Please remember to follow the manual of style and code of conduct at all times.
Check the Bulbagarden home page for up-to-date Pokémon news and discuss it on the forums or in the Bulbagarden Discord server.

HZ042: Difference between revisions

From Bulbapedia, the community-driven Pokémon encyclopedia.
Jump to navigationJump to search
m (Protected "HZ042" ([Move=Allow only administrators] (indefinite)))
(23 intermediate revisions by 11 users not shown)
Line 47: Line 47:


==Plot==
==Plot==
The [[Rising Volt Tacklers]] arrive at a beach to have fun. [[Roy]], {{TP|Roy|Fuecoco}} and {{TP|Murdock|Rockruff}} run to the beach before playfully running from a wave. [[Murdock]] tells them to have fun and work up a good appetite for the barbecue tonight, which thrills Roy. [[Liko]] asks why [[Orla]] and [[Mollie]] aren't here, and [[Friede]] tells them that hard workers like them deserve a treat. Murdock and Friede decide to go stock up on ingredients while [[Ludlow]] volunteers to watch the kids. After Friede and Murdock leave, Roy asks Ludlow if he wants to swim with him and Liko, but he just prefers admiring the sea. Roy asks Liko why [[Dot]] isn't here. Liko says that she did invite her, but she just complained about how sticky you get after a soak in seawater, not to mention sunburn. Roy remarks that sounds just like Dot. Liko notices Sprigatito trying to catch a Pokémon burrowing through the sand. Roy thinks it's a white {{p|Diglett}} as it reveals it's long body, which surprises him and Liko. Roy uses his [[Pokédex]] to scan the Pokémon, revealed to be a {{p|Wiglett}}, which looks like Diglett but is actually a completely different species. Sprigatito follows Wiglett to a group of Water-type Pokémon, which Roy is amazed by.
Having finally arrived back in [[Paldea]], the [[Rising Volt Tacklers]] decide to stop on a beach to relax. [[Liko]], [[Roy]], [[Friede]], [[Murdock]], and [[Ludlow]] arrive ahead of the others, with Friede and Murdock heading off to prepare for a barbeque later that day while Ludlow stays behind to watch after the children. As the adults head out, Roy asks Liko if [[Dot]] is coming, but she responds that Dot had found the idea of going to a beach repulsive and refused the offer to join. {{TP|Liko|Sprigatito}}, meanwhile, notices a Pokémon similar to a white {{p|Diglett}}, but with a longer body. Roy's [[Rotom Phone]] reveals that the Pokémon in question is actually a {{p|Wiglett}}, a Pokémon that is [[Ecologically similar Pokémon|similar to Diglett]] while still being a completely different {{OBP|Pokémon|species|species}}, fascinating the children. Liko admires how clean the beach is, and an enthusiastic {{tc|Swimmer}} suddenly appears behind them, introducing himself and his partner {{p|Trubbish}} as the ones responsible for keeping the beach spotless, before rushing off to pick up a piece of trash in the distance. The children then spot a group of {{p|Finizen}} swimming nearby, with Ludlow behind them remarking to himself that it's been a while.


Liko comments on how nice and clean this beach is. A swimmer suddenly appears behind the kids, startling them. He boasts about how dedicated he is to preserving the sea's beauty by picking up trash with his partner {{p|Trubbish}}. As Roy is left confused, an uncomfortable Liko hides behind the umbrella. The swimmer then spots trash in the distance and rushes off to pick it up with Trubbish, leaving Liko confused while still admiring his dedication. The kids spot a pod of {{p|Finizen}} in the water, with Ludlow saying "Long time no see".
Liko and Roy take a swim with the Finizen. While doing so, Liko spots one with a heart shape on its chest. As she surfaces to wonder about this out loud, a cry for help is heard; a man has been left hanging from a rooftop after his ladder fell over and broke. A group of [[Photography|photographers]] accompanied by a trio of {{p|Patrat}} aim their cameras at the sea in preparation of something they know is coming. Just at the moment when the man falls off the roof, a {{p|Palafin}} emerges from the sea and catches him mid-fall, with the photographers going wild at the sight of it. After Palafin has returned to the sea, the Swimmer from before introduces Liko and Roy to it, explaining that Palafin usually stays in its unremarkable {{form|Palafin|Zero Form}}, transforming into its previously seen {{form|Palafin|Hero Form}} only when there's trouble. However, no one has actually ever seen its exact moment of transformation. The photographers from before introduce themselves as the [[Snap Boys]], their passion being to take photos of Palafin's heroic deeds with the help of their Patrat. However, when they display interest in capturing a photo of the elusive transformation sequence, the {{pkmn|category|Dolphin Pokémon}} displays its disapproval by splashing them with water. Liko figures that since no one has ever seen Palafin transforming, it must want to keep that moment hidden. She figures that she doesn't mind not seeing it, as seeing something that Palafin doesn't want to be seen wouldn't feel right to her. Sensing Liko's considerate feelings with its ultrasonic waves, Palafin starts taking a liking to her.


