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EP138: Difference between revisions

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title_en=The Superhero Secret |
title_en=The Superhero Secret |
title_ja=なぞのスーパーヒーロー！グライガーマンとうじょう！！ |
title_ja=なぞのスーパーヒーロー！グライガーマンとうじょう！！ |
title_ja_trans=Mysterious Superhero! Gligarman Enter!! |
title_ja_trans=The Mysterious Superhero! Enter Gligerman!! |
screen=yes |
screen=hd |
broadcast_jp=March 9, 2000 |
broadcast_jp=March 9, 2000 |
broadcast_us=February 17, 2001 |
broadcast_us=February 17, 2001 |
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morecredits=yes |
morecredits=yes |
epstaffpage=EP131-EP140 |
epstaffpage=EP131-EP140 |
footnotes= }}
footnotes=* {{filb-eppics|pm|140}}
'''The Superhero Secret''' (Japanese: '''なぞのスーパーヒーロー！グライガーマンとうじょう！！''' ''Mysterious Superhero! Gligarman Enter!!'') is the 138th episode of the [[Pokémon anime]]. It was first broadcast in Japan on March 9, 2000 and in the United States on February 17, 2001.
}}
'''The Superhero Secret''' (Japanese: '''なぞのスーパーヒーロー！グライガーマンとうじょう！！''' ''The Mysterious Superhero! Enter {{tt|Gligerman|Gligarman}}!!'') is the 138th episode of the [[Pokémon animated series]]. It was first broadcast in Japan on March 9, 2000, and in the United States on February 17, 2001.
 
{{spoilers}}
{{spoilers}}


== Synopsis ==
==Blurb==
This episode finds {{Ash}} and [[Ash's friends|friends]] passing through a forest on their way to the [[Azalea Gym]] to try and win Ash's next [[Johto League]] [[badge]]. The group hears a strange noise in the vicinity, and seconds later observe an unbelievably quick Pokémon (which {{an|Brock}} claims to be a {{p|Gligar}}) jumping from tree-to-tree before vanishing from sight.
<!--https://www.pokemon.com/us/animation/seasons/3/episode-33-the-superhero-secret/-->
<i>The legendary Gligarman grows old and begins to bend under the weighty task of fighting crime. When Ash and friends wander into town, they bring with them a challenge that threatens to be Gligarman's last—Team Rocket.</i>


As group continues on their way Ash uses his [[Pokédex]] to bring up information on Gligar while {{an|Misty}} and Brock discuss the Pokémon, the latter explaining that they are said to be temperamental and dislike humans. Upon hearing this Ash jumps in, expressing confidence that any Gligar they came across would like him.
==Plot==
While passing through a forest on their way to the [[Azalea Gym]], {{Ash}} and {{ashfr}} hears a strange noise in the vicinity, and then observe a {{p|Gligar}} jumping from tree to tree before vanishing from sight. Ash uses his [[Pokédex]] to bring up information on Gligar while {{an|Misty}} and {{an|Brock}} discuss the {{OBP|Pokémon|species}}, the latter explaining that they are said to be temperamental and dislike humans. Upon hearing this, Ash jumps in, expressing confidence that any Gligar they come across would like him before he begins calling out to Gligar. Suddenly, the road underneath the trio suddenly collapses and they fall into a large hole. As Ash wonders how it got there, {{TRT}} appears and recites their {{motto}} while simultaneously placing a bamboo grate over the hole and wheeling over a two-man pump and attached hose. [[Jessie]] and [[James]] operate the pump while {{MTR}} aims a torrent of water into the hole, explaining that they plan to fill it with water and steal {{AP|Pikachu}} when he floats to the top, before leaving the others trapped.


