XY011

XY11 redirects here. For the TCG release with the set symbol XY11, see Steam Siege (TCG).

← XY010 : Mega-Mega Meowth Madness!

Pokémon the Series: XY

XY012 : To Catch a Pokémon Smuggler! →

The Bamboozling Forest!

XY011   EP810 竹林の追跡！ヤンチャムとゴロンダ！！ Pursuit in the Bamboo Forest! Yancham and Goronda!!

First broadcast Japan December 19, 2013 United States March 29, 2014

English themes Opening Pokémon Theme (Version XY) Ending

Japanese themes Opening Ｖ（ボルト） Ending Ｘ海峡Ｙ景色

Credits Animation Team Kato Screenplay 冨岡淳広 Atsuhiro Tomioka Storyboard 西田健一 Ken'ichi Nishida Assistant director 西田健一 Ken'ichi Nishida Animation director 小山知洋 Tomohiro Koyama Additional credits

Screenshots on Filb.de Preview thread on BMGf Closed Original review thread on BMGf Dub review thread on BMGf

The Bamboozling Forest! (Japanese: 竹林の追跡！ヤンチャムとゴロンダ！！ Pursuit in the Bamboo Forest! Yancham and Goronda!!) is the 11th episode of Pokémon the Series: XY, and the 810th episode of the Pokémon animated series. It first aired in Japan on December 19, 2013 and in the United States on March 29, 2014.

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

Blurb

During a lunch break on their way to Cyllage City, our heroes are being spied on as usual. But this time it’s not just Team Rocket lurking around…there are also two adorable Pancham nearby! Serena offers them some Pokémon food, but they’re not satisfied until they gobble up all of it—and our heroes’ lunch, as well! There’s no time to react, because Team Rocket takes advantage of the confusion to net Pikachu, Chespin, Fennekin, and Froakie and speed away in their Meowth balloon!

Jessie, James, and Meowth have grand visions of how the Boss will reward them for this impressive haul, but they quickly get into a fight about who should get the credit for the catch. It soon turns into a real fight between James’s Inkay and Jessie’s Wobbuffet, which causes an explosion in the balloon that frees our heroes’ captured Pokémon! Meowth is sent flying off alone and ends up hanging from a tree, where he spots the other Pokémon and convinces them to cut him down. Pikachu—who’s well aware of Meowth’s double-crossing ways from their long history together—is reluctant, and Froakie is suspicious, but Chespin and Fennekin welcome him with open paws.

Jessie and James go looking for their partner in crime and run into the two Pancham from earlier—and an angry Pangoro protecting them! After it runs the villains off, Jessie trips over a Pumpkaboo sleeping in the ground—and promptly catches it, much to James’s surprise.

Meanwhile, Pangoro and Pancham have run into our heroes’ Pokémon, and a frightened Chespin unleashes a Pin Missile that accidentally destroys the bamboo sprig Pangoro always carries in its mouth. Without its beloved bamboo, the Pokémon is left weak and ill. Ash, Serena, Clemont, and Bonnie finally find the Pokémon and immediately set out to find a new bamboo sprig so Pangoro can get its strength back. They’re successful, but when they get back, Meowth has shown his true colors once again, and the Team Rocket trio has Pangoro and Pancham all tied up! But as they try to drive our heroes off with their attacks, Ash makes a risky dash for Pangoro and manages to get the bamboo sprig into its mouth. Fully restored, Pangoro bursts out of its bindings and sends the villains blasting off again!

All the harm has been repaired, and our heroes are ready to get going again...as soon as they finish their interrupted lunch!

