Team Rocket mottos: Difference between revisions

The Team Rocket motto is a motto that Team Rocket members often recite and/or live by.

In the anime

Jessie, James, and Meowth have several mottos, saying one of them in nearly every episode when they reveal themselves to Ash and his friends. Early on, they had an irresistible urge to say it whenever hearing the word "trouble", but this seemingly has been left to the past. This motto would usually be said by all members of the trio, but when one of them is not present, another member takes their line.

Original motto

Since the episode Team Rocket was introduced in, the duo has used rhyming "prepare for trouble" and "make it double" phrases. An example from Zig Zag Zangoose!, where Jessie was training Seviper and Meowth filled in for her, is:

Meowth: Prepare for trouble, here in the wood...

James: ... and make it double, like you know that you should!

Also, the lines "To denounce the evils of truth and love!" and "To extend our reach to the stars above!" were often said by both Jessie and James in the first season.

There were many occasions in which they would use a radio or something else to play the background music. Also, in many later episodes, James said "fight, fight, fight" at the end of his last line. Wobbuffet also began saying its name at the end of the motto in Tunnel Vision, and has done so in most episodes since.

It should also be noted that this version of the motto was used in commercials for Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen with each line being said by different children, omitting the parts where Jessie, James and Meowth say their own names and the line "Team Rocket, blasting off at the speed of light."

Team Rocket returned to this motto in A Lean Mean Team Rocket Machine, as a return to their "hip and cool" ways, done by only Jessie, James, and Meowth, without the usual ending additions of Wobbuffet and Mime Jr.

Variations in the original series

Pokémon Fashion Flash motto

In this episode Team Rocket opens "Salon Roquet" and for this reason introduces itself with a special motto.

Jessie: To protect the world from boring fashion!

James: To dress all people with flash and passion!

Jessie: To give all Pokémon pretty faces!

James: To extend our art to outer spaces!

Jessie: Jessie!

James: James!

Jessie: Salon Roquet! When it comes to chic we know what's right!

James: Surrender your taste or prepare to fight!

Meowth Rules! motto

In this episode Meowth, being hit by Squirtle's Water Gun, flies up and falls on an island where a strange tribe that worships Meowth lives. Almost in the end of the episode when Meowth feels lonely and says he misses Jessie and James, they both appear and recite a special version of their motto for Meowth. At the same time, the tribal priest and high priest beg Meowth to stay with the tribe.

The priest: Great One, our people need you here!

Jessie: I'm the one who needs you too!

James: Make it double, we both need you!

Jessie: You protect us both from desperation!

James: You unite us all in jubilation!

Jessie: You help chase away our loneliness!

James: You're a mess, but we love you nevertheless!

Jessie: Jessie!

James: James!

Jessie: Team Rocket's friendship never ends!

James: So let's set sail on our ship of friends!

Tracey Gets Bugged motto

Since Jessie gets her hair cut short by a wild Scyther in this episode, Team Rocket recites a special motto.

Jessie: You insult my hair? Prepare for trouble!

James: It used to be there but now it's stubble!

Jessie: To protect my head from humiliation!

James: Too bad her hair went on vacation!

Jessie: My gorgeous hair was my one true love!

James: They went together like a hand and glove!

Jessie: Jessie!

James: James!

Jessie: Now my hair is short but it won't be for long!

James: And it won't stop our Jessie from doing what's wrong!

Meowth: Hairy!

The Double Trouble Header motto

Pretending to be baseball fans, Team Rocket recites the following motto upon stealing Ash's Pikachu and Casey's Chikorita (both were later freed).

Jessie: Attention, twerps, it's prepare-for-trouble day!

James: But you're both out, what makes it a double play!

Jessie: To protect our team from devastation!

James: To excite our side with a big ovation!

Jessie: To strike out the evils of truth and love!

James: To extend our reach with a baseball glove!

Jessie: Jessie!

James: James!

Jessie: Team Rocket throws their fastballs at the speed of light!

James catches a ball thrown by Jessie

Meowth: Strike Three!

Jessie and James throw themselves into each other's arms

James: We won, Jessie!

Jessie: James!

James: Jessie!

Meowth (with tears in his face): That's... right!

Spinarak Attack motto

In this episode Jessie and James try to imitate The Black Arachnid, a well-known burglar. Upon breaking into a rich mansion and seizing a valuable trophy, they introduce themselves to the stunned witnesses with the following motto.

Ash: How did they get in?!

Jessie: Check your eyes and prepare for trouble!

James: We've got the prize, so make it double!

Jessie: To protect the world from its own greed!

James: To steal all the treasure that they don't need!

Jessie: To work every heist like there are none other!

James: And split the spoils with one another!

Jessie: Jessie!

James: James!

Jessie: Thieves return under cover of night!

James: Surrender now or prepare to fight!

Meowth: Meowth! That's right!

The Goldenrod Opportunity motto

This motto was recited by Jessie and James after they had confused some wares at a food store with free samples and had been caught by a saleswoman.

Jessie: Now you're in for a bunch of trouble!

