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EP140

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← EP139 : Mild 'n Wooly
Original series
EP141 : Good 'Quil Hunting →
Wired for Battle!
EP140.png
  EP140  
バトルしようぜ！ハッサムＶＳヘラクロス！！
Let's Battle! Hassam VS Heracros!!
First broadcast
Japan March 23, 2000
United States February 24, 2001
English themes
Opening Pokémon Johto
Ending
Japanese themes
Opening OK!
Ending ニャースのパーティ
Credits
Animation Team Ota
Screenplay 冨岡淳広 Atsuhiro Tomioka
Storyboard 近藤信宏 Nobuhiro Kondō
Assistant director 岩崎太郎 Tarō Iwasaki
Animation director はしもとかつみ Katsumi Hashimoto
Additional credits

Screenshots on Filb.de

Wired for Battle! (Japanese: バトルしようぜ！ハッサムＶＳヘラクロス！！ Let's Battle! Hassam VS Heracros!!) is the 140th episode of the Pokémon anime. It was first broadcast in Japan on March 23, 2000 and in the United States on February 24, 2001.

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

Blurb

When the most promising trainee at a Pokémon dojo abandons battle altogether, opting to gather information for his comprehensive Poké-database instead, it's up to Ash and friends to convince him that battling, and life for that matter, is more than just a matter of probability.

Plot

The episode starts with Team Rocket discussing their plan to steal Ash's Pikachu. They're interrupted by a man who asks them if they are looking for a Pokémon battle. They accept and get beaten easily.

Ash, Misty and Brock are walking in the woods when they hear movement. They are confronted by a new Pokémon which waits for Pikachu to make the first move. Brock and Misty warn Ash to be careful, because his first move could be his last. They think it must be wild, but then the same man who defeated Team Rocket appears from behind a tree and tells them that he is its Trainer. Misty gets angry at the man for letting his Pokémon run loose and attack at will. The man tries to explain that they were only trying to do some secret training. Misty continues to shout at him and has to be dragged off by Brock. The man apologizes and introduces himself to Ash as Muramasa. He says his Pokémon is a Scizor who he calls Masamune. Muramasa admits that he is impressed by Ash and his Pikachu before inviting the group over to his elite training school.

Ash and his friends enjoy the tour of Muramasa's training school. They learn from a student that Muramasa is a very talented Trainer and his Scizor is also known as The Crimson Streak because of its incredible speed and strength. Team Rocket are nearby spying on the heroes and the center. Ash comments that "The Crimson Streak" is a cool nickname when another Trainer makes an abrupt entrance. Muramasa introduces his top student, Shingo, and at his request Ash challenges Shingo. However, Shingo sits down, then opens a laptop and begins scrolling through a database entry of Ash. He explains that it contains everything he ever needs to know about any Trainer. When Team Rocket hears this, they set their sights on stealing this elite database. Shingo reads that Ash is a type C Trainer, and further information details Ash's battle strategies. Both Misty and Brock agree. Shingo comments that Ash was lucky to get into the top 16 in the Indigo Plateau Conference. Ash argues that he's much better now and insists on a battle to prove himself. Based on his data, Shingo concludes that Ash will lose, so there is no point in battling. Ash says he doesn't care and wants to battle anyway. The novice Trainer tells Ash that Shingo is probably right, since he told all the Trainers at the center the same thing and he beat them all. Shingo tells Muramasa to find an opponent that can teach him something he doesn't already know, and soon leaves.

Muramasa tells Ash, Misty and Brock that Shingo hasn't battled in over a year because he believes he can predict any battle with his laptop. Muramasa explains that Shingo has lost his way and needs someone to battle him to show him that there is more to Pokémon than just facts and figures. Ash decides he'll find some way to battle Shingo. Muramasa thanks him.

Ash tries to drag Shingo away from his laptop. Shingo explains again that he can win a match without leaving his laptop. While this is happening, Meowth plugs a cable into Shingo's laptop so that James can begin downloading the Trainer files. Instead, Jessie grabs the cable and pulls in the whole laptop. Masamune cuts the cable half way and grabs Meowth before confronting Jessie and James. Their screams lead Muramasa, Ash, his friends and Shingo to discover that Team Rocket are inside the training facility.

