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title_en=Ditto's Mysterious Mansion |
title_en=Ditto's Mysterious Mansion |
title_ja=メタモンとものまねむすめ |
title_ja=メタモンとものまねむすめ |
title_ja_trans=Metamon and The Mimic Girl |
title_ja_trans=Metamon and the Copycat Girl |
screen=yes |
screen=hd |
broadcast_jp=December 9, 1997 |
broadcast_jp=December 9, 1997 |
broadcast_us=October 26, 1998 |
broadcast_us=October 26, 1998 |
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morecredits=yes |
morecredits=yes |
epstaffpage=EP031-EP040 |
epstaffpage=EP031-EP040 |
footnotes= }}
footnotes=* {{filb-eppics|pm|037}}
'''Ditto's Mysterious Mansion''' (Japanese: '''メタモンとものまねむすめ''' ''{{tt|Metamon|Ditto}} and The Mimic Girl'') is the 37th episode of the [[Pokémon anime]]. It was first broadcast in Japan on December 9, 1997 and in the United States on October 26, 1998.  
}}
<!-- Short summary goes here. -->
'''Ditto's Mysterious Mansion''' (Japanese: '''メタモンとものまねむすめ''' ''{{tt|Metamon|Ditto}} and the Copycat Girl'') is the 37th episode of the [[Pokémon anime]]. It was first broadcast in Japan on December 9, 1997, and in the United States on October 26, 1998.
 
{{spoilers}}
{{spoilers}}


== Synopsis ==
==Blurb==
{{Ash}} and {{ashfr|the group}} are continuing their journey when it begins to [[Weather conditions|rain]]. While looking for shelter, they stumble across an old house in the middle of nowhere. Believing it to be deserted, they go inside. To their surprise, [[Ash's Pikachu]] is found playing with what seems to be another Pikachu. However, this Pikachu's face is weird, which leads to {{an|Brock}} thinking it is a new kind of Pikachu. Ash tries to {{pkmn2|Caught|capture}} it, but a girl dressed as Ash appears and stops him. The girl introduces herself as [[Duplica]] and reveals that the Pikachu is actually her {{TP|Duplica|Ditto}}. Upon reading Ditto's entry in the Pokédex and hearing that it can't learn any other attacks besides Transform, Ash becomes unconvinced of its usefulness in a {{pkmn|battle}}, so Duplica challenges him to a battle. Ash chooses {{AP|Bulbasaur}} and tries to attack using {{m|Razor Leaf}}, but Duplica's Ditto {{m|Transform}}s and wins using a {{m|Vine Whip}} attack.  
<!--https://www.pokemon.com/us/animation/seasons/1/episode-35-dittos-mysterious-mansion/-->
<i>Being caught in a sudden rain shower, our heroes are obliged to seek shelter. In the middle of a clearing, they find a small, ghastly cabin. Dragging the reluctant Misty, Ash and Brock enter the cabin, instantly getting the impression that they are not alone. Could this be a haunted cabin? They soon discover that it is the Copycat house in which the trainer of Ditto lives. Intrigued by Ditto, Ash proposes a battle between Ditto and Pikachu.</i>


Later, Duplica explains that she wants to be a Ditto Master and a star, but she cannot because her Ditto is unable to mirror the other [[Pokémon]]'s faces. Whenever it transforms it still has the face a of a Ditto, much to the disappointment of her audiences. Then [[Team Rocket]] appear and try to steal Ditto, in the hope that they can get it to transform into {{p|Dratini}} and present it to {{an|Giovanni}} as a [[Legendary Pokémon]]. Using {{TP|James|Weezing}}'s {{m|SmokeScreen}}, they are able to escape with Ditto.  
==Plot==
When it begins to rain, {{Ash}} and {{ashfr}} stumble across an old house in the middle of nowhere. Believing it to be deserted, they go inside. To their surprise, {{AP|Pikachu}} plays with what seems to be another {{p|Pikachu}}. However, this Pikachu's face is weird, which leads to {{an|Brock}} thinking it is a new kind of Pikachu. Ash tries to {{pkmn2|caught|catch}} it, but a girl dressed as Ash appears and stops him. The girl introduces herself as [[Duplica]] and reveals that the Pikachu is actually her {{TP|Duplica|Ditto}}. The mansion is called "the [[House of Imite]]" and serves as a rest stop and performance space for her imitation shows. Upon reading {{p|Ditto}}'s entry in the [[Pokédex]] and hearing that it cannot learn any other [[Move|attacks]] besides {{m|Transform}}, Ash is unconvinced of its usefulness in a {{pkmn|battle}}, so Duplica challenges him to one. Ash chooses {{AP|Bulbasaur}} and tries to attack using {{m|Razor Leaf}}, but Duplica's Ditto Transforms and wins using a {{m|Vine Whip}} attack. Later, Duplica explains that she wants to be a Ditto Master and a star. However, she cannot achieve this goal because her Ditto is unable to mirror other {{OBP|Pokémon|species}}' faces and always retains the face of a Ditto, much to the disappointment of her audiences.