As Ash begins calling out to Gligar the road underneath the companions suddenly collapses and they fall into - what else? - a large hole. As Ash wonders aloud how it got there, the previously concealed [[Team Rocket]] take their cue and recite the [[Team Rocket's motto|motto]] while simultaneously placing a bamboo grate over the hole and wheeling over a two-man pump and attached hose. [[Jessie]] and [[James]] operate the pump while {{MTR}} aims a torrent of water into the hole, explaining that they plan to fill it with water and steal {{AP|Pikachu}} when it floats to the top, leaving Ash, Misty and Brock trapped.
{{AP|Pikachu}} is left unable to attack out of fear of electrocuting Ash and his friends as well. Just then, Gligar appears, breaks through the bamboo grate, and saves {{TP|Misty|Togepi}}. A man dressed like a Gligar then appears next to Gligar on a tree and tells Team Rocket to release Ash and his friends. Confused, they all ask who he is; the man bursts into his own motto and introduces himself as [[Mr. Parker|Gligarman]]. Jessie and James comment that they have never heard of him, which embarrasses Gligarman. Then, Meowth then asks why Gligarman is wearing long underwear, which embarrasses Gligarman even further. As Gligarman defends his choice of clothing, Team Rocket continues to question whether the masked man really is a superhero, though Misty defends him. Pleased by this, Gligarman sends Gligar to dispatch Team Rocket.


It looks like the friends are in trouble as Pikachu can't attack for fear of electrocuting them as well. Then a familiar silhouette appears in front of the sun and breaks through the bamboo grate over the hole. A Gligar then leaps from the hole with {{TP|Misty|Togepi}} in its arms. A deep, echoing laugh is heard from the trees and a man dressed like a Gligar appears next to Gligar on a tree and tells Team Rocket to release the trio. Confused Team Rocket and the heroes ask who this masked man is. The man bursts into his own motto and introduces himself as '[[Gligarman]]'.
Gligar attaches itself to Jessie's face, prompting her to thrash around and hit James and Meowth. James gets Jessie to stand still, but he is then confronted by Gligar's dangerous tail stinger. The intimidated James sends Meowth in to attack it instead. Meowth attacks with {{m|Fury Swipes}}, but Gligar jumps away and Meowth cuts Jessie's face instead, prompting her to retaliate in kind. Gligar attacks again and chases Team Rocket away. Gligarman triumphantly announces his victory over evil and jumps down from the tree, but crash-lands pathetically. Gligarman jumps up quickly and gives Togepi back to Misty before leaping onto a motorcycle hidden by a bush. Gligarman tells Ash, Misty, and Brock that if evildoers trouble them again, all they have to do is blow on a whistle that he hands to them and he will be by their side. He then calls Gligar and they speed off towards a city in the distance.
[[Jessie]] and [[James]] comment that they have never heard of him which embarrasses Gligarman, Meowth then asks why Gligarman is wearing long underwear which embarrasses the Gligarman further. As Gligarman defends his choice of clothing Jessie, James and Meowth continue to question whether the masked man really is a superhero. Misty says that because he saved Togepi he may really be a superhero. Pleased that someone has faith in him Gligarman sends Gligar to dispense of Team Rocket.  


Gligar attaches itself to Jessie's face. As James and Meowth attempt to get it off they are mistakenly being attacked by Jessie's thrashing around! James gets Jessie to stand still but is then confronted by Gligar's dangerous tail stinger. The intimidated James sends Meowth in to attack it. Meowth attacks with his {{m|Fury Swipes}} but Gligar jumps away and Meowth lands a swipe right across Jessie's face and Jessie instantly responds by giving Meowth her version of Fury Swipes. Gligar attacks again and chases Team Rocket away screaming.  
The trio stands there bewildered and looks at the whistle. They hear a female voice call out to them, just as a young woman on a bicycle stops and asks if they saw Gligarman around. When they confirm it, the woman says that she hopes he didn't cause to much trouble. Misty tells her that Gligarman actually saved Togepi. The girl is relieved before introducing herself as [[Latoya]]. Ash asks why Latoya is so interested in Gligarman and asks if he really is a superhero. Latoya says that he sometimes believes he is one, prompting Ash to ask if she knows Gligarman's true identity. Latoya hastily rides away, saying that she probably already said too much. Ash notes that she is hiding something, then commends Gligarman's ability to handle Gligar.


