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{{EpisodePrevNext|
{{EpicodePrevNext|
prevlink=EP155 |
prevcode=EP155 |
prevtitle=EP155: Forest Grumps |
prevtitle=Forest Grumps |
nextlink=EP157 |
nextcode=EP157 |
nexttitle=EP157: The Fortune Hunters |
nexttitle=The Fortune Hunters |
series=Original series |
series=Original series |
episodelist=List of original series episodes }}
colorscheme=Johto | }}
{{EpisodeInfobox|
{{EpisodeInfobox|
epcode=EP156 |
epcode=EP156 |
title_en=The Psychic Sidekicks |
colorscheme=Johto |
title_en=The Psychic Sidekicks! |
title_ja=キリンリキ！エスパーポケモンのむら！ |
title_ja=キリンリキ！エスパーポケモンのむら！ |
title_ja_trans=??? |
title_ja_trans=Kirinriki! The Village of Esper Pokémon! |
broadcast_jp=July 13, 2000 |
broadcast_jp=July 13, 2000 |
broadcast_us=August 11, 2001 |
broadcast_us=August 11, 2001 |
en_series=Johto Journeys |
screen=yes |
en_series=[[S03|Pokémon: The Johto Journeys]] |
en_op=[[Pokémon Johto]] |
en_op=[[Pokémon Johto]] |
ja_op=[[OK!]] |
ja_op=[[OK!]] |
Line 22: Line 24:
director=大町繁 |
director=大町繁 |
art=たけだゆうさく |
art=たけだゆうさく |
footnotes= }}
morecredits=yes |
'''The Psychic Sidekicks''' (Japanese: '''キリンリキ！エスパーポケモンのむら！''' <!-- ''???'' -->) is episode 156 of the [[Pokémon anime]]. It was first broadcast in Japan on July 13, 2000 and in USA on August 11, 2001.  
epstaffpage=EP151-EP160 |
<!-- Short summary goes here. -->
footnotes=* {{filb-eppics|pm|158}}
}}
'''The Psychic Sidekicks!''' (Japanese: '''キリンリキ！エスパーポケモンのむら！''' ''{{tt|Kirinriki|Girafarig}}! The Village of {{tt|Esper|Psychic-type}} Pokémon!'') is the 156th episode of the [[Pokémon animated series]]. It was first broadcast in Japan on July 13, 2000, and in the United States on August 11, 2001.
 
{{spoilers}}
{{spoilers}}
= Synopsis =
Our three heroes are walking through a wood, and notice a sign that warns about ghost Pokémon in the woods and they should use a psychic Pokémon to keep them away. They don't have any psychic types, but Brock remembers that Psyduck can use psychic attacks. Misty releases Psyduck and tells it to use its Confusion attack if they meet a ghost Pokemon, but it doesn't seem to understand her.


The bushes rustle and something peeks out. Misty orders Psyduck to use Confusion but it returns to its Poké Ball. Ash and Brock examine the thing in the bush, it doesn't look like a ghost type. A girl walks up and says it isn't, it's her Girafarig's tail. Ash consults Dexter, a Girafarig is a psychic Pokémon with a second face on its tail.  
==Blurb==
<!--https://www.pokemon.com/us/animation/seasons/3/episode-51-the-psychic-sidekicks/-->
<i>Our heroes come to a town whose residents all raise Psychic Pokémon to repel the Ghost Pokémon that lurk nearby. Soon thereafter, Team Rocket makes its appearance in a Ghost Pokémon machine impervious to Psychic attacks, and begins to steal all the town's Pokémon.</i>


Ash introduces himself. The girl is Cherrie, she picked a Girafarig to train because it's different. It's tradition in her home town to raise psychic Pokemon because of the ghosts in the woods.  
==Plot==
{{Ash}} and {{ashfr}} are walking through a wood, and notice a [[Trainer Tips]] sign that warns of {{t|Ghost}} {{OBP|Pokémon|species}} in the woods and recommends the use a {{t|Psychic}} Pokémon to keep them away. They don't have any Psychic types, but {{an|Brock}} remembers that {{TP|Misty|Psyduck}} can use Psychic attacks. {{an|Misty}} releases her Psyduck and tells it to use its {{m|Confusion}} attack if they meet a Ghost Pokémon, but it doesn't seem to understand her.