Once they are away from the house, Jessie and James try to test Ditto's power by having it turn into a Dratini from a picture in a book that they have, at first. But then, Jessie stops James and says that they should have a little bit of fun before handing Ditto over to the boss. She asks Ditto to transform into what a certain boy would look like if he were an adult, and pulls out a photo frame. James and Meowth then try to get Jessie to show the picture to them, but she refuses. Ditto agrees, and then a picture of a man with blue hair shows up with a Ditto's face. Now angry, Jessie commands Ditto to once again become a Dratini. Instead, Ditto transforms into a book.  
Then, {{TRT}} appears and tries to steal Ditto, in the hopes that they can get it to transform into {{p|Dratini}} and present it to {{an|Giovanni|their boss}} as a [[Legendary Pokémon]]. Using {{TP|James|Weezing}}'s {{m|Smokescreen}}, they are able to escape with Ditto. Once they are away from the house, [[Jessie]] and [[James]] try to test Ditto's power by having it turn into a {{p|Dratini}} from a picture in a book that they have. However, Jessie suddenly says that they should have a little bit of fun before handing Ditto over to the boss. She asks Ditto to transform into what a certain boy would look like if he were an adult, and pulls out a photo frame. James and {{MTR}} then try to get Jessie to show the picture to them, but she refuses. Ditto agrees, and transforms into a picture of a man with blue hair, though it has Ditto's face. When it licks Jessie's face, James and Meowth laugh hysterically, but Jessie responds by furiously slapping them unconscious. She then commands Ditto to become a Dratini, but instead, it transforms into a book, which aggravates Jessie even further.


Meanwhile, back at the mansion, Misty, Brock, and Ash are trying to cheer Duplica up. Ash then states about how a trainer decides how a Ditto would transforms. Pidgeotto and Zubat, who were on guard, return with news that they saw Ditto. Ash and freinds then go decide to save Ditto.
Meanwhile, back at the mansion, Ash talks about how a {{pkmn|Trainer}} decides how a Ditto would transform. {{AP|Pidgeotto}} and {{TP|Brock|Zubat}}, who were on guard, return with news that they saw Ditto. Ash and his friends then decide to go and save Ditto. Elsewhere, Team Rocket, frustrated at Ditto's inability to fully transform into whatever they wish, threaten it into transforming correctly, pleasing them. Just then, Ash, {{an|Brock}}, {{an|Misty}}, and Duplica, all dressed in {{TRT}} uniforms, arrive and perform their own variation of Team Rocket's {{motto}}, much to the anger of the real trio. The group then demands Ditto back, but are surprised to see two identical Meowth. However, Duplica is happy that Team Rocket was able to get her Ditto to transform correctly. Team Rocket tries to trick them by giving them the real Meowth and escaping in their [[Team Rocket's mechas|balloon]] with Ditto. However, this fails when Duplica says she can tell that Meowth isn't her Ditto, even though it looks identical to the other Meowth. She throws Meowth at the balloon, causing Team Rocket to drop Ditto. Duplica tells it to transform into a cannon and fire Pikachu at the balloon. After being hit by Pikachu's {{m|Thunder Shock}}, the balloon bursts and Team Rocket is blasted off again. Now that Ditto can transform perfectly, Duplica reopens her theater for performances. She thanks Ash and his friends, and they leave, with Ash hoping to catch his own Ditto someday.