James: We're eating lunch, so make it double!

Jessie: To eat and drink to our hearts' content!

James: Without even having to spend a single cent!

Jessie: To denounce the evils of paying for food!

James: We won't leave a single sample unchewed!

Jessie: Jessie!

James: James!

Jessie: Team Rocket loves scarfing down free samples at the speed of light!

James: Yes, and we like to eat even more than we like to fight!

Meowth: You got that right!

This episode is also notable due to the fact that Team Rocket did not shout out their usual "blasting off" phrase in it, even before disappearing in the Magnet Train tunnel although the shining star did appear.

Hassle in the Castle motto

In this episode Team Rocket breaks into a castle that later appeared to be a hospital, where Pokémon were used to treat people. Upon stealing some food from the dining room and trying to get away, Team Rocket was caught by Dr. Anna and Brock.

Dr. Anna: Excuse me, do you have an appointment?!

Jessie: We have no appointment, but we've been having some trouble!

James: So prescribe us some ointment on the double!

Jessie: To protect us from all that chafing and itching!

James: It might finally stop all of Jessie's... complaining!

Jessie: To eradicate the evils of athlete's feet!

James: Maybe I can get rid of my prickly heat!

Jessie: Jessie!

James: James!

Jessie: Team Rocket's been scratching at the speed of light!

James: So give us some salve or we'll never sleep tonight!

Meowth: Meowth, that's right.

Beauty and the Breeder motto

In this episode Jessie and James enter a Pokémon Beauty Contest, pretending not to be members of Team Rocket (they even forbid Meowth to talk). Because they want to be the first to show their Pokémon in order to make a better impression on the judges, they lock up the first contestant and appear on the stage instead of him. A small delay happens due to this.

Jessie: Sorry we're late, it takes a while...

James: ...to give our Pokémon flare and style!

Jessie: We hope our Pokémon will amaze all of you!

James: We're giving each one a look that's brand new!

Jessie: We're creating a trend and it's gonna be big!

James (combing a wig on Jessie's Wobbuffet): And this doesn't even look like a wig!

Jessie: We two aren't fakers!

James: We're style makers!

Jessie: We're cutting and curling at the speed of light!

James: Put yourself in our hands and we'll make you look right, right, right!

Wobbuffet: Wobbuffet!

Meowth: Meowth, Meowth, Meowth!

Trouble With Snubbull motto

In this episode Team Rocket tries to catch Madame Muchmoney's Snubbull in order to return it to her and receive a reward, which they suppose to be quite large.

Jessie: Prepare to say good-bye to all of our trouble!

James: Prepare to say hello to Snubbull!

Jessie: To protect ourselves from being poor!

James: When we get enough, we'll still get more!

Jessie: We'll capture Snubbull and return it to its rich owner and get a big reward!

James: Then there won't be anything we can't afford!

Jessie: Jessie!

James: James!

Jessie: Team Rocket likes blasting off at the speed of light!

James: But catching that Snubbull and getting that reward would be a delight!

Meowth: Meowth! That's right!

Control Freak! motto

Jessie and James recite this motto after Jessie obtains ancient mask and the staff that can be used to control any Pokémon without catching it.

Jessie: Prepare for the worst trouble you've ever seen!

James: With the staff and the mask Jessie's the queen!

Jessie: I'll rule the world with power and might!

James: She'll capture Pokémon without a fight!

Jessie: A queen, whose subjects must all kneel down before me!

James: Yeah... But... I'll just kneel on one knee.

Jessie: Jessie, Her Royal Highness!

James: James, her lowly... Hey, wait a second!

Jessie: Queen Jessie ruling all with power and might!

James (desperately): You'd better surrender or she'll go on like this all night!

Meowth (desperately): Yeah. Why fight?

For Ho-Oh the Bells Toll motto

In this episode, Team Rocket steals the Crystal Bells, and they use a different version of their motto.

Jessie: With Crystal Bells in hand,

James: We'll ring across the land!

Jessie: And then, when Ho-Oh reappears,

James: We will quickly switch gears!

Jessie: Because, together we will show,

James: That we can beat old Ho-Oh!

Jessie: Jessie!

James: James!

Jessie: Team Rocket! Ringing at the speed of light!

James: Our Crystal Bells pack a mighty fight, fight, fight!

Wobbuffet: Wobbuffet!

Dues and Don'ts motto

At the beginning of this episode Ash and his friends meet Jessie, James and Meowth dressed up as American football players.

Jessie: Prepare for trouble, don’t drop the ball!

James: And make it double with an offsides call!

Jessie: To protect our team we won’t call it quits!

James: We’ll unite our runners with a fourth down blitz!

Jessie: To denounce the evils of an eight-round pick!

James: To extend our reach with a three-point kick!

Jessie: Jessie!

James: James!

Jessie: Team Rocket does one for the giver at the speed of light!

James: No timeouts, the clock’s running, so let's fight, fight, fight!

Meowth: Touchdown! That’s right!