Gligarman triumphantly announces victory over evil and attempts to jump down off his tree to hand Togepi back to Misty. Misjudging the height of the jump and his own physical abilities, Gligarman begins to tumble in mid-air before crashing to the ground but managing to keep Togepi from harm. Gligarman jumps up quickly and gives Togepi back to Misty before leaping onto a motorcycle hidden by a bush. Gligarman tells Ash, Misty and Brock that if evil-doers trouble them again all they have to do is blow on a whistle he hands them and he will be by their side. He then calls Gligar and they speed off on the bike back towards a city in the distance.
Later, the trio arrives at a store selling Gligarman merchandise and are told that Gligarman is extremely popular in the city before being ushered inside. There, they find Latoya behind the counter of the shop. Ash tells Latoya that he wants to know more about Gligarman. Then, Latoya's father, Mr. Parker, appears, telling Ash that he knows everything about Gligarman. He shows them an old video of Gligarman and Gligar defeating a giant insectoid monster. Intrigued, Ash asks why the Gligarman in the video looked different from the Gligarman they saw. Mr. Parker responds by telling them the video was made several years ago and quickly hands the three Gligarman merchandise to change the subject. Togepi suddenly develops a liking to Mr. Parker, and Misty says that she thinks he may be Gligarman. He says that Misty's theory is ridiculous and refers to her by name, but Misty points out that Gligarman is the only person in the town that knows her name. Brock puts a Gligarman mask on Mr. Parker, who now looks exactly like Gligarman, confirming their suspicions. Ash and Brock start to bombard him with questions, but Mr. Parker quiets them and begs that they never reveal his secret. Meanwhile, Team Rocket spies on the entire conversation and hatches a plan to unmask Mr. Parker.


The trio stand there bewildered and look at the whistle. They hear a female voice call out to them and a young woman on a bicycle stops and asks if they saw Gligarman around. Telling her that Gligarman was there just seconds ago, the woman looks down and says she hopes he didn't cause to much trouble. Misty tells the girl that in fact Gligarman saved her Togepi. The girl is relieved and Brock starts making his trademark moves. The girl introduces herself as [[Latoya]] before Misty pulls Brock away. Ash asks why Latoya is interested in Gligarman and asks if he really is a superhero. Latoya says that he sometimes believes he is a real superhero. This prompts Ash to ask keenly if Latoya knows Gligarman's true identity. Latoya hastily rides away saying that she has probably already said too much.
Latoya and Mr. Parker take Ash and his friends to the Gligar Mansion, where Latoya reveals that Gligarman began because her father wasn't selling enough toys at his store. He invented Gligarman and made up stories to make it seem real. One day, he decided to become Gligarman because it was more fulfilling than just being a businessman. Mr. Parker says he will never stop being Gligarman because people need someone like him around. The group then steps into Gligarman's extremely high-tech laboratory, where Gligar is relaxing. When Ash remarks that Gligarman has the coolest job ever, Latoya and Mr. Parker offer Ash the job of becoming the new Gligarman, but he turns it down because of his dream of becoming a Pokémon Master. Brock offers to take the Gligarman mantle if he marries Latoya, but she brushes off his remarks as a joke, inadvertently breaking his heart.
Ash notes that she appears to be hiding something and goes on to say that whether he is a superhero or not he must be a super {{pkmn|Trainer}} for his ability to handle the Gligar.