Team Rocket is listening to this and they make a plan to go to town and steal all the psychic Pokemon. Wobbuffet comes out, annoying Jessie. Meowth says psychic types are tricky to catch but he has a secret weapon.  
The bushes rustle and something peeks out. Misty orders Psyduck to use {{m|Confusion}}, but it returns to its {{i|Poké Ball}}. Ash and Brock examine the creature in the bush, and comment that it doesn't look like a Ghost-type Pokémon. A girl walks up and says that it isn't, it's her {{p|Girafarig}}'s tail. Ash consults [[Pokédex|Dexter]] and learns that Girafarig is a Psychic Pokémon with a second head on its tail.


The kids are eating lunch together. Cherrie says she wants to compete in the Johto League. She notices that Ash and Pikachu know each other very well, and says that it's thought if a trainer and their psychic Pokémon are very close they can communicate psychically. She challenges Ash to a battle and he accepts.  
Ash introduces himself, and the girl presents herself as [[Cherry]]. She picked a Girafarig to train partly because it is an unusual Pokémon, and partly because it is tradition in her hometown of [[Len Town]] to raise Psychic Pokémon in order to protect against the ghosts in the woods. {{TRT}} is listening to this, and they make a plan to go to town and steal all of the Psychic Pokémon. {{MTR}} comments that Psychic types are tricky to catch, but he has a secret weapon in mind.


Pikachu starts with a Quick Attack that knocks Girafarig down, but Girafarig gets up and uses Future Sight. Nothing seems to happen, so Pikachu continues with Thunderbolt and Agility when Girafarig tries to stomp him. Suddenly a wind rustles through the trees and a tremendous blast comes out of nowhere! Pikachu is thrown back but he's not out of the fight yet. Cherrie explains that this is Future Sight: a time delayed psychic attack. Now Girafarig uses Psybeam, Pikachu counters it with Thunderbolt, creating an explosion that raises a cloud of dust. Before Girafarig can attack again, Pikachu leaps out of the cloud and uses Thunder to win the match.  
The trainers are eating lunch together. Cherry says she wants to compete in the [[Johto League]]. She comments that Ash and {{AP|Pikachu}} seem to know each other very well, causing them to blush. She then says that if a Trainer and their Psychic Pokémon are very close, they can communicate telepathically. She wishes this for her and Girafarig, and challenges Ash to a {{pkmn|battle}} in order to grow stronger. Always ready for a match, Ash accepts.


All of them congratulate Cherrie for a great match, but she's worried because she can't communicate psychically with with Girafarig. Ash reassures her that she's still a good trainer. Cherrie invites them all to her town to see all the other psychic Pokémon.  
Pikachu starts with a {{m|Quick Attack}} that knocks Girafarig down, but Girafarig gets up and uses {{m|Future Sight}}. Nothing seems to happen, so Pikachu continues with {{m|Thunderbolt}} and {{m|Agility}} when Girafarig tries to {{m|Stomp}} him. Suddenly a wind rustles through the trees and a tremendous blast comes out of nowhere. Pikachu is thrown back, but he's not out of the fight yet. Cherry explains that this is Future Sight: a time-delayed Psychic attack. Now Girafarig uses {{m|Psybeam}}, Pikachu counters it with Thunderbolt, creating an explosion that raises a cloud of dust. Before Girafarig can attack again, Pikachu leaps out of the cloud and uses {{m|Thunder}} to win the match. All of them congratulate Cherry for a great match, but she's worried because she can't communicate psychically with Girafarig. Ash reassures her that she's still a good {{pkmn|Trainer}}. Cherry invites them all to Len Town to see the other Psychic Pokémon.


