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'''The Path to the Pokémon League''' (Japanese: '''ポケモンリーグへのみち''' ''The Road to the Pokémon League'') is the eighth episode of the [[Pokémon | '''The Path to the Pokémon League''' (Japanese: '''ポケモンリーグへのみち''' ''The Road to the Pokémon League'') is the eighth episode of the [[Pokémon animated series]]. It first aired in Japan on May 20, 1997, and in the United States on September 17, 1998. | ||
{{spoilers}} | {{spoilers}} | ||
==Blurb== | ==Blurb== | ||
<!-- | <!--https://www.pokemon.com/us/animation/seasons/1/episode-8-the-path-to-the-pokemon-league/--> | ||
<i>On the way to Vermillion City, Ash meets AJ, a Gym Leader at an unsanctioned Gym who has 98 wins and zero losses. They battle, and Ash is surprised that AJ's Ground-type Sandshrew can easily beat his Flying-type Pokémon. (Flying-type Pokémon are usually strong against Ground-type Pokémon.) | <i>On the way to Vermillion City<!--sic-->, Ash meets AJ, a Gym Leader at an unsanctioned Gym who has 98 wins and zero losses. They battle, and Ash is surprised that AJ's Ground-type Sandshrew can easily beat his Flying-type Pokémon. (Flying-type Pokémon are usually strong against Ground-type Pokémon.) | ||
Ash and his friends later see that AJ puts his Pokémon through very tough training—he makes his Sandshrew, normally weak to Water-type attacks, train in a swimming pool! Although Ash doesn't approve of the intensive training session, Brock is impressed. Ash begs for a rematch, but AJ refuses. The two argue a bit and when they fall into the pool, AJ's Sandshrew goes missing. | Ash and his friends later see that AJ puts his Pokémon through very tough training—he makes his Sandshrew, normally weak to Water-type attacks, train in a swimming pool! Although Ash doesn't approve of the intensive training session, Brock is impressed. Ash begs for a rematch, but AJ refuses. The two argue a bit and when they fall into the pool, AJ's Sandshrew goes missing. | ||
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==Plot== | ==Plot== | ||
{{Ash}} | {{Ash}} and {{ashfr}} are on their way to [[Vermilion City]]. Along the way, Ash has a {{pkmn|battle}} with another {{pkmn|Trainer}}, and {{AP|Pidgeotto}} defeats a {{p|Rattata}}, securing his tenth victory. The Trainer admires Ash's two Badges, leading {{an|Misty}} to muse that [[EP007|giving]] Ash the Badge may have been a mistake. The Trainer points Ash to an unofficial [[Gym]], where a strong Trainer named [[A.J.]], who has purportedly never lost a match, trains savage {{OBP|Pokémon|species}}. | ||
The sign outside A.J.'s Gym indicates that the Gym is unlicensed by the [[Pokémon League]] and he has a record of 98 wins to zero losses. As Misty insults Ash, A.J. walks up and challenges him to a battle. A.J. snaps a whip, making Ash jump. He says that he plans to start competing for Badges after his 100<sup>th</sup> consecutive win. Ash smugly tells him that he has ten wins and two Gym Badges, at which point A.J. insults the Gyms, angering Misty and Brock. A.J. summons his {{p|Sandshrew}} to battle against Ash's Pokémon. Misty reminds Ash that Pikachu's electricity is useless against a {{t|Ground}} Pokémon, but Ash rejects her advice. He summons Pidgeotto to battle Sandshrew. Brock notes that a {{t|Flying}} Pokémon should have the advantage. However, Sandshrew | The sign outside A.J.'s Gym indicates that the Gym is unlicensed by the [[Pokémon League]] and that he has a record of 98 wins to zero losses. As Misty insults Ash, A.J. walks up and challenges him to a battle. A.J. snaps a whip, making Ash jump. He says that he plans to start competing for Badges after his 100<sup>th</sup> consecutive win. Ash smugly tells him that he has ten wins and two Gym Badges, at which point A.J. insults the Gyms, angering Misty and {{an|Brock}}. A.J. summons his {{p|Sandshrew}} to battle against Ash's Pokémon. Misty reminds Ash that Pikachu's electricity is [[Type#Type effectiveness|useless]] against a {{t|Ground}} Pokémon, but Ash rejects her advice. He summons Pidgeotto to battle Sandshrew. Brock notes that a {{t|Flying}} Pokémon should have the advantage. However, Sandshrew uses {{m|Defense Curl}} to roll up into a ball and hurls itself into the air, striking and [[Fainting|defeating]] Pidgeotto. | ||
