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EP036

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← EP035
Original series
EP037 : Ditto's Mysterious Mansion →
The Bridge Bike Gang
EP036.png
  EP036  
あらしのサイクリングロード
Stormy Cycling Road
First broadcast
Japan December 2, 1997
United States October 23, 1998
English themes
Opening Pokémon Theme
Ending
Japanese themes
Opening めざせポケモンマスター
Ending ニャースのうた
Credits
Animation Team Ota
Screenplay 大橋志吉 Yukiyoshi Ōhashi
Storyboard 横田和 Kazu Yokota
Assistant director 大町繁 Shigeru Ōmachi
Animation director 武田優作 Yūsaku Takeda
Additional credits

The Bridge Bike Gang (Japanese: あらしのサイクリングロード Stormy Cycling Road) is the 36th episode of the Pokémon anime. It was first broadcast in Japan on December 2, 1997 and in the United States on October 23, 1998.

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

Blurb

In the course of a journey, one meets up with many different things. Returning to civilization after a long period of wandering, our heroes find a bridge that reaches 20 kilometers in length. There is no way to reach Sunnytown—on the other side of the bridge—but by crossing. The bridge, however, has been designed especially for bicycles. The party tries to purchase bicycles in order to cross the bridge, but lacking the funds and otherwise at a complete loss, they decide to stop by the Pokémon Center and re-evaluate their plans. At the Pokémon Center, by pure luck, a job awaits them—delivering medicine to Sunnytown.

Plot

Ash, Misty, and Brock came across a bridge during their travels. They wanted to walk on it but an officer named Norman said only the bike track was ready, not the actual road. Devastated, the group then see a bike store, though their prices prove to be expensive. The group retreat to the Pokémon Center to think of a plan to get a bike. Suddenly, a worried Nurse Joy appears and says she had to deliver medicine for injured Pokémon over the bridge to Sunnytown, but she cannot leave the Center because she has Pokémon to attend to. Ash and Misty agreed enthusiastically after Nurse Joy informs them she has several spare bikes. Misty and Brock ride a tandem bicycle, whilst Ash leads in his single bike, enjoying the bridge's view and fresh air. Meanwhile, below the bridge, James rows an inflatable boat whilst Jessie and Meowth peer through their binoculars and notice Ash and his friends. Jessie and James mention the area could almost be considered their hometown and make plans to target Pikachu.

Just after Ash and his group finished their refreshments, they find themselves surrounded by a group of wild bikers. They tried to escape but the gang's leader, Chopper, challenges Ash to a battle. He sends out his Golem and Ash calls on Bulbasaur. Golem's shell protects it from Bulbasaur's Vine Whip and it easily wins with a single Tackle. Next is Charmander who sets Golem alight with its Flamethrower and Fire Spin. Golem's tackle misses Charmander, and it strikes several of the gang members instead. Chopper withdraws his Golem but the Poké Ball was still hot from Charmander's attack.

Next, Tyra, the other leader of the bike gang, sent out Cloyster. Misty wanted to battle and tries to send out Starmie but Psyduck appears instead. Misty decides to give it a chance, causing Tyra and the gang to laugh as it waddles towards Cloyster. Psyduck uses Tail Whip, though is poked by one of Cloyster's shell spikes. Misty becomes increasingly frustrated and humiliated, as the gang continues to laugh at her Pokémon. Its Scratch also fails, eventually Cloyster clamps on to it tail. Before Psyduck has a chance to develop a headache, sirens ring and interrupt the match. It turns out to be Team Rocket, riding on unicycles and saying their motto. They receive a heroes welcome from the bicycle gang, who refer to Jessie as "Chainer Jessie" and "Big Jess" because she used to swing a chain around as she rode her bike. James was called "Little Jim" and "Trainer James" because he was the only one in the group who had to use training wheels. Just as Team Rocket and the bike gang begin to attack Ash, Misty and Brock, the police arrive. The bike gang immediately ride off, almost leaving Team Rocket behind. When Officer Jenny arrives, she offers them a ride though retracts her offer after being called to another emergency. The weather becomes ferocious and turns into a storm. The bicycle gang and Team Rocket have since sought refuge in a building. Chopper and Tyra then challenge Team Rocket to ride through the storm on their unicycles. The trio, even Meowth gets roped in, fall for the peer pressure and accept the task.