In town, Misty is impressed with the psychic Pokémon everywhere. A woman trainer chases after her playful Abra which keeps teleporting around. Then an exhausted man comes running up the street and warns them about a giant ghost Pokemon that was immune to psychic attacks! He and his Mr.Mime were fishing when a giant Gengar appeared. He had Mr.Mime do a Psywave but the attack bounced off the Gengar and hit them instead. Then the Gengar captured Mr.Mime with its tongue. Brock and Ash decide to check it out.  
In town, Misty is impressed with the Psychic Pokémon everywhere. A woman, [[Mrs. Bellows]], chases after her playful {{p|Abra}} which keeps {{m|Teleport}}ing around. Then an exhausted man, {{OBP|Toku|EP156}} comes running up the street and warns them about a giant Ghost Pokémon that was immune to Psychic attacks. He and his {{p|Mr. Mime}} were fishing when a [[Team Rocket's mechas|giant]] {{p|Gengar}} appeared. He had Mr. Mime use {{m|Psywave}}, but the attack bounced off the Gengar and hit them instead. Then the Gengar captured Mr. Mime with its tongue. Brock and Ash decide to check it out.


Jessie and James drink a toast to their mechanical ghost, but Meowth says they should go back to town and catch the rest of the psychic Pokemon. The woman trainer finds her Abra in a tree, then they both see the Gengar. She tells Abra to use Psychic but the attack bounces off the Gengar's eyes and hits the Abra. The giant tongue comes down and grabs the Abra. Team Rocket gloats, this time they're unstoppable!
[[Jessie]] and [[James]] drink a toast to their mechanical ghost, but Meowth says they should go back to town and catch the rest of the Psychic Pokémon. Mrs. Bellows finds her {{p|Abra}} in a tree and suddenly they both see the Gengar. She tells Abra to use {{m|Psychic}}, but the attack bounces off the Gengar's eyes and hits Abra. The machine’s giant tongue comes down and grabs Abra. Team Rocket gloats that this time they're unstoppable


Cherrie's Girafarig indicates that something is wrong, just as the giant Gengar is seen at the town limits. The man with them recognizes it as the same one that ate his Mr. Mime, and the woman returns with the same story about her Abra. All the townsfolk grab their Pokémon and run inside, but Cherrie believes that her Girafarig can take on this thing despite its size.  
Cherry's Girafarig indicates that something is wrong, just as the giant Gengar is seen at the town limits. Toku recognizes it as the same one that ate his Mr. Mime, and Mrs. Bellows returns with the same story about her Abra. All the townsfolk grab their Pokémon and run inside, but Cherry believes that her Girafarig can take on this machine despite its size. As Team Rocket prepares to capture Pikachu, Cherry tells Girafarig to attack with Psybeam. The attack bounces off the Gengar's eyes and hits Girafarig, knocking it down. Team Rocket appear out of the machine and say their {{motto}}, then explain that the Gengar works by using mirrors to reflect Psychic attacks. Brock admits that this time they've been pretty smart. Misty grabs his ear and demands to know whose side he is on.


As Team Rocket prepares to capture Pikachu, Cherrie tells Girafarig to attack with Psybeam. The attack bounces off the Gengar's eyes and hits, knocking it down. TR appear and say their motto, then explain that the Gengar works by using mirrors to reflect the psychic attacks. Brock admits that this time they've been pretty smart. Misty grabs his ear and demands to know whose side he is on.  
Cherry gets angry. She and her Girafarig glow for a moment, then she orders Confusion. The attack is reflected and Girafarig gets stunned. Not giving up, Cherry encourages her Pokémon to get up and use Psybeam. This attack is bounced back as well, and to protect Girafarig both Ash and Cherry stand in front of it and take the blast themselves. Ash tells a weakened Cherry to leave Team Rocket to him, but she tells Girafarig to use Future Sight. Team Rocket watch what seems to be Girafarig just standing there, and wonder if Future Sight will tell them what their future is going to be.


