Team Rocket trio: Difference between revisions

From Bulbapedia, the community-driven Pokémon encyclopedia.
Jump to navigationJump to search
(White Ruins moved and a disambiguation page created. Relinking.)
Line 18: Line 18:
{{cleanup|section}}
{{cleanup|section}}
{{incomplete|section|Role in Kanto through Sinnoh}}
{{incomplete|section|Role in Kanto through Sinnoh}}
[[File:Team Rocket party Original series.png‎|thumb|left|220px|Team Rocket with all of their Pokémon in the original series]]
[[File:Team Rocket party Original series.png‎|thumb|left|220px|Team Rocket with all of their Pokémon in the original series (minus Wobbuffet)]]
The Team Rocket trio first appeared in ''[[EP002|Pokémon Emergency]]'' where they took over the Viridian Pokémon Center. After their first defeat at the hands of [[Ash's Pikachu]], the trio made it their goal to capture Ash's Pikachu.
The Team Rocket trio first appeared in ''[[EP002|Pokémon Emergency]]'' where they took over the Viridian Pokémon Center. After their first defeat at the hands of [[Ash's Pikachu]], the trio made it their goal to capture Ash's Pikachu.



Revision as of 20:50, 30 April 2015

Official art of Jessie, Meowth and James from the XY series

The Team Rocket trio, sometimes referred to as TRio or JJM, is a trio of members of Team Rocket, consisting of Jessie, James, and Meowth.

In the anime

Character

Since making their debut in the second episode of the anime, they have since appeared in almost every single episode up until the beginning of the Best Wishes series, where they appeared less frequently. As such, they are the most prominent representation of Team Rocket as a whole in the anime.

In most of their appearances, they attempt to capture Ash's Pikachu, or any other Pokémon to give to their boss, Giovanni. However, they almost always get defeated and are blasted off with their iconic catchphrase "Looks like Team Rocket's blasting off again!" (4Kids dub) or "We're blasting off again!" (TPCi dub). Typically right after making a capture, they will recite their motto, though on some occasions they're unable to finish. This has been parodied by protagonists and even other Team Rocket members, such as Butch and Cassidy.

The Team Rocket trio blasting off again

Since their debut, the trio is near-singlemindedly obsessed with capturing Ash's Pikachu, particularly after witnessing his power, and have relentlessly pursued Ash and his friends across the various regions of the Pokémon world to do so; though they often succeed in doing so, they never manage to hold on to Pikachu for long. To this end, they frequently develop various kinds of shockproof gadgets and machinery to do so (mechas, rubber suits, etc.). However, these gadgets are often circumvented by non-Electric attacks and abilities, which they constantly forget to account for, or simply backfire in the end.

Even though they usually only cause trouble for the main characters, they have sometimes helped them, mostly when dealing with a common enemy, as shown in The Power of One and later against Team Aqua and Team Magma. They also played a key part in the fight against Team Galactic, teaming up with Looker. They occasionally put their differences aside for personal reasons, only to later return to their thieving ways. One of the more common moments of truce is during Pokémon Contests, which Jessie had a fondness for participating in; however, Ash and his friends are unaware that it is her.

On several occasions, Jessie, James and Meowth have shown that they are not that bad and even have affection for Ash and his friends. The trio heroically sacrificed themselves to certain death in The Power of One in order to allow Ash's escape on Lugia. They also saved him from a fall in the next movie, Spell of the Unown: Entei. Whilst their justification was that in the case of the world being destroyed or Ash's death, they'd be out of show business, it is implied that this is just bluster to cover the fact that they are not bad people, like in Charizard's Burning Ambition, where Team Rocket kept Ash's Charizard awake as it lay in the lake, and then built a huge mecha and attacked the Charicific Valley for the sole purpose of allowing Charizard to defeat them and gain acceptance in the Valley.

History

0572Minccino.png This section does not yet meet the quality standards of Bulbapedia. Please feel free to edit this section to make it conform to Bulbapedia norms and conventions.
050Diglett.png This section is incomplete.
Please feel free to edit this section to add missing information and complete it.
Reason: Role in Kanto through Sinnoh
Team Rocket with all of their Pokémon in the original series (minus Wobbuffet)

The Team Rocket trio first appeared in Pokémon Emergency where they took over the Viridian Pokémon Center. After their first defeat at the hands of Ash's Pikachu, the trio made it their goal to capture Ash's Pikachu.

