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The School of Hard Knocks (Japanese: ポケモンひっしょうマニュアル Pokémon Victory Manual) is the ninth episode of the Pokémon anime. It was first broadcast in Japan on May 27, 1997 and in USA on September 18, 1998.

Ash and his friends stumble upon a school made for Pokémon trainers who would rather study than collect badges.

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

Synopsis

Major events

• Jessie and James relate how they flunked out of Pokémon Tech in the past.
• Ash teaches the students of Pokemon Tech a True Lesson

Debuts

• Giselle
• Joe

Characters

Humans

• Ash Ketchum
• Misty
• Brock
• Jessie
• James
• Giselle
• Joe

Pokémon

• Pikachu (Ash's)
• Meowth (Team Rocket)
• Starmie (Misty's)
• Weepinbell (Joe's; debut)
• Graveler (Giselle's; debut)
• Cubone (Giselle's; debut)
• Pidgey
• Pidgeotto
• Pidgeot (debut)

Trivia

• This episode shows the only time in which Ash falls for a girl. Also it's the first time that Brock falls for a girl that's younger than himself.

Errors

Dub edits

• A scene with Misty hitting Brock in the head with a log was cut from the dub. This occurs right before the title screen appears.

Who's That Pokémon?

• Cubone

In other languages

• French: L'école crève-coeur
• Portuguese (Brazil): A Escola dos Golpes Duros
• Spanish: La Escuela Difícil

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