Team Rocket motto

File:Rocket motto.png

At the end of a motto

The Team Rocket motto (Japanese: ロケット団の名乗り Rocket Gang's self-introduction) 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

Japanese	Translation	English
ムサシ: なんだかんだと聞かれたら	Musashi: If you ask us something or other...	Jessie: Prepare for trouble!
コジロウ: 答えてあげるのが世の情け	Kojirō: The answer we give will be the compassion of the world!	James: Make it double!
ムサシ: 世界の破壊を防ぐため	Musashi: To prevent the destruction of the world!	Jessie: To protect the world from devastation!
コジロウ: 世界の平和を守るため	Kojirō: To protect the peace of the world!	James: To unite all peoples within our nation!
ムサシ: 愛と真実の悪をつらぬく	Musashi: To carry out the evils of truth and love!	Jessie: To denounce the evils of truth and love!
コジロウ: ラブリー・チャーミーな敵役	Kojirō: The lovely, charmy villains!	James: To extend our reach to the stars above!
ムサシ: ムサシ	Musashi: Musashi!	Jessie: Jessie!
コジロウ: コジロウ	Kojirō: Kojirō!	James: James!
ムサシ: 銀河をかけるロケット団の二人には……	Musashi: The pair from Team Rocket soars through the galaxy!	Jessie: Team Rocket, blast off at the speed of light!
コジロウ: ホワイトホール、白い明日が待ってるぜ	Kojirō: A white hole, a white tomorrow awaits us!	James: Surrender now or prepare to fight!
ニャース: にゃんてにゃ	Nyarth: Something like that!	Meowth: Meowth! That's right!

Since the episode Team Rocket was introduced in, the duo has been rhyming "prepare for trouble" and "make it double" phrases. An example from ZigZag Zangoose!, in which 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, in almost all episodes after the Orange League, they tend to alter the first two sentences to match the current situation.

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.

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 at which 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.

From New Places... Familiar Faces! onwards, Team Rocket started using this motto again, after having failed in their latest operation and making a brief retreat back to Kanto. Some slight changes in the dubbed version are that, the first lines are recited in most cases as "Prepare for trouble, you know the drill", "And make it double, you'll get your fill", and James now says "To unite the people within our nation", instead of "To unite all peoples within our nation".

Variations in the original series

Click [show] to see the variations.