Cherrie gets angry. She and her Girafarig glow for a moment, then she orders Confusion. The attack is reflected and Girafarig gets stunned! Not giving up, Cherrie encourages her Pokémon to get up and use Psybeam. This attack is bounced back as well, and to protect Girafarig both Ash and Cherrie stand in front of it and take the blast themselves.  
As Pikachu runs forward to attack, Cherry suddenly has a vision of the Gengar trying to {{m|lick}} Pikachu. She realizes that this is Girafarig's vision and warns Ash of the attack, so Pikachu is able to avoid the robot's tongue at the last second. All attempts to catch Pikachu fail, because he's now flying high thanks to Girafarig's Confusion ability. Eventually the robot's tongue can't stretch any farther, and Pikachu uses a Thunder attack which disables the robot and frees the Abra and Mr. Mime that were inside. Team Rocket is about to send out their Pokémon to continue the fight, but a wind rustles the trees and the Future Sight attack goes off, sending Team Rocket blasting off again.


Ash tells a weakened Cherrie to leave Team Rocket to him, but she tells Girafarig to use Future Sight. Team Rocket watches the Girafarig just stand there and wonder if Future Sight will tell them what their future is going to be.  
Cherry is happy, as she and her Pokémon finally connected telepathically. Ash and friends depart, and Cherry vows that she and Girafarig will become as good a team as Ash and Pikachu.


As Pikachu runs forward to attack, Cherrie suddenly has a vision of the Gengar trying to lick up Pikachu. She realises that this is Girafarig's vision and warns Ash of the attack, so Pikachu is able to avoid the robot's tongue at the last second. All attempts to catch Pikachu fail, because he's now flying high thanks to Girafarig's Confusion ability. Eventually the robot's tongue can't stretch any farther, and Pikachu uses a Thunder attack which disables the robot and frees the Abra and Mr. Mime that were inside.  
==Major events==
<!-- This is not for summarizing everything that happens in this episode. Only events pertaining to the series as a whole, such as catching and releasing Pokémon and obtaining Badges, go here. -->
{{animeevents}}


Team Rocket are about to get out their Pokémon to continue the fight, but a wind rustles the trees and the Future Sight attack goes off, sending TR blasting off again.
===Debuts===
====Pokémon debuts====
=====TV episode debuts=====
* {{p|Girafarig}}


Cherrie is happy, she and her Pokemon finally connected psychically. Ash and friends depart, and Cherrie vows that she and Girafarig will become as good a team as Ash and Pikachu are.
==Characters==
===Humans===
[[File:Dare da EP156.png|thumb|200px|right|{{tt|Dare da?|Who's That Pokémon?}}]]
* {{Ash}}
* {{an|Misty}}
* {{an|Brock}}
* [[Jessie]]
* [[James]]
* [[Cherry]]
* [[Mrs. Bellows]]
* {{OBP|Toku|EP156}}
* Citizens


= Major events =
===Pokémon===
<!-- Events such as captures, releases go here. -->
[[File:WTP EP156.png|thumb|200px|right|Who's That Pokémon?]]
== Debuts ==
[[Who's That Pokémon?]]: {{p|Ursaring}} ''(US and international)'', {{p|Girafarig}} ''(Japan)''
<!-- Events such as new characters, or first screen appearance of Pokémon go here. -->
[[Cherrie]] is Psychic Pokemon Trainer who owns a Psychic Pokemon [[Girafarig]].