As Sprigatito and Fuecoco greet a {{p|Nacli}}, Roy scans Finizen with his Pokédex. Liko plays with the Finizen underwater, finding entertainment in their bubble rings. Watching the pod swim around her, Liko then spots one with a red heart-shaped mark on its chest. She gets intrigued by this before hearing someone calling for help back on the beach, the Finizen with the red mark becoming determined and diving below the water. The kids see a man hanging from a roof, the ladder broken as he is losing his grip. Some men with cameras and their trio of {{p|Patrat}} are ready to capture what happens on this beach when someone's in trouble. They are excited to spot something in the water rushing out to catch the man before he falls; {{p|Palafin}}, Hero of the Ocean. The trash cleaner appears next to the kids, startling them again as he points out that Palafin is the protector who watches over these waters. Palafin returns to the ocean, the camera crew thanking it and snapping pictures of it.
A sleeping {{TP|Roy|Fuecoco}} is washed into the open water while resting on a float. Once he wakes up, he starts panicking and accidentally punctures the float with his toenail, causing it to start sinking. Roy tries to help his partner, but Hero Form Palafin shows up first, rescuing Fuecoco and creating a new float for him from its water rings. Palafin then proceeds to perform a number of other heroic deeds while the Swimmer narrates about its abilities: flight using water streams, bubble lenses that allow it to see things from kilometers away, 50-knot swimming speed, super strength, lightning-fast {{m|Jet Punch}}es, water-propelled super jumps, and powerful kicks. While everyone else celebrates the Hero of the Sea, one of the Snap Boys is feeling frustrated as Palafin's transformation sequence had just occurred right next to them without them being able to capture a photo of it. His companions tell him that getting a photo of the exact moment is very difficult, since Palafin only transforms when there's trouble. This, though, gives the first photographer an idea, so they set up a fake emergency by having one of them sit on a cliff while pretending to be hurt and calling for help as the other two are hiding below to capture the crucial moment of transformation on camera. Meanwhile, aboard the [[Brave Olivine]], Dot is reading posts sent for Nidothing. One of them asks if she has heard of the legendary Hero of the Sea, but she's surprised when the post specifies that they are not talking about Palafin.


