Team Rocket mottos

The Team Rocket motto 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 Ketchum 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.

Original motto

Since the episode Team Rocket was introduced in, the duo has used rhyming "prepare for trouble" and "make it double" phrases. An example from Zig Zag Zangoose!, where 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 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.

It should also be noted that 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 where Jessie, James and Meowth say their own names and the line "Team Rocket blasts off at the speed of light."

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!

Meowth Rules! motto

In this episode Meowth, being hit by Ash's Squirtle's water gun, flies up and falls on an island where a strange tribe worshipping 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's 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 short but it won't be for long!

James: And it won't stop our Jessie from doing what's wrong!

Meowth: Hairy!

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 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.

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 irradicate 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 could 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!

An Eggsiting Adventure motto

Jessie: Prepare for Trouble, don’t drop the ball,

James: And make it double, with an offside 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 time outs, the clock’s running, so lets fight, fight, fight,

Meowth: Touchdown, that’s right!

A Tyrogue Full of Trouble motto

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 kick-boxer look,

Jessie: To denounce the evils of honest fights,

James: 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

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!

Talkin' 'Bout an Evolution motto

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!

Song version

Main article: Team Rocket Forever

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!

Butch and Cassidy

Butch and Cassidy also have a motto, which is similar to Jessie and James's original motto. During Pokémon Chronicles, they add "(now) here's our mission, so ya better listen!" after Butch's first line. Like Meowth and Wobbuffet, Cassidy's Raticate often pops out at the end. Apparently, they have switched to a new motto, which is itself similar to Jessie and James's Sinnoh motto.

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:

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 James's Mime Jr. also contribute their names at the end of the motto in most episodes they appear in.

Sinnoh

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

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.

Ripoffs

The motto has been ripped off repeatedly by Ash and his friends during the series. The first time it was done was in Ditto's Mysterious Mansion, where 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". The motto was mockingly mimicked again in The Chikorita Rescue!, and then much later the DP motto was mocked in Mass Hip-Po-Sis and The Keystone Pops!. As before, the trio is angered.

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 greate 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!

Blasting off

When defeated, and flying off due to a Pokémon's attack or a malfunction in their mech, Jessie, James, and Meowth usually cry "We're blasting off again!" before disappearing into the distance with a star. This usually happens only once each episode, but there have been many occasions in which it has happened multiple times, especially in Malice in Wonderland, where they are shown blasting off four times on screen, and heard to blast off many more times offscreen. Butch and Cassidy have also "blasted off", however, James noted once that he, Jessie, and Meowth had copyrighted it in Off The Unbeaten Path.

In the manga

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

Raid

On

City

Knock out

Evil

Tasks