of the "Pokémon Fes I Choose You! in Sunshine City. The concert started with Rica Matsumoto performing "Alola!!", which acted as the opening theme song to the anime TV series "Pocket Monsters Sun & Moon"and "Mezase Pokémon Master -20th Anniversary-", the opening theme song to the 20th Pocket Monsters Movie and second opening for Sun and Moon.

Anime Expo AEX27 - Santiago, Chile

Anime Expo AEX27 took place in Santiago, Chile on June 16th, 2018 and June 17th, 2018. Rica Matsumoto was a special performing artist at the event. She sang Best Wishes and Alola as part of her performance.

Next Generation World Hobby Fair '19 Winter Tokyo Fair - January 26th, 2019

"Special Pokémon Anime Concert & Talk Stage Shows" were held at the stage inside the Pokémon Booth. Rica Matsumoto and Taiiku Okazaki were present on Saturday, January 26th, 2019, raising the roof by watching the teaser for "Mewtwo Strikes Back Evolution" together with the audience,challenging them to Pokémon tongue twisters, and more!

In addition, we got pssionate performances of, among other songs, "Alola!!" and "Mezase Pokémon Master -20th Anniversary-" by Rica Matsumoto and "Pose" and "Kimi no boken" by Taiiku Okazaki, sending the venue into a state of excitement!

Episodes: