PK02

Christmas Night redirects here. For the Pikachu short with the Japanese title of Christmas Night, see PK06.

← HS10 : Big Meowth, Little Dreams (Part 2)

Pokémon Chronicles

PK03 : Kanga Games →

← PK01 : Pikachu's Vacation

Pikachu short

PK03 : Kanga Games →

Christmas Night

PK02   クリスマスであそぼ! Let's Play on Christmas!

First broadcast Japan December 22, 1998 United States November 25, 2006

English themes Opening Pikachu's Winter Vacation* Pokérap GS* Pokémon Chronicles theme* Ending

Japanese themes Opening ふゆやすみファンクラブ Ending カラフルふゆやすみ

Credits Animation Team Ota Screenplay 米村正二 Shōji Yonemura Storyboard 鈴木敏明 Toshiaki Suzuki Assistant director 鈴木敏明 Toshiaki Suzuki Animation director 酒井啓史 Keishi Sakai Additional credits

Christmas Night (Japanese: クリスマスであそぼ! Let's Play on Christmas!), known as Winter Vacation on the Pikachu's Winter Vacation DVD, is the first Pikachu's Winter Vacation episode, and the second Pikachu short. It was first released in Japan on December 22, 1998.

In the United States and United Kingdom, it was released on the Pikachu's Winter Vacation VHSes and DVD, for the first time in 1999. Later, this short was combined with Kanga Games to form Pikachu's Winter Vacation, the 22nd episode of Pokémon Chronicles, which first aired in the United Kingdom on October 5, 2005 and in the United States on November 25, 2006.

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

Blurb

Ash and the gang are spending the holidays in a house by the sea, and they leave their Pokémon to look after things while they run errands. As the Pokémon explore the house, they admire all the holiday trimmings, including party hats, delicious treats, and a Christmas tree. Bulbasaur and Squirtle get into a fight over the treats, while Vulpix gets stuck in a stocking. Pikachu tries to keep everyone from wrecking the house, but it's too much for one Pokémon. Before long, the Christmas tree is toppled and the lights have been blown out!

Now Pikachu needs everybody's help to put the house back together. The Pokémon help each other right the Christmas tree and clean up the mess they made; when Ash, Misty, and Brock return, the Christmas tree is lit—even if it's being powered by Pikachu's electricity! Trainers and Pokémon all wish each other happy holidays and enjoy their own party with friends.

Plot

Ash, Misty, Brock, and their Pokémon are planning to spend the holidays in a cabin that was lent to them by Professor Oak. However, the Trainers leave to pick up the Christmas cake. Their Pokémon, Pikachu, Bulbasaur, Squirtle, Togepi, Psyduck, and Vulpix, are left at the cabin, with Pikachu in charge.

The Pokémon stare at the door for a while, until Togepi turns and heads off, with the other Pokémon following. Pushing their way into the living room, the Pokémon behold a beautifully decorated Christmas Tree. They stare at it for a while, until Squirtle notices the kitchen and points it out to the others. The Pokémon enter the kitchen, to find the table prepared for a party. They get on the table to have a closer look, with Togepi getting a lift from Bulbasaur. The Pokémon are instantly drawn to the colorful party hats, and are initially perplexed by them. Vulpix realizes its use and flips a hat onto its head. The others, getting the idea, do the same, except for Psyduck, whose hat falls down onto its tail. Togepi and Pikachu return to the living room, and start looking at the tree again. Togepi sees its reflection in a bauble and smiles. Pikachu does the same, then starts making funny faces at the ornament; his reflection causing Togepi to giggle.

Back in the kitchen, Bulbasaur picks up a Bulbasaur cookie from a plate. Nearby, Squirtle is pulling on the string of a party popper. Bulbasaur is about to eat the cookie when the party popper fires, startling both Squirtle and Bulbasaur. Bulbasaur flings the cookie into the air and into Squirtle's mouth, who eats it. Bulbasaur is angry about this, and Squirtle tries to apologize, but Bulbasaur isn't buying it. Squirtle is forced to make a run for it, with Bulbasaur in pursuit. Nearby, Vulpix is digging through a stocking and gets itself stuck inside. Vulpix attempts to shake it off. Not being successful, it tries to walk off casually, but ends up walking into a wall. Back on the table, Psyduck picks up a bottle of Pokémon Cider. It sticks the bottle in its mouth in an attempt to pull the cork off, but fails. Psyduck hears the fizzing noise coming from the bottle and begins shaking the bottle around to make more noise.