Later, they try to get it to look like Meowth, only to be yelled at, because Meowth's face was replaced with Ditto's. They are angered when it is unable to change its face. Eventually they are able to threaten it into transforming correctly.  
Meanwhile, Jessie and James attempt to carry out their original plan without Ditto and put Meowth into a Dratini suit to this end, though he is unimpressed and {{m|scratch}}es them.


Then Ash, Brock, Misty and Duplica appear dressed in Team Rocket uniforms and say their {{TP|Team Rocket|motto|mottos}}, much to the irritation of the real Team Rocket. They demand Ditto back, and are surprised when they see two identical Meowths. Team Rocket try to trick them by giving them the real {{MTR}} and escaping in their balloon with Ditto. But Duplica says she can tell that this isn't her Ditto, even though it looks identical to the other Meowth. She throws Meowth at the balloon, causing Team Rocket to drop Ditto. Duplica tells it to transform into a cannon and fire Pikachu at the balloon. After being hit by Pikachu's {{m|ThunderShock}}, the balloon bursts and Team Rocket are blasted off again.  
==Major events==
<!-- This is not for summarizing everything that happens in this episode. Only events pertaining to the series as a whole, such as catching and releasing Pokémon and obtaining Badges, go here. -->
* {{Ash}} and {{ashfr}} meet [[Duplica]], a {{p|Ditto}} {{pkmn|Trainer}}.
{{animeevents}}


Now that Ditto can transform perfectly, Duplica reopens her theater for performances. She thanks Ash and his friends and they leave, with Ash hoping to catch his own Ditto someday.
===Debuts===
====Humans====
* [[Duplica]]


The episode ends with Team Rocket attempting to put a Dratini suit onto Meowth, who {{m|Scratch|scratches}} them.
====Pokémon debuts====
* {{p|Ditto}} ({{OP|Duplica|Ditto}})


== Major events ==
==Characters==
* {{Ash}} and {{ashfr|friends}} meet [[Duplica]].
===Humans===
{{animeevents}}
[[File:Dare da EP037.png|thumb|200px|{{tt|Dare da?|Who's That Pokémon?}}]]
=== Debuts ===
* [[Duplica]]
==== Pokémon debuts ====
* {{p|Ditto}}
 
== Characters ==
=== Humans ===
* {{Ash}}
* {{Ash}}
* {{an|Misty}}
* {{an|Misty}}
Line 63: Line 65:
* [[James]]
* [[James]]
* [[Duplica]]
* [[Duplica]]
* Audience (flashback)


=== Pokémon ===
===Pokémon===
[[Who’s That Pokémon?]]: {{p|Ditto}}
[[File:WTP EP037.png|thumb|200px|Who's That Pokémon?]]
[[Who's That Pokémon?]]: {{p|Ditto}}


* {{p|Pikachu}} ({{OP|Ash|Pikachu}})
* {{p|Pikachu}} ({{OP|Ash|Pikachu}})
Line 71: Line 75:
* {{p|Pidgeotto}} ({{OP|Ash|Pidgeotto}})
* {{p|Pidgeotto}} ({{OP|Ash|Pidgeotto}})
* {{p|Bulbasaur}} ({{OP|Ash|Bulbasaur}})
* {{p|Bulbasaur}} ({{OP|Ash|Bulbasaur}})
* {{p|Zubat}} ({{OP|Brock|Crobat}})
* {{p|Zubat}} ({{OP|Brock|Zubat}})
* {{p|Weezing}} ({{OP|James|Weezing}})
* {{p|Weezing}} ({{OP|James|Weezing}})
* {{p|Ditto}} ({{OP|Duplica|Ditto}}; debut)
* {{p|Ditto}} ({{OP|Duplica|Ditto}}; debut)
Line 77: Line 81:
* {{p|Voltorb}} (flashback)
* {{p|Voltorb}} (flashback)
* {{p|Electrode}} (flashback)
* {{p|Electrode}} (flashback)
* {{p|Dratini}} (Team Rocket's fantasy)
* {{p|Dratini}} (fantasy)
{{left clear}}