In Sunnytown, Nurse Joy calls the other Pokémon Center, she is worried that medicine hasn't arrived to cure the injured Pokémon, a Shellder. As Ash and his friends continue to ride through the rainstorm, the bridge lifts to allow a ship to pass through. Despite the growing distance Ash remains determined to save the sick Pokémon, for it may be too late if they had stop for the bridge to go back down. Simultaneously, Team Rocket are trying their hardest to pedal their unicycles up the other side of the upturned bridge. Just as Ash, Misty, and Brock are not going to make it, they see Team Rocket jumping from the other side and bounce on their heads, sending Team Rocket into the water while allowing themselves to be propelled upward and on to the other side. As they pass the bike gang, they are challenged to a battle. Ash, of course, refuses and tells them that he is delivering medicine for a sick Pokémon. The bike gang realizes now why they were riding through the storm and escorts them. Nurse Joy in Sunnytown is relieved when the bike gang and Ash arrive with the medicine. She quickly pours the medicine into the tank, and Shellder's condition is instantly improved. Misty phones through to the other town's Nurse Joy, alerting her to their successful arrival. The bike gang's new heroes are now "Awesome Ash" and "Mighty Misty", the pair are overwhelmed by the gesture. Then, Brock tells Tyra that she can call him "Honey", only to receive a large, red slap across his face.

Meanwhile, Team Rocket emerge riding out of the water, stacked on a single unicycle and covered in seaweed.

Major events

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

Debuts

Pokémon debuts

Characters

Humans

Dare da?

Pokémon

Who's That Pokémon?

Who's That Pokémon?: Cloyster


Trivia

  • This episode marks the first time Misty takes Brock by the ear when he is in love with a beautiful woman.
  • The tune that plays when Red rides his Bicycle in Red and Blue is heard the first time Ash and his friends are seen on their loaned bikes.
  • Chopper's bike design is based on Zapdos.

Errors

  • In one scene at the Pokémon Center in Sunnytown, Chopper's hair is darker than usual.
  • When Ash and his friends meet up with Officer Jenny, Pikachu is missing his cheeks.
  • When Ash and friends are biking over the bridge, Ash rings his bicycle bell although his bike doesn't have a bell.
  • In the Swedish dub, when Ash cheers for the idea to cross the bridge just before the title card shows up, his English voice can heard.
  • Bulbasaur used Vine Whip on Golem. However, Golem's shell is protected from being hit with Vine Whip, even though Grass-type moves should be super effective on Rock- and Ground-types.

Dub edits

  • PokéRap: Day 1 (Version 2)
  • Originally, Misty wanted curry while Brock wanted ochazuke or pancakes. In the English version, Misty wants a hot dog while Brock wants deep-dish extra cheese pizza.
  • The Pokémon Center's poster had text removed.
  • Misty complains about doing all the work on the bike she and Brock share, while originally she was upset because she wanted a bike only she rode, not a shared bike.
  • Big Jess and Little Jim's were originally addressed with 姉御 Anego (big sister) and 兄貴 Aniki (big brother).
    • Jessie's original nickname was チェーンのムサシ Chēn no Musashi (Chain Musashi) instead of Chainer Jessie. While James's was 補助輪のコジロウ Hojorin no Kojirō (Training Wheels Kojirō) instead of Trainer James.
  • In the Danish dub, Norman's dialogue is altered to include a contemporary pop culture reference to Scandlines TV commercial characters Kaj and Bøje, a pair of seagulls.
  • In the Swedish dub, Norman states that the bridge is en och en halv mil, 15 kilometers.
  • In the Swedish dub in the end Jessie and James says "nu är det jul igen" now it's christmas again, probably making a pun on that hjul wheel and jul christmas have the same pronunciation and the fact that they are cycling on a unicycle.

In other languages



← EP035
Original series
EP037 : Ditto's Mysterious Mansion →
Project Anime logo.png This episode article is part of Project Anime, a Bulbapedia project that covers all aspects of the Pokémon anime.
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