Battle Aboard the St. Anne motto In this episode James was depressed while saying his lines of the motto due to the fact that he was conned by the Magikarp Salesman. The Ghost of Maiden's Peak motto As James was under the trance of Gastly he was not present with Jessie and Meowth when they encountered the twerps, and Jessie was left to say most of the motto herself. However, James later reacted to hearing the motto, and made his whereabouts known by saying his last three lines. 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! Showdown at the Po-ké Corral motto In this episode, Team Rocket has followed Ash and his friends to Professor Oak's Laboratory. When they start singing their motto, Meowth is constantly trying to get a phrase for himself. Meowth: May I invite you to prepare... Jessie and James: For trouble! Meowth: Yeah! And while you're at it, you're better make it a triple! Jessie: To protect the world from devastation! James: To unite all peoples within our nation! Jessie: To denounce the evils of truth and love! James: To extend our reach to the stars above! Jessie: Jessie! James: James! Meowth: Meowth...! Jessie (thrashes Meowth to the ground): You stay out of this, Meowth! James (thrashes Meowth): Stop stealing our material! Meowth: All right, all right! Jessie: Team Rocket blasts off at the speed of light! James: Surrender now or prepare to fight for that Pikachu! Meowth: Meowth, that's right! Fourth Round Rumble motto In this episode, Team Rocket starts to sell fake Badges to Trainers in the Indigo Plateau. Near the end of the episode, they realize that they are much more successful selling stuff than when they are stealing stuff. At some point, Meowth says that they will eventually open a fast-food restaurant. This is the following dialogue: Jessie: That's not a bad idea. We can call it "Jessie's" James: "James's" Jessie: Want a burger and fries without trouble? James: If you are really hungry make it double! Jessie: To protect the world from hunger and thirst. James: Our food isn't bad, at least not the worst. Jessie: The Team Rocket Restaurant blasting for a bite Jessie and James: We stay open all day, we stay open all night! This variation is a heavy variation of the usual motto and sounds like a restaurant motto. 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! A Way Off Day Off motto Team Rocket comes down from a cliff along a zip-line, but just when they are about to recite their names, Jessie and James crash into a tree and become a bit dizzy. Jessie: Prepare for trouble! James: Make it double! Jessie: To protect the world from devastation! James: To unite all peoples within our nation! Jessie: To denounce the evils of truth and love! James: To extend our reach to the stars above! Jessie (crashes into a tree mid-word): Jes-! James (also crashes into the tree mid-word): Ja-! Jessie (dizzy): Team Blocket... rest off at the lead of spite... tonight... James (dizzy): Surrender now or prepare... to surrender now... surrender now... Meowth: Meowth! Say the motto right! Meowth scratches both Jessie and James to their faces Meowth: We didn't mean to wake 'em all, but now we're gonna take 'em all! Jessie & James: Well said, Meowth! 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 Chikorita Rescue motto After quickly taking Chikorita off the Pokémon Center dressed as doctors, Nurse Joy ask where they are from. They respond with a variation of their motto: Jessie: We are from the team that causes trouble James: I hope you're insured 'cause we make it double. Jessie: To protect the world from devastation! James: To unite all peoples within our nation! Jessie: To denounce the evils of truth and love! James: To extend our reach to the stars above! Jessie: Doctor Jessie! James: Doctor James! Jessie: Team Rocket doctors, blast off at the speed of light! James: Surrender now, because we're not making anymore house calls. Meowth: You got that right! Gettin' The Bugs Out motto In this episode, Ash challenges Bugsy of the Azalea Gym. During the battle, Team Rocket tries to dig a hole underneath Pikachu. While they are excavating, they start dreaming about the bonus that they will receive from their boss. During the beginning of the motto, they recite it without the usual music and stopping the words in the syllables. Jessie: Oh, prepare for trouble, that's what they should do. James: And make it double, were're grabbing Pikachu. Meowth: Haah! Jessie: To protect the world from devastation! James: To unite all peoples within our nation! Jessie: To denounce the evils of truth and love! James: To extend our reach to the stars above! Meowth: Sing it! Beginning of the usual music and normal recitation Jessie: Jessie! James: James! Jessie: Team Rocket digging to the Pikachu at the speed of light! James: Surrender now or prepare to fight the crowns on opening night! Meowth: Meowth, that's right! The Tricks of the Trade motto In this episode, Jessie and James try to steal all Pokémon in the Pokémon Swap Meet using a fake trading machine. After all the Trainers have discovered that their Poké Balls are empty, they try to get them back from Team Rocket. After this, Team Rocket recites a simple variation of their motto: Jessie: Prepare for trouble, its true, we've been stealing. James: Make it double, it beats relying and dealing. Jessie: To protect the world from devastation! James: To unite all peoples within our nation! Jessie: To denounce the evils of truth and love! James: To extend our reach to the stars above! Jessie: Jessie! James: James! Jessie: Team Rocket stealing Poké Balls at the speed of light! James: Surrender now or prepare to fight, fight, 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. Fossil Fools motto This motto was said by Team Rocket after Ash, his friends, Professor Oak, and Foster arrived in the reservoir where the Omanyte and Omastar live. Foster: What are they doing? Jessie: We caught Pokémon without much trouble. James: With a bigger tank though, we would have caught double. Jessie: To protect the world from devastation! James: To unite all peoples within our nation! Jessie: To denounce the evils of truth and love! James: To extend our reach to the stars above! Jessie: Jessie! James: James! Jessie: Team Rocket has finally done something right. James: We have got plenty of Omastar and loads of Omanyte. Wobbuffet : Wobbu...! Meowth (pushes Wobbuffet down): Lay down! Meowth, that's right! This is also one of the few episodes in which Jessie doesn't say "speed of light!" and James doesn't say "fight, fight, fight!" 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 in order to pay the bill that TRDelibird ([[{{{2}}} (move)|{{{2}}}]]) had just brought to them. 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! Delibird: Deeli-de! 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! Wobbuffet: Wobbuffet! 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 and James are now riding on surfboards 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 mottos 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, as they attempt to steal Nelson's Misdreavus in order to use its Mean Look for their own purposes. Jessie: Prepare for trouble, with Misdreavus in a sack! James: Make it double, with that great Mean Look attack! Jessie: To protect the world from devastation! James: To unite all peoples within our nation! Jessie: To denounce the evils of truth and love! James: To extend our reach to the stars above! Jessie: Mean Look Jessie! James: Meaner Look James! Jessie: Team Rocket blasts off, your secret's been told! Jessie: Surrender now or battle the brave and the bold! Meowth (unmotivated): This is getting so old. 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: Meowth, that's right! Wobbuffet: Wobbuffet! 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