== Trivia ==
==Trivia==
[[Image:AshBrockTR.png|thumb|left|Ash and Brock beginning their motto imitation]]
[[File:Team Rocket imitation.png|thumb|350px|Ash and his friends imitating Team Rocket]]
[[Image:MistyDuplicaTR.png|thumb|right|Misty and Duplica continuing the motto]]
* This is the first time that {{Ash}} and {{ashfr}} [[Team Rocket mottos#Ditto's Mysterious Mansion|mock]] {{TRT}}'s {{motto}} completely.
* This is the first time that Ash and his friends mock [[Team Rocket's motto]] completely.  
* The strategy that [[Duplica]] used to defeat [[Ash's Bulbasaur]] will later be repeated in ''[[M01|Mewtwo Strikes Back]]'', when {{OBP|Mewtwo|M01}}'s {{p|Venusaur}} defeats [[Corey]]'s {{DL|Corey|Bruteroot}}. Ironically, both {{pkmn|battle}}s had to deal with a Pokémon that technically isn't an original or natural-born, as Mewtwo's Venusaur was created through cloning, whereas [[Duplica's Ditto]] transformed into Bulbasaur for the fight.
* The strategy that Duplica used to defeat [[Ash's Bulbasaur]] will later be repeated in ''[[M01|Mewtwo Strikes Back]]'' when {{an|Mewtwo}}'s {{p|Venusaur}} defeats [[Corey]]'s {{tt|Bruteroot|Venusaur}}. Ironically, both battles had to deal with a Pokémon that technically isn't an original/natural-born (Mewtwo's Venusaur was created through cloning, where as Duplica's Ditto transformed into Bulbasaur for the fight).
* Duplica claims that Ditto is the only Pokémon that can use Transform, but {{p|Mew}} shares this ability. However, since Mew was at this point a secret Pokémon, the writers probably made Duplica not know about Mew's existence.
*Duplica claims that Ditto is the only Pokémon that can use Transform, but {{p|Mew}} shares this ability. However, since Mew was at this point a secret Pokémon, the writers probably made Duplica not know about Mew's existence.
* When Duplica imitates Ash, she is even wearing a hat just like his; this shows her knack for getting even rare outfits for her mimicry, as there were only 100 given away.
* When Duplica imitates Ash, she is even wearing a hat just like his; this shows her knack for getting even rare outfits for her mimicry, as there were only 100 given away (refer to EP025).
* When Duplica imitates [[Officer Jenny]], she says "My name's Jenny. You're under arrest for Pokémon poaching." This is a shortened version of what the Officer Jenny stationed in the {{safari|Kanto}} said to the gang in ''[[EP034|The Kangaskhan Kid]]'' and is most likely the same audio, due to the exact same inflections.
*When Duplica imitates Officer Jenny, she says "You're under arrest for Pokémon poaching." This is what the Officer Jenny from ''[[EP034|The Kangaskhan Kid]]'' said.
* As [[James]] furiously points out, when Ash and his friends imitate Team Rocket, Duplica incorrectly says "To '''ignite''' all peoples within our nation."
*As James furiously points out, when Ash and his friends imitate Team Rocket, Duplica incorrectly says "To '''ignite''' all peoples within our nation."
* It is revealed that Ditto can also transform into inanimate objects like books, photo-frames, etc.
=== Errors ===
* It is also revealed that Ditto cannot transform into a Pokémon from a picture, so there must be a real one around for it to imitate.
[[Image:EP037 error.png|thumb|right|Ash with no gloves]]
** Also, since it gains all the abilities of the Pokémon it transforms into, if that Pokémon has learned to speak human language then Ditto can temporarily gain that ability for itself.
* This episode was not shown in order by [[Pokémon in South Asia#Pokémon on Hungama TV|Hungama TV in India]] for unknown reasons. This episode was shown after [[EP051]], and [[EP036]] was directly followed by [[EP039]], as [[EP038]] is [[Banned episodes|banned]] globally.
* In the first Japanese airing, the next episode preview was from [[EP038]], and in the subsequent airings, there is no preview. However, when Kids Station airs this episode, the preview is from [[EP039]].
* Team Rocket's plan for Ditto to pose as a Dratini (and later to force Meowth himself to disguise himself as such) for their boss may be a reference to the events of [[EP035]].
 
