It debuted in AG135, replacing Pokémon Symphonic Medley. Its singer, Akina Takaya, is a relatively unknown artist. It debuted at the same time as a new ending, Pokémon Counting Song. The instruments-only version replaced the instrumental version of Advance Adventure in AG135 in the Japanese preview of the next episode. It was replaced by Spurt! in AG166. It was also used as the opening theme of Mew and the Wave Hero: Lucario in a different arrangement called Battle Frontier (Movie version).
It was also used as the Pokémon Sunday ending from PS053 to PS059 and was then replaced by YEAH!.
The mysterious creatures of this planet Pocket Monsters... "Pokémon" for short! Now, the story of a boy, Satoshi, and Pokémon Their meetings, adventures, and battles Are about to begin!
Synopsis
This section is incomplete. Please feel free to edit this section to add missing information and complete it.
Ash and Pikachu are in a field running toward the sun and they jump. The gang are in a forest playing happily, except May. There are flashbacks of Mimey, Delia Ketchum, Professor Oak, Professor Birch, Tracey, and Misty holding an Azurill. Ash's Pokémon are seen using their attacks and they all take a photo. Scott appears in a car and the Frontier Brains, except for Brandon, appear. Then, it showcases the characters' Pokémon. Team Rocket and their Pokémon waves. The rest of the opening has been changed multiple times.
Pokémon Sunday ending animation
The first animation sequence in this version is Ash, May, and Brock calling out their Pokémon to attack. Those Pokémon are Combusken, Grovyle, and Mudkip.
The next group of animations are the same as in the main opening (Ash and Pikachu running through the field, through the pan shot of Ash and all of his Pokémon). However, the differences in these animations are that ending credits replace the ones used in the opening. Also, the scene of Scott waving while driving past is replaced by a pan shot of all of the Frontier Brains. The animation sequence following this include portions of the first Frontier Brain battle between Ash and Noland, which involved Charizard and Noland's Articuno. After this, the normal animations resume, starting from the sequence involving Brock chopping up lettuce and cooking rice, and May throwing a Poké Ball. The Team Rocket sequence prior to AG152 (with Weavile) remains intact. This is followed by the Mew and Lucario flyby animation, as was the case in the first version of this opening. Unlike the original ending though, the group silhouette is replaced with the Frontier Brain reveal.
Standing on the shining land... I vow to battle eternally I smile... with some tears I won't forget any of you
My feelings leap the distance And reach you even now, I'm certain
Oh yeah!! Intensely move ahead, and cut through the wind Intensely I'm going, all the way to the end Perfect combustion - YES, I'm OK!! Oh yeah!! Steadily my power rises Steadily my courage boils over Let's believe in unlimited strength
Standing on the shining land... I vow to battle eternally I smile... with some tears I won't forget any of you
My feelings leap the distance And reach you even now, I'm certain
Oh yeah!! Intensely move ahead, and cut through the wind Intensely I'm going, all the way to the end Perfect combustion - YES, I'm OK!! Oh yeah!! Steadily my power rises Steadily my courage boils over Let's believe in unlimited strength
Because we're holding hands Yes, that's why we've come so far Strength is kindness I've come to understand that little by little
My feelings leap over time And now we'll be connected more!
Oh yeah!! Nothing will ever go wrong Nothing will ever worry me Everything is perfect, are you OK? Oh yeah!! My imagination's forever strong We're all in high spirits! Let's catch our unlimited chances!
Oh yeah!! Intensely move ahead, and cut through the wind Intensely I'm going, all the way to the end Perfect combustion - YES, I'm OK!!
Oh yeah!! Our strategy dazzles everyone Never letting the attacks stop Everything is perfect, are you OK?
Oh yeah!! Steadily my power rises Steadily my courage boils over Run through the dazzling goal!
Variants
There are 10 variants of the opening animation:
AG135 - AG148: The original animation (from AG146 onwards, the opening text introducing Pocket Monsters is added).
From AG152 to AG165; reference to the boxart of PMD: Blue Rescue Team
From AG152 to AG165; reference to the boxart of PMD: Red Rescue Team
Trivia
The movie version of this song has an alternate lead-in.
This is the first opening to have updates in animation.
The track on the Perfect Best 2 album has a slightly different audio mix compared to the original single. Said album also includes a ballad version of the song.
This is the first Japanese opening theme to not be composed by Hirokazu Tanaka.
Oddly, in episodes before AG152, during the shot of Team Rocket and their current Pokémon waving, Jessie's Dustox is missing from the lineup.