Fuecoco wears its sunglasses while relaxing on a Wailmer float, and Sprigatito plays with a {{p|Buizel}}. The trash cleaner introduces Liko and Roy to Palafin in its Normal form, the Finizen with the heart-shaped mark that Liko saw earlier. The Pokémon they saw save the man was Palafin in its Hero form. Roy is amazed to know it probably transforms, and the trash cleaner admits that no one has ever seen it change forms. Liko sees the camera crew snapping photos of Palafin, asking who they are. The crew introduces themselves as the Snap Boys, devoting their time to taking pictures of Palafin. One of them shows photos to the kids they've taken of Palafin helping out in the beach community. Thanks to their Patrat, keeping a close eye on Palafin, they've been able to take quite a lot of photos. Liko is still enthralled by how such a cute Pokémon can become a cool hero. Roy asks if they have ever been able to snap a photo of Palafin's transformation sequence, and they say no, but it would be great. As Palafin uses its ultrasonic waves one of the Snap Boys takes another picture, prompting the Dolphin Pokémon to turn away and splash its tail at the group in annoyance. Liko notices this, thinking that she wouldn't mind seeing the transformation for herself, and that Palafin doesn't want anyone to see it change forms. Palafin uses it waves on Liko, who thinks that seeing something about Dolphin Pokémon that it doesn't want to be seen wouldn't feel right. Palafin's eyes light up at Liko's thoughts.  
While continuing his fake calls for help and starting to doubt the morality of their idea, the Snap Boy on the cliff suddenly finds himself surrounded by a group of {{p|Klawf}}. He tries to distract them with his camera flash and run off, but ends up running into a palm tree while dodging a Diglett, causing a bunch of coconuts to fall on one of the Klawf and making the whole group angry. His cries for help become genuine, though his companions think he's still just acting. Palafin hears the cries for help, but hesitates upon noticing the cameras attempting to take a photo of it transforming. Liko and Roy also hear the photographer's distressed calls, but while Roy and Fuecoco run off to help, Liko stops when she notices Palafin hesitating to do anything because of the presence of the Snap Boys. When Roy and Fuecoco also start to get overwhelmed by the Klawf, Liko realizes she must do something. Sprigatito comes up with an idea, so Liko has her use {{m|Magical Leaf}} to cover the Snap Boys in a cloud of leaves, blocking their field of vision. As Liko turns to face Palafin, she's stunned to see it starting to {{a|Zero to Hero|transform}} before her eyes.


The waves suddenly wash a napping Fuecoco out to the water as Ludlow plays with Sprigatito. Roy looks at more photos the Snap Boys took of Palafin before sees Fuecoco freaking out, its toes popping a hole in his float causing it to sink. As Roy rushes to help his partner, Palafin saves it in its Hero form, creating a life preserver with the rings on its tail for Fuecoco to rest on, as the trash cleaner points out. Once out of the water, Roy and Fuecoco tearfully embrace as the Snap Kids take photos of Palafin's Hero form. Palafin returns to the ocean, the Snap Boys thanking it and snapping pictures of it again, this time with a teared up Roy thanking it too. Its strengths are pointed out by an announcer. A woman loses her cloth to the wind, and Palafin uses its jet propulsion to soar through the air and catch it. A kid loses his bike key, and Palafin uses the bubble lenses around its eyes to spot it from far away. Palafin swims at 50 knots, and its super strength allows it to lift a cruise ship with ease, as seen when it lifts a large boat off some rocks. A poacher catches a bunch of {{p|Luvdisc}} for their scales, and Palafin uses its signature move, {{m|Jet Punch}}, to break the crane. It does a super jump in the opposite direction with water pumped from its blowhole before coming back fast with enough force to kick the tank open, freeing the Luvdisc. Everyone praises Palafin for saving the day and protecting the peace of the ocean as Sprigatito relaxes on Ludlow's lap.
Roy, Fuecoco, and the photographer suddenly find themselves saved by Hero Form Palafin just as Liko joins them. Palafin strikes one of the Klawf with its Jet Punch, but another Klawf's {{m|X-Scissor}} strikes it on its weak spot on its chest, causing critical damage. On the beach, Ludlow decides to step in, pulling off his usual clothes to reveal a muscular body and a superhero outfit. He grabs a [[Dive Ball]], sending out his {{p|Sharpedo}} and jumping into the sea with it. While Palafin is getting cornered by the Klawf, Ludlow, now in his superhero persona of "Mighty G", emerges from the sea on his Sharpedo, landing before the distressed citizens and addressing Palafin as an old acquaintance of his, much to Roy's surprise. "Mighty G" relays his plan to Palafin through vague instructions, which it nevertheless understands. "Mighty G" encourages everyone to cheer for Palafin, which successfully restores its strength. With Palafin's power restored, it and "Mighty G" perform a bunch of double hugs, successfully calming down the Klawf before posing for a group photo with them and then jumping back into the sea. Meeting up with the Snap Boys, Liko and Roy are angry at them for faking needing help, and they promise to stop trying to take a photo of Palafin's transformation sequence. While Liko and Sprigatito actually saw the transformation, they decide to not tell anyone about it, feeling it's for the best that way. Liko and Roy return to Ludlow, who says he threw out his back to hide the stress that being a hero for three minutes have inflicted on his old body. Aboard the Brave Olivine, Dot receives the group photo featuring the "Mighty G", but since he's not a Pokémon, she does not care.