Click [show] to see the rest of the variations.

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, that includes much of all soups! Meowth: Oy gevalt! 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! True Blue Swablu motto This motto is recited after snatching Swablu from May. Jessie: Prepare for trouble, we want the feathers! James: Make it double, we're all togethers! Jessie: To protect the Boss from insomniation! James: To unite a well-rested nation! Jessie: To denounce the evils of lack of sleep! James: To extend our reach to the sandman's keep! Jessie: Jessie! James: James! Jessie: Team Rocket blasting off at the speed of light! James: Surrender now to the foils of fatigue or prepare to fight, fight, fight! Meowth: 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! The Garden of Eatin' motto Jessie: Prepare for trouble as we represent! James: We’re making it double with a fashion statement! Jessie: To protect the world from a taste gone bad! James: To unite all peoples with a trendy fad! Jessie: To denounce the evils of things bourgeois! James: To extend our reach to a fashion for-part! Jessie: Jessie! James: James! Jessie: Team Rocket, is blasting off at the speed of light! James: So surrender now while we’re looking so out of sight! Meowth: YEAH! Meowth! That's right! Training Wrecks motto With James confident in the training Team Rocket went through 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 run on the treadmill 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 up above! Jessie: Jessie, the moon maid! James: James, the sun dude! Jessie: Team Rocket blasts off to the infinity 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!

Variations in the Best Wishes series

Click [show] to see the variations.

To Catch a Rotom! motto Team Rocket is trying to steal three Rotom by using electric beam emitters. Ash: Not you guys! Come on! Jessie: We can't come on, we're already here! James: But thanks for the invite, I may shed a tear! Jessie: To protect the world from devastation! James: To unite the people within our nation! Jessie: To denounce the evils of truth and love! James: To extend our reach to the stars above! Jessie: It's Jessie James: And James! Jessie: Team Rocket goes electric at the speed of light! James: Surrender now, or prepare for a hi-voltage fight! Meowth: Meowth, that's right!

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:

Japanese	Translation	English
ムサシ: なんだかんだと声がする	Musashi: There is a voice saying something.	Jessie: Prepare for trouble from the skies!
コジロウ: 地平線の彼方から	Kojirō: From beyond the horizon...	James: From beyond the stars, a nasty surprise!
ムサシ: ビッグバンの彼方から	Musashi: From beyond the big bang...	Jessie: An evil as old as the galaxy...
コジロウ: 我らを呼んでる声がする	Kojirō: A voice is calling us!	James: ...sent here to fulfill our destiny!
ニャース: お待たせにゃ	Nyarth: Sorry to keep you waiting!	Meowth: Plus, there's me!
ムサシ: 健気に咲いた悪の花	Musashi:Evil flowers who have courageously bloomed!	Jessie: To denounce the evils of truth and love!
コジロウ: ハードでスイートな敵役	Kojirō: In the role of the villains who are hard and sweet!	James: To extend our reach to the stars above!
ムサシ: ムサシ	Musashi: Musashi!	Jessie: Jessie!
コジロウ: コジロウ	Kojirō: Kojirō!	James: And James!
ニャース: ニャースでニャース	Nyarth: And Nyarth!	Meowth: And Meowth are the names!
ムサシ: ロケット団のあるところ	Musashi: The place where Team Rocket is	Jessie: Anywhere there's peace in the universe...
コジロウ: 世界は	Kojirō: The world-	James: ...Team Rocket...
ニャース: 宇宙は	Nyarth: The universe-	Meowth: ...Will be there...
All: 君を待っている	All: Awaits you!	All: To make everything worse!
ソーナンス: ソーナンス！	Sonans: Sōnansu!	Wobbuffet: Wobbuffet!