A Tyrogue Full of Trouble motto

This motto is recited when Team Rocket steals the Tyrogue that Kiyo later captures.

Jessie: Prepare for trouble as Tyrogue sails away!

James: And make it double, 'cause we really can’t stay!

Jessie: Pow! To protect the world with a mean right hook!

James: Wam! To unite all peoples with my kickboxer look!

Jessie: To denounce the evils of honest fights!

James (fast): To extend our arms and punch out your lights!

Jessie: Jessie!

James: James!

Jessie: And Team Rocket’s the winner at the speed of light!

James: So surrender at once, 'cause we’ve just won this fight!

Meowth: That’s right!

Xatu the Future motto

Team Rocket recites this motto before trying to steal treasures that people have brought to the Xatu for predicting a flood.

Jessie: I predict that you prepare for trouble!

James: The crystal ball says make it double!

Jessie: To protect the future from devastation!

James: To unite all psychics within our nation!

Jessie: To denounce the evils of non-belief!

James: To read our fortunes from a green-tea leaf!

Jessie: Jessie!

James: James!

Jessie: Team Rocket searches for mystical truth at the speed of light!

James: Surrender now and tell me your sign, or prepare to fight, fight, fight,

Meowth: That’s right!

Talkin' 'Bout an Evolution motto

Jessie, James and Meowth recite this motto upon being caught by other Team Rocket members while trying to sneak into a Team Rocket's secret base thinking it were a farmhouse, where they could find something to eat.

Jessie: Prepare for trouble and a nice surprise!

James: Make it double with an order of fries!

Jessie: To protect our tummies from rumbling too much!

James: To enjoy our meals with a gourmet touch!

Jessie: To denounce the evils of excessive hunger and thirst!

James: To consume so much food, you’d think you might burst!

Jessie: Jessie!

James: James!

Jessie: Team Rocket blasts off in search of wonderful treats!

James: Surrender now or prepare to fork over tons of your sweets!

Meowth: Meowth, yeah, let’s eat!

As Cold as Pryce motto

Team Rocket recites this motto when they encounter Ash in a forest.

Jessie: Prepare for trouble!

James: And make it double!

Jessie: To protect the world from woodland pests!

James: To capture creatures from their nests!

Jessie: To ensnare Pikachu in my net!

James: And anything else we can get!

Jessie: Jessie!

James: James!

Jessie: Team Rocket grabs the goods at the speed of light!

James: Surrender to me, give up trying to flee, or we'll fight!

Meowth: Meowth, that's right.

Wobbuffet: Wobbuffet!

Some Like it Hot motto

Jessie, James and Meowth recite this motto as they steal Egan's Poké Ball with his freshly caught Magcargo. For some reason they are dressed up as baseball players (maybe because Egan demands that they return his Poké Ball).

Jessie: Prepare for trouble like a hot lava flow!

James: And make it double or to the showers you'll go!

Jessie: To protect our team from the volcano's wrath!

James: We keep cool while you get a molten rock bath!

Jessie: To denounce truth and love from my very first pitch!

James: Hit it out of the park, wouldn't that be a switch?

Jessie: Jessie!

James: James!

Jessie: Winding up, we prepare for a home run! Hah!

Jessie throws a ball.

James: Keep your eye on the ball, here comes a hard one!

James hits the ball. Meowth catches it and seems to have been struck.

Meowth (crying): I thought this was softball!

The Ice Cave! motto

Team Rocket recites this motto as snowmen in the ice cave. This is a translated version from Japanese to fit with the rest of their mottos.

Jessie: Prepare for trouble, Team Rocket dug it!

James: And make it double in that icy pit!

Jessie: To protect the world from all its heat!

James: To unite all peoples that we defeat!

Jessie: To denounce the evils of truth and ice...

James: ...to extend our reach to the snowmen's advice!

Jessie: Jessie!

James: James!

Jessie: Team Rocket blasts off at the speed of light!

James: Surrender now or prepare to fight!

Meowth: Meowth, that's right!

Just Add Water motto

Team Rocket recites this motto upon appearing on the underwater arena of the Coastline Gym.

Jessie: Prepare for trouble, you're about to get pumped!

James: And make it double after the way we got soaked!

Jessie: To protect the world from devastation!

James: To unite all peoples within our nation!

Jessie: V is for victory so don't you forget...

James: ...we'll be victorious and we won't break a sweat!

Jessie: Jessie!

James: James!

Jessie: Team Rocket blasts off like a torpedo in flight!

James: Surrender now or prepare for a watery fight!

Meowth (in a crab-like mecha): Chop-chop, that's right!

Lapras of Luxury motto

Team Rocket recites this motto after snaring a herd of Lapras. The research theme is present in the motto due to the presence of Naomi, a Pokémon researcher, in the episode.

Jessie: Our research warns, prepare for trouble!

James: Our data's conclusive, so make it double!

Jessie: To protect the world from devastation!

James: To unite all peoples within our nation!

Jessie and James are shown lying on chaises longues in swimsuits

Jessie: To denounce the evils of a string bikini!