The Snap Boys admire the pictures they've taken of Palafin at work, when one of them can't take it anymore, having never been able to catch its transformation on camera. The others point out what a lost cause it is. The lead Snap Boy says that he had the chance when Palafin's Normal form was right there, knowing how huge it would be if they actually succeeded in snapping a photo of its transformation. The others know that Palafin only changes when someone is in trouble, giving the lead Snap Boy an idea.
Later, Roy shows Friede various photos of Palafin that he got from the Snap Boys, impressing the [[Pokémon Professor]]. Ludlow notices an odd structure in the background of one of the photos, and the Swimmer tells them that it was built recently by a group of suspicious people who suddenly showed up there, causing Friede to suspect it being connected to the [[Explorers]].


On a cliff above the beach, one of the Snap Boys fakes a leg injury while calling out for Palafin as the other two lie and wait below, using fakes bushes to hide themselves. Meanwhile, Dot reads through the comments on one of her Nidothing videos about the joys of seaside, disagreeing with their opinions on salt water being enjoyable. She gets to a comment asking about the legendary hero of the sea. Dot thinks its Palafin in its cool Hero form, but the commenter says that they're not talking about Palafin, which surprises Dot. She is left wondering if there's someone else out there like that. The Snap Kid faking his injury is starting to wonder if they should be doing this. Just then, he finds himself surrounded by a gang of {{p|Klawf}}. He flashes his camera at them to try and get away. He steps over a Diglett before running into a palm tree, causing coconuts to fall and hit a Klawf on the head, angering the whole crew. When he calls for help, the other two Snap Kids think he is a good actor. Palafin hears the Snap Boy's pleas, ready to leap into action. However, the cameras of the other two catch its eye, causing it to hesitate. Liko and Roy hear the commotion and decide to help the Snap Kid from the Klawf. As Roy goes off, Liko sees Palafin sitting still. Sprigatito points her to the other Snap Kids below the cliff, their cameras pointed at Palafin, and Liko realizes what's going on. Roy arrives at the cliff and tries to have Fuecoco calm the Klawf down with {{m|Disarming Voice}}. However, it doesn't work, and Fuecoco gets hit by the Klawfs' {{m|X-Scissor}}. Liko and Palafin see the situation getting worse, but the former knows it can't transform with those cameras pointing at it. Sprigatito shares an idea with Liko, who has her partner use {{m|Magical Leaf}} to block the Snap Boys' cameras. Palafin sees Liko giving it a hand, glowing with a bright sparkling light that leaves her in awe.
===Bonus scene===
 
While the Rising Volt Tacklers are having their barbeque, Friede receives an unexpected phone call from his colleague, [[Professor Willow]]. He says that a bunch of {{p|Pikachu}} wearing hats have started to show up all over the place, specifying that they look like [[Captain Pikachu]]'s hat when Cap jumps on Friede's shoulder. Willow tries to ask Friede's help in getting to the bottom of this, when one of the Pikachu suddenly electrocutes him, causing the call to disconnect.
Roy and the Snap Boy are cornered by the Klawf, but just before they are about to get attacked by their X-Scissor, Palafin arrives in its Hero form and takes on the Klawf. The trash cleaner arrives out of nowhere again to announce the "showdown of the century". Everyone is there to cheer on the Hero Pokémon as it strikes first with Jet Punch. Klawf strikes its chest with X-Scissor, which the trash cleaner identifies as Palafin's weak point. Ludlow, saying that a Staraptor hides it talons but bares them when the time is right, changes into his superhero alter ego, Mighty G, sending out his Sharpedo to ride into the fray. Surrounded by the Klawf army, Palafin doesn't know how much longer it can hold on. Liko then notices something in the water, leaping out revealing itself to be Mighty G riding his Sharpedo. The Brutal Pokémon uses {{m|Aqua Jet}} to send the Klawf scurrying back, Mighty G leaping off and catching Sharpedo in his hands. He sets down Sharpedo by a tree and is glad to see Palafin again, shocking the crowd that they know each other. Mighty G gives Palafin hand signals, which confuses Liko. But her confusion turns to shock upon seeing that Palafin understood. Mighty G tells everyone to cheer Palafin on. The crowd's cheers resonate with the Hero Pokémon, its chest lighting up to show that it has regained its strength. Mighty G and Palafin make a leap into the air and dive down towards the Klawf, unleashing they're Hero Hug to sooth them. After everyone poses with the calmed Klawf, Mighty G asks Liko what makes a hero cool. He answers by saying that a big heart will always answer the call, making Liko nervous. Palafin and Mighty G return to the ocean, everyone thanking them as Liko thinks about what Mighty G told her.
 
