Pokémon Theme

If you were looking for the CD, see Pokémon Theme (single).

Pokémon Theme
Dub OP 1 Artist Jason Paige Lyrics John Loeffler Composer ? Arrangement John Siegler
KOCH Records Title Pokémon 2.B.A. Master Catalog no. ?

Pokémon Theme is the first opening theme music from the English dub of the Pokémon anime. It was introduced in EP001 and was replaced with Pokémon World in EP084. Being featured in 83 episodes makes it the most-used dub opening theme. The opening animation uses footage from the first Japanese opening, Aim to Be a Pokémon Master.

It was written and produced by John Loeffler. The lead vocals were sung by Jason Paige in English, and Jana Bianchi in the Brazilian dub.

A full version of the song is the first track on the Pokémon 2.B.A. Master audio CD, and includes a second verse not usually heard in the show. This version is also featured in the episode of the anime, All Fired Up and once again in Friends To The End. Another full version sung by Billy Crawford was the theme played during the opening credits of Mewtwo Strikes Back, and is the first track on the movie's soundtrack.

Opening animation spoilers

• Ash receives his starter Pokémon, Pikachu
• The capture of Ash's Bulbasaur

Characters

Humans

• Ash
• Misty
• Brock
• Jessie
• James
• Girl in miniskirt, possibly Lass
• Gary
• Delia
• Professor Oak
• Nurse Joy
• Officer Jenny

Pokémon

• Mewtwo
• Mew
• Cubone (Giselle's)
• Pidgeotto (Ash's)
• Squirtle (Ash's)
• Bulbasaur (Ash's)
• Charmander (Ash's)
• Haunter (Ash's)
• Arcanine
• Rapidash
• Zapdos
• Articuno
• Sandshrew (A.J.'s)
• Kadabra (Sabrina's)
• Lapras
• Gyarados
• Dragonair
• Raichu (Lt. Surge's)
• Caterpie (Ash's)
• Ekans (Jessie's)
• Koffing (James's)
• Pikachu (Ash's)
• Tentacruel (Giant)
• Onix (Brock's)
• Meowth (Team Rocket)
• Venusaur
• Charizard
• Blastoise
• Zubat (Brock's)
• Butterfree (Ash's)

Lyrics

I wanna be the very best
Like no one ever was
To catch them is my real test
To train them is my cause

I will travel across the land
Searching far and wide
Each Pokémon to understand
The power that's inside

Pokémon (Gotta catch 'em all), it's you and me
I know it's my destiny
Pokémon...ooh, you're my best friend
In a world we must defend
Pokémon (Gotta catch 'em all), a heart so true
Our courage will pull us through
You teach me, and I'll teach you
Pokémon
Gotta catch 'em all!
Gotta catch 'em all!
Gotta catch 'em all!

Yeah...

Ev'ry challenge along the way
With courage I will face
I will battle ev'ry day
To claim my rightful place

Come with me, the time is right
There's no better team,
Arm in arm, we'll win the fight
It's always been our dream

Pokémon (Gotta catch 'em all), it's you and me
I know it's my destiny
Pokémon...ooh, you're my best friend
In a world we must defend
Pokémon (Gotta catch 'em all), a heart so true
Our courage will pull us through
You teach me, and I'll teach you
Pokémon
Gotta catch 'em all! (5×)


Pokémon (Gotta catch 'em all), it's you and me
I know it's my destiny
Pokémon...ooh, you're my best friend
In a world we must defend
Pokémon (Gotta catch 'em all), a heart so true
Our courage will pull us through
You teach me, and I'll teach you
Pokémon
Gotta catch 'em all!
Gotta catch 'em all!
Pokémon

Credits

• Lead Vocal: Jason Paige
• BG Vocals: Kati Mac, Jason Paige, John Loeffler, Ken Cummings, Louis Cortelezzi
• Guitars: Larry Saltzman, David Rolfe
• Co-produced and arranged by John Siegler

Trivia

• Sheet music for this song was included in Pokémon 2.B.A. Master: Recorder Fun! and the Pokémon 2.B.A. Master piano book.
• This is one of the songs featured in the American release of Donkey Konga.
• This song was included on the movie 9 bonus CD.
• In the Brazilian version of this song are sung by a solo female.

Errors

• In one scene, for a split second, Meowth's right fang disappears.

In other languages

• Czech: Pokémon
• Danish: Pokémon Tema
• Finnish: Pokémon-teema
• French: Thème Pokémon
• German: Komm schnapp' sie dir
• Hungarian: Pokémon főcímdal
• Norwegian: Pokémon Theme
• Polish: Główny Temat Pokémon
• Russian: Всех их соберём
• Portuguese:
  • Brazilian Portuguese: Tema de Pokémon
  • European Portuguese: Tema Pokémon
• Spanish:
  • Iberian Spanish: La Canción de Pokémon
  • Latin American Spanish: Tema De Pokémon

This article is part of Project Music, a Bulbapedia project that aims to write comprehensive articles on each Pokémon song, CD and musician.