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.

Japanese	Translation	English
ムサシ: なんだかんだの声を聞き	Musashi: We hear voices saying this and that...	Jessie: Listen, is that a voice I hear?
コジロウ: 光の速さでやってきた	Kojirō: We come along in a swift current of light...	James: It's speaking to me loud and clear.
ムサシ: 風よ	Musashi: The wind!	Jessie: On the wind!
コジロウ: 大地よ	Kojirō: The land!	James: Past the stars!
ニャース: 大空よ	Nyarth: The sky!	Meowth: In your ear!
ムサシ: 世界に届けよう　デンジャラス	Musashi: The danger we will deliver to the world!	Jessie: Bringing chaos at a breakneck pace.
コジロウ: 宇宙に伝えよう　クライシス	Kojirō: The crisis we will convey to the universe!	James: Dashing hope, putting fear in its place.
ムサシ: 天使か悪魔か　その名を呼べば	Musashi: Whether angels or demons, if you call the name,	Jessie: A rose by any other name is just as sweet.
コジロウ: 誰もが震える魅惑の響き	Kojirō: The captivating echo that shakes everyone...	James: When everything's worse, our work is complete.
ムサシ: ムサシ	Musashi: Musashi!	Jessie: Jessie!
コジロウ: コジロウ	Kojirō: Kojirō	James: And it's James!
ニャース: ニャースでニャース	Nyarth: And Nyarth!	Meowth: And Meowth, now dat's a name!
ムサシ: 時代の主役はあたしたち	Musashi: The stars of the era are us!	Jessie: Putting the do-gooders in their place...
コジロウ: 我らは無敵の	Kojirō: We are the invincible...	James: ...we're Team Rocket...
All: ロケット団	All: Team Rocket!	All: ...in your face!
ソーナンス: ソーナンス	Sonans: Sōnansu!	Wobbuffet: Wobbuffet!

In the dub, 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.

Variations in the Diamond & Pearl series

Click [show] to see the variations.