The trio arrive in front of a store selling Gligarman merchandise where they are told that Gligarman is huge in the city before being ushered inside. There they find Latoya behind the counter of the shop. Ash tells Latoya he wants to know more about Gligarman, then Latoya's father appears telling Ash he knows everything there is to know about Gligarman. The man then shows them an old looking video of Gligarman in which he and Gligar defeat a giant insectoid monster. Ash asks why the Gligarman in the video looked different from the Gligarman they saw. Latoya's father responds by telling them the video was made several years ago and quickly hands the three Gligarman merchandise to change the subject. Togepi seems to have a liking for Latoya's father and Misty says that she thinks he may be the Gligarman. Latoya's father says that Misty's theory is ridiculous and refers to her by name before Misty points out that Gligarman is the only person in the town that knows her name. Ash and Brock bombard him with questions, but Mr. Parker is adamant that they never reveal his secret. Meanwhile outside Team Rocket have been watching the whole scene though binoculars and hatch a plan to unmask Latoya's father.
Suddenly, an alert sounds in the lab and TV screens show Team Rocket attacking Gligarman's store. Mr. Parker puts on his Gligarman costume and confronts the trio with Ash. There, they find Jessie in a supervillain costume and James and Meowth, dressed in {{p|Metapod}} costumes, tying up the store workers and dressing them as Metapod. Gligar attacks James and attaches itself to his face, but Meowth brings out a {{p|Spinarak}} robot and wraps up Gligarman and Ash in a web. As Meowth hangs them up in the middle of town with civilians everywhere, Jessie announces they will unmask Gligarman in front of everyone. However, the store workers run out and yell that they have faith in Mr. Parker, causing him to realize that they knew his true identity all along. Suddenly, a female dressed like a Gligar appears and introduces herself as Gligirl. She asks for assistance from Gligar, who is reluctant at first, but it then recognizes her as Latoya and flies to her. Gligirl tells Gligar to cut Gligarman and Ash free from the web. Pikachu runs around underneath the Spinarak machine, which causes Meowth to get its legs tangled. Gligar and Pikachu then work together to battle the machine. Pikachu eventually uses {{m|Thunderbolt}}, causing the machine to malfunction before it blows up and sends Team Rocket blasting off. The town celebrates the victory, but Brock is still oblivious to the fact that Gligirl was Latoya.


Latoya and her father take Ash, Misty and Brock to the Gligar Mansion and Latoya reveals that Gligarman began because her father wasn't selling enough toys at his store. He invented Gligarman and made up stories to make it seem real and one day he just became the real Gligarman because it was more fulfilling than just being a businessman. Latoya's father says he will never stop being Gligarman because people needed someone like him around.
Later on, Mr. Parker and Latoya say their goodbyes to Ash and his friends before having a small argument over who would be Gligar's owner, just as Brock finally realizes Gligirl's secret identity as Latoya.


The group then step into Gligarman's extremely hi-tech laboratory where Gligar is relaxing. Latoya and her father then offer Ash the job of replacing Latoya's father as Gligarman. Ash graciously turns it down because of his dream of becoming a Pokémon Master. Brock offers to take care of everything if he marries Latoya but Latoya brushes off Brock's remarks as a joke which crushes Brock. An alert sounds in the lab and TV screens show that Team Rocket are attacking Gligarman's store.
==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. -->
Gligarman and Ash arrive as Jessie in a supervillian costume and James and Meowth, dressed in {{p|Metapod}} costumes are tying up the store workers and dressing them as Metapod. Gligar attacks James and attaches itself to his face. Jessie and Meowth look on and Jessie tells Meowth to bring out the 'big bug'. Meowth returns in a {{p|Spinarak}} robot and wraps up Gligarman and Ash in a web. Meowth hangs them up in the middle of town with civilians everywhere and Jessie laughs and announces they will unmask Gligarman in front of everyone. The store workers run out and yell that they have faith in Mr. Parker. Gligarman realizes that they knew his identity all along. A voice from on top of a building is heard and the camera pans up to see a female dressed like a Gligar. She introduces herself as Gligirl. Gligirl asks for assistance from Gligar who is reluctant at first. Gligar then recognizes that Gligirl is Latoya and flies to her. Gligirl tells Gligar to cut Gligarman and Ash free from the web. Pikachu runs around underneath the Spinarak machine which causes Meowth to get its legs tangled. Gligar and Pikachu then work together and a Pikachu {{m|Thunderbolt}} causes the machine to malfunction before it blows up and sends Team Rocket flying. The town celebrates the victory of Gligirl with Brock still oblivious to the fact Gligirl was Latoya.
{{animeevents}}


Mr. Parker and Latoya are saying their goodbyes to Ash and co. before having a small argument over who would be Gligar's owner. Brock then states he's figured out that Latoya is Gligirl. The heroes say goodbye and continue on their way to Azalea's Gym.
===Debuts===
 
====Pokémon debuts====  
== Major events ==
* {{p|Gligar}}
<!-- Events such as captures, releases go here. -->
{{animeevents}}
=== Debuts ===
==== Pokémon debuts ====  
*{{p|Gligar}}