Plot

While Ash and his friends have lunch, Team Rocket watch the twerps from their Meowth Balloon. Also spying are two Pancham, and the rustling of the bushes gets Pikachu and the rest of the Pokemon to notice, except for Clemont's Chespin, who is focused on eating. Ash's Froakie leaps into action and fires its frubbles into the bushes, and the two Pancham roll out, covered in the frubbles. Team Rocket watches from above, and James uses his scanner to identify Pancham. Ash cleans up the Pancham and apologizes for surprising them, while Serena observes with her Pokédex. She notes that the Pancham looks different in the Pokédex, in the picture it is glaring, but the wild Pancham are smiling and looking innocent and "cute." The two Pancham run over to Chespin, who is eating its food, and begin to talk to it in Pokémon language. In response, Clemont whips out another one of his Clemontic Gear machines, this time a Pokémon Translator Device. He holds the microphone boom out to the Pancham, who look at each other, wink, and nod. They say that their stuff is everyone's stuff, and the machine translates, much to everyone's delight. However, when Clemont's back is turned, the pair exchange mischievous glances, which only the Pokémon notice. Serena wonders if the machine translated correctly, and points out that she thinks the Pancham asked if they could share their food. Pikachu attempts to warn Ash, but Serena offers the two Pancham some Pokémon food. When they finish the food, the Pancham continue until they've eaten everybody's food. Clemont rejoices that his translation was indeed correct after all.

Pikachu, Froakie, and Fennekin comfort Chespin as a shadow appears over them. It is Team Rocket, who launches a net and captures the four Pokémon and starts to fly away, while the Pancham flee. Ash sends out Fletchling to stop them, and in return, James takes out his Inkay. Inkay spits out ink and Fletchling is hit, and falls into Ash's arms. Team Rocket escape, and Ash and his friends follow them. Team Rocket rejoices, and discuss informing Team Rocket HQ, and a quarrel ensues over who deserves the credit. A battle ensues, and James's Inkay's Psybeam is bounced off Jessie's Wobbuffet's Mirror Coat, which causes the balloon to explode, releasing the captive Pokémon. Ash's group observes from afar and are worried for the safety of their Pokémon. Clemont remembers Dedenne's communication powers, and tells it to notify them if it catches Pikachu's electricity. Meanwhile, Meowth falls from the balloon only to hit a passing Pangoro in a bamboo forest. Meowth quickly tries to apologize, but Pangoro throws him into the sky again. Froakie has landed in a river, and when he reaches the shore, he is greeted by rustling in the bushes. He covers himself in frubbles, but it is only Pikachu who emerges, and motions Froakie to follow him through the bamboo forest, where they find Chespin, whose upper body is stuck in the ground. They have trouble dislodging him, but they eventually free him, to which Chespin thanks them. They are then interrupted on their search for Fennekin by Meowth, who is stuck in a tree, pleading for help. Chespin uses Pin Missile to help Meowth, who thanks them and offers a truce, but he really plans to use them as shields if Pangoro emerges again.

Jessie and James walk dejectedly with their Pokémon when the two Pancham reappear, this time with glares on their faces. Jessie and James decide to capture them both. Inkay's Psybeam proves effective, and James is about to throw out a Poké Ball when Pangoro appears behind them. Inkay, on its own accord, sprays ink on Pangoro, as Team Rocket tries to desperately warn it, but it is too late: Pangoro has grown infuriated. It punches Team Rocket into the sky yet again. The two Pancham and the Pangoro grin in their success. Elsewhere in the forest, Fennekin is alone by the stream, when Pikachu and his companions, including Meowth, come rushing to her, overjoyed to have finally found her. Fennekin is worried about the state of her tail, and Froakie cleans it with his frubbles. Along another path, the rest of Team Rocket walks, sore from Pangoro's attack. Jessie trips and falls over something black and pointy sticking up from the ground. The thing bursts out from the ground and floats before them, flashing its lights; it is a Pumpkaboo. Jessie throws out a Poké Ball and captures her successfully on the first try, much to James's disbelief.