Meanwhile, Bulbasaur is still in hot pursuit of Squirtle. Pikachu and Togepi, still at the tree, watch as they run past three times. Bulbasaur uses Vine Whip, wrapping its vines around Squirtle, who, in its panic, runs around the tree, causing the vines to knock the tree off balance. Pikachu quickly pushes the tree back upright. Suddenly, Vulpix comes leaping into the scene and lands on top of the tree, tilting it back the other way. Pikachu quickly bolts around to the other side and shoves it upright again, with a bit more effort this time. The stocking having fallen off its head, Vulpix leaps back to the floor once the tree is upright once more. However, Bulbasaur hasn't given up the chase of Squirtle, who ends up running around the tree again. This time, however, Squirtle's leg gets caught up on a string of lights, which threatens to send the tree falling over again. Vulpix runs for it while Pikachu begins to strain to hold the tree upright once more. Back in the kitchen, Psyduck's shaking causes the cork to blow out of the bottle, sending it toppling backwards. The cork shoots up and ricochets around the room before hitting Pikachu in the face. Pikachu hits the floor, and the tree comes down right on top of it. Bulbasaur's chasing ends, and both it and Squirtle, as well as Vulpix, look to see what happened. Pikachu eventually emerges from under the fallen tree, and Squirtle and Bulbasaur burst into laughter. Pikachu angrily stands up, and Bulbasaur and Squirtle quickly clam up, knowing what's coming. Burning with rage, Pikachu unleashes a powerful Thunderbolt attack. However, the electricity goes straight into the lights and blows out the power in the whole cabin. The Pokémon are left in darkness, and they're looking around, wondering what happened.

Pikachu makes his way to a Music Box that fell off the tree and pulls it upright. It opens, and a beautifully lit tree model is inside, and music begins to play. Awed by this, the Pokémon gather around to watch it. The music plays out, though, and both the music and the lights stop, leaving the Pokémon disappointed.

Pikachu, however, realizes that, with a bit of work, the fallen tree behind them could be just as beautiful, and explains this to the others. The other Pokémon eagerly accept this, and soon, Squirtle, Bulbasaur, Pikachu, and Vulpix are working to set the tree up again, while Togepi and Psyduck work together to gather up the fallen ornaments.

When Ash, Misty, and Brock return, they find the cabin pitch black. Brock points out that it gets dark early now. When they enter the living room, they are greeted by Pikachu's cheerful "Pika-Pi!" The Christmas Tree lights up, and it's revealed that the Pokémon are sitting in front of it, Pikachu holding the plugs to the lights and the music box to his cheeks. Ash and his friends enjoy the spectacular, then Ash recommends that they start the party. Misty cuts the cake, to which Ash orders a big piece. They all wish each other a Merry Christmas. Meanwhile, Santa Claus’s sleigh is darting its way across the night sky.

Characters

Humans

• Ash
• Misty
• Brock
• Santa Claus

Pokémon

• Pikachu (Ash's)
• Togepi (Misty's)
• Bulbasaur (Ash's)
• Squirtle (Ash's)
• Psyduck (Misty's)
• Vulpix (Brock's)
• Ponyta (Santa's)

Trivia

• This Pikachu short was released between EP075 and EP076 in Japan. Chronologically, however, it must take place either before or after the aforementioned episodes, as they are placed in the middle of the Indigo Plateau Conference.
• Christmas Night is also the Japanese title of a similar episode.
• Both the Japanese version and the English dub remained exclusive to VHS for several years before being aired on TV.
• The English dubbed VHS release of this Pikachu short contains the Japanese opening theme as a bonus feature.
• This is the first Pikachu short in which Ash and his friends actually make an appearance.

Dub edits

• In the original Japanese version, the cabin that Ash, Misty, and Brock were staying in for Christmas did not belong to Professor Oak.

In other languages

Language		Title
Mandarin Chinese		遊戲聖誕
European French		Catastrophes à la veille de Noël
Italian		Natale con i Pokémon
Portuguese	Brazil	A Cabine
	Portugal	Noite de Natal
European Spanish		Pikachu's Winter Vacation
Swedish		Jullovet

← HS10 : Big Meowth, Little Dreams (Part 2)

Pokémon Chronicles

PK03 : Kanga Games →

← PK01 : Pikachu's Vacation

Pikachu short

PK03 : Kanga Games →

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