James: And extend our reach a teeny-weeny!

Jessie: Jessie!

James: James!

Jessie: Team Rocket surfs the wind at the speed of light!

James: Surrender now and shoot the curl, or prepare to fight!

Meowth: Meowth, that's right!

Entei at Your Own Risk motto

In this episode Jessie and James approach "the twerps" disguised as food researchers giving out free milk in order to entrap Ash and his Pokémon.

Jessie: Prepare for trouble, we don't care for defiance!

James: And make it double, it's all for science!

Jessie: As researchers, we search for the truth in food and drink!

James: We're here to say what we think!

Both: What's really important when you eat a treat,

Both: Not the flavor but the time you eat!

They also recite their slightly altered usual motto later in the episode.

You're a Star, Larvitar! motto

Team Rocket begins reciting this motto after launching their new Pokémon-sucking machine that creates a blast.

Ash: This can't be just a storm, can it?

Jessie and James laugh

Jessie: Prepare for trouble, we're here to inform,

James: Make it double, we're the eye of the storm!

Jessie: To protect the world from devastation!

James: To unite all peoples within our nation!

Jessie: To denounce the evil of living well enough alone!

James: To extend our reach and make these Pokémon our own!

Jessie: Jessie!

James: James!

Jessie: Team Rocket blasts off at the speed of light!

James: Surrender now or prepare to fight, fight, fight!

Meowth: That's right!

Good version

In The Power of One, when Team Rocket decides to help Ash, they use a different version of their motto.

Jessie: If that kid thinks were here for trouble...

James: ...we're certainly going to burst his bubble!

Jessie: Instead of causing tribulation...

James: ...we've undergone a transformation!

Jessie: Though it's way outside our usual range...

James: ...we're going to do something nice for a change!

Jessie: Jessie!

James: James!

Jessie: Up till now Team Rocket's been quite unscrupulous!

James: Being good good guys for once would be super-dupulous!

Meowth: That's right!

Variations in the Advanced Generation series

Brave the Wave motto

This motto is recited when a guy and his girl enter a café, where Team Rocket appears to be working.

Jessie: Prepare for trouble, you want fries with that?

James: Double-delish with half the fat!

Jessie: To protect the world from unhealthy food!

James: To give great service and never be rude!

Jessie: To denounce the evils of high carbohydrates!

James: To extend our reach to the Earth and its primates!

Jessie: Jessie!

James: James!

Jessie: Team Rocket gives great service at the speed of light!

James: Pay your bill and leave the tip or prepare to fight!

Meowth: Meowth, that's right!

Wobbuffet: Wobbuffet!

Just One of the Geysers motto

Team Rocket recites this motto upon being spotted in Brawly's secret base stealing food from his fridge.

Jessie: Prepare for trouble from up on the ridge!

James: And make it double, 'cause we've raided the fridge!

Jessie: To protect the world from devastation!

James: To unite all peoples within our nation!

Jessie: To denounce the evils of a yummy pear!

James: To extend out reach to a chocolate éclair!

Jessie: Jessie!

James: James!

Jessie: Team Rocket blasts off with all the four food groups!

James: And believe it or not, it includes <?> soups!

Meowth: <Oi, kavul!>

Wobbuffet: Wobbuffet!

Love at First Flight motto

Jessie, James and Meowth recite this motto when Ash and Romeo find out that they have stolen Juliet's Illumise. While reciting this motto, Jessie and James are dressed up as Illumise and Volbeat, respectively.

Jessie: Prepare for trouble, don't we look divine?

James: And make it double, looking good – feeling fine!

Jessie: To protect the world from devastation!

James: To unite all peoples within our nation!

Jessie: To walk the line towards the sweet scent of success!

James: To light up whole world with my volbeatness!

Jessie: Jessie!

James: James!

Jessie: Team Rocket blasts off at the scented speed of light!

James: Surrender now or prepare yourself for a sweet-scented fight!

Meowth: That's right!

Wobbuffet: Wobbuffet!

A Fan with a Plan motto

In this episode Jessie can't register in a Pokémon Contest, so she tries to steal May and Savannah's ribbons. James and Meowth aren't really in the mood to Jessie's evil plans, so they recite their lines with low emotion.

Savannah: Hey, those aren't yours!

Jessie: Prepare for trouble, they are today!

James( unmotivated): If you can't win them, steal them, that's what we always say!

Jessie: To protect my entry status from devastation!

James (unmotivated): To allow a certain contestant to complete her registration!

Jessie: To denounce the evils of losing, that's true!

James (unmotivated): To extend her winning streak from 0 to 2!

Jessie: Jessie!

James (unmotivated): And James!

Jessie: Team Rocket blasts off at the speed of light!

James (unmotivated): Surrender now, do me a favor or I'll have to fight!

Jessie: This contest will have a cute winner by tonight!

Meowth (unmotivated): Meowth, that's right!

Wobbuffet (super happy): Wobbuffet!

Training Wrecks! motto

With James confident in the training Team Rocket went trough during the episode, they decide to steal Pikachu.