===Errors===
* Ash's gloves disappear briefly at the beginning.
* Ash's gloves disappear briefly at the beginning.
* After both of the {{p|Meowth}} say "No way", Jessie's lipstick disappears.
* When Ash's {{AP|Bulbasaur}} uses {{m|Razor Leaf}}, its nostrils are missing and the inside of its eyes is colored black instead of white.
* In the Swedish dub, James says "Drantini" instead of "Dratini" when imagining himself giving it to the boss.
* When Ditto, as a {{p|Bulbasaur}}, uses {{m|Vine Whip}}, it is briefly drawn with nostrils, even though it had not mastered changing its face at this point.
* When Ditto transfoms into Voltorb, its mouth is on the bottom half on its body. However, it then appears on the upper half, before moving back to the bottom half.
* When Ash's Bulbasaur is caught in the vines, the grip gets looser between shots.
* When Duplica goes over to her wardrobe to change into a [[Nurse Joy]] costume, the brim of her Ash costume is colored white instead of red.
* When Ditto transforms into {{p|Voltorb}}, its mouth is on the bottom half on its body. However, it then appears on the upper half, before moving back to the bottom half.
* When Ash tells his friends to help save Ditto, Misty speaks, but her mouth does not move.
* When Duplica says that she will be taking her Ditto back from Team Rocket, the pants on {{an|Brock}}'s disguise are colored like the ones he usually wears.
* In the Swedish dub, James says "Drantini" instead of "Dratini" when imagining himself giving it to the {{an|Giovanni|boss}}.


=== Dub edits ===
<gallery>
EP037 error.png|Ash with no gloves
</gallery>
 
===Dub edits===
* [[Kanto Pokérap]]: Day 2
* Ditto keeps its Japanese voice when it's transformed into Pikachu in the English version.
* Ditto keeps its Japanese voice when it's transformed into Pikachu in the English version.
* The scenes of Team Rocket getting irritated by the imitation motto is removed from the German version.
* The scene where Team Rocket gets irritated by the imitation motto is removed from the German version.
* In the Japanese version, Brock refers to the group as "Team Pocket" (''Poketto-dan'') while imitating the Team Rocket motto. In the English dub, he simply says "Team Rocket."


==In other languages==
==In other languages==
{{Epilang|color=AAFFAA|bordercolor=FFAAAA
{{Epilang|color=AFA|bordercolor=FAA
 
