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The Saffron Con

AG143   ポケモンコンテスト・ヤマブキ大会！（前編） Pokémon Contest: Yamabuki Conference! (Part One)

First broadcast Japan September 15, 2005 United States June 17, 2006

English themes Opening I'm Unbeatable Ending

Japanese themes Opening バトルフロンティア Ending ポケモンかぞえうた

Credits Animation Team Ota Screenplay 冨岡淳広 Atsuhiro Tomioka Storyboard 志村錠児 Jōji Shimura Assistant director 志村錠児 Jōji Shimura Animation director 志村泉 Izumi Shimura No additional credits are available at this time.

Screenshots on Bulbagarden Archives Screenshots on Filb.de

The Saffron Con (Japanese: ポケモンコンテスト・ヤマブキ大会！（前編） Pokémon Contest: Yamabuki Conference! (Part One)) is episode 143 of Advanced Generation. It was first broadcast in Japan on September 15, 2005 and in the United States on June 17, 2006.

Spoiler warning: this article may contain major plot or ending details.

Synopsis

Another day and another adventure begins our story as May releases her three Pokémon and begins her speech about the Kanto Pokémon Contest. Her Pokémon seem to not be that much insterested in the contest. Inside of the Stadium, preperations are being made for the contest just as May steps in. She is very exluberant and estatic about the contest. The announcer steps up to the middle of the stadium and calls out an Espeon. The stadium lights shine upon Espeon's magnificent coat. Espeon then launches a Swift Attack and then quickly responds with a Psybeam which causes the stars to form several rings which Espeon then rotates through majestically landing in an astonishing feat. May's Squirtle rushes down to the center of the ring and begins relasing a small array of bubbles. The announcer quickly picks Squirtle up and hands it back to May. While being grasped between May's arms, Squirtle begins crying frantically. The announcer points out that Squirtle wants to get on stage as it then responds in glory. Lilian seems to be participating in the contest this time.

At the nearby Pokémon Center, everyone is enjoying cold drinks as May wonders about the contest. Everyone explains to May that she will do fine just as someone pushing a cart interrupts their conversation. May is excited that her Pokémon have returned to normal health but comes to notice that Harley is pushing the cart. May seems to be confused as to why Harley is there.

Dressed in a exliburant and exciting costume, Jessie steps in the contest registration room and presents her contest card to the personnel. There seems to be a mistake as Jessie hits the ground while Meowth and James appear announcing Jessie. The announcer explains that the card she has is a Hoenn registration card as the one they require is the Kanto Region card. Jessie then quickly reveals her card and Sonansu pops in with the usual greeting.

Jessie seems to be excited about the contest as Meowth interrupts saying that she doesn't have any Pokémon to use. Jessie then begs James to use his Pokémon. James then calls out Cacnea which welcomes him with the usual greeting.

May asks Harley why he is there while he explains that he works at the Pokémon Center. Harley goes on to explain that he is helping Joy at the Pokémon Center. Joy then appears in the doorway as Harley rushes over to grab her hand and greet her. Harley then turns around and introduces May to Joy.

Jessie calls then calls out Cacnea as it seems to be frightened from Jessie and quickly jumps onto James. As James tries removing it from his chest, it seems to reject and stays clinged to his chest. Cacnea then turns around and jumps onto Jessie as she screams in pain.

Harley and everyone are discussing the contest as Jessie runs through the nearby doors interrupting the conversation with Cacnea attached to her hair. Meowth and James arrive to assist but prove to be helpless as a Chansey rushes to Jessie and carries her off. Joy then calls Harley to come help her with the operation.

Outside of the stadium, everyone's Pokémon seem to be enjoying themselves as May releases Squirtle. An arm appears out of the distance and grasps onto Squirtle and Pikachu realing them into a cage attached to Team Rocket's balloon. With only two rocket members left, an introduction is given without Jessie. Ash goes to give Pikachu a command but notices that squirtle is also inside of the confinment.

Inside the Pokémon Center operating room, Jessie's hair seems to be twisted around Cacnea's body very badly as Joy and Harley appear with a Scizor. Jessie looks at Scizor's sharp claws and then faints on the operating table.

A nearby Mankey and Vulpix are also captured by Team Rocket as they seem to be aquiring contest Pokémon at a high rate. James and Meowth rush off into the distance as Harley appears and releases a Spinarak. It fires a gigantic stream of web towards the balloon which envelops it and its contents. May then calls upon Combusken which quickly releases a Mega Punch into the bottom of the cage. The bottom easily crumbles and falls towards the ground releasing all of the contest Pokémon from their prison.

Meowth then shows his sharp claws and attempts to cut the web from their balloon. Squirtle responds sending a devasting Ice Beam towards the balloon and sending James and Meowth blasting off into the sky at the speed of light. May and Ash ares urprised at Squirtle's usage of Ice Beam. Max then suggests that May should use Squirtle in the contest as she then thanks Squirtle for its hard work. Harley and May wish each other luck in the contest exchanging greetings.

In the nearby forest, Cacnea has already been successfully removed from Jessie's hair but when revealed is cut to a much shorter length. The usual self-confidence building speech is given by Jessie building everyone's confidence up once again.

May goes to register for the contest as the same problem that arose with Jessie's registration appears. She is trying to register with her Hoenn card but a Kanto card is required at this contest. Time seems to be running low for the team as Max states his disbelief as May falls to the ground. Harley seems to have noticed that May can't enter the contest and appears to be happy about the situtation.

Lilian appears and questions the personnel why May can't be registered. She goes on to explain that May is trying to register with a Hoenn Contest Pass. Lilian convinces the woman to register her for the Kanto region as she then hands her a Kanto Contest Card and a Ribbon Box. May thanks Lilian for her actions as she then steps off into the nearby room. With May succesfully registering for the Kanto Pokémon Contest, a hard yet exciting contest awaits our hero as another day passes by in the Kanto region. (Written by: bgt)

Major events

Debuts

• Lilian
• Harley's Ariados
• Lilian's Espeon

Characters

Humans

• Ash Ketchum
• May
• Brock
• Max
• Jessie
• James
• Nurse Joy
• Harley
• Lilian
• Vivian (flashback)
• Miscellaneous coordinators
• Contest hall staff

Pokémon

• Pikachu (Ash's)
• Meowth (Team Rocket)
• Combusken (May's)
• Munchlax (May's)
• Squirtle (May's)
• Wobbuffet (Jessie's)
• Cacnea (James's)
• Chansey (Nurse Joy's)
• Ariados (Harley's, debut)
• Espeon (Lilian's, debut)
• Weedle
• Pidgey
• Rattata
• Sandshrew
• Vulpix
• Jigglypuff
• Oddish
• Venonat
• Psyduck
• Mankey
• Poliwag
• Bellsprout
• Marill
• Hoppip
• Jumpluff
• Aipom
• Espeon
• Scizor
• Phanpy
• Shedinja
• Skitty
• Illumise
• Trapinch

Trivia

Pokémon Trainer's Choice

• Question: Trainers, Which of these Pokémon is the tallest?
• Choices: Regirock, Registeel, Regice
• Answer: OK trainers! If you chose Registeel, you were right!

Errors

Dub edits

In other languages

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This episode article is part of Project Anime, a Bulbapedia project that covers all aspects of the Pokémon anime.