== Characters ==
==Characters==
=== Humans ===
===Humans===
*{{Ash}}
[[File:Dare da EP138.png|thumb|200px|{{tt|Dare da?|Who's That Pokémon?}}]]
*{{an|Misty}}
* {{Ash}}
*{{an|Brock}}
* {{an|Misty}}
*[[Jessie]]
* {{an|Brock}}
*[[James]]
* [[Jessie]]
*[[Mr. Parker]]
* [[James]]
*[[Latoya Parker]]
* [[Mr. Parker|Gligarman/Mr. Parker]]
* [[Latoya Parker|Gligirl/Latoya Parker]]


=== Pokémon ===
===Pokémon===
[[Who's That Pokémon?]]: {{p|Mareep}}
[[File:WTP EP138.png|thumb|200px|Who's That Pokémon?]]
[[Who's That Pokémon?]]: {{p|Mareep}} ''(US and international)'', {{p|Gligar}} ''(Japan)''
* {{p|Pikachu}} ({{OP|Ash|Pikachu}})
* {{p|Pikachu}} ({{OP|Ash|Pikachu}})
* {{p|Meowth}} ({{TRM}})
* {{p|Meowth}} ({{TRM}})
* {{p|Togepi}} ({{OP|Misty|Togepi}})
* {{p|Togepi}} ({{OP|Misty|Togepi}})
* {{p|Gligar}} ([[Mr. Parker]]'s, debut)
* {{p|Gligar}} ([[Mr. Parker]]'s; debut)
{{right clear}}


== Trivia ==
==Trivia==
[[File:Unknown Arachnid.png|thumb|200px|The unknown creature]]
* The character of Gligarman is based on that of {{wp|Batman}}.
* The character of Gligarman is based on that of {{wp|Batman}}.
*The book ''[[All Fired Up]]'' is based on this episode.
** The English [[dub]] version of his true name, [[Mr. Parker]], is likely based on Peter Parker, the alter ego of {{wp|Spider-Man}}.
* The instrumental version of [[The Time Has Come (Pikachu's Goodbye)]] can be heard in this episode.
* This episode was partially adapted into the book {{book|All Fired Up}}.
* This episode is similar to ''[[BW057|The Mighty Accelguard to the Rescue!]]'', as both are about {{Ash}} and {{ashfr}} helping a costumed superhero based on a Pokémon.
* When the video of Gligarman is shown, "Look up in the sky, is it a {{p|Pidgeotto}}? A {{p|Charizard}}? A {{p|Dragonite}}? No, it's the crime-fighting Pokémon superhero Gligarman!" is heard, a [[List of references to popular culture in Pokémon|reference]] to {{wp|Superman}}.
** Another possible Superman reference can be seen when Gligarman poses on top of what looks like the {{wp|Daily Planet}} building.
* A large, yellow, [[List of disputed and unidentified Pokémon|arachnid creature]] appears in the short Gligarman film. It appears nowhere else in the Pokémon franchise, only as part of a fictional movie in the anime.


=== Errors ===
===Errors===
* Latoya calls Ash by name without having heard it.
* When Gligarman is jumping off the tree with {{TP|Misty|Togepi}}, the marking in the center of Togepi's egg is blue instead of red.
* [[Latoya Parker|Latoya]] calls Ash by name without having heard it.
* In the short Gligarman film, when Gligarman is shown kicking the unknown arachnid creature, the background is a city road. However, in the next shot, the arachnid falls from a clifftop in a completely different location.
* In the {{pmin|Poland|Polish}} dub, the female store worker is voiced by a male after being freed from the ropes.
* In the {{pmin|Italy|Italian}} dub, Gligar is erroneously called "Cligar" throughout the episode.