Ash: What's going on here!

Jessie (with a male voice): Prepare for trouble, this is no pleasure cruise!

James: Make it double, you gave me a bruise!

Meowth (interrupting them): Hey, not the motto! What's the point then in using the Skipper disguises!

Jessie: I just felt that the mustache look wasn't working for me!

James: Ok, let's do this in our usual style!

Jessie (continuing the motto): To protect the world from getting fat!

James: To unite all peoples, I'll crush 'em flat!

Jessie: To rub on the trend <?> of truth and love!

James: To shine with sweat like stars above!

Jessie: Jessie!

James: And James!

Jessie: Team Rocket works out at the speed of light!

James: Surrender to our superior conditioning or prepare to fight!

Meowth: That's right!

Wobbuffet: Wobbu, wobbu!

Chimecho: Chime, chime!

Solid as a Solrock motto

Jessie, James and Meowth sing this motto before trying to steal Lunatone and Solrock.

Jessie: Prepare for lunar trouble, off that moon from outer space!

James: And sunshine makes it double 'cause we're here to wreck the place!

Jessie: A lune of smelly cheese to cause the world from devastation!

James: A sunny and noble day for all peoples within our nation!

Jessie: To denounce by the light of a silver moon, the evils of truth and love!

James: To extend our reach to the boss, of flaming gas from um above!

Jessie: Jessie, the moon maid!

James: James, the sun dude!

Jessie: Team Rocket blasts off to the infinite of the galaxy at the speed of light!

James: Earthlings everywhere, surrender your pitiful planet to us now, or prepare, prepare for a fight!

Meowth: Meowth, that's right!

Wobbuffet: Wobbuffet!

Song version

Main article: Team Rocket Forever

Battle Frontier

During the Battle Frontier saga, Jessie, James, and Meowth changed their motto, likely to reflect the fact that the motto changed in the Japanese version at the start of the Advanced Generation series:

Since the first episode, they have adapted their traditional rhyming phrases "Prepare for trouble" and "Make it double" into the motto, thereby restoring the first two lines of the original motto. James's Chimecho and Mime Jr. also contribute their names at the end of the motto in most episodes they appear in.

The Ole' Berate and Switch mottos

In this episode the main antagonists temporarily split up, only to get reunited in the end of the episode. During the time they were split, Jessie teamed with Butch, and James joined Cassidy and Butch (even though Butch never was with them). During the experience, both teams tried to recite a motto, which really didn't work because neither could remember the correct version.

Cassidy's and James's motto

Cassidy: Prepare for trouble, it's a brand new day!

James: We're making it double anyway!

Mime Jr.: Mime mime, mime mime mime!

Cassidy: Let's see if I can remember my lines! An evil as old as the galaxy!

James: Sent here to fulfill our destiny!

Cassidy: To denounce the goodness of truth and love!

James: To extend our reach to the stars above!

Cassidy: Whenever there's a piece of pie in the universe!

James: Of pie!?

Cassidy (stopping the motto): Aaah... I goofed it, so what!?

James (despairing): Forget it...

Jessie's and Butch's motto

Jessie: Prepare for trouble, we've shuffled the deck!

Butch: It's not my thing, but what the heck!?

Jessie: An evil as old as the galaxy!

Butch: I'm doing this all from memory!

Jessie: To denounce the evils of truth and love!

Butch: To extend my arm with a big white glove!

Jessie (angrily looking at him): Jessie!

Butch (realizing that his previous line was somewhat idiotic): Aaah, Butch...

Jessie (kicking him in the face): Cut! Do it right or don't do it at all!

Sinnoh

In Sinnoh, the trio changed to a new motto yet again.

They often replace the first two lines with

Jessie: Listen, is that a twerpish voice I hear?

James: It's shrieking to me loud and clear.

Jessie: Listen, is that a pitiful head of a Pokécenter I hear?

James: It whines to me loud and clear.

or something similar. As in Battle Frontier, Mime Jr. contributes its name after Wobbuffet.

It is notable that the Sinnoh motto is modified more often even in the Japanese version.

Shapes of Things to Come! motto

Jessie: Listen, is that big money calling below?

James: The sound of success tells me so!

Jessie: Work hard,

James: Dig deep,

Meowth: Make some dough!

Jessie: Suck it away at a breakneck pace,

James: Putting big bucks in poverty's place,

Jessie: Roses smell sweet, but we prefer coal!

James: A rose doesn't cut it if money's your goal!

Jessie: Jessie!

James: James!

Meowth: Dig, Meowth's the name!

Jessie: Tired of being on the dole!

James: We're Team Rocket!

All: And we're on a roll!

Wobbuffet: Wobba!

The Electrike Company motto

Jessie wants to steal an Electrike, but James and Meowth think it's too soon.

Jessie: Listen, is that the voice of twerply gloom?

James (unenthusiastically): Join our pity party, there's plenty of room.

Jessie: On the wind,

James (unenthusiastically): The stars,

Meowth (unenthusiastically): We're doomed.