Nearby, Dedenne and Pikachu sense each other's electricity. Fennekin chomps on a stick, but Chespin is disgusted with his own stick, and throws it away, only to hit the Pangoro, who quickly loses its temper. Pikachu, Fennekin, Froakie, and Meowth start to run, but Chespin is left on the spot, and hits Pangoro with his Pin Missile. Seeing Pangoro accompanied by the two Pancham, Meowth realizes that the three were working together all along. Pangoro, reacting from Chespin's attack, drops the bamboo shoot from its mouth. It slumps to the forest floor, having lost all of its energy. Just then, Ash and his friends run into the scene. Meowth pretends to be pleased and explains that the problem is Pangoro, and that it is also Chespin's fault for destroying Pangoro's precious leaf. The Pancham are angry, and Meowth translates, saying that the Pancham demand that to make their leader well again, it needs its special bamboo leaf, only specifically one from a tree on a rock ahead. Clemont feels bad and resolves to go look for a new leaf, and the rest of his friends agree to accompany him, led by one of the Pancham. The other Pancham and Meowth stay behind, saying he is concerned with the well-being of Pangoro mush to Serena's disbelief. While the group is gone, Team Rocket whispers to Meowth from the bushes, and Meowth explains the situation.

The search group reaches the bottom of the rock, which is gigantic. Ash decides he will climb up, but the task proves difficult. Serena suggests an easier way: Chespin can use Vine Whip to grab the leaf, and the Pokémon gets it down in no time. The group returns to Pangoro, only to find Pangoro tied with ropes, along with the other Pancham and Team Rocket is waiting for them, reunited with Meowth. Ash protests and Jessie calls out her newly caught Pumpkaboo, who uses Leech Seed on the group, tying up all the Pokemon and draining their strength (expect Chespin's). Ash realizes they could be saved if Pangoro is reunited with its bamboo leaf, so he charges forward. To prevent Ash from going any further, James tells Inkay to use Psybeam, but Pikachu protects Ash with Thunderbolt. Jessie orders Pumpkaboo to attack Ash with Shadow Ball, but it is met with a combined Water Pulse and Mud Shot from Froakie and Bunnelby. Chespin and Fennekin also combine their Ember and Pin Missile attacks to take down Wobbuffet. Ash leaps through the smoke and places the leaf in Pangoro's mouth. Pangoro breaks through its ropes, strength restored, and sends Team Rocket blasting off again with a Hammer Arm. The other Pokemon's restraints break away and everyone rejoices. Ash and his friends thank and apologize to Pangoro for the commotion they caused, and Pangoro forgives them. The whole group celebrates as the Pancham dance around.

As the sun sets, the travelers wave goodbye to Pangoro and the Pancham, and continue on their journey to Cyllage City. Just then, Ash remembers that they had been in the middle of lunch and didn't finish eating, and the group all groans with rumbling stomachs.

Major events

• James attempts to catch two Pancham, but is interrupted by an angry Pangoro.
• Jessie catches a Pumpkaboo.
• Clemont's Chespin is revealed to know Vine Whip.

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

Debuts

Pokémon debuts

• Pancham
• Pumpkaboo (Jessie's; Super Size)

Characters

Humans

Pokémon Quiz

• Ash
• Serena
• Clemont
• Bonnie
• Jessie
• James

Pokémon

Who's That Pokémon?

Who's That Pokémon?: Pancham (US and international)
Pokémon Quiz: Pancham (Japan)

• Pikachu (Ash's)
• Meowth (Team Rocket)
• Wobbuffet (Jessie's)
• Dedenne (Clemont's)
• Froakie (Ash's)
• Fletchling (Ash's)
• Fennekin (Serena's)
• Bunnelby (Clemont's)
• Chespin (Clemont's)
• Pumpkaboo (Jessie's; Super Size; new; debut)
• Inkay (James's)
• Pancham (×2; debut)
• Pangoro