=== Dub edits ===
===Dub edits===
* [[Pokémon Karaokémon]]: [[Pikachu (I Choose You)]]


==In other languages==
==In other languages==
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{{Epilang|color=DDDDDD|bordercolor=FFCB49
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|ar={{tt|سر البطل الخارق|The superhero's secret}}
|en=
|bg={{tt|Тайната на супергероя|Super hero's secret}}
|ar=
|zh_cmn={{tt|天蠍和天蠍人登場|Gligar and Gligar Man Appears}}
|eu=
|cs={{tt|Superhrdinovo tajemství|The superhero's secret}}
|bg=
|nl={{tt|Het Geheim van de Superheld|The Secret of the Superhero}}
|ca=
|de={{tt|Superhelden|Superheros}}
|zh_yue=
|fi={{tt|Supersankarin salaisuus|Secret of the superhero}}
|zh_cmn='''{{tt|天蠍和天蠍人登場|Gligar and Gligar Man Appears}}'''
|fr_eu={{tt|Un super héros super secret|A super hero's super secret}}
|hr=
|he=סודו של גלייגרמן{{tt|sodo shel Gligarman|Gligarman's secret}}
|cs='''{{tt|Superhrdinovo tajemství|The superhero's secret}}'''
|hu={{tt|A szuperhős titka|The secret of the superhero}}
|da=
|it={{tt|Supereroi|Super heroes}}{{tt|*|Original 2000 dub}} <br> {{tt|Il segreto del supereroe|The superhero's secret}}{{tt|*|2014 K2 TV dub}}
|de='''{{tt|Superhelden|Superheros}}'''
|pt_br={{tt|O Segredo do Super-Herói|The Super-Hero's Secret}}
|nl=
|pt_eu={{tt|O Segredo do Super-Herói|The Super-Hero's Secret}}
|et=
|es_la={{tt|¡El super héroe secreto!|The secret super hero!}}
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|es_eu={{tt|El secreto del super héroe|The super hero's secret}}
|fi='''{{tt|Supersankarin salaisuus|Secret of the superhero}}'''
|sv={{tt|Superhjältarna|The superheroes}}
|fr_ca=
|pl={{tt|Tajemnica superbohatera|The superhero's secret}}
|fr_eu='''{{tt|Un super héros super secret|A super hero's super secret}}'''
|ro={{tt|Secretul Supereroului|The Superhero's Secret}}
|el=
|hi=एक सूपरहीरो का रहस्य {{tt|''Ek Superhero ka Rahasya''|The Secret of a Superhero}} {{tt|*|Hungaam dub}}
|he='''סודו של גלייגרמן''' ''{{tt|sodo shel Gligarman|Gligarman's secret}}''
|hi=
|hu=
|is=
|id=
|it='''{{tt|Supereroi|Super heroes}}'''
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nexttitle=Mild'n Wooly |
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series=Original series |
series=Original series |
colorscheme=Johto | }}
colorscheme=Johto | }}
{{Project Anime notice}}
{{Project Anime notice}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:0138}}
[[Category:Original series episodes|138]]
[[Category:Original series episodes|138]]
[[Category:Episodes written by Hideki Sonoda|138]]
[[Category:Episodes written by Hideki Sonoda]]
[[Category:Episodes storyboarded and directed by Yūji Asada|138]]
[[Category:Episodes storyboarded and directed by Yūji Asada]]
[[Category:Episodes animated by Masaaki Iwane|138]]
[[Category:Episodes storyboarded by Yūji Asada]]
[[Category:Episodes directed by Yūji Asada]]
[[Category:Episodes animated by Masaaki Iwane]]


[[de:Superhelden (Episode)]]
[[de:Superhelden]]
[[fr:Épisode 138]]
[[es:EP140]]
[[fr:EP138]]
[[it:EP138]]
[[ja:無印編第138話]]
[[ja:無印編第138話]]
[[pl:EP138]]
[[zh:宝可梦 第139集]]
[[pt:EP138]]

Revision as of 05:07, 3 September 2024

← EP137 : Foul Weather Friends
Original series
EP139 : Mild 'n Wooly →
The Superhero Secret
EP138.png
  EP138  
なぞのスーパーヒーロー！グライガーマンとうじょう！！
The Mysterious Superhero! Enter Gligerman!!
First broadcast
Japan March 9, 2000
United States February 17, 2001
English themes
Opening Pokémon Johto
Ending
Japanese themes
Opening OK!
Ending ニャースのパーティ
Credits
Animation Team Ota
Screenplay 園田英樹 Hideki Sonoda
Storyboard 浅田裕二 Yūji Asada
Assistant director 浅田裕二 Yūji Asada
Animation director 岩根雅明 Masaaki Iwane
Additional credits