Jessie: Bringing chaos at a breakneck pace,

James (unenthusiastically): She's dashed all my hope, what a... bummer.

Jessie: A rose by any other name is just as sweet!

James (unenthusiastically): When everything's worse, then of course... it's much worse.

Jessie: Jessie!

James (unenthusiastically): James, the pain.

Meowth (unenthusiastically): I can't say... my name.

Jessie: Putting all you do-gooders in your place!

James (unenthusiastically): Team Rocket, sad to say...

Jessie: We're in your face!

James and Meowth (unenthusiastically): Ouch.

Wobbuffet: Wobbuffet!

Mime Jr.: Mime, mime, mime!

A Maze-ing Race motto

Jessie: Listen, is that a twerp calling out to implore?

James: I think we should catch who we came for!

Jessie: Pikachu!

James: It's true!

Meowth: Time to score!

Jessie: We've had such a rough day,

James: But, now it's time to play.

Jessie: We've paid all our dues by blasting off early,

James: But we're back here again and feeling quite surly!

Jessie: With Jessie!

James: And James, too!

Meowth: Meowth, Ya-Hoo!

Jessie: Putting the maze losers in their place!

James: We're Team Rocket...!

All: In your face!

Wobbuffet: Wobbuffet!

Mime Jr.: Mime, mime, mime!

The Keystone Pops! motto

Jessie pretends to be a psychic to catch Spiritomb and Pikachu.

Jessie: I don't have to be psychic to know the truth.

James: Especially when dealing with twerpish youth

Jessie: On the wind,

James: The stars,

Meowth: Yeah, forsooth!

Jessie: Bringing chaos at a breakneck pace,

James: Dashing hope, putting fear in its place!

Jessie: A mystic psychic by any other name is just as smart!

James: We've turned fooling you dumb twerps into an art!

Jessie: Jessie!

James: And James!

Meowth: Meowth, dat's a name!

Jessie: Putting the do-gooders in their place!

James: We're Team Rocket...!

All: In your face!

Hot Springing a Leak! motto

In this episode, Team Rocket steal water to build a hot spring, at the expense of Leona's family's hot spring. The first line builds off of an earlier line about juvenile court.

Jessie: Looks like this court sides with the twerps. But we object, of course!

James: You're twerps, consider the source.

Jessie: On the wind,

James: The stars,

Meowth: The force!

Jessie: Bringing chaos with a spring in our step,

James: Dashing hope with vigor and pep!

Jessie: A spring by any other name is just as hot!

James: We need to relax. We want what you've got!

Jessie: Jessie!

James: Jolly James!

Meowth: Meowth's the name!

Jessie: Putting me at ease and you in your place!

James: We're Team Rocket...!

All: In your face!

Wobbuffet: Wobbuffet!

Mime Jr.: Mime, mime, mime!

Sleight of Sand! motto

In this episode, Jessie and James try to ruin Cassidy and Butch's plans, and, in the way, steal Ash's Pokémon.

Jessie: Listen up, it comes courtesy of you-know-who!

James: Not like we have anything better to do!

Jessie: On the wind,

James: The stars,

Meowth: Boo-ga-boo!

Jessie: Bringing chaos at a breakneck pace!

James: Dashing hope, putting fear in its place!

Jessie(with echo): A dual of Jessie's sounds twice as sweet!

James(with echo): Hey, I've got it too, isn't that neat!

Jessie: Jessie!

James: And James!

Meowth: Meowth's, now that's a name!

Jessie: Putting the do-gooders in their place...

James: We're Team Rocket...!

All: In your face!

Hungry for the Good Life! motto

Jessie: Our Pit-trap digging skills still is Intact

James: But our Drafting to the Modern Technology today is a Necessary Fact

Jessie: The wind!

James: The stars

Meowth: Dig a Trap!

Jessie: Bringing chaos with a breakneck pace!

James: Dashing hope putting fear in its place!

Jessie: A trap dug any other way is just as sweet

James: When earth is moved our work is complete!

Jessie: It's Jessie!

James: And it's James!

Meowth: Meowth, now that's the name!

Jessie: Putting the do-gooders in their place!

James: Team Rocket...!

All: We're In your face!

Wobbuffet: Wobbuffet!

Mime Jr.: Mime, mime, mime, mime!

Arriving in Style! motto

Jessie: You know you could use a little makeup to!

James: (unenthusiastically) Please, a pompous platitude coming from you...

Jessie: On the wind!

James: (unenthusiastically) What's the point?

Meowth: Yoo-Hoo!

Jessie: Bringing chaos with a breakneck pace!

James: (unenthusiastically) Wow I'm so excited. Can you tell by my face?

Jessie: A rose by any other name's just as red!

James: (unenthusiastically) I knew that I should've stayed at home in bed.

Jessie: Mmm, Jessie!

James: (unenthusiastically) James, poor me...

Meowth: It's Meowth, to a Tee!

Jessie: Putting the do-gooders in their place!

James: (unenthusiastically) Goodie Team Rocket...

