Aim to Be a Pokémon Master

This article is about the the song. For the single, see Aim to Be a Pokémon Master (CD).

Aim to Be a Pokémon Master (Japanese: めざせポケモンマスター Mezase Pokémon Master) was the first opening theme song of the Pokémon anime series, with a remix by Whiteberry being the fourth. It is the most re-used opening theme song in the Pokémon anime's history, having no fewer than five versions including the original:

A verse from this song was featured in the third opening theme of the Advanced Generation series, Pokémon Symphonic Medley, and a synthesized version was used during captures and evolutions in Pokémon Pinball. It is also one of the songs featured in the Japanese release of Donkey Konga 3.

Opening animation: TV OP 1

Synopsis

The type symbols appear in a circle, and the series logo appears on the screen. The final evolutions of the three starters, Pikachu, Ash and an unnamed Lass are seen. This is followed by three scenes showing random Generation I Pokémon.

Ash is then seen with a Poké Ball. After that, he is riding on the back of a Lapras with Pikachu while a Gyarados and Dragonair are seen jumping out and in the water. Next, Ash and Pikachu are looking at Pallet Town. It cuts to a scene with them walking, and then Ash throws a Poké Ball with a Pidgeot inside. The Pokémon then begins battling with a Fearow.

Ash appears looking at the screen, when Misty and Brock appear on either side of him. This is followed by Jessie and James rising up in front of them. Koffing, Meowth and Ekans jump up next, followed by Gary holding a Poké Ball. Ash and the gang are seen running from the rain. This is followed by a short clip of Nurse Joy, Professor Oak, Officer Jenny and Delia Ketchum.

The next scene shows Ash and his friends in Viridian Forest. Then, Ash and Pikachu running with an Arcanine and a Rapidash. The latter Pokémon jumps up, and the three Legendary Birds are seen flying in the sky. A clip of Mewtwo and Mew in space is shown, followed by Ash in a stadium holding a Poké Ball. His friends appear with him.

Characters

Humans

• Ash Ketchum
• Misty
• Brock
• Jessie
• James
• Gary Oak
• Professor Oak
• Delia Ketchum
• Nurse Joy
• Officer Jenny
• Lass

Pokémon

• Pikachu (Ash's, new)
• Meowth ({{TRM)
• Pidgeot (Ash's, newly evolved)
• Ekans (Jessie's)
• Koffing (James's)
• Venusaur
• Charizard
• Blastoise
• {{p|Butterfree}
• Beedrill
• Fearow
• Clefairy
• Gloom
• Dugtrio
• Psyduck
• Arcanine
• Poliwag
• Poliwrath
• Alakazam
• Rapidash
• Farfetch'd
• Gastly
• Hitmonchan
• Gyarados
• Lapras
• Porygon
• Snorlax
• Articuno
• Zapdos
• Moltres
• Dragonair
• Mewtwo
• Mew

Trivia

• The battle between Ash's Pidgeot and the Fearow is a parallel of Pallet Party Panic, the last episode in which this opening was used. Ash's Pidgeotto did not become Pidgeot until that episode.
• Originally, the opening had one Pokémon image per screen. However, after the "seizure incident" of EP038, the opening was changed to be broken up into four images per screen. The title logo animation also differs slightly between versions.
• The elemental logos shown before and during the title logo animation are the symbols for the (then) seven TCG types.
• An instrumental version of the original version of this song appears in both the Japanese and English versions of Pokémon Pinball when the player is attempting to catch or evolve a Pokémon.
• The original opening animation was used in fewer episodes than Together's opening animation. However, because Together was remixed, the song Together did not play for a longer number of episodes as this one.
• The song can be heard in the instrumental version of High Touch!.

Opening animation: TV OP 4

OP Text

Synopsis

Ash is holding a Poké Ball towards the screen. The logo appears, followed by Pikachu fighting against a Tyranitar by using Thunderbolt. Ash and his friends are then seen jumping into the water. There, a Mantine, Lanturn, Lapras and Lugia appear swimming alongside them. Ash turned his hat and faced the left.

This is followed by Ash and Pikachu running with Ho-Oh flying in the background. The trainer looks at a stadium and clips of his Pokémon appear on the screen. A scene showing Ash and the others looking at a city follows, in which the legendary beasts, Celebi, Mewtwo and Mew are seen.

Ash and the others are then shown walking into a cave where Misdreavus and Crobat appear. Ash and the others stood at a bridge. Then, the Pichu Brothers are under it. After that, Ash tried to chase after his Pokémon. Then, Team Rocket chased after Ash and his friends. Finally, Ash and his friends chased after Team Rocket with Togepi in front of them.

Four Pokémon and five people are on top and Larvitar stood in front of them. Ash and Pikachu ran up a flight of stairs together with the Legendary Birds and reached the Plateau. Ash and Pikachu stood in front of many Pokémon. Ash, Misty, Brock and Ash's Pokémon stood together.

Characters

Humans

• Ash Ketchum
• Misty
• Brock
• Tracey Sketchit
• Jessie
• James
• Professor Oak
• Delia Ketchum
• Officer Jenny
• Nurse Joy
• Professor Elm

Pokémon

• Pikachu (Ash's)
• Meowth (Team Rocket)
• Togepi (Misty's)
• Wobbuffet (Jessie's)
• Bulbasaur (Ash's)
• Bayleef (Ash's)
• Cyndaquil (Ash's)
• Totodile (Ash's)
• Noctowl (Ash's)
• Pichu (Pichu Brothers)
• Venusaur
• Blastoise
• Beedrill
• Fearow
• Sandslash
• Nidoqueen
• Nidoking
• Arcanine
• Alakazam
• Machamp
• Rhydon
• Exeggutor
• Hitmonlee
• Hitmonchan
• Pinsir
• Lapras
• Articuno
• Zapdos
• Moltres
• Mewtwo
• Mew
• Feraligatr
• Crobat
• Lanturn
• Cleffa
• Igglybuff
• Hoppip
• Misdreavus
• Scizor
• Ursaring
• Mantine
• Smoochum
• Magby
• Larvitar
• Tyranitar
• Raikou
• Entei
• Suicune
• Lugia
• Ho-Oh
• Celebi

Trivia

• The fact that this, the fourth Japanese opening, is a remix of the first one is mimicked in the English dub, where Born to Be a Winner, the fourth opening, borrows heavily from the first one.
• This is the only Original Series OP not to be sung by Rica Matsumoto, although the original version of this song was.

Lyrics

Full version

This article is part of Project Music, a Bulbapedia project that aims to write comprehensive articles on each Pokémon song, CD and musician.