[[Girafarig]] makes it's first Anime debut in this episode.
* {{p|Pikachu}} ({{OP|Ash|Pikachu}})
* {{p|Meowth}} ({{TRM}})
* {{p|Togepi}} ({{OP|Misty|Togepi}})
* {{p|Wobbuffet}} ({{OP|Jessie|Wobbuffet}})
* {{p|Psyduck}} ({{OP|Misty|Psyduck}})
* {{p|Girafarig}} ([[Cherry]]'s)
* {{p|Mr. Mime}} ({{OBP|Toku|EP156}}'s)
* {{p|Abra}} ([[Mrs. Bellows]]'s)
* {{p|Fearow}} (×3)
* {{p|Alakazam}}
* {{p|Slowpoke}}
* {{p|Drowzee}}
* {{p|Hypno}}
* {{p|Exeggcute}}
* {{p|Exeggutor}} (×3)


= Trivia =
==Trivia==
* When [[Kids WB]] first aired this episode, it was mistakenly called the "Johto lost episode".
* When [[S03|Pokémon: The Johto Journeys]] went on a two month hiatus on {{DL|Pokémon in the United States|Kids' WB!}} in 2001, this episode was promoted as a "lost episode". Even though it was classified as a lost episode, it was rerun four more times after its premiere (October 19, 2001; December 10, 2001; July 9, 2002; June 3, 2008).
** This episode aired April 20, 2001 in {{pmin|Italy}}. Because of the "lost episode" incident, this is the longest distance between a European airdate and the correspondent American one with the European coming first: 113 days.
* Up until the November 10, 2015 DVD release of ''Pokémon The Johto Journeys: The Complete Collection'', this episode, along with ''[[EP157|The Fortune Hunters]]'', wasn't released on [[List of English language The Johto Journeys home video releases (Region 1)|Region 1 VHS or DVD]] much like the lost episode ''[[EP018|Beauty and the Beach]]''.
** Both the {{pmin|Portugal|European Portuguese}} and the {{pmin|Spain|European Spanish}} versions of this episode and ''[[EP157|The Fortune Hunters]]'' were released by Salvat, the company that distributes DVD versions of the episodes in the Iberian Peninsula. Both of these episodes were also included in the {{pmin|Australia}}n [[List of English language The Johto Journeys home video releases (Region 4)|season 3 box set]].
* Ghost-types that are immune to Psychic-type attacks were later introduced as actual Pokémon, in the form of {{p|Sableye}} and {{p|Spiritomb}}.
** Through the use of its {{a|Wonder Guard}} [[Ability]], {{p|Shedinja}} is also immune to Psychic-type attacks.
* The sign that the group encounters is based on the [[Trainer Tips]] from the games.
* When Team Rocket is driving with their mecha, they chant, "We've [[gotta catch 'em all!]]"
* {{p|Abra}} was freed alongside {{p|Mr. Mime}}, although it could have easily {{m|Teleport|teleported}} itself to safety.
* This episode was the first to air in Japan after the theatrical release of [[M03]].
* {{TP|Misty|Psyduck}} was not the only Pokémon of the team to display psychic moves on the occasion. They could also use the newly caught {{AP|Noctowl}}, that would be more useful against ghosts for being part-{{t|Normal}}.
* Despite forest surrounding [[Len Town]] to be described as filled of Ghost Pokémon, not a single real one is in fact seen within it, besides three [[Fearow]], that are not Ghost type.


== Errors ==
===Errors===
== Dub edits ==
* During this episode, it is mistakenly stated that Psychic-types are strong against Ghost-types, when in fact the reverse is true (though Gastly, Haunter, and Gengar were weak due to their {{t|Poison|secondary type}}). In [[Generation I]], an error in programming resulted in Ghost-type attacks having no effect on Psychic Pokémon, rather than being super effective against them as was intended; as this particular episode was released well into [[Generation II]], after the mistake was fixed, it is unclear how this error entered into the script.
** Indeed, the only [[Len Town]] resident to possess a Pokémon really effective against [[Ghost type]] was precisely [[Cherry]], for her [[Girafarig]] being part-Normal.
* When {{Ash}} and {{ashfr}} look at the bushes, {{an|Misty}}'s [[bag]] is missing.
* When the group comes across {{p|Girafarig}} for the first time and Misty is telling Psyduck to use {{m|Confusion}}, Psyduck's bill becomes the same color as the rest of its body.
* When Girafarig speaks after Cherry tells Ash to relax, its voice plays before its mouth moves.
* After {{an|Brock}} says that Misty has a Psyduck, the strap on Misty's bag is missing.
* When [[Jessie]] opens up her compact, which gives a reflection of [[James]] and {{MTR}}, the "R" on James' shirt is facing the correct way instead of being flipped horizontally as it should be seen on a mirror.
* At the end of the episode, the narrator says "What will happen to our heroes on their way to Johto?" However, they are already ''in'' [[Johto]].