Trivia

The title card segment focuses on Pikachu for this episode

• Professor Oak's Pokémon Holo Caster: Wigglytuff
• This is the first title card episode to focus on Pikachu.
• This is the first episode to feature Grass-type Pokémon's immunity to Leech Seed, as Clemont's Chespin was seen being unaffected by Jessie's Pumpkaboo's Leech Seed's energy absorption.
• Team Rocket doesn't recite their motto in this episode.
• At first, Meowth blasts off at different time than Jessie and James, but at the end of the episode, the trio blasts off together.
• Ash, Clemont, and Bonnie narrate the preview for the next episode.
  • A special preview of the upcoming episodes of Pokémon the Series: XY was also shown.
    • Sylveon appearing. (Kindergarten Chaos!)
    • Chespin dodging foe's attack, Bonnie and Dedenne happily jumps. (An Appetite for Battle!)
    • Ash's Froakie battling a Frogadier. (A Rush of Ninja Wisdom!)
    • A Malamar attacking both Ash's group and Team Rocket. (A Conspiracy to Conquer!)
    • An Absol (The Bonds of Evolution!), Snorlax (Awakening the Sleeping Giant!), and Lucario appearing.
    • Viola's Surskit battling Grant's Onix at the Battle Chateau. (Breaking Titles at the Chateau!)
    • Diantha Mega Evolving her Gardevoir during a battle with Team Rocket, who have captured it. (The Bonds of Evolution!)
    • Serena grabbing her Fennekin. (A PokéVision of Things to Come!)
    • Ash's Pikachu under mind control. (A Conspiracy to Conquer!)
    • Bonnie discovering that her bag has a Pichu in it. (A Jolting Switcheroo!)
• The Finnish title of this episode is a reference to the famous children's book The Wind in the Willows.
• The blurb for this episode was mistakenly listed as the next episode's blurb on Pokémon.com. This was later fixed.
• The Brazilian Portuguese Pokémon TV mistakenly used the Norwegian dub of this episode.

Errors

• After the Pancham finish eating and sit back-to-back, the leaf of the one facing away is white.
• The Pancham's lower bodies are sometimes black with a gray stripe instead of all gray.
• The darkness of Pangoro and the Pancham's ears and paws changes throughout the episode.
• When Pikachu and Froakie pull Chespin out of the ground, the triangles on its cheeks disappear for a few frames.
• Just before Pumpkaboo is caught, her fangs are missing.
• When Dedenne finds the tracks of the missing Pokémon, its tooth is missing.
• Pangoro's Hammer Arm works on Jessie's Pumpkaboo, even though she was a Ghost type.
• In the English dub, when Pikachu is affected by Leech Seed, Ash's mouth moves but no sound comes out.

• 

  Pancham's white leaf

• 

  Pangoro with lighter ears and paws

• 

  Pangoro with darker ears and paws

• 

  Chespin with no triangles on its cheeks

• 

  Dedenne without its tooth

Dub edits

The Polish, Greek and Russian dub's title card segment

• The Polish, Greek, and Russian dubs' title card focuses on Ash instead of Pikachu.
  • Also, the respective dubs' title cards lack the characters' shadows.

In other languages

Language		Title
Chinese	Cantonese	竹林追蹤！頑皮熊貓與流氓熊貓！！
	Mandarin	竹林追蹤！頑皮熊貓與流氓熊貓！！
Danish		Bambusskoven! * Den bambusende skov! *
Dutch		Het bamboewoeste bos!
Finnish		Bambumetsässä kuhisee!
European French		Une forêt de bambous pleine de surprises !
German		Zoff im Bambus-Wald!
Greek		Περιπέτεια στο Δάσος με τα Μπαμπού!
Hebrew		!יער הבמבוק
Hindi		बैंबूझलींग का जंगल! Bamboozling ka Jungle
Indonesian		Menaklukkan Hutan!
Italian		La foresta di Bambù!
Korean		대나무숲의 추적! 판짱과 부란다!
Norwegian		På villspor i bambus-skogen!
Polish		Przygoda w bambusowym lesie!
Portuguese	Brazil	A Floresta de Bambus!
	Portugal	A floresta de bambus
Russian		Приключения в бамбуковом лесу!
European Spanish		¡El Bosque de Bambú!
Swedish		Vilse i bambu-skogen!
Thai		การแสวงหาในป่าไผ่! ยันชัมกับโกลอนด้า!!
Turkish		Bambu Ormanında Kaybolmak!
Vietnamese		Cuộc truy đuổi trong rừng tre! Yanchamu và Goronda

← XY010 : Mega-Mega Meowth Madness!

Pokémon the Series: XY

XY012 : To Catch a Pokémon Smuggler! →

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