Ash | After [[recall]]ing Pidgeotto into its {{i|Poké Ball}}, Ash calls out {{AP|Butterfree}} to fight Sandshrew. He orders a {{m|Stun Spore}} attack, but A.J., with a crack of his whip, orders Sandshrew to {{m|Dig}} underground to avoid it. It bursts out of the ground, taking Butterfree down as well. Ash wants Pikachu to fight next, but the {{pkmn|category|Mouse Pokémon}} refuses, grabbing hold of the edge of the battlefield. Ash tries to pull Pikachu off by the tail, but Pikachu, refusing to let go, hits his Trainer with a {{m|Thunder Shock}}. While all of this is happening, {{TRT}} is spying on the match from a tree nearby and decides to steal Sandshrew. Refusing to believe that anyone's Pokémon could be so strong, Ash accuses A.J. of cheating and demands a [[rematch]], but A.J. tells him to quit whining. Later, Ash overhears A.J. {{pkmn|training}} his Pokémon, yelling angrily and cracking his whip. Ash intervenes to stop A.J. from hurting the Pokémon, but A.J. tells him to mind his own business. His Sandshrew is wearing a strength intensifier brace invented by A.J. himself. It enables the Sandshrew to withstand the weakening effects of water. A.J. says he's tougher on Sandshrew than his other Pokémon because it was his very first. | ||
Appalled at A.J.'s training methods, Ash asserts that a great Pokémon Trainer should make friends with his Pokémon. He asks for Brock's input, but Brock only wants to know what kind of {{pkmn|food}} A.J. is using. A.J., like Brock, mixes his own food | Appalled at A.J.'s training methods, Ash asserts that a great Pokémon Trainer should make friends with his Pokémon. He asks for Brock's input, but Brock only wants to know what kind of {{pkmn|food}} A.J. is using. A.J., like Brock, mixes his own food from a secret recipe. Pikachu attempts to pick up one of Sandshrew's dumbbells, but falls backward under the weight, while Sandshrew does rapid exercises. Meanwhile, Team Rocket is crouched behind A.J.'s tent, preparing for their attempted heist. After the training, A.J.'s Pokémon are all exhausted. A.J. insults Pikachu, and Ash takes a swing at him, causing them both to fall into the pool. Pikachu tries on the strength intensifier, but it fits badly and pulls him into a ball. Sandshrew laughs at Pikachu's comical appearance and rolls itself into a ball as well. | ||
Team Rocket rolls into the tent inside a rubber ball, intending to steal Pikachu, but they instead grab Sandshrew. After A.J. ends the rest break, he realizes that Sandshrew is missing. He releases Pikachu from the harness, but Pikachu doesn't know where Sandshrew is either. Ash suggests that it ran away because it saw that Pikachu was treated better. A.J. is extremely insulted at this, insisting Sandshrew would not have run away after all they had been through together. He sends his other Pokémon to look for Sandshrew, but Ash tries to convince A.J.'s Pokémon to leave with him. Despite the way A.J. has treated them, they ignore Ash. Meanwhile, while arguing over who carries the bag, Team Rocket is startled when Sandshrew flies out. Meowth | Team Rocket rolls into the tent inside a rubber ball, intending to steal Pikachu, but they instead grab Sandshrew. After A.J. ends the rest break, he realizes that Sandshrew is missing. He releases Pikachu from the harness, but Pikachu doesn't know where Sandshrew is either. Ash suggests that it ran away because it saw that Pikachu was treated better. A.J. is extremely insulted at this, insisting Sandshrew would not have run away after all they had been through together. He sends his other Pokémon to look for Sandshrew, but Ash tries to convince A.J.'s Pokémon to leave with him. Despite the way A.J. has treated them, they ignore Ash. Meanwhile, while arguing over who carries the bag, Team Rocket is startled when Sandshrew flies out. Meowth {{m|Bite}}s Sandshrew's tail and Sandshrew burrows underground in pain. While Ash and A.J. are still arguing, Sandshrew bursts out of the ground next to him, dragging Meowth. Seeing how happy A.J. and Sandshrew are to be back together, Ash and the gang realize how deeply A.J. cares for his Pokémon. | ||