Though their general incompetence in making any sort of contribution to Team Rocket didn't go well for them as Giovanni contemplated firing them in one episode (but reassigned them due to problematic developments and manpower shortages in Team Rocket) and was shown to not even remember who they were in The Thief That Keeps on Thieving!. However, due to their false reports that they alone caused Team Aqua, Team Magma, and Team Galactic to disband (as well as defeating J), Matori recommended them to Giovanni for his plans in the Unova region. The trio got promoted and soon they became more serious and less goofy, changing to their black uniforms from their original white uniforms. They focused less on capturing random Pokémon and more on the assignments that are given to them straight from headquarters. In Battling For The Love of Bug-Types! however, Matori informed them that they won't be needed for any more missions at the time. They began to worry that the boss had abandoned them. Before Matori contacted them about the situation, they have already returned to their white uniforms without being informed why. Therefore, they have returned to planning their own schemes like they did in the previous series, but often carry out their current plans in the same manner as their most recent missions and Dr. Zager frequently assists them in these schemes. They do keep some gadgets, such as jetpacks they occasionally use to retreat; they very rarely blasted off during the Best Wishes series, and maintain their recent boost in athleticism.

The trio in their black uniforms

Meowth traveled with Ash, Iris and Cilan from Meowth's Scrafty Tactics! to Crisis from the Underground Up! after apparently messing up a mission in Nimbasa City, being fired from Team Rocket and splitting up with Jessie and James. However, in Crisis from the Underground Up! it was revealed that Meowth was never fired from Team Rocket, his travels with Ash, Iris and Cilan being part of their latest scheme. Meowth then rejoined Jessie and James.

Beginning in An Epic Defense Force!, they have made various attempts to capture Meloetta, only for it to disappear on each attempt. However, they managed to capture it in Meloetta and the Undersea Temple! and Unova's Survival Crisis! with the help of Giovanni and Dr. Zager after the former defeated Ash with his Persian. The trio capturing Meloetta was part of the plan in order for Giovanni to summon the Kami trio using the Reveal Glass. However, once Meloetta was freed from his control, Giovanni became possessed by the item's powers which made him want raging power. The Team Rocket trio temporarily switch sides in order to stop Giovanni. They did so by pushing him off a cliff, which managed to snap him out of the controlled rage. Losing Meloetta foiled their plans in capturing the Kami trio, along with interference by Ridley, Ash and the others. With Giovanni back to normal, he along with the trio, Dr. Zager and the Rocket Grunts, leave Unova and return to Kanto.

They were revealed to have returned to Unova in New Places... Familiar Faces!, with returning gags in their team. They also revealed that after the failure of their big scheme to take over Unova using the power of the legendary Pokémon had failed, they had gone back for their older style of chasing Pikachu and every other seemingly valuable Pokémon around. As a part of their return to the older style, they also started using their original motto and an enhanced version of their Meowth balloon once again. However, they seemed to retain some intent of competence by still using their jetpacks on occasions and trying to accomplish their plans in a serious way, as seen when Jessie asked for Meowth to stop singing in The Light of Floccesy Ranch!.

In Ash and N: A Clash of Ideals! and Team Plasma and the Awakening Ceremony! they were spying at Team Plasma's operation at the White Ruins, waiting for the right time to enter the scene. However, they only decided to do so after Looker found out where they were hiding in What Lies Beyond Truth and Ideals! and asked them for help. Even if they fought against Team Plasma independently of Looker's intended guidance, they still did it in order to help him (having formed a mutual alliance with him during the DP series), along with defeating Team Plasma, since they had a rivalry with the organization.

From Farewell, Unova! Setting Sail for New Adventures! onwards, the trio returned completely to their previous role as comic relief, retaining only their upgraded technology from Best Wishes!.

Artwork

File:Rocket OS2.png Team Rocket Trio AG.png File:Team Rocket DP.png Team Rocket trio BW.png Team Rocket trio XY.png
Official artwork from the
original series
Official artwork from the
Advanced Generation series
Official artwork from the
Diamond & Pearl series
Official artwork from the
Best Wishes series
Alternative artwork from the
XY series

In the games

In Pokémon Yellow, Jessie and James appear and are involved in Team Rocket's four major schemes (Mt. Moon, Rocket Hideout, Pokémon Tower, and Silph Co.), and typically appear before the player battles Giovanni. They also replace the three Team Rocket members in the Pokémon Tower that hold Mr. Fuji hostage as well as two other Team Rocket Grunts: one close to the exit of Mt. Moon and the other one near the entrance to the President's room at Silph Co. Curiously, they are never referred to by their individual names and share their Trainer class with all other Team Rocket Grunts.