The Snap Boys' stunt is found out by the group, Roy scolding them for someone elsewhere needing rescue from Palafin. After the Snap Boys apologize, Liko admits to herself that she got to see Palafin's transformation after all, but decides to keep it a secret from them. She and Roy then notice Ludlow lying on his side, having thrown his back out. Liko tells Ludlow that Mighty G and Palafin helped them out a while ago. Liko asks Roy if they'll ever see them again, and he is confident that they will. Dot sees the picture of everyone, including Mighty G, posing with the Klawf, less than impressed that the Hero of the Ocean isn't a Pokémon. At sunset, Roy shows Friede the photos he got from the Snap Boys. Ludlow notices a strange white structure in the background of one of the photos. The trash cleaner points out that some suspicious strangers showed up and put it there, intriguing Friede.


==Major events==
==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. -->
<!-- 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. -->
* The [[Rising Volt Tacklers]] arrive back in [[Paldea]].<ref>[https://twitter.com/anipoke_PR/status/1765255994173710462?s=20 パルデア地方の海辺へやって来たリコとロイ&#x2728; - @anipoke_PR on Twitter]</ref>
* The [[Rising Volt Tacklers]] arrive back in [[Paldea]].<ref>While this is left ambigious in the episode itself, it was confirmed in a [https://twitter.com/anipoke_PR/status/1765255994173710462 tweet] of the episode summary by the [https://twitter.com/anipoke_PR anime's official Twitter account], and later stated in the recap segment during the [[HZ043|next episode]].</ref>
* [[Liko]] and [[Roy]] learn about [[ecologically similar Pokémon]].
* [[Ludlow]] is revealed to have a superhero alter ego called "Mighty G" and own a {{p|Sharpedo}}.
* [[Ludlow]] is revealed to have a superhero alter ego called "Mighty G" and own a {{p|Sharpedo}}.
* [[Friede]] is informed of the existence of a mysterious tower.
{{animeevents}}
{{animeevents}}