Surrounded by angry Pokémon and their Trainers, Meowth tries to figure a way out of his situation, when James and Jessie begin their {{motto | Surrounded by angry Pokémon and their Trainers, Meowth tries to figure a way out of his situation, when James and Jessie begin their {{motto}}. Jessie tells A.J. that taking his Sandshrew was a mistake; James calls it second-rate, earning A.J's ire. He challenges them to a battle, with his Sandshrew facing off against {{TP|Jessie|Ekans}} and {{TP|James|Koffing}}. Sandshrew avoids Koffing and Ekans's respective {{m|Sludge}} and {{m|Wrap}} attacks and takes them out, then defeats Meowth, who tries to Bite its armored skin. Team Rocket flees after Sandshrew's {{m|Fissure}} attack. As this is A.J.'s 100<sup>th</sup> win, he and his Pokémon now leave to begin earning Badges. Like Ash, he too wants to be the {{pkmn|world}}'s greatest [[Pokémon Master]]. They part as friendly rivals, agreeing to meet in the future at one of the League competitions. | ||
==Major events== | ==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. --> | <!-- 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. --> | ||
* {{Ash}} learns that there is [[Vermilion Gym|a Gym]] in [[Vermilion City]]. | * {{Ash}} learns that there is [[Vermilion Gym|a Gym]] in [[Vermilion City]]. | ||
* [[Jessie's Ekans]] is revealed to know {{m|Wrap}}. | |||
* {{MTR}} is revealed to know {{m|Bite}}. | * {{MTR}} is revealed to know {{m|Bite}}. | ||
{{animeevents|OS}} | |||
===Debuts=== | ===Debuts=== | ||
| Line 91: | Line 91: | ||
==Trivia== | ==Trivia== | ||
* This is the first [[filler episode|"filler" episode]] | * This is the first [[filler episode|"filler" episode]] of the {{pkmn|animated series}}. | ||
* This is also the first episode without any {{OBP|Pokémon|species}} debuts. | |||
* This episode is the last in which [[Ted Lewis]] voices [[James]], as well as [[Eric Stuart]]'s first episode voicing James. He takes over the role when James summons {{p|Koffing}} in {{pkmn|battle}}. | * This episode is the last in which [[Ted Lewis]] voices [[James]], as well as [[Eric Stuart]]'s first episode voicing James. He takes over the role when James summons {{p|Koffing}} in {{pkmn|battle}}. Lewis had left for a time to do theater, only to eventually return as {{an|Giovanni}} and {{Tracey}}. | ||
* This is the first episode not explicitly set within a location from the {{pkmn|games}}. | * This is the first episode not explicitly set within a location from the {{pkmn|games}}. | ||
* The English | * The English dub of this episode mentions a real animal. {{an|Misty}} claims that [[A.J.]] controls {{p|Sandshrew}} with the crack of his whip just like a {{wp|lion tamer}}. In the Japanese version, she simply remarks that it is amazing A.J. can control Sandshrew with the crack of his whip. | ||
* Early in the episode, {{TRT}} expresses an interest in Sandshrew. However, later on they say they take no interest in A.J.'s "second rate" Sandshrew. | * Early in the episode, {{TRT}} expresses an interest in Sandshrew. However, later on they say they take no interest in A.J.'s "second rate" Sandshrew. | ||
* This episode marks the first time a [[one-hit knockout move]] is seen in the | * This episode marks the first time a [[one-hit knockout move]] is seen in the animated series. | ||
* Parts of this episode are remade in ''[[M20|I Choose You!]]''. | * Parts of this episode are remade in ''[[M20|I Choose You!]]''. | ||
* {{Ash}}'s nose extending is a reference to the Japanese saying " | * {{Ash}}'s nose extending is a reference to the Japanese saying "Becoming a {{wp|Tengu}}", which is used to describe a person getting a swelled head. | ||
* This is the first episode where an unofficial Pokémon Gym is shown. | |||
* A.J.'s Sandshrew's strength intensifier resembles a [[Macho Brace]], an item that is not introduced until [[Generation III]]. | |||
===Errors=== | ===Errors=== | ||
* When Ash | * [[Pokémon.com]]'s blurb for this episode misspells {{ci|Vermilion}} as Vermil'''l'''ion. | ||
* Sandshrew hits {{AP|Butterfree}} with {{m|Dig}}, despite the fact that Butterfree, | * When Misty says that she and {{an|Brock}} giving {{Ash}} the [[Badge]]s was a mistake, the strap of her bag is the same color as her shirt. | ||