{{epstub}}
<gallery>
{{EpisodePrevNext|
EP156 error.png|Psyduck's miscolored bill
prevlink=EP155 |
EP156 error 2.png|The reflection error
prevtitle=EP155: Forest Grumps |
</gallery>
nextlink=EP157 |
 
nexttitle=EP157: The Fortune Hunters |
===Dub edits===
* [[Pokémon Karaokémon]]: [[Two Perfect Girls]]
 
==In other languages==
{{Epilang|color=DDDDDD|bordercolor=FFCB49
|ar={{tt|مساعدون أقوياء|Strong sidekicks}}
|bg={{tt|Психомощни приятели!|Psychic friends}}
|zh_cmn={{tt|麒麟奇，超能力神奇寶貝之村|Girafarig, the Village of Psychic Pokémon}}
|cs={{tt|Psychický pomocník|The psychic helper}}
|nl={{tt|De Psycho Partner|The psychic sidekick}}
|de={{tt|Der magische Blick|The magical sight}}
|fr_eu={{tt|Psychiquement vôtre|Psychicly yours}}
|he=הרפתקה על חושית{{tt|harpatka al chushit|Psychic Adventure}}
|hu={{tt|Cherry, az új barát|Cherry, the new girlfriend}}
|it={{tt|Questione di telepatia|Matter of telepathy}}
|pt_br={{tt|Os Amigos Psíquicos!|The Psychic Friends!}}
|pt_eu={{tt|Os Braços Direitos Psíquicos!|The Psychic Right Arms!}}
|es_la={{tt|¡La pareja psíquica!|The psychic couple!}}
|es_eu={{tt|Los amigos psíquicos|The psychic friends}}
|pl={{tt|Psychokop|Psychokick}}
|ro={{tt|Lovituri Psihice|Psychic Hits}}
|hi=दिमागी हमला {{tt|''Dimgai Hamla''|Mental/Psychic Attack}} {{tt|*|Hungama dub}}
}}
 
{{-}}
{{EpicodePrevNext|
prevcode=EP155 |
prevtitle=Forest Grumps |
nextcode=EP157 |
nexttitle=The Fortune Hunters |
series=Original series |
series=Original series |
episodelist=List of original series episodes }}
colorscheme=Johto | }}
{{Project Anime notice}}
{{Project Anime notice}}
[[Category:Original series episodes]]
{{DEFAULTSORT:0156}}
[[Category:Original series episodes|156]]
[[Category:Episodes written by Atsuhiro Tomioka]]
[[Category:Episodes storyboarded by Kazu Yokota]]
[[Category:Episodes directed by Shigeru Ōmachi]]
[[Category:Episodes animated by Yūsaku Takeda]]
 
[[de:Der magische Blick!]]
[[es:EP158]]
[[fr:EP156]]
[[it:EP156]]
[[ja:無印編第156話]]
[[zh:宝可梦 第157集]]