All: In your face!

Doc Brock! motto

Jessie: To see what's going just look to the sky.

James: Not easy for twerps, but give it a try!

Jessie: On the wind... (screams)

James: Past the stars... (grunts)

Meowth: Hey I can fly!

Jessie: Bringing chaos at a breakneck pace!

James: Dashing hope putting fear in its place!

Jessie: A rose by any other name's just as sweet!

James: When everything's worse our work is complete!

Jessie: Jessie!

James: And James!

Meowth: Meowth's the name!

Jessie: Putting the do-gooders in their place!

James: We're Team Rocket!

All: In your face!

Sleepless in Pre-Battle! motto

Jessie: Is that arrest development I hear?

James: Her inner rage rings loud and clear.

Jessie: On the wind...

James: Past the stars...

Meowth: In your ear!

Jessie: Laying down a law of breakneck chaos.

James: Dashing deposites, putting fear in its place.

Jessie: A Jenny by any other name's just as bad!

James: In the name of our law, looks like you've been had!

Jessie: Jessie!

James: And James!

Meowth: Leave me Meowth, that's a name!

Jessie: Putting the law-buyers in their place!

James: We're Team Rocket!

All: In your face!

Wobbuffet: Woobu, woobu!

Mime Jr.: Mime, mime!

Ancient Family Matters! motto

Jessie: Is that the voice of twerps surfacing I hear?

James: Trespassing through our hole I fear.

Jessie: On the wind!

James: Past the stars!

Meowth: Diggers without peer!

Jessie: Forming holes at a breakneck pace!

James: Shoveling earth, leaving air in its place!

Jessie: Our skill knows no boundaries when it comes to the pick!

James: When it comes to pit traps, we don't miss a trick!

Jessie: Jessie!

James: And it's James!

Meowth: Meowth, that's a name!

Jessie: Putting all you ground-hogging do-gooders in your place!

James: You've got to think Team Rocket!

All: Cause we're in your face!

Wobbuffet: Wobba!

Mime Jr.: Mime, Mime, Mime!

Meowth filling in for Jessie or James

In many occasions, because Jessie or James weren't around, Meowth would fill the missing member lines. This first happened in The Stun Spore Detour, in which Meowth and James were following Misty to get some Salveyo Weed to heal Jessie from an attack by a wild Vileplume' Stun Spore. It happened again in Zig Zag Zangoose! where Jessie was training Seviper, and James, Meowth and Wobbuffet tried to steal Ash's Pikachu. Later, in That's Just Swellow, Jessie and Meowth tried to steal the losing flying Pokémon almost at the end of the contest, and because James was still participating on it, Meowth and Jessie said the motto all by themselves. In The Saffron Con, meanwhile Jessie was at an operation room, Meowth and James tried to steal some Pokémon. When Ash and his friend saw them, they said a special motto. Also, in Off the Unbeaten Path, while James was participating in the Pokémon Orienteering Contest, Jessie and Meowth tried to steal the prize and some Pokémon. When they were spotted by the twerps, they said their motto. Meanwhile they were saying that, Ash and his friends saved the Pokémon and the prize, leaving Jessie and Meowth really angry.

Butch and Cassidy

Butch and Cassidy also have a set of mottos, which are similar to Jessie and James's mottos. During Pokémon Chronicles, they add "(now) here's our mission, so ya better listen!" after Butch's first line of their version of the "original" motto. Like Meowth and Wobbuffet, Cassidy's Raticate appears at the end. Apparently, they have switched to a new motto, which is itself similar to Jessie and James's Sinnoh motto, with Butch's Shuckle appearing instead of Cassidy's Raticate.

Original Motto

Sinnoh motto

This is the version used in Sleight of Sand. Because of some of the lines included, it was probably composed especially for whenever the two Team Rocket groups crossed paths.

Cassidy: A shrieking whine! A blast from the past!

Butch: Spinning like a Gyro Ball and moving fast!

Cassidy: To the moon...

Butch: ...And beyond...

Both: ...What a blast!

Cassidy: Administering justice with lightning speed!

Butch: Bashing the bad guys, should we feel the need.

Cassidy: So here's a newsflash from across the wire...

Butch: The real Team Rocket is now on fire!

Cassidy: Cassidy!

Butch: And it's Butch!

Shuckle: Shuck-uckle!

Cassidy: Teaching the losers a thing or two...

Butch: ...The true Team Rocket...

Both: Us! Not you!