The Superhero Secret (Japanese: なぞのスーパーヒーロー！グライガーマンとうじょう！！ The Mysterious Superhero! Enter Gligerman!!) is the 138th episode of the Pokémon animated series. It was first broadcast in Japan on March 9, 2000, and in the United States on February 17, 2001.

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

Blurb

The legendary Gligarman grows old and begins to bend under the weighty task of fighting crime. When Ash and friends wander into town, they bring with them a challenge that threatens to be Gligarman's last—Team Rocket.

Plot

While passing through a forest on their way to the Azalea Gym, Ash and his friends hears a strange noise in the vicinity, and then observe a Gligar jumping from tree to tree before vanishing from sight. Ash uses his Pokédex to bring up information on Gligar while Misty and Brock discuss the Pokémon, the latter explaining that they are said to be temperamental and dislike humans. Upon hearing this, Ash jumps in, expressing confidence that any Gligar they come across would like him before he begins calling out to Gligar. Suddenly, the road underneath the trio suddenly collapses and they fall into a large hole. As Ash wonders how it got there, Team Rocket appears and recites their motto while simultaneously placing a bamboo grate over the hole and wheeling over a two-man pump and attached hose. Jessie and James operate the pump while Meowth aims a torrent of water into the hole, explaining that they plan to fill it with water and steal Pikachu when he floats to the top, before leaving the others trapped.

Pikachu is left unable to attack out of fear of electrocuting Ash and his friends as well. Just then, Gligar appears, breaks through the bamboo grate, and saves Togepi. A man dressed like a Gligar then appears next to Gligar on a tree and tells Team Rocket to release Ash and his friends. Confused, they all ask who he is; the man bursts into his own motto and introduces himself as Gligarman. Jessie and James comment that they have never heard of him, which embarrasses Gligarman. Then, Meowth then asks why Gligarman is wearing long underwear, which embarrasses Gligarman even further. As Gligarman defends his choice of clothing, Team Rocket continues to question whether the masked man really is a superhero, though Misty defends him. Pleased by this, Gligarman sends Gligar to dispatch Team Rocket.

Gligar attaches itself to Jessie's face, prompting her to thrash around and hit James and Meowth. James gets Jessie to stand still, but he is then confronted by Gligar's dangerous tail stinger. The intimidated James sends Meowth in to attack it instead. Meowth attacks with Fury Swipes, but Gligar jumps away and Meowth cuts Jessie's face instead, prompting her to retaliate in kind. Gligar attacks again and chases Team Rocket away. Gligarman triumphantly announces his victory over evil and jumps down from the tree, but crash-lands pathetically. Gligarman jumps up quickly and gives Togepi back to Misty before leaping onto a motorcycle hidden by a bush. Gligarman tells Ash, Misty, and Brock that if evildoers trouble them again, all they have to do is blow on a whistle that he hands to them and he will be by their side. He then calls Gligar and they speed off towards a city in the distance.

The trio stands there bewildered and looks at the whistle. They hear a female voice call out to them, just as a young woman on a bicycle stops and asks if they saw Gligarman around. When they confirm it, the woman says that she hopes he didn't cause to much trouble. Misty tells her that Gligarman actually saved Togepi. The girl is relieved before introducing herself as Latoya. Ash asks why Latoya is so interested in Gligarman and asks if he really is a superhero. Latoya says that he sometimes believes he is one, prompting Ash to ask if she knows Gligarman's true identity. Latoya hastily rides away, saying that she probably already said too much. Ash notes that she is hiding something, then commends Gligarman's ability to handle Gligar.