Latest revision as of 05:08, 3 September 2024

← EP155 : Forest Grumps
Original series
EP157 : The Fortune Hunters →
The Psychic Sidekicks!
EP156.png
  EP156  
キリンリキ！エスパーポケモンのむら！
Kirinriki! The Village of Esper Pokémon!
First broadcast
Japan July 13, 2000
United States August 11, 2001
English themes
Opening Pokémon Johto
Ending
Japanese themes
Opening OK!
Ending ポケモンはらはら²リレー
Credits
Animation Team Ota
Screenplay 冨岡淳広 Atsuhiro Tomioka
Storyboard 横田和 Kazu Yokota
Assistant director 大町繁 Shigeru Ōmachi
Animation director たけだゆうさく Yūsaku Takeda
Additional credits

The Psychic Sidekicks! (Japanese: キリンリキ！エスパーポケモンのむら！ Kirinriki! The Village of Esper Pokémon!) is the 156th episode of the Pokémon animated series. It was first broadcast in Japan on July 13, 2000, and in the United States on August 11, 2001.

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

Blurb

Our heroes come to a town whose residents all raise Psychic Pokémon to repel the Ghost Pokémon that lurk nearby. Soon thereafter, Team Rocket makes its appearance in a Ghost Pokémon machine impervious to Psychic attacks, and begins to steal all the town's Pokémon.

Plot

Ash and his friends are walking through a wood, and notice a Trainer Tips sign that warns of Ghost Pokémon in the woods and recommends the use a Psychic Pokémon to keep them away. They don't have any Psychic types, but Brock remembers that Psyduck can use Psychic attacks. Misty releases her Psyduck and tells it to use its Confusion attack if they meet a Ghost Pokémon, but it doesn't seem to understand her.

The bushes rustle and something peeks out. Misty orders Psyduck to use Confusion, but it returns to its Poké Ball. Ash and Brock examine the creature in the bush, and comment that it doesn't look like a Ghost-type Pokémon. A girl walks up and says that it isn't, it's her Girafarig's tail. Ash consults Dexter and learns that Girafarig is a Psychic Pokémon with a second head on its tail.

Ash introduces himself, and the girl presents herself as Cherry. She picked a Girafarig to train partly because it is an unusual Pokémon, and partly because it is tradition in her hometown of Len Town to raise Psychic Pokémon in order to protect against the ghosts in the woods. Team Rocket is listening to this, and they make a plan to go to town and steal all of the Psychic Pokémon. Meowth comments that Psychic types are tricky to catch, but he has a secret weapon in mind.

The trainers are eating lunch together. Cherry says she wants to compete in the Johto League. She comments that Ash and Pikachu seem to know each other very well, causing them to blush. She then says that if a Trainer and their Psychic Pokémon are very close, they can communicate telepathically. She wishes this for her and Girafarig, and challenges Ash to a battle in order to grow stronger. Always ready for a match, Ash accepts.

Pikachu starts with a Quick Attack that knocks Girafarig down, but Girafarig gets up and uses Future Sight. Nothing seems to happen, so Pikachu continues with Thunderbolt and Agility when Girafarig tries to Stomp him. Suddenly a wind rustles through the trees and a tremendous blast comes out of nowhere. Pikachu is thrown back, but he's not out of the fight yet. Cherry explains that this is Future Sight: a time-delayed Psychic attack. Now Girafarig uses Psybeam, Pikachu counters it with Thunderbolt, creating an explosion that raises a cloud of dust. Before Girafarig can attack again, Pikachu leaps out of the cloud and uses Thunder to win the match. All of them congratulate Cherry for a great match, but she's worried because she can't communicate psychically with Girafarig. Ash reassures her that she's still a good Trainer. Cherry invites them all to Len Town to see the other Psychic Pokémon.

In town, Misty is impressed with the Psychic Pokémon everywhere. A woman, Mrs. Bellows, chases after her playful Abra which keeps Teleporting around. Then an exhausted man, Toku comes running up the street and warns them about a giant Ghost Pokémon that was immune to Psychic attacks. He and his Mr. Mime were fishing when a giant Gengar appeared. He had Mr. Mime use Psywave, but the attack bounced off the Gengar and hit them instead. Then the Gengar captured Mr. Mime with its tongue. Brock and Ash decide to check it out.