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! Mass Hip-Po-Sis! motto Jessie falls asleep during the motto due to Hippopotas's Yawn, so James says her parts sounding like her while moving her body. Jessie: Listen, is that a twerp I hear? James: Obnoxiously loud and clear! Jessie (sleepily): On the wind! James: Stars! Meowth: In you ears! Jessie: Bring chaos at b- (falls asleep) James: Uh-oh. Dashing hope, putting fear in its place! A rose by any other name is just as sweet. When everything's worse, our work is complete! Jessie! And it's James! Meowth: Meowth, now that's a name! James: Putting the do-gooders in their place... we're Team Rocket...! James and Meowth: In your face! 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 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! A Full Course Tag Battle! motto May has come back to battle in Wallace Cup—and Team Rocket has just stolen food—which is May's berserk button. The first two remark on May's return. Jessie: Is that a sound of a obsolete twerp I hear? James: Your expiration date's passed, my dear Jessie: On the wind! James: Past the star! Meowth: In your ears! Jessie: Bringing twerp-laden chaos at a break neck pace. James: Dashing twerp-ting hope and putting fear in place. Jessie: A rose by any other name is just as sweet. James: When everything's worse, our work's complete. Jessie: Jessie! James: And it's James! Meowth: Meowth, now that's a name! Jessie: Putting the geeky do-gooders in their place. James: We're Team Rocket. All: And we're 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! Fighting Fear with Fear! motto Jessie: A clueless twerp is certainly nothing new! James: You're all pros at not having a clue! Jessie: Face the facts... James: For a change! Meowth: It stinks to be you! Jessie: We'll bring chaos at a breakneck pace! James: We'll dash all hope and put fear in its place! Jessie: Sounds old hoey for the twerps we see! James: But without us you're short by three! Jessie: Jessie! James: And James! Meowth: Meowth makes it triple, you see! Jessie: Putting you do-gooders in your place! James: We're Team Rocket... All: In your face! Wobbuffet: Wobbuffet, Wobba! Arriving in Style! motto Jessie is angry at losing the Hearthome Collection Contest, but James is upset with Jessie for ruining his accessories—and not a happy camper making him very unenthusiastic during the motto (even the music is turned off during his parts): 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... Jessie and Meowth: 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 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 gotta think Team Rocket! All: Cause we're in your face! Wobbuffet: Wobba! Mime Jr.: Mime, mime, mime! Noodles! Roamin' Off! motto Team Rocket attacks the twerps in a new machine shaped like a bowl of ramen noodles. Jessie: Listen, twerps outside the bowl! James: We're bringing goodies and ready to roll! Jessie: Noodles! James: And broth! Meowth: With a lot of soul! Jessie: Eat in, take out, your call! James: Either way, you'll have a ball! Jessie: Delights to please the tummy and I! James: The more you eat, the more we make! Give us a try! Jessie: Jessie! James: And James! Meowth: Meowth's the name! Jessie: Placing those noodles on your plate! James: We're Team Rocket! All: If we grate! Classroom Training! motto Team Rocket has stolen Poké Balls from Snowpoint Trainers' School. Candice notices that Meowth is able to talk and says that it's impossible. Jessie: When it comes to impossible, you teacher types should talk. James: We sprint through life, while you eggheads walk! Jessie: Through the snow! James: And the sleet! Meowth: Round the clock! Jessie: Bringing chaos at a frosty pace! James: Dashing through snow with glee on my face! Jessie: Catching bad colds and taking vitamin C. James: When everything's worse, nothing feels good to me. Jessie: Jessie! James: And James! Meowth: Meowth's the name! Jessie: Putting teacher and students in their place! James: We're Team Rocket! All: In your face! Pedal to the Mettle! motto Team Rocket is working disguised at a construction site, rebuilding a ruined battle field. Meowth: Ta-daa! Jessie: A liking response to a "Help wanted" add! James: Now we've got a job, I'm glad! Jessie: Dig that dirt! James: Dump that truck! Meowth: Back 'er up! Just a tag! Jessie: Demolished battle fields can be bad for our's help. James: But one man's problems can bring another man wealth! Jessie: Demolishing and construction; you leave it to us. James: Just show us the money and we'll make all the funds. Jessie: With Jessie! James: And James too! Meowth: Meowth without further ado! Jessie: Clean up the mess and build in its place! James: We're Team Rocket! All: In your face! An Egg Scramble! motto Team Rocket has just stolen the food served at Johto Festival. Khoury's dad: Give back that food right now! Jessie: So sorry sap, but you're a dollar short and a day late! James: Thought I'll say the fiddle stays great! Jessie: On the wind! James: Past the stars! Meowth: Put your grub there, mate! Jessie: Filling our tummies at a breakneck pace! James: Dashing hunger with a smile on my face! Jessie: Go ahead and ask me if I've got milk! James: We're members of the association yoke! Jessie: Jessie! James: And James! Meowth: Meowth's the name! Jessie: Putting the foodless in their place! James: We're Team Rocket! All: In your face! Try for the Family Stone! motto Team Rocket has just stolen Rhyanna's Misdreavus. Rhyanna asks them who in the world they are. Jessie: We're out of this world! Can't you tell by our suave demeanor? James: Our grass is always greener! Jessie: On the wind! James: The stars! Meowth: Neener, neener! Jessie: Happy searching at a breakneck pace. James: Dashing hope with a smile on my face! Jessie: Joy by any other name's just as happy! James: While you twerps are so sappy. 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! Wobbuffet: Wobba! Mime Jr.: Mime, mime! The Fleeing Tower of Sunyshore! motto Team Rocket is stealing the Sunyshore Tower, causing a blackout to the whole city. Flint asks what's going on. Jessie: Listen, to the wisdom from the top of the tower! James: Our diabolical plan is beginning to flower! Jessie: On the wind! James: Past the stars! Meowth: Fight the power! Jessie: There's no electricity over there! James: And wouldn't you know, not over there! Jessie: A blackout by any other name's just as black! James: When it comes to chaos, we've got the knack! Jessie: Jessie! James: And James! Meowth: Meowth, that's a name! Jessie: Putting the do-gooders in their place! James: We're Team Rocket! All: In your face!