Ripoffs

The motto has been ripped off repeatedly by Ash and his friends during the series. The first time it was done was in Bye Bye Butterfree, where Ash, Misty and Brock entered the house where Team Rocket was by breaking the windows and by saying the first lines of the motto. In Ditto's Mysterious Mansion, Ash, Misty, and Brock, along with Duplica, put on Team Rocket uniforms and mocked the original motto, with Duplica severely angering the two by saying "ignite" instead of "unite". James's parents revealed that they weren't dead by saying the lines "Prepare for trouble!" and "Yes dear, and make it double!". The director Cleavon Schpielbunk used a motto to introduce himself, with Jessie saying "Hey, wait a second, aren't those our lines?" after the first two lines. In It's Mr. Mime Time when Ash revealed that he was the one in the Mr. Mime costume the Team Rocket background music was playing. The motto was mockingly mimicked again in The Chikorita Rescue!. In The Mother Of All Battles!, the Pokémon Poacher Brothers introduced themselves to Ash and the gang in a Team Rocket-style motto. However, there was no background music like in the Rocket's introduction, they only said their names with a big "B" behind them, but even though it was diferent, Jessie stated that they were just imitating them. Much later, the DP motto was mocked in Mass Hip-Po-Sis and The Keystone Pops!. Like the many times before, the trio was angered.

Bye Bye Butterfree

Ash: Prepare for trouble!

Misty: And you can make that triple!

Brock: To protect the world from devastation!

Ash and Misty: To unite all peoples within our nation!

Ash (after Team Rocket's reaction): You got that right!

Pikachu: Pika!

Misty: We're defending the beauty of truth and love!!

Ditto's Mysterious Mansion

So far, this is the only episode of the series to show Ash and his friends actually completely doing the whole original motto.

Ash: Prepare for trouble!

Brock: And make it Double, Double!

James (Angrily): Uhh, quit imitating us!

Misty: To protect the world from devastation!

Duplica: To ignite all people within our nation!

Jessie (Angrily): Err! This is insulting!

Ash: To denounce the evils of truth and love!

Misty: To extend our reach of the stars above!

Ash: Ash!

Misty: Misty!

Brock: And Brock!

Duplica: Duplica, that's right!

Brock: Team Rocket blast off at the speed of light!

Duplica: Surrender now, or prepare to fight all of us!

Pikachu: Pika, Pika!

Schpielbunk's motto

In the episode Lights, Camera, Quacktion! the director Cleavon Schpielbunk introduces himself with a motto which is very similar to that of Team Rocket.

Prepare for trouble! No stunt double!

To protect the movies from devastation!

To restore spectacle and imagination!

To make greate epics of hate and love!

To direct the best films you ever heard of!

Cleavon Schpielbunk, winner of the Golden Growlithe for best director at the Flea Collar Film Festival!

Lights! Camera!

Hit your mark when I call "Action!" or prepare to fight!

That's right!

The Chikorita Rescue

In this episode Ash Ketchum breaks into a Team Rocket hideout to save a Chikorita, captured by Jessie and James. He recites a motto and Team Rocket instinctively says their phrases.

Ash: Team Rocket, prepare for trouble! On second thought, make that double!

Jessie (surprised): To protect the world from devastation?

James (surprised): To unite all peoples within our nation?

Ash: Maybe you think I'm a little too brash. But the master is here and my name is Ash!

Pikachu: Pikachu!

Ash: My Pokémon team is faster than light! Surrender now or you're in for a fight!

Meowth: Meowth! That's right!

Mass Hip-Po-Sis

Dawn (really angry): Get ready for trouble!

Pikachu (really angry): Pika!

Brock (really angry): Make it double!

James (shocked): Hey, no fair!

The Keystone Pops!

Ash: Listen, is that bad guy talk I hear?

Dawn: It speaks to me loud and clear!

Ash: On the wind!

Dawn: Past the stars!

Brock: In your ear!

Jessie (interrupting them): It's that kind of imitation they invented lawsuits for!

Dawn: Chill out! We couldn't care less about you.

Ash: We're looking for Spiritomb!

Blasting off

Blasting off

When defeated, and flying off due to a Pokémon's attack or a malfunction in their mech, Jessie, James, and Meowth usually cry "We're blasting off again!" before disappearing into the distance with a star. This usually happens only once each episode, but there have been many occasions in which it has happened multiple times, especially in Malice in Wonderland, where they are shown blasting off four times on screen, and heard to blast off many more times offscreen. Butch and Cassidy have also "blasted off"; however, James noted once that he, Jessie, and Meowth had copyrighted it in Off The Unbeaten Path.

In the manga

In the Pokémon Special manga, the "Rocket" in Team Rocket is apparently their motto, which is an acronym for:

Raid

On

City

Knock out

Evil

Tusks

Trivia

• The variation used during the Battle Frontier is rather unique since it was said once during the Pokémon: Advanced Battle season, and once during the Pokémon: Diamond & Pearl season.
• In every single one of Butch's appearances in the original series, he was the one who said the line "Prepare for trouble!", which is usually said by the female character. In The Breeding Center Secret, Butch said along with Cassidy "Prepare for trouble and make it double!". In Pikachu Re-Volts he was the one who begun the motto showdown by saying "Then prepare for trouble!". In The Fortune Hunters he said alone "Prepare for trouble and make it double!". In The Mystery is History! he said "Prepare for trouble, you got that right!". The last time he did this was in A Parent Trapped!, where he said "It's time to prepare for trouble!". In Pokémon Chronicles the motto was said like Jessie and James say it.

Related articles

• Team Rocket's mottos in other languages