Line 110: Line 109:
* {{p|Rockruff}} ({{OP|Murdock|Rockruff}})
* {{p|Rockruff}} ({{OP|Murdock|Rockruff}})
* {{p|Quaxly}} ({{OP|Dot|Quaxly}})
* {{p|Quaxly}} ({{OP|Dot|Quaxly}})
* {{p|Tinkatink}} ([[Dot]]'s)
* {{p|Tinkatink}} ({{OP|Dot|Tinkatink}})
* {{p|Rotom}} ([[Dot]]'s; [[Rotom Phone]])
* {{p|Rotom}} ([[Dot]]'s; [[Rotom Phone]])
* {{p|Gimmighoul}} ([[Professor Willow]]'s; {{form|Gimmighoul|Roaming Form}}; debut)
* {{p|Gimmighoul}} ([[Professor Willow]]'s; {{form|Gimmighoul|Roaming Form}}; debut)
Line 148: Line 147:
** Choices: Flight, super strength, jet propulsion
** Choices: Flight, super strength, jet propulsion
** Answer:  All of the above
** Answer:  All of the above
* The first [[eyecatch]] features [[Roy]] and {{TP|Roy|Fuecoco}}, and the second one features [[Ludlow]] and his {{p|Quagsire}}.
* The first [[eyecatch]] features [[Roy]] and his {{TP|Roy|Fuecoco}}, and the second features [[Ludlow]] and his {{p|Quagsire}}.
* Outside of flashbacks, [[Liko]] and Roy only wear their swimsuits throughout this episode.
* Outside of flashbacks, [[Liko]] and Roy only wear their swimsuits throughout this episode.
* As of this episode, [[Mollie]] is the only member of the [[Rising Volt Tacklers]] who only has one known Pokémon in their [[party]].
* As of this episode, [[Mollie]] is the only member of the [[Rising Volt Tacklers]] who only has one known Pokémon in their [[party]].
* For the initial airing of this episode, Professor Friede's Pokémon Seminar was replaced by a bonus scene featuring [[Professor Willow]]. This scene was cut from the [[YouTube]] and VOD versions, but was uploaded to the official Pokémon YouTube channel.<ref>[https://youtu.be/Ljj_jXiVACs?si=vXmZKQasaw-ORasl 【公式】アニメ「ポケットモンスター」にウィロー博士が登場！]</ref>
* For the initial airing of this episode, Professor Friede's Pokémon Seminar was replaced by an announcement about the [[Pokémon Day#2024|collaboration]] between [[Pokémon GO]] and ''[[Pokémon Horizons: The Series]]'', which included a bonus scene featuring [[Professor Willow]]. This scene was cut from the [[YouTube]] and VOD versions, but was uploaded to the official Pokémon YouTube channel.<ref>[https://youtu.be/Ljj_jXiVACs?si=vXmZKQasaw-ORasl 【公式】アニメ「ポケットモンスター」にウィロー博士が登場！]</ref>
* This episode marks the first time that a human character from [[Pokémon GO]] appears in the anime.
* This episode marks the first time that a human character introduced in Pokémon GO appears in the anime.
* When {{form|Palafin|Hero Form}} {{p|Palafin}} first appears, Liko and the [[Snap Boys]] say "''A yatch? A boat? No, it's... the Hero of the Ocean, Palafin!''", which seems to be a [[List of references to popular culture in Pokémon|reference]] to the iconic quote from 1940's ''{{wp|The Adventures of Superman (radio series)|The Adventures of Superman}}'': "''It's a bird! It's a plane! It's Superman!''"
* When {{form|Palafin|Hero Form}} {{p|Palafin}} first appears, Liko and the [[Snap Boys]] say "''A yacht? A boat? No, it's... the Hero of the Ocean, Palafin!''", which seems to be a [[List of references to popular culture in Pokémon|reference]] to the iconic quote from 1940's ''{{wp|The Adventures of Superman (radio series)|The Adventures of Superman}}'': "''It's a bird! It's a plane! It's Superman!''"


===Errors===
===Errors===
Line 165: Line 164:
{{reflist}}
{{reflist}}
{{-}}
{{-}}
{{stub|Anime|Episode}}
<!-- fill in the title links with dub titles only -->
<!-- fill in the title links with dub titles only -->
{{EpicodePrevNext|
{{EpicodePrevNext|
Line 182: Line 180:
[[Category:Episodes storyboarded by Ayumi Moriyama]]
[[Category:Episodes storyboarded by Ayumi Moriyama]]
[[Category:Episodes directed by Ayumi Moriyama]]
[[Category:Episodes directed by Ayumi Moriyama]]
[[Category:Episodes animated by Yūhei Takaboshi]]
[[Category:Episodes animated by Natsumi Hattori]]
[[Category:Episodes animated by Natsumi Hattori]]
[[Category:Episodes animated by Megumi Matsumoto]]
[[Category:Episodes animated by Megumi Matsumoto]]
[[Category:Episodes animated by Yūhei Takaboshi]]
[[Category:Episodes animated by Kurika Yamagata]]
[[Category:Episodes animated by Makoto Shinjō]]
[[Category:Episodes by multiple animation directors]]
[[Category:Episodes by multiple animation directors]]
[[Category:Episodes in which a Legendary Pokémon appears]]
[[Category:Episodes in which a Legendary Pokémon appears]]