Unova

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

Japanese	Translation	English
ムサシ: 「＊」と聞かれたら	Musashi: If we were asked "*"	Jessie: What a question, twerpish indeed!
コジロウ: 答えてあげよう明日のため	Kojirō: We will answer for the sake of tomorrow!	James: We'll answer these questions when we feel the need!
ムサシ: フューチャー 白い未来は悪の色	Musashi: Future! A white future reflects the color of evil!	Jessie: Bringing the blinding white light of evil into the future!
コジロウ: ユニバース 黒い世界に正義の鉄槌	Kojirō: Universe! The hammer of justice in a black world!	James: Thrusting the hammer of justice down onto the black darkness of the universe!
ニャース: 我らこの地にその名を記す	Nyarth: Our names will be remembered in this place!	Meowth: Carving our names in the Rock of Eternity!
ムサシ: 情熱の破壊者 ムサシ!	Musashi: Destroyer of passion, Musashi!	Jessie: The fiery destroyer, Jessie!
コジロウ: 暗黒の純情 コジロウ!	Kojirō: Pure heart of darkness, Kojirō!	James: And with thunderous emotion, I am James!
ニャース: 無限の知性 ニャース!	Nyarth: Infinite intelligence, Nyarth!	Meowth: Wisest of the wise, Meowth!
All: さあ集え! ロケット団の名のもとに!	All: Come gather! Under the name of Team Rocket!	All: And now gather, under the name of Team Rocket!

"*" denotes the phrase Jessie copies when they are about to announce their motto.

Copied phrases

Only the line Jessie copies from and the line she begins the motto with are shown. The rest of the motto follows.

Click [show] to see the copied phrases.

