Pokémon Ranger: Guardian Signs (animated special)

Pokémon Ranger: Guardian Signs

Pokémon Ranger: Guardian Signs (Japanese: ポケモンレンジャー　光の軌跡 Pokémon Ranger: Traces of Light) is an original short animation based on the game with the same name. It aired in Japan in two parts as part of Pokémon Sunday, with the first part on February 28, 2010 and the second part on March 7, 2010. It was also broadcast as streaming video from TV Tokyo's Pokémon Sunday website from February 28 to March 21, 2010.

In the English dub, both parts were combined into a single, 10-minute short by trimming the cliffhanger ending of the first part. In the United States, the combined short was added to Pokémon TV on the official Pokémon website on November 10, 2010. In the United Kingdom and Germany, the combined short was added to the Nintendo Channel.

Blurb

The Pokémon Pinchers are up to no good in the Oblivia region, and it's up to Ranger Ben to investigate. In the episode, you'll see Ranger Ben get his first mission from Professor Hastings, then watch as Ben and Ukulele Pichu clash with Red Eyes in an intense confrontation!

List of parts

Code	Screenshot	English title	Japanese title	US broadcast	Japan broadcast	Time between
*		Pokémon Ranger: Guardian Signs (Part 1)	ポケモンレンジャー　光の軌跡＜前編＞ Pokémon Ranger: Traces of Light (Part 1)	November 10, 2010	February 28, 2010	255 days
*		Pokémon Ranger: Guardian Signs (Part 2)	ポケモンレンジャー　光の軌跡＜後編＞ Pokémon Ranger: Traces of Light (Part 2)	November 10, 2010	March 7, 2010	248 days
This concludes Pokémon Ranger: Guardian Signs.

Part 1

Part 1

Summary

High in the skies above the Oblivia Region, two Pokémon Pinchers grunts are riding personal hover cars, chasing after a Latios. Suddenly, Ben flies down on a Staraptor to intercept their pursuit. After Ben urges the Latios to escape, the grunts shout at him not to get in their way and shoot lasers at him, but he manages to evade their attacks. After a moment of wondering who he is, the grunts recognize his clothing - a Pokémon Ranger. As Ben and his Staraptor swoop down to attack, Ben thinks back to his visit to the Ranger Union just prior.

Ben had met up with Professor Hastings to receive his new mission, and heard from the Professor that the Pokémon Pinchers' efforts in poaching and selling Pokémon has become one of their most pressing matters. Hastings told Ben that the Pokémon Pinchers have been active in the Oblivia Region, and asked the young Ranger to head for the archipelago in order to protect the Pokémon and destroy the Pokémon Pinchers. Upon accepting the mission, Ben exited the Ranger Union to find a Staraptor flying above. Using his Capture Styler, Ben captured the Flying-type and took off on its back towards Oblivia.

Back in present time, Ben and Staraptor are aiming their attack towards the Pokémon Pinchers grunts, who decide to retreat and search for Latios again. Ben has no intention of letting them escape, however, and chases after them, but he is hit by a laser bolt, sending him and his Staraptor plummeting into the sea.

The grunts stare in amazement for a moment before it's revealed who shot at Ben - their leader, Red Eyes, who appears behind them, and who is not happy about being trailed by a Pokémon Ranger.

Meanwhile, an unconscious Ben has been washed up on Dolce Island. He eventually wakes up and, after quickly surveying his surroundings, notices a Pichu with a ukulele on its back watching him from a distance. The tiny Electric-type tries to hide from view, but Ben approaches it while offering his assurances. The Pichu attacks him in return, and a computerized voice from his Capture Styler warns Ben to proceed with caution, as the Pichu is suspicious of him. After taking in the information, Ben decides instead that he will capture the Pichu, in order to convince it that he is not an enemy.

Characters

Humans

• Ben
• Professor Hastings
• Red Eyes
• Male Pokémon Pinchers grunt
• Female Pokémon Pinchers grunt

Pokémon

• Pichu (Ukulele Pichu)
• Staraptor
• Latios
• Tauros (multiple)
• Girafarig (multiple)
• Rhyhorn (multiple)

Errors

• The dubbed video on Pokémon.com incorrectly subtitles Dolce Island as "Dolche Island". However, the subtitles on Cartoon Network Video and the Nintendo Channel spell it correctly.

Part 2

Part 2

Summary

Ben successfully captures the Ukulele Pichu, conveying his friendship and convincing it that not all humans are enemies. He learns from Pichu and Booker that the Pokémon Pinchers have captured all the Pokémon living on Dolce Island, and travels by boat to Renbow Island in pursuit of them.

In Rasp Cavern, Ben and Pichu witness the Pinchers stealing a piece of a monument with a symbol on it. Ukulele Pichu tries to fight against the Pinchers, but when the Pinchers' Cranidos fights back, Pichu is hurled into a wall, breaking its ukulele. The Pinchers successfully escape with the stone Ranger Sign, leaving Ben and Pichu to fight Cranidos, which is under the Pinchers' control. Ben successfully captures Cranidos, releasing it back into the wild.

Ben and Ukulele Pichu exit Rasp Cavern in time to see the Pinchers flying away on their Z.Z. Flyers. As they escape, dark clouds begin swirling overhead and Raikou appears in a thunderous rage. Ben is left wondering what is in store for him and how he will stop the Pinchers.

Characters

Humans

• Ben
• Red Eyes
• Pokémon Pinchers Grunts
• Booker (flashback)

Pokémon

• Pichu (Ukulele Pichu)
• Cranidos
• Raikou
• Combusken (flashback)
• Staraptor (flashback)

In other languages

Language		Title
German		Pokémon Ranger: Spuren des Lichts

External links

Announcement on the Japanese official website (archived)

This episode article is part of Project Anime, a Bulbapedia project that covers all aspects of Pokémon animation.