* In this episode, | * When Ash and {{ashfr}} are standing in front of [[A.J.]]'s [[Gym]], Ash's sleeves are briefly colored blue instead of white. | ||
* When Pikachu is holding a pillow, Ash's Japanese voice can be heard | * When Ash and his friends turn to see A.J, Ash's left hand briefly overlaps {{an|Brock}}. | ||
* When A.J.'s {{p|Butterfree}} takes his bag, the straps on Ash's bag are colored black instead of green. | |||
* Sandshrew hits {{AP|Butterfree}} with {{m|Dig}}, despite the fact that Butterfree, being a {{type|Flying}} Pokémon, is immune to {{type|Ground}} moves such as Dig. | |||
* When Sandshrew dives into the pool, its eyes have their colors reversed. | |||
* When A.J.'s Sandshrew curls into a ball to be passed around by A.J.'s three Rattata, it is mistakenly drawn without its brace on. | |||
* When Team Rocket is sneaking around A.J.'s Gym while inside of a ball, {{MTR}}'s forepaws are colored orange instead of cream. | |||
* When A.J. is grateful when Sandshrew returns, his Butterfree's antennae disappear several times. | |||
* In this episode, A.J.'s Sandshrew uses {{m|Defense Curl}}. However, in the games, Sandshrew couldn't learn Defense Curl until [[Generation II]]. | |||
* In the English dub: | |||
** When Ash tells A.J. that Sandshrew are weakened by water, he incorrectly says "[[List of nonstandard species plurals|Sandshrews]]." The plural of a specific species of Pokémon is the same as the singular. | |||
** When Pikachu is holding a pillow, Ash's Japanese voice can be heard. | |||
<gallery> | |||
EP008 error.png|Ash's miscolored straps | |||
EP008 error 3.png|Sandshrew's miscolored eyes | |||
EP008 error 2.png|Meowth's miscolored forepaw | |||
</gallery> | |||
===Dub edits=== | ===Dub edits=== | ||
* [[ | * [[Kanto Pokérap]]: Day 3 | ||
* The sign over the [[Gym]] is heavily edited: | * The sign over the [[Gym]] is heavily edited: | ||
** The text is translated. | ** The text is translated. | ||
| Line 116: | Line 133: | ||
** The number of losses (0) is added. | ** The number of losses (0) is added. | ||
* A sign inside the tent saying "Fight! Work Harder!" is changed to a picture of a {{i|Poké Ball}} being hit with a whip. | * A sign inside the tent saying "Fight! Work Harder!" is changed to a picture of a {{i|Poké Ball}} being hit with a whip. | ||
* The scene where {{AP|Pikachu}} | * The scene where {{AP|Pikachu}} holds a pillow is different between the two versions, due to the original Japanese version incorporating both an untranslatable pun and pop culture reference. In said original version, {{Ash}} tells [[A.J.]] that Sandshrew (whose Japanese name is "サンド (Sand)") is not a "サンドバッグ" (or "sandbag", which is the Japanese word for {{wp|punching bag}}), and Pikachu pulling out a ''{{wp|zabuton}}'' (a type of pillow) is a reference to the Japanese comedy program ''{{wp|Shōten}}'', where participants are awarded with ''zabuton'' for giving humorous responses, causing Ash to shout at Pikachu for not taking him seriously. In the English dub, the script was rewritten to have Ash mishear A.J., thinking he said ''pacing'', not ''passing'', and Pikachu's pillow further stammers him into saying ''padding''. | ||
* | * {{TRT}} experiments with a different motto: | ||
** Japanese: | ** Japanese: | ||
*** Jessie: "We are the pretty thieves..." | *** [[Jessie]]: "We are the pretty thieves..." | ||
*** James: "Target: Pikachu!" | *** [[James]]: "Target: Pikachu!" | ||
** | ** English dub: | ||
*** Jessie: "Team Rocket will do what it has to do..." | *** Jessie: "Team Rocket will do what it has to do..." | ||
*** James: "To snatch that little Pikachu!" | *** James: "To snatch that little Pikachu!" | ||
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{{Epilang|color=AFA|bordercolor=FAA | {{Epilang|color=AFA|bordercolor=FAA | ||
|ar={{tt|الطريق إلى دوري البوكيمون|The path to the Pokémon League}} | |ar={{tt|الطريق إلى دوري البوكيمون|The path to the Pokémon League}} | ||
|zh_cmn={{tt| | |zh_yue={{tt|百戰百勝的小明|The ever-victorious A.J.}} {{tt|*|TVB dub}}<br>{{tt|通往精靈寶可夢擂台之道|The Road to the Pokémon arena}} {{tt|*|i-Cable dub}}<br>{{tt|邁向寶可夢聯盟之路|The Road to the Pokémon League}} {{tt|*|Pokémon HK YouTube title}} | ||