In The Shadow of Zekrom! (Team Rocket stands on top of the plane and captures Pikachu) Ash: Who are you guys? Jessie: "Who are you?" is the question, indeed! James: We'll answer you, as we feel we need! Enter Iris and Axew! (Team Rocket captures Ash's Pikachu and Iris's Axew) Ash: You again? Jessie: "Again?" is the question? So twerpish indeed! James: The answer to come as we feel the need! The Battle Club and Tepig's Choice! (Team Rocket is walking away with a black bag when Pikachu's voice comes from inside the bag) Ash: That voice... Who's that? Pikachu! Jessie: "Who's that voice?" So naive indeed! James: We answer you when we feel the need! Dreams by the Yard Full! (Team Rocket stands in front of their machine at the Dreamyard) Jenny: Just exactly, who are you anyway? Jessie: Exacting questions are good indeed! James: The answer to come as we feel the need! Battling For The Love of Bug-Types! Jessie: Challenging questions indeed! James: The answer's to come as we feel the need! Scare at the Litwick Mansion! (Team Rocket does the motto when surprising Ash and the co. from a room at the Litwick Mansion where they had found their Pokémon that had been stolen by the Litwick) Jessie: You must have questions, we're impressive indeed. James: But answers will come when we feel the need. The Dragon Master's Path! (Iris's Axew and Emmy's Druddigon have just been dragged into Team Rocket's airship) Emmy: No! Now what? Jessie: Now there's a twerpish question, dumb indeed. James: The answer to come as we feel the need! Cottonee in Love! (Team Rocket is stealing a group of Cottonee) Ash: What are you guys doing here? Jessie: You would ask, clueless indeed. James: We'll answer your question as we feel the need. A UFO for Elgyem! (Team Rocket has bound Ash, his friends and Professor Icarus, as well as the Elgyem they're attempting to steal) Professor Icarus: All right! Who are you people, anyway?! Jessie: An unscientifically based question indeed! James: The answer comes when we feel the need! Meowth: You know the rest; we live for speed! The rest of the motto was not followed in this episode. Gotta Catch A Roggenrola! (Team Rocket is seen catching wild Roggenrola) Ash: What are you doing to them?! Jessie: Such a heart-felt twerpish question indeed. James: We'll answer you twerps when we feel the need. Where Did You Go, Audino? (Team Rocket is found out to be guilty to the Audino kidnappings) Ash: I should've known it was you! Jessie: How could you know that, when you know nothing indeed? James: The answer to that, cause we feel the need! A Fishing Connoisseur in a Fishy Competition! Bianca: Who are those strange people? Jessie: You're strange indeed! James: We'll answer you as we feel the need! Movie Time! Zorua in "The Legend of the Pokémon Knight"! (Team Rocket has just caught Luke's Zorua) Luke: What are you doing to Zorua? Jessie: What we want, is beyond your comprehension, indeed! James: The answer will come as we feel the need! Crisis from the Underground Up! Meowth explains that Team Rocket plan wouldn't have succeeded without Ash and his friends' help. Iris: Our help? What do you mean? Jessie: "What do you mean?" You're clueless, indeed! James: The answer will come as we feel the need! Stopping the Rage of Legends! Part 2 Team Rocket has just imprisoned the Forces of Nature. Lewis: Who did that? Jessie: "Who?" That is the question, indeed! James: The answer to come as we feel the need!

Adventures in Unova and Adventures in Unova and Beyond

In Adventures in Unova and Adventures in Unova and Beyond, Jessie, James and Meowth reverted back to their original motto with some slight alterations to it, like James' line of "To unite all peoples within our nation." was altered to "To unite the people within our nation." and instead of just saying their names it changed from "Jessie." "James." to "It's Jessie." "And James" (sometimes "And it's James"). In Adventures to Unova the motto stayed the same just as it did in the original series but in Adventures in Unova and Beyond the motto is altered to the situation.

Click [show] to see the variations.

Crowning the Scalchop King! Jessie: Prepare for trouble, in costume or not! James: And make it double, from a fake Dewott! Jessie: To protect the world from devastation! James: To unite the people within our nation! Jessie: To denounce the evils of truth and love! James: To extend our reach to the stars above! Jessie: It's Jessie! James: And it's James! Jessie: Team Rocket, blasts off at the speed of light! James: Surrender now or prepare to fight, fight and fight! Meowth: Meowth! That's right! To Catch a Rotom! Jessie: We can't come on, we're already here! James: But thanks for the invite, I might shed a tear. Jessie: To protect the world from devastation! James: To unite the people within our nation! Jessie: To denounce the evils of truth and love! James: To extend our reach to the stars above! Jessie: It's Jessie! James: And James! Jessie: Team Rocket, goes electric at the speed of light! James: Surrender now or prepare for a high-voltage fight! Meowth: Meowth! That's right! The Pirates of Delocore! Jessie: Prepare for trouble! The idea is huge! James: And make it double, I'm nobody's stooge. Jessie: To protect the world from devastation! James: To unite the people within our nation! Jessie: To denounce the evils of truth and love! James: To extend our reach to the stars above! Jessie: It's Jessie! James: And James! Jessie: Team Rocket, blasts off at the speed of light! James: Surrender now or prepare to fight, fight and fight! Meowth: Meowth! That's right! Butterfree and Me! Jessie: Prepare for trouble! We don't think, we know! James: And make it double, look out below. Jessie: To protect the world from devastation! James: To unite the people within our nation! Jessie: To denounce the evils of truth and love! James: To extend our reach to the stars above! Jessie: It's Jessie! James: And James! Jessie: Team Rocket, blasts off at the speed of light! James: Surrender now or prepare to fight, fight and fight! Meowth: Meowth! That's right!