Revision as of 11:50, 15 April 2024

These donuts are great! This article is about an episode of the Pokémon anime that has not been dubbed into English. As such, its coverage may contain romanized Japanese names, rather than dub names.
← HZ041
Pokémon Horizons: The Series
HZ043 →
HZ042
HZ042.png
HZ042   EP1274
変身！海のヒーローイルカマン!
Transform! The Hero of the Sea, Irukaman!
First broadcast
Japan March 8, 2024
United States
English themes
Opening
Ending
Japanese themes
Opening ハロ
Ending RVR〜ライジングボルテッカーズラップ〜[ランドウVer.PART2]
Credits
Animation Team Kato
Screenplay うえのきみこ Kimiko Ueno
Storyboard 森山愛弓 Ayumi Moriyama
Assistant director 森山愛弓 Ayumi Moriyama
Animation directors 服部奈津美 Natsumi Hattori
松本めぐみ Megumi Matsumoto
高星佑平 Yūhei Takaboshi
山縣クリカ Kurika Yamagata
新城真 Makoto Shinjō
Additional credits

(Japanese: 変身！海のヒーローイルカマン Transform! The Hero of the Sea, Irukaman!) is the 42nd episode of Pokémon Horizons: The Series, and the 1,274th episode of the Pokémon anime. It first aired in Japan on March 8, 2024.

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

Plot

Having finally arrived back in Paldea, the Rising Volt Tacklers decide to stop on a beach to relax. Liko, Roy, Friede, Murdock, and Ludlow arrive ahead of the others, with Friede and Murdock heading off to prepare for a barbeque later that day while Ludlow stays behind to watch after the children. As the adults head out, Roy asks Liko if Dot is coming, but she responds that Dot had found the idea of going to a beach repulsive and refused the offer to join. Sprigatito, meanwhile, notices a Pokémon similar to a white Diglett, but with a longer body. Roy's Rotom Phone reveals that the Pokémon in question is actually a Wiglett, a Pokémon that is similar to Diglett while still being a completely different species, fascinating the children. Liko admires how clean the beach is, and an enthusiastic Swimmer suddenly appears behind them, introducing himself and his partner Trubbish as the ones responsible for keeping the beach spotless, before rushing off to pick up a piece of trash in the distance. The children then spot a group of Finizen swimming nearby, with Ludlow behind them remarking to himself that it's been a while.

Liko and Roy take a swim with the Finizen. While doing so, Liko spots one with a heart shape on its chest. As she surfaces to wonder about this out loud, a cry for help is heard; a man has been left hanging from a rooftop after his ladder fell over and broke. A group of photographers accompanied by a trio of Patrat aim their cameras at the sea in preparation of something they know is coming. Just at the moment when the man falls off the roof, a Palafin emerges from the sea and catches him mid-fall, with the photographers going wild at the sight of it. After Palafin has returned to the sea, the Swimmer from before introduces Liko and Roy to it, explaining that Palafin usually stays in its unremarkable Zero Form, transforming into its previously seen Hero Form only when there's trouble. However, no one has actually ever seen its exact moment of transformation. The photographers from before introduce themselves as the Snap Boys, their passion being to take photos of Palafin's heroic deeds with the help of their Patrat. However, when they display interest in capturing a photo of the elusive transformation sequence, the Dolphin Pokémon displays its disapproval by splashing them with water. Liko figures that since no one has ever seen Palafin transforming, it must want to keep that moment hidden. She figures that she doesn't mind not seeing it, as seeing something that Palafin doesn't want to be seen wouldn't feel right to her. Sensing Liko's considerate feelings with its ultrasonic waves, Palafin starts taking a liking to her.

A sleeping Fuecoco is washed into the open water while resting on a float. Once he wakes up, he starts panicking and accidentally punctures the float with his toenail, causing it to start sinking. Roy tries to help his partner, but Hero Form Palafin shows up first, rescuing Fuecoco and creating a new float for him from its water rings. Palafin then proceeds to perform a number of other heroic deeds while the Swimmer narrates about its abilities: flight using water streams, bubble lenses that allow it to see things from kilometers away, 50-knot swimming speed, super strength, lightning-fast Jet Punches, water-propelled super jumps, and powerful kicks. While everyone else celebrates the Hero of the Sea, one of the Snap Boys is feeling frustrated as Palafin's transformation sequence had just occurred right next to them without them being able to capture a photo of it. His companions tell him that getting a photo of the exact moment is very difficult, since Palafin only transforms when there's trouble. This, though, gives the first photographer an idea, so they set up a fake emergency by having one of them sit on a cliff while pretending to be hurt and calling for help as the other two are hiding below to capture the crucial moment of transformation on camera. Meanwhile, aboard the Brave Olivine, Dot is reading posts sent for Nidothing. One of them asks if she has heard of the legendary Hero of the Sea, but she's surprised when the post specifies that they are not talking about Palafin.