|zh_cmn={{tt|通往神奇寶貝擂台之道|The Road to the Pokémon arena}} | |||
|ca_vc={{tt|El camí cap a la lliga Pokémon|The main road to the Pokémon League}} | |ca_vc={{tt|El camí cap a la lliga Pokémon|The main road to the Pokémon League}} | ||
|cs={{tt|Cesta do Pokémonové ligy|The path to the Pokémon League}} | |cs={{tt|Cesta do Pokémonové ligy|The path to the Pokémon League}} | ||
| Line 137: | Line 155: | ||
|fr_ca={{tt|En route vers la Ligue de dressage|On the way to the Trainers' League}} | |fr_ca={{tt|En route vers la Ligue de dressage|On the way to the Trainers' League}} | ||
|fr_eu={{tt|Le chemin qui mène à la Ligue Pokémon|The path that leads to the Pokémon League}} | |fr_eu={{tt|Le chemin qui mène à la Ligue Pokémon|The path that leads to the Pokémon League}} | ||
|de={{tt|Harte Schale - weicher Kern|Hard shell - soft core}} | |de={{tt|Harte Schale - weicher Kern|Hard shell - soft core}} | ||
|he=הדרך לליגת הפוקימונים {{tt| | |el={{tt|Ο Δρόμος για το Πρωτάθλημα Πόκεμον|The Road to the Pokémon Championship}} | ||
|hi=पोकेमोन लीग की ओर! {{tt| | |he=הדרך לליגת הפוקימונים ''{{tt|Ha'derekh le'ligat ha'Pokémonim|The path to the Pokémon League}}'' | ||
|hi=पोकेमोन लीग की ओर! ''{{tt|Pokémon League ki oor!|Towards the Pokémon League!}}'' {{tt|*|CN dub}}<br>पोकेमोन लिग मे जाने का रास्ता! ''{{tt|Pokémon league me jaane ka rasta!|The Road to go to the Pokémon League!}}'' {{tt|*|Hungama TV dub}} | |||
|hu={{tt|A Pokémon liga|The Pokémon League}} | |hu={{tt|A Pokémon liga|The Pokémon League}} | ||
|it={{tt|Impegnati e vincerai|If you apply yourself you'll win}}{{tt|*| | |it={{tt|Impegnati e vincerai|If you apply yourself you'll win}} {{tt|*|Italia 1 dub}}<br>{{tt|Il viaggio verso la Lega Pokémon|The trip to the Pokémon League}} {{tt|*|K2 TV dub}} | ||
|ko=가자, 포켓몬 리그로! {{tt| | |ko=가자, 포켓몬 리그로! ''{{tt|Gaja, Pokesmon ligeulo!|Let's go to the Pokémon League!}}'' | ||
|no={{tt|Veien til Pokémon-ligaen|The road to the Pokémon League}} | |no={{tt|Veien til Pokémon-ligaen|The road to the Pokémon League}} | ||
|pl={{tt|Droga do Ligi | |pl={{tt|Droga do Ligi Pokémon|The path to the Pokémon League}} | ||
|pt_br={{tt|O Caminho para a Liga Pokémon|The path to the Pokémon League}} | |pt_br={{tt|O Caminho para a Liga Pokémon|The path to the Pokémon League}} | ||
|pt_eu={{tt|O Caminho para a Liga Pokémon|The path to the Pokémon League}} | |pt_eu={{tt|O Caminho para a Liga Pokémon|The path to the Pokémon League}} | ||
| Line 152: | Line 171: | ||
|es_la={{tt|¡El Camino a la Liga Pokémon!|The path to the Pokémon League!}} | |es_la={{tt|¡El Camino a la Liga Pokémon!|The path to the Pokémon League!}} | ||
|es_eu={{tt|El camino hacia la Liga Pokémon|The path to the Pokémon League}} | |es_eu={{tt|El camino hacia la Liga Pokémon|The path to the Pokémon League}} | ||
|sv={{tt|Vägen till Pokémon Ligan|The path to the Pokémon League}}{{tt|*|Pokémon TV}}<br>{{tt|Vägen till Pokémon-ligan|The path to the Pokémon League}}{{tt|*|VHS release}} | |sv={{tt|Vägen till Pokémon Ligan|The path to the Pokémon League}} {{tt|*|Pokémon TV title}}<br>{{tt|Vägen till Pokémon-ligan|The path to the Pokémon League}} {{tt|*|VHS release}} | ||
|tr={{tt|Pokémon Ligi'ne Doğru Giden Yol|The path that goes to the Pokémon League}} | |tr={{tt|Pokémon Ligi'ne Doğru Giden Yol|The path that goes to the Pokémon League}} | ||
|uk={{tt|Дорога до Ліги Покемонів|Road to the League of Pokémon}} | |uk={{tt|Дорога до Ліги Покемонів|Road to the League of Pokémon}} | ||
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[[it:EP008]] | [[it:EP008]] | ||
[[ja:無印編第8話]] | [[ja:無印編第8話]] | ||
[[zh: | [[zh:宝可梦 第8集]] | ||
Latest revision as of 18:17, 11 November 2024
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The Path to the Pokémon League
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First broadcast
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English themes
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Credits
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The Path to the Pokémon League (Japanese: ポケモンリーグへのみち The Road to the Pokémon League) is the eighth episode of the Pokémon animated series. It first aired in Japan on May 20, 1997, and in the United States on September 17, 1998.