|ar={{tt|المنزل الغامض|The mysterious house}}
|zh_cmn={{tt|百變怪跟模仿少女 / 百变怪跟模仿少女|Ditto and the Mimic Girl}}
|zh_cmn={{tt|百變怪跟模仿少女 / 百变怪跟模仿少女|Ditto and the Mimic Girl}}
|cs={{tt|Dittův tajemný dům|Ditto's mysterious house}}
|cs={{tt|Dittův tajemný dům|Ditto's mysterious house}}
|da={{tt|Dittos Mystiske Hus|Ditto's Mysterious House}}
|nl={{tt|Het Geheimzinnige Landhuis|The Mysterious Mansion}}
|nl={{tt|Het Geheimzinnige Landhuis|The Mysterious Mansion}}
|fi={{tt|Ditto ja salaisuuksien talo|Ditto and the house of secrets}}
|fi={{tt|Ditto ja salaisuuksien talo|Ditto and the house of secrets}}
|fr_ca={{tt|Le manoir mystérieux|The mysterious mansion}}
|fr_eu={{tt|Le manoir mystérieux|The mysterious mansion}}
|fr_eu={{tt|Le manoir mystérieux|The mysterious mansion}}
|de={{tt|Die mysteriöse Villa|The mysterious mansion}}
|de={{tt|Die mysteriöse Villa|The mysterious mansion}}
|he=בית החיקויים של דיטו {{tt|beit hachikuyim shel Ditto|Ditto's house of imitation}}
|he=בית החיקויים של דיטו {{tt|''Beit ha'khikuyim shel Ditto''|Ditto's imitation house}}
|hi=Ditto का नकल-विला {{tt|''Ditto ka Nakal Villa''|Ditto's House of Imitation}} {{tt|*|Hungama dub}}
|hu={{tt|A csodálatos Ditto|The Wonderful Ditto}}
|hu={{tt|A csodálatos Ditto|The Wonderful Ditto}}
|it={{tt|Un Pokémon dopo l'altro|A Pokémon after the other}}
|it={{tt|Un Pokémon dopo l'altro|A Pokémon after the other}}{{tt|*|Original 2000 dub}} <br> {{tt|La misteriosa casa di Ditto|Ditto's mysterious house}}{{tt|*|2014 K2 TV dub}}
|ko={{tt|변신의 천재 메타몽|The Transforming Ditto Genius}}
|no={{tt|Dittos mystiske herregård|Ditto's mysterious mansion}}
|pl={{tt|Tajemniczy dom Ditto|Ditto's mysterious house}}
|pt_br={{tt|A Mansão Misteriosa do Ditto|Ditto's Mysterious Mansion}}
|pt_br={{tt|A Mansão Misteriosa do Ditto|Ditto's Mysterious Mansion}}
|pt_eu={{tt|A Mansão Misteriosa do Ditto|Ditto's Mysterious Mansion}}
|pt_eu={{tt|A Mansão Misteriosa do Ditto|Ditto's Mysterious Mansion}}
|ro={{tt|Casa Misterioasă a lui Ditto|The Mysterious House of Ditto}}
|ru={{tt|Таинственный дом Дитто|Ditto's Mysterious Mansion}}
|ru={{tt|Таинственный дом Дитто|Ditto's Mysterious Mansion}}
|es_la={{tt|¡La misteriosa mansión de Ditto!|Ditto's mysterious mansion!}}
|es_la={{tt|¡La misteriosa mansión de Ditto!|Ditto's mysterious mansion!}}
|es_eu={{tt|La misteriosa mansión de Ditto|Ditto's mysterious mansion}}
|es_eu={{tt|La misteriosa mansión de Ditto|Ditto's mysterious mansion}}
|sv={{tt|Imitehuset|The imite house}}
|sv={{tt|Imitehuset|The imite house}}
|uk={{tt|Таємничій Будинок Дітто|Ditto's Mysterious House}}
|tr={{tt|Ditto'nun Gizemli Malikânesi|Ditto's Mysterious Mansion}}
}}
}}
{{-}}
{{-}}
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colorscheme=Kanto| }}
colorscheme=Kanto| }}
{{Project Anime notice}}
{{Project Anime notice}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:0037}}
[[Category:Original series episodes|037]]
[[Category:Original series episodes|037]]
[[Category:Episodes written by Atsuhiro Tomioka|037]]
[[Category:Episodes written by Atsuhiro Tomioka]]
[[Category:Episodes storyboarded by Yoshitaka Fujimoto|037]]
[[Category:Episodes storyboarded by Yoshitaka Fujimoto]]
[[Category:Episodes directed by Kiyotaka Itani|037]]
[[Category:Episodes directed by Kiyotaka Itani]]
[[Category:Episodes animated by Hiroshi Sakai|037]]
[[Category:Episodes animated by Keishi Sakai]]
[[de:Die mysteriöse Villa (Episode)]]


[[fr:Épisode 37]]
[[de:Die mysteriöse Villa]]
[[es:EP037]]
[[fr:EP037]]
[[it:EP037]]
[[ja:無印編第37話]]
[[ja:無印編第37話]]
[[pl:EP037]]
[[zh:宝可梦 第37集]]
[[pt:EP037]]

Latest revision as of 00:17, 9 March 2024

← EP036 : The Bridge Bike Gang
Original series
EP038 →
Ditto's Mysterious Mansion
EP037.png
  EP037  
メタモンとものまねむすめ
Metamon and the Copycat Girl
First broadcast
Japan December 9, 1997
United States October 26, 1998
English themes
Opening Pokémon Theme
Ending
Japanese themes
Opening めざせポケモンマスター
Ending ニャースのうた
Credits
Animation Team Ota
Screenplay 冨岡淳広 Atsuhiro Tomioka
Storyboard 藤本義孝 Yoshitaka Fujimoto
Assistant director 井硲清高 Kiyotaka Itani
Animation director 酒井啓史 Keishi Sakai
Additional credits

Ditto's Mysterious Mansion (Japanese: メタモンとものまねむすめ Metamon and the Copycat Girl) is the 37th episode of the Pokémon anime. It was first broadcast in Japan on December 9, 1997, and in the United States on October 26, 1998.