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's Stun Spore. It happened again in ZigZag Zangoose!, in which 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. In The Breeding Center Secret, it is implied to be based on Jessie and James's motto, though in Pikachu Re-Volts, they state that theirs is actually the correct version. 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

Japanese	Translation	English
		Cassidy: Prepare for trouble...
		Butch: ...and make it double!
		Cassidy: To infect the world with devastation!
		Butch: To blight all people in every nation!
		Cassidy: To denounce the goodness of truth and love!
		Butch: To extend our wrath to the stars above!
		Cassidy: Cassidy!
		Butch: And Butch, of course!
		Cassidy: We're Team Rocket, circling Earth all day and all night!
		Butch: Surrender to us now or you will surely lose the fight!

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

File:Ash Brock TR.png

Copycats...

File:Misty Duplica TR.png

...Ditto these two.

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, in which 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 —"Prepare for trouble! No stunt double!"—with Jessie saying, "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 different, 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!

Jessie (deadpan): This was just...

James (deadpan): Too good...

Meowth (deadpan): To last.

Ash: You got that right.

Pikachu: Pika!

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

Brock: Let's do it!

Meowth (interrupting them): We gotta stop that!

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 to 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 great 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 sent flying off due to a Pokémon's attack (usually Pikachu's Thunderbolt) or a malfunction in their mechas, Jessie, James, and Meowth usually cry, 「やな感じ！」 ("What a bad feeling!") in the original, which became "Looks like Team Rocket's blasting off again!" (4Kids dub) or "We're blasting off again!" (TPCi dub) before disappearing into the distance with a twinkle. The first time they blasted off was in their debut episode, and the first time the twinkle was seen was during their following blast off, in Clefairy and the Moon Stone.

Blasting off usually happens only once time per episode, but there have been many occasions in which it has happened multiple times, especially in Malice In Wonderland!, in which they are shown blasting off four times on screen, and heard to blast off many more times offscreen. Another occurrence when they blasted off more than once was in Noodles! Roamin' Off!, but this could be because the episode focused on Team Rocket. In A Faux Oak Finish!, James blasted off by himself. Butch and Cassidy have also "blasted off"; however, James noted once that he, Jessie, and Meowth had copyrighted it in Off The Unbeaten Path.

After Memories are Made of Bliss!, Team Rocket didn't blast off during the Best Wishes series. From Scare at the Litwick Mansion! onwards, they usually used jetpacks in order to escape. For this reason, those blastoffs weren't against their will nor involved pain, so they didn't scream their famous quote, "We're blasting off again!" either. Starting from New Places... Familiar Faces!, Team Rocket has blasted off like before, although they didn't say the catchphrase until Team Plasma's Pokémon Power Plot!. They still use their jetpacks in some episodes.

In the manga

In the Pokémon Adventures manga

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

Raid

On

City

Knock out

Evil

Tusks

Trivia

• The motto 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, along with Cassidy, said "Prepare for trouble and make it double!". In Pikachu Re-Volts, he was the one who began 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!, in which he said "It's time to prepare for trouble!". In Pokémon Chronicles, the motto was said like Jessie and James say it.
• The original motto was used in a commercial for FireRed and LeafGreen in the United States, although without Jessie and James's names or the line "Team Rocket blast off at the speed of light."
• In the Sinnoh motto, Jessie's section of "A rose by any other name is just as sweet" alludes to Act II Scene II Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet, in which Juliet argues:

What's in a name? that which we call a rose
By any other name would smell as sweet;

This is a commonly quoted phrase meaning that the names of things do not matter, only what the thing is.

• In the Unova motto, Jessie likens herself to Reshiram with the words "white" and "fiery", while James likens himself to Zekrom with "black" and "thunderous".
• In the European Portuguese dub, the expression "Preparar para azar!", the Portuguese equivalent to "Prepare for trouble!" (which literally translated is "Prepare for bad luck!") is still used in recent episodes as a Team Rocket's catchphrase, even during some mottos.