Blurb
On the way to Vermillion City, Ash meets AJ, a Gym Leader at an unsanctioned Gym who has 98 wins and zero losses. They battle, and Ash is surprised that AJ's Ground-type Sandshrew can easily beat his Flying-type Pokémon. (Flying-type Pokémon are usually strong against Ground-type Pokémon.)
Ash and his friends later see that AJ puts his Pokémon through very tough training—he makes his Sandshrew, normally weak to Water-type attacks, train in a swimming pool! Although Ash doesn't approve of the intensive training session, Brock is impressed. Ash begs for a rematch, but AJ refuses. The two argue a bit and when they fall into the pool, AJ's Sandshrew goes missing.
Are AJ's training methods too tough? Will Ash get his rematch? And what happened to AJ's Sandshrew?
Plot
Ash and his friends are on their way to Vermilion City. Along the way, Ash has a battle with another Trainer, and Pidgeotto defeats a Rattata, securing his tenth victory. The Trainer admires Ash's two Badges, leading Misty to muse that giving Ash the Badge may have been a mistake. The Trainer points Ash to an unofficial Gym, where a strong Trainer named A.J., who has purportedly never lost a match, trains savage Pokémon.
The sign outside A.J.'s Gym indicates that the Gym is unlicensed by the Pokémon League and that he has a record of 98 wins to zero losses. As Misty insults Ash, A.J. walks up and challenges him to a battle. A.J. snaps a whip, making Ash jump. He says that he plans to start competing for Badges after his 100th consecutive win. Ash smugly tells him that he has ten wins and two Gym Badges, at which point A.J. insults the Gyms, angering Misty and Brock. A.J. summons his Sandshrew to battle against Ash's Pokémon. Misty reminds Ash that Pikachu's electricity is useless against a Ground Pokémon, but Ash rejects her advice. He summons Pidgeotto to battle Sandshrew. Brock notes that a Flying Pokémon should have the advantage. However, Sandshrew uses Defense Curl to roll up into a ball and hurls itself into the air, striking and defeating Pidgeotto.
After recalling Pidgeotto into its Poké Ball, Ash calls out Butterfree to fight Sandshrew. He orders a Stun Spore attack, but A.J., with a crack of his whip, orders Sandshrew to Dig underground to avoid it. It bursts out of the ground, taking Butterfree down as well. Ash wants Pikachu to fight next, but the Mouse Pokémon refuses, grabbing hold of the edge of the battlefield. Ash tries to pull Pikachu off by the tail, but Pikachu, refusing to let go, hits his Trainer with a Thunder Shock. While all of this is happening, Team Rocket is spying on the match from a tree nearby and decides to steal Sandshrew. Refusing to believe that anyone's Pokémon could be so strong, Ash accuses A.J. of cheating and demands a rematch, but A.J. tells him to quit whining. Later, Ash overhears A.J. training his Pokémon, yelling angrily and cracking his whip. Ash intervenes to stop A.J. from hurting the Pokémon, but A.J. tells him to mind his own business. His Sandshrew is wearing a strength intensifier brace invented by A.J. himself. It enables the Sandshrew to withstand the weakening effects of water. A.J. says he's tougher on Sandshrew than his other Pokémon because it was his very first.
Appalled at A.J.'s training methods, Ash asserts that a great Pokémon Trainer should make friends with his Pokémon. He asks for Brock's input, but Brock only wants to know what kind of food A.J. is using. A.J., like Brock, mixes his own food from a secret recipe. Pikachu attempts to pick up one of Sandshrew's dumbbells, but falls backward under the weight, while Sandshrew does rapid exercises. Meanwhile, Team Rocket is crouched behind A.J.'s tent, preparing for their attempted heist. After the training, A.J.'s Pokémon are all exhausted. A.J. insults Pikachu, and Ash takes a swing at him, causing them both to fall into the pool. Pikachu tries on the strength intensifier, but it fits badly and pulls him into a ball. Sandshrew laughs at Pikachu's comical appearance and rolls itself into a ball as well.