201
Spoiler warning: this article may contain major plot or ending details.
201

Blurb

Being caught in a sudden rain shower, our heroes are obliged to seek shelter. In the middle of a clearing, they find a small, ghastly cabin. Dragging the reluctant Misty, Ash and Brock enter the cabin, instantly getting the impression that they are not alone. Could this be a haunted cabin? They soon discover that it is the Copycat house in which the trainer of Ditto lives. Intrigued by Ditto, Ash proposes a battle between Ditto and Pikachu.

Plot

When it begins to rain, Ash and his friends stumble across an old house in the middle of nowhere. Believing it to be deserted, they go inside. To their surprise, Pikachu plays with what seems to be another Pikachu. However, this Pikachu's face is weird, which leads to Brock thinking it is a new kind of Pikachu. Ash tries to catch it, but a girl dressed as Ash appears and stops him. The girl introduces herself as Duplica and reveals that the Pikachu is actually her Ditto. The mansion is called "the House of Imite" and serves as a rest stop and performance space for her imitation shows. Upon reading Ditto's entry in the Pokédex and hearing that it cannot learn any other attacks besides Transform, Ash is unconvinced of its usefulness in a battle, so Duplica challenges him to one. Ash chooses Bulbasaur and tries to attack using Razor Leaf, but Duplica's Ditto Transforms and wins using a Vine Whip attack. Later, Duplica explains that she wants to be a Ditto Master and a star. However, she cannot achieve this goal because her Ditto is unable to mirror other Pokémon' faces and always retains the face of a Ditto, much to the disappointment of her audiences.

Then, Team Rocket appears and tries to steal Ditto, in the hopes that they can get it to transform into Dratini and present it to their boss as a Legendary Pokémon. Using Weezing's Smokescreen, they are able to escape with Ditto. Once they are away from the house, Jessie and James try to test Ditto's power by having it turn into a Dratini from a picture in a book that they have. However, Jessie suddenly says that they should have a little bit of fun before handing Ditto over to the boss. She asks Ditto to transform into what a certain boy would look like if he were an adult, and pulls out a photo frame. James and Meowth then try to get Jessie to show the picture to them, but she refuses. Ditto agrees, and transforms into a picture of a man with blue hair, though it has Ditto's face. When it licks Jessie's face, James and Meowth laugh hysterically, but Jessie responds by furiously slapping them unconscious. She then commands Ditto to become a Dratini, but instead, it transforms into a book, which aggravates Jessie even further.

Meanwhile, back at the mansion, Ash talks about how a Trainer decides how a Ditto would transform. Pidgeotto and Zubat, who were on guard, return with news that they saw Ditto. Ash and his friends then decide to go and save Ditto. Elsewhere, Team Rocket, frustrated at Ditto's inability to fully transform into whatever they wish, threaten it into transforming correctly, pleasing them. Just then, Ash, Brock, Misty, and Duplica, all dressed in Team Rocket uniforms, arrive and perform their own variation of Team Rocket's motto, much to the anger of the real trio. The group then demands Ditto back, but are surprised to see two identical Meowth. However, Duplica is happy that Team Rocket was able to get her Ditto to transform correctly. Team Rocket tries to trick them by giving them the real Meowth and escaping in their balloon with Ditto. However, this fails when Duplica says she can tell that Meowth isn't her Ditto, even though it looks identical to the other Meowth. She throws Meowth at the balloon, causing Team Rocket to drop Ditto. Duplica tells it to transform into a cannon and fire Pikachu at the balloon. After being hit by Pikachu's Thunder Shock, the balloon bursts and Team Rocket is blasted off again. Now that Ditto can transform perfectly, Duplica reopens her theater for performances. She thanks Ash and his friends, and they leave, with Ash hoping to catch his own Ditto someday.