Team Rocket release all their Pokémon. Shingo grabs his laptop, oblivious to the fact that Masamune blocked Arbok's approach. Team Rocket performs their motto, only for Shingo to look up the trio on his database and find that they're not listed. Team Rocket decides the database isn't so great after all, which only infuriates Shingo and prompts him to grab his Poké Ball and release his own Scizor called Blade. He explains that it's faster and stronger than Masamune, and that it has never been defeated in battle. Shingo sits down with his laptop, with its webcam focused on Team Rocket and their Pokémon so he can watch the match. After analysing Team Rocket's Pokémon as they approach, Shingo has Blade use Quick Attack which defeats all of Team Rocket's Pokémon in one move and sends them blasting off. Muramasa is pleased to see Shingo battle again. Ash explains to Shingo that there is more to battling than just winning, that data can't predict everything. Finally, Shingo agrees to battle Ash.

Muramasa takes his position as referee, and declares that the match will be a one-on-one battle. Shingo chooses Blade and Ash calls on his Heracross. Shingo starts with a Quick Attack and Ash tells Heracross to use Leer. Blade increases its attack speed, all the while Shingo is using his laptop to help him battle. Leer doesn't have enough time to work and Heracross is hit with Quick Attack. Heracross gets back up, but Shingo tells Blade to use Metal Claw, Blade picks up Heracross by the horn, and at Ahs's request Heracross uses its weight to land safely on its feet. Heracross replies with a Horn Attack, which grazes Blade much to Shingo's surprise. Ash tells Shingo that he uses his gut, not data to choose attacks. While Shingo does some research, Heracross uses Take Down but can't hit Blade who uses its Agility. Heracross soon finds itself surrounded by Blade and becomes confused. Ash tells Heracross to relax and let Blade approach, Heracross closes its eyes and waits. Shingo panics as he can't look at his laptop and the battle at the same time. Heracross suddenly opens its eyes and focuses on Blade, Ash tells Heracross to use Fury Attack. Heracross goes berserk, Blade tries to use Metal Claw, but Heracross is too fast and knocks Blade sky high.

Blade stands up and Heracross uses Fury Attack again. Shingo can't believe the speed of Heracross, he leaves the laptop and gets up and concentrates on the battle. Shingo tells Blade to use Quick Attack, Heracross uses Tackle but the attack is too slow. Both Pokémon miss. Heracross dodges Blade's Metal Claw again, and Blade becomes stuck on Heracross's horn. Blade uses Agility to get away, and dives in for a False Swipe. Ash tells Heracross to stand its ground. While the powerful attack hits, it proves ineffective against Heracross's hard shell. Heracross replies with a Horn Attack which tosses to Blade to the ground and gives Ash the win. Shingo rushes to Blade's side, and Muramasa is pleasantly surprised to hear that Shingo has abandoned his laptop. Shingo assures Blade that it battled well. Ash thanks Shingo and they agree to battle again in the future.

Major events

For a list of all major events in the animated series, please see the history page.

Debuts

Pokémon debuts

Characters

Humans

Dare da?

Pokémon

Who's That Pokémon?‎

Who's That Pokémon?: Cyndaquil (US and international), Scizor (Japan)

Pokémon seen at the dojo

Pokémon seen on Shingo's laptop

Trivia

  • Though most of the episode was animated using cels as customary, some shots in Heracross and Scizor's battle were animated digitally.
  • This is the first time that Steel-type Pokémon other than Magnemite and Magneton (who were previously only known to be pure Electric-type) appear in the anime.
  • Misty mentions Prima in this episode.
  • The book Tough Enough is based on this episode.
  • Shingo mentioning that his Blade's Quick Attack deals three times more damage than usual could be a reference to a line from the Mobile Suit Gundam series, where the character of "Red Comet" Char Aznable mentions that his S-Type Zaku II suit is three times faster than usual.

Errors

  • Shingo commands his Scizor to finish the match with False Swipe, but that move cannot cause a Pokémon to faint.
  • In the Who's That Pokémon? segment, Cyndaquil appears to only have one arm.
  • In the English dub, Jessie only calls out Arbok and Weezing, but Lickitung and Victreebel appear as well.
    • At the same time, she calls out Weezing, who belongs to and is released by James.

Dub edits

In other languages



← EP139 : Mild'n Wooly
Original series
EP141 : Good 'Quil Hunting →
Project Anime logo.png This episode article is part of Project Anime, a Bulbapedia project that covers all aspects of Pokémon animation.
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