Team Rocket rolls into the tent inside a rubber ball, intending to steal Pikachu, but they instead grab Sandshrew. After A.J. ends the rest break, he realizes that Sandshrew is missing. He releases Pikachu from the harness, but Pikachu doesn't know where Sandshrew is either. Ash suggests that it ran away because it saw that Pikachu was treated better. A.J. is extremely insulted at this, insisting Sandshrew would not have run away after all they had been through together. He sends his other Pokémon to look for Sandshrew, but Ash tries to convince A.J.'s Pokémon to leave with him. Despite the way A.J. has treated them, they ignore Ash. Meanwhile, while arguing over who carries the bag, Team Rocket is startled when Sandshrew flies out. Meowth Bites Sandshrew's tail and Sandshrew burrows underground in pain. While Ash and A.J. are still arguing, Sandshrew bursts out of the ground next to him, dragging Meowth. Seeing how happy A.J. and Sandshrew are to be back together, Ash and the gang realize how deeply A.J. cares for his Pokémon.
Surrounded by angry Pokémon and their Trainers, Meowth tries to figure a way out of his situation, when James and Jessie begin their motto. Jessie tells A.J. that taking his Sandshrew was a mistake; James calls it second-rate, earning A.J's ire. He challenges them to a battle, with his Sandshrew facing off against Ekans and Koffing. Sandshrew avoids Koffing and Ekans's respective Sludge and Wrap attacks and takes them out, then defeats Meowth, who tries to Bite its armored skin. Team Rocket flees after Sandshrew's Fissure attack. As this is A.J.'s 100th win, he and his Pokémon now leave to begin earning Badges. Like Ash, he too wants to be the world's greatest Pokémon Master. They part as friendly rivals, agreeing to meet in the future at one of the League competitions.
Major events
- Ash learns that there is a Gym in Vermilion City.
- Jessie's Ekans is revealed to know Wrap.
- Meowth is revealed to know Bite.
- For a list of all major events in Pokémon the Series: The Beginning, please see the timeline page.
Debuts
Pokémon debuts
Characters
Humans
Pokémon
Who's That Pokémon?: Sandshrew
- Pikachu (Ash's)
- Meowth (Team Rocket)
- Butterfree (Ash's)
- Pidgeotto (Ash's)
- Ekans (Jessie's)
- Koffing (James's)
- Sandshrew (A.J.'s)
- Butterfree (A.J.'s)
- Beedrill (A.J.'s)
- Rattata (A.J.'s; ×3)
- Rattata (Trainer's)
Trivia
- This is the first "filler" episode of the animated series.
- This is also the first episode without any Pokémon debuts.
- This episode is the last in which Ted Lewis voices James, as well as Eric Stuart's first episode voicing James. He takes over the role when James summons Koffing in battle. Lewis had left for a time to do theater, only to eventually return as Giovanni and Tracey.
- This is the first episode not explicitly set within a location from the games.
- The English dub of this episode mentions a real animal. Misty claims that A.J. controls Sandshrew with the crack of his whip just like a lion tamer. In the Japanese version, she simply remarks that it is amazing A.J. can control Sandshrew with the crack of his whip.
- Early in the episode, Team Rocket expresses an interest in Sandshrew. However, later on they say they take no interest in A.J.'s "second rate" Sandshrew.
- This episode marks the first time a one-hit knockout move is seen in the animated series.
- Parts of this episode are remade in I Choose You!.
- Ash's nose extending is a reference to the Japanese saying "Becoming a Tengu", which is used to describe a person getting a swelled head.
- This is the first episode where an unofficial Pokémon Gym is shown.
- A.J.'s Sandshrew's strength intensifier resembles a Macho Brace, an item that is not introduced until Generation III.
Errors
- Pokémon.com's blurb for this episode misspells Vermilion as Vermillion.
- When Misty says that she and Brock giving Ash the Badges was a mistake, the strap of her bag is the same color as her shirt.
- When Ash and his friends are standing in front of A.J.'s Gym, Ash's sleeves are briefly colored blue instead of white.
- When Ash and his friends turn to see A.J, Ash's left hand briefly overlaps Brock.
- When A.J.'s Butterfree takes his bag, the straps on Ash's bag are colored black instead of green.
- Sandshrew hits Butterfree with Dig, despite the fact that Butterfree, being a Flying-type Pokémon, is immune to Ground-type moves such as Dig.
- When Sandshrew dives into the pool, its eyes have their colors reversed.
- When A.J.'s Sandshrew curls into a ball to be passed around by A.J.'s three Rattata, it is mistakenly drawn without its brace on.