Later, the trio arrives at a store selling Gligarman merchandise and are told that Gligarman is extremely popular in the city before being ushered inside. There, they find Latoya behind the counter of the shop. Ash tells Latoya that he wants to know more about Gligarman. Then, Latoya's father, Mr. Parker, appears, telling Ash that he knows everything about Gligarman. He shows them an old video of Gligarman and Gligar defeating a giant insectoid monster. Intrigued, Ash asks why the Gligarman in the video looked different from the Gligarman they saw. Mr. Parker responds by telling them the video was made several years ago and quickly hands the three Gligarman merchandise to change the subject. Togepi suddenly develops a liking to Mr. Parker, and Misty says that she thinks he may be Gligarman. He says that Misty's theory is ridiculous and refers to her by name, but Misty points out that Gligarman is the only person in the town that knows her name. Brock puts a Gligarman mask on Mr. Parker, who now looks exactly like Gligarman, confirming their suspicions. Ash and Brock start to bombard him with questions, but Mr. Parker quiets them and begs that they never reveal his secret. Meanwhile, Team Rocket spies on the entire conversation and hatches a plan to unmask Mr. Parker.

Latoya and Mr. Parker take Ash and his friends to the Gligar Mansion, where Latoya reveals that Gligarman began because her father wasn't selling enough toys at his store. He invented Gligarman and made up stories to make it seem real. One day, he decided to become Gligarman because it was more fulfilling than just being a businessman. Mr. Parker says he will never stop being Gligarman because people need someone like him around. The group then steps into Gligarman's extremely high-tech laboratory, where Gligar is relaxing. When Ash remarks that Gligarman has the coolest job ever, Latoya and Mr. Parker offer Ash the job of becoming the new Gligarman, but he turns it down because of his dream of becoming a Pokémon Master. Brock offers to take the Gligarman mantle if he marries Latoya, but she brushes off his remarks as a joke, inadvertently breaking his heart.

Suddenly, an alert sounds in the lab and TV screens show Team Rocket attacking Gligarman's store. Mr. Parker puts on his Gligarman costume and confronts the trio with Ash. There, they find Jessie in a supervillain costume and James and Meowth, dressed in Metapod costumes, tying up the store workers and dressing them as Metapod. Gligar attacks James and attaches itself to his face, but Meowth brings out a Spinarak robot and wraps up Gligarman and Ash in a web. As Meowth hangs them up in the middle of town with civilians everywhere, Jessie announces they will unmask Gligarman in front of everyone. However, the store workers run out and yell that they have faith in Mr. Parker, causing him to realize that they knew his true identity all along. Suddenly, a female dressed like a Gligar appears and introduces herself as Gligirl. She asks for assistance from Gligar, who is reluctant at first, but it then recognizes her as Latoya and flies to her. Gligirl tells Gligar to cut Gligarman and Ash free from the web. Pikachu runs around underneath the Spinarak machine, which causes Meowth to get its legs tangled. Gligar and Pikachu then work together to battle the machine. Pikachu eventually uses Thunderbolt, causing the machine to malfunction before it blows up and sends Team Rocket blasting off. The town celebrates the victory, but Brock is still oblivious to the fact that Gligirl was Latoya.

Later on, Mr. Parker and Latoya say their goodbyes to Ash and his friends before having a small argument over who would be Gligar's owner, just as Brock finally realizes Gligirl's secret identity as Latoya.

Major events

For a list of all major events in Pokémon the Series, please see the timeline page.

Debuts

Pokémon debuts

Characters

Humans

Dare da?

Pokémon

Who's That Pokémon?

Who's That Pokémon?: Mareep (US and international), Gligar (Japan)


Trivia

The unknown creature

Errors

  • When Gligarman is jumping off the tree with Togepi, the marking in the center of Togepi's egg is blue instead of red.
  • Latoya calls Ash by name without having heard it.
  • In the short Gligarman film, when Gligarman is shown kicking the unknown arachnid creature, the background is a city road. However, in the next shot, the arachnid falls from a clifftop in a completely different location.
  • In the Polish dub, the female store worker is voiced by a male after being freed from the ropes.
  • In the Italian dub, Gligar is erroneously called "Cligar" throughout the episode.

Dub edits

In other languages



← EP137 : Foul Weather Friends
Original series
EP139 : Mild 'n Wooly →
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