They first attack the player in Mt. Moon, while trying to take one of the rare Fossils uncovered there.

Later, in Celadon City's Rocket Game Corner, Jessie and James guard Giovanni's room in the Team Rocket base. During that time, as the player runs into them, they are eager for revenge after the main character busted up their plans at Mt. Moon.

They hold Mr. Fuji hostage at Pokémon Tower, attacking the player on the seventh floor.

Finally, at Silph Co. in Saffron City, Jessie and James make their final appearance, once again trying to stall the main character from reaching their Boss.

Unlike in the anime, Jessie and James do not follow the main character around and come up with their usual evil plans to capture Pikachu. In addition, Meowth cannot talk, and he resides in a Poké Ball instead of traveling around with Jessie and James.

In addition, they also receive their own encounter music, a track not seen in Red and Blue. The theme that plays when encountering Jessie and James in Yellow, not found in Red and Blue.

Pokémon

First battle



Second battle



Third battle



Fourth battle



Quotes

Mt. Moon

  • Before battle
"Stop right there!"
"That fossil is Team Rocket's! Surrender now, or prepare to fight!"
  • Being defeated
"A brat beat us?"
  • After being defeated
"Team Rocket, blast off at the speed of light!"

Rocket Hideout

  • Before battle
"Not another step, brat!"
"How dare you humiliate us at Mt. Moon! It's payback time, you brat!"
  • Being defeated
"Such a dreadful twerp!"
  • After being defeated
"Looks like Team Rocket's blasting off again!"

Pokémon Tower

  • Before battle:
"Stop right there!"
"Grampa here wanted to complain, so we're setting him straight. So render yourself invisible, or prepare to fight!"
  • Being defeated
"You will regret this!"
  • After being defeated
"Looks like Team Rocket's blasting off again!"

Silph Co.

  • Before battle
"Hold it right there, brat!"
"Our Boss is in a meeting! You better not disturb him!"
  • Being defeated
"Like always..."
  • After being defeated
"Team Rocket, blast off at the speed of light! Again..."

Sprites

Spr Y Jessie James.png Jessie OD.png James OD.png
Jessie and James's sprite
from Yellow
Jessie's overworld
sprite from Yellow
James's overworld
sprite from Yellow

In the manga

050Diglett.png This section is incomplete.
Please feel free to edit this section to add missing information and complete it.

In the Ash and Pikachu manga

The Team Rocket trio is seen following Ash and company in the manga series Ash and Pikachu, which is based on the anime.

In the Electric Tale of Pikachu manga

The trio appears in The Electric Tale of Pikachu manga series. Jessie and James are later shown married, with Jessie visibly pregnant.

In the TCG

Jessie and James appear on both versions of the card Here Comes Team Rocket!, which originally released in the Team Rocket set; it was re-released with different artwork in EX Team Rocket Returns. In that expansion, there were also preconstructed Theme Decks based on Jessie and James.

See also



Members of Team Rocket
Bosses:

Giovanni (animeAdventuresPocket MonstersMasters)
Madame Boss (anime only) • Masked Man (Adventures only)

Executives:

Archer (Masters) • Ariana (Masters) • Petrel (Masters) • Proton (Masters)
Anime only: Iron-Masked Marauder
Adventures only: CarlShamWill (former) • Karen (former)
Golden Boys only: Grey

Trios:
 

Jessie (Masters), James (Masters), & Meowth (JJM)
Koga, Lt. Surge, & Sabrina (Triad) (Adventures only; former)
Ken, Al, & Harry (TRET) (Adventures only)
Carr, Sird (former), & Orm (T3B) (Adventures only)

Duos:

Anime only: Butch & Cassidy (former) • Attila & HunAnnie & Oakley (dub only)

Scientists

Gideon
Anime only: Dr. FujiDr. NambaSebastianDr. Zager
Adventures only: Blaine (former)

Others: 

GruntsRocket BrothersRBYFRLG/Rocket SistersPE
Anime only: DominoRocket ScoutWendyTysonJubeiViper
Christopher (former) • Matori (Matori Matrix) • PierceGozu
Radio drama only: MiyamotoMondo
How I Became a Pokémon Card only: Kaede


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