Meanwhile, Jessie and James attempt to carry out their original plan without Ditto and put Meowth into a Dratini suit to this end, though he is unimpressed and scratches them.

Major events

For a list of all major events in the anime, please see the history page.

Debuts

Humans

Pokémon debuts

Characters

Humans

Dare da?

Pokémon

Who's That Pokémon?

Who's That Pokémon?: Ditto


Trivia

Ash and his friends imitating Team Rocket
  • This is the first time that Ash and his friends mock Team Rocket's motto completely.
  • The strategy that Duplica used to defeat Ash's Bulbasaur will later be repeated in Mewtwo Strikes Back, when Mewtwo's Venusaur defeats Corey's Bruteroot. Ironically, both battles had to deal with a Pokémon that technically isn't an original or natural-born, as Mewtwo's Venusaur was created through cloning, whereas Duplica's Ditto transformed into Bulbasaur for the fight.
  • Duplica claims that Ditto is the only Pokémon that can use Transform, but Mew shares this ability. However, since Mew was at this point a secret Pokémon, the writers probably made Duplica not know about Mew's existence.
  • When Duplica imitates Ash, she is even wearing a hat just like his; this shows her knack for getting even rare outfits for her mimicry, as there were only 100 given away.
  • When Duplica imitates Officer Jenny, she says "My name's Jenny. You're under arrest for Pokémon poaching." This is a shortened version of what the Officer Jenny stationed in the Safari Zone said to the gang in The Kangaskhan Kid and is most likely the same audio, due to the exact same inflections.
  • As James furiously points out, when Ash and his friends imitate Team Rocket, Duplica incorrectly says "To ignite all peoples within our nation."
  • It is revealed that Ditto can also transform into inanimate objects like books, photo-frames, etc.
  • It is also revealed that Ditto cannot transform into a Pokémon from a picture, so there must be a real one around for it to imitate.
    • Also, since it gains all the abilities of the Pokémon it transforms into, if that Pokémon has learned to speak human language then Ditto can temporarily gain that ability for itself.
  • This episode was not shown in order by Hungama TV in India for unknown reasons. This episode was shown after EP051, and EP036 was directly followed by EP039, as EP038 is banned globally.
  • In the first Japanese airing, the next episode preview was from EP038, and in the subsequent airings, there is no preview. However, when Kids Station airs this episode, the preview is from EP039.
  • Team Rocket's plan for Ditto to pose as a Dratini (and later to force Meowth himself to disguise himself as such) for their boss may be a reference to the events of EP035.

Errors

  • Ash's gloves disappear briefly at the beginning.
  • When Ash's Bulbasaur uses Razor Leaf, its nostrils are missing and the inside of its eyes is colored black instead of white.
  • When Ditto, as a Bulbasaur, uses Vine Whip, it is briefly drawn with nostrils, even though it had not mastered changing its face at this point.
  • When Ash's Bulbasaur is caught in the vines, the grip gets looser between shots.
  • When Duplica goes over to her wardrobe to change into a Nurse Joy costume, the brim of her Ash costume is colored white instead of red.
  • When Ditto transforms into Voltorb, its mouth is on the bottom half on its body. However, it then appears on the upper half, before moving back to the bottom half.
  • When Ash tells his friends to help save Ditto, Misty speaks, but her mouth does not move.
  • When Duplica says that she will be taking her Ditto back from Team Rocket, the pants on Brock's disguise are colored like the ones he usually wears.
  • In the Swedish dub, James says "Drantini" instead of "Dratini" when imagining himself giving it to the boss.
  • Ash with no gloves

    Ash with no gloves

Dub edits

  • Kanto Pokérap: Day 2
  • Ditto keeps its Japanese voice when it's transformed into Pikachu in the English version.
  • The scene where Team Rocket gets irritated by the imitation motto is removed from the German version.
  • In the Japanese version, Brock refers to the group as "Team Pocket" (Poketto-dan) while imitating the Team Rocket motto. In the English dub, he simply says "Team Rocket."

In other languages



← EP036 : The Bridge Bike Gang
Original series
EP038 →
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