While continuing his fake calls for help and starting to doubt the morality of their idea, the Snap Boy on the cliff suddenly finds himself surrounded by a group of Klawf. He tries to distract them with his camera flash and run off, but ends up running into a palm tree while dodging a Diglett, causing a bunch of coconuts to fall on one of the Klawf and making the whole group angry. His cries for help become genuine, though his companions think he's still just acting. Palafin hears the cries for help, but hesitates upon noticing the cameras attempting to take a photo of it transforming. Liko and Roy also hear the photographer's distressed calls, but while Roy and Fuecoco run off to help, Liko stops when she notices Palafin hesitating to do anything because of the presence of the Snap Boys. When Roy and Fuecoco also start to get overwhelmed by the Klawf, Liko realizes she must do something. Sprigatito comes up with an idea, so Liko has her use Magical Leaf to cover the Snap Boys in a cloud of leaves, blocking their field of vision. As Liko turns to face Palafin, she's stunned to see it starting to transform before her eyes.

Roy, Fuecoco, and the photographer suddenly find themselves saved by Hero Form Palafin just as Liko joins them. Palafin strikes one of the Klawf with its Jet Punch, but another Klawf's X-Scissor strikes it on its weak spot on its chest, causing critical damage. On the beach, Ludlow decides to step in, pulling off his usual clothes to reveal a muscular body and a superhero outfit. He grabs a Dive Ball, sending out his Sharpedo and jumping into the sea with it. While Palafin is getting cornered by the Klawf, Ludlow, now in his superhero persona of "Mighty G", emerges from the sea on his Sharpedo, landing before the distressed citizens and addressing Palafin as an old acquaintance of his, much to Roy's surprise. "Mighty G" relays his plan to Palafin through vague instructions, which it nevertheless understands. "Mighty G" encourages everyone to cheer for Palafin, which successfully restores its strength. With Palafin's power restored, it and "Mighty G" perform a bunch of double hugs, successfully calming down the Klawf before posing for a group photo with them and then jumping back into the sea. Meeting up with the Snap Boys, Liko and Roy are angry at them for faking needing help, and they promise to stop trying to take a photo of Palafin's transformation sequence. While Liko and Sprigatito actually saw the transformation, they decide to not tell anyone about it, feeling it's for the best that way. Liko and Roy return to Ludlow, who says he threw out his back to hide the stress that being a hero for three minutes have inflicted on his old body. Aboard the Brave Olivine, Dot receives the group photo featuring the "Mighty G", but since he's not a Pokémon, she does not care.

Later, Roy shows Friede various photos of Palafin that he got from the Snap Boys, impressing the Pokémon Professor. Ludlow notices an odd structure in the background of one of the photos, and the Swimmer tells them that it was built recently by a group of suspicious people who suddenly showed up there, causing Friede to suspect it being connected to the Explorers.

Bonus scene

While the Rising Volt Tacklers are having their barbeque, Friede receives an unexpected phone call from his colleague, Professor Willow. He says that a bunch of Pikachu wearing hats have started to show up all over the place, specifying that they look like Captain Pikachu's hat when Cap jumps on Friede's shoulder. Willow tries to ask Friede's help in getting to the bottom of this, when one of the Pikachu suddenly electrocutes him, causing the call to disconnect.

Major events

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

Debuts

Humans

Pokémon debuts

Characters

Humans

Pokémon

Trivia

Errors

Dub edits

In other languages

References

  1. ↑ While this is left ambigious in the episode itself, it was confirmed in a tweet of the episode summary by the anime's official Twitter account, and later stated in the recap segment during the next episode.
  2. ↑ 【公式】アニメ「ポケットモンスター」にウィロー博士が登場！


← HZ041
Pokémon Horizons: The Series
HZ043 →
Project Anime logo.png This episode article is part of Project Anime, a Bulbapedia project that covers all aspects of the Pokémon anime.
Retrieved from "https://bulbapedia.bulbagarden.net/w/index.php?title=HZ042&oldid=3989735"