- When Team Rocket is sneaking around A.J.'s Gym while inside of a ball, Meowth's forepaws are colored orange instead of cream.
- When A.J. is grateful when Sandshrew returns, his Butterfree's antennae disappear several times.
- In this episode, A.J.'s Sandshrew uses Defense Curl. However, in the games, Sandshrew couldn't learn Defense Curl until Generation II.
- In the English dub:
- When Ash tells A.J. that Sandshrew are weakened by water, he incorrectly says "Sandshrews." The plural of a specific species of Pokémon is the same as the singular.
- When Pikachu is holding a pillow, Ash's Japanese voice can be heard.
Ash's miscolored straps
Sandshrew's miscolored eyes
Meowth's miscolored forepaw
Dub edits
- Kanto Pokérap: Day 3
- The sign over the Gym is heavily edited:
- The text is translated.
- The background changes from plain white to a gray that fades into white.
- The numbers are made into a dot-matrix format. In the original version, they were in a 7-segment LED format.
- The number of losses (0) is added.
- A sign inside the tent saying "Fight! Work Harder!" is changed to a picture of a Poké Ball being hit with a whip.
- The scene where Pikachu holds a pillow is different between the two versions, due to the original Japanese version incorporating both an untranslatable pun and pop culture reference. In said original version, Ash tells A.J. that Sandshrew (whose Japanese name is "サンド (Sand)") is not a "サンドバッグ" (or "sandbag", which is the Japanese word for punching bag), and Pikachu pulling out a zabuton (a type of pillow) is a reference to the Japanese comedy program Shōten, where participants are awarded with zabuton for giving humorous responses, causing Ash to shout at Pikachu for not taking him seriously. In the English dub, the script was rewritten to have Ash mishear A.J., thinking he said pacing, not passing, and Pikachu's pillow further stammers him into saying padding.
- Team Rocket experiments with a different motto:
- At the end, a five-second panning of the battle field is cut by three seconds and replaced by a three-second clip from earlier in the episode.
In other languages
| Language | Title | |
|---|---|---|
 Arabic
|
الطريق إلى دوري البوكيمون | |
 Valencian
|
El camí cap a la lliga Pokémon | |
| Chinese | Cantonese | 百戰百勝的小明 * 通往精靈寶可夢擂台之道 * 邁向寶可夢聯盟之路 * |
| Mandarin | 通往神奇寶貝擂台之道 | |
 Czech
|
Cesta do Pokémonové ligy | |
 Danish
|
Vejen Til Pokémon Ligaen | |
 Dutch
|
Op Weg naar het Pokémon Kampioenschap | |
 Finnish
|
Matkalla Pokémon-liigaan | |
| French |  Canada
|
En route vers la Ligue de dressage |
 Europe
|
Le chemin qui mène à la Ligue Pokémon | |
 German
|
Harte Schale - weicher Kern | |
 Greek
|
Ο Δρόμος για το Πρωτάθλημα Πόκεμον | |
 Hebrew
|
הדרך לליגת הפוקימונים Ha'derekh le'ligat ha'Pokémonim | |
 Hindi
|
पोकेमोन लीग की ओर! Pokémon League ki oor! * पोकेमोन लिग मे जाने का रास्ता! Pokémon league me jaane ka rasta! * | |
 Hungarian
|
A Pokémon liga | |
 Italian
|
Impegnati e vincerai * Il viaggio verso la Lega Pokémon * | |
 Korean
|
가자, 포켓몬 리그로! Gaja, Pokesmon ligeulo! | |
 Norwegian
|
Veien til Pokémon-ligaen | |
 Polish
|
Droga do Ligi Pokémon | |
| Portuguese |  Brazil
|
O Caminho para a Liga Pokémon |
 Portugal
|
O Caminho para a Liga Pokémon | |
 Romanian
|
Drumul Către Liga Pokémon | |
 Russian
|
Путь в Лигу Покемонов | |
 Serbian
|
Пут до покемон лиге | |
| Spanish |  Latin America
|
¡El Camino a la Liga Pokémon! |
 Spain
|
El camino hacia la Liga Pokémon | |
 Swedish
|
Vägen till Pokémon Ligan * Vägen till Pokémon-ligan * | |
 Turkish
|
Pokémon Ligi'ne Doğru Giden Yol | |
 Ukrainian
|
Дорога до Ліги Покемонів | |
 Vietnamese
|
Cuộc so tài Pokemon | |
|
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This episode article is part of Project Anime, a Bulbapedia project that covers all aspects of Pokémon animation. |