Jessie and James drink a toast to their mechanical ghost, but Meowth says they should go back to town and catch the rest of the Psychic Pokémon. Mrs. Bellows finds her Abra in a tree and suddenly they both see the Gengar. She tells Abra to use Psychic, but the attack bounces off the Gengar's eyes and hits Abra. The machine’s giant tongue comes down and grabs Abra. Team Rocket gloats that this time they're unstoppable

Cherry's Girafarig indicates that something is wrong, just as the giant Gengar is seen at the town limits. Toku recognizes it as the same one that ate his Mr. Mime, and Mrs. Bellows returns with the same story about her Abra. All the townsfolk grab their Pokémon and run inside, but Cherry believes that her Girafarig can take on this machine despite its size. As Team Rocket prepares to capture Pikachu, Cherry tells Girafarig to attack with Psybeam. The attack bounces off the Gengar's eyes and hits Girafarig, knocking it down. Team Rocket appear out of the machine and say their motto, then explain that the Gengar works by using mirrors to reflect Psychic attacks. Brock admits that this time they've been pretty smart. Misty grabs his ear and demands to know whose side he is on.

Cherry gets angry. She and her Girafarig glow for a moment, then she orders Confusion. The attack is reflected and Girafarig gets stunned. Not giving up, Cherry encourages her Pokémon to get up and use Psybeam. This attack is bounced back as well, and to protect Girafarig both Ash and Cherry stand in front of it and take the blast themselves. Ash tells a weakened Cherry to leave Team Rocket to him, but she tells Girafarig to use Future Sight. Team Rocket watch what seems to be Girafarig just standing there, and wonder if Future Sight will tell them what their future is going to be.

As Pikachu runs forward to attack, Cherry suddenly has a vision of the Gengar trying to lick Pikachu. She realizes that this is Girafarig's vision and warns Ash of the attack, so Pikachu is able to avoid the robot's tongue at the last second. All attempts to catch Pikachu fail, because he's now flying high thanks to Girafarig's Confusion ability. Eventually the robot's tongue can't stretch any farther, and Pikachu uses a Thunder attack which disables the robot and frees the Abra and Mr. Mime that were inside. Team Rocket is about to send out their Pokémon to continue the fight, but a wind rustles the trees and the Future Sight attack goes off, sending Team Rocket blasting off again.

Cherry is happy, as she and her Pokémon finally connected telepathically. Ash and friends depart, and Cherry vows that she and Girafarig will become as good a team as Ash and Pikachu.

Major events

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

Debuts

Pokémon debuts

TV episode debuts

Characters

Humans

Dare da?

Pokémon

Who's That Pokémon?

Who's That Pokémon?: Ursaring (US and international), Girafarig (Japan)

Trivia

  • When Pokémon: The Johto Journeys went on a two month hiatus on Kids' WB! in 2001, this episode was promoted as a "lost episode". Even though it was classified as a lost episode, it was rerun four more times after its premiere (October 19, 2001; December 10, 2001; July 9, 2002; June 3, 2008).
    • This episode aired April 20, 2001 in Italy. Because of the "lost episode" incident, this is the longest distance between a European airdate and the correspondent American one with the European coming first: 113 days.
  • Up until the November 10, 2015 DVD release of Pokémon The Johto Journeys: The Complete Collection, this episode, along with The Fortune Hunters, wasn't released on Region 1 VHS or DVD much like the lost episode Beauty and the Beach.
  • Ghost-types that are immune to Psychic-type attacks were later introduced as actual Pokémon, in the form of Sableye and Spiritomb.
  • The sign that the group encounters is based on the Trainer Tips from the games.
  • When Team Rocket is driving with their mecha, they chant, "We've gotta catch 'em all!"
  • Abra was freed alongside Mr. Mime, although it could have easily teleported itself to safety.
  • This episode was the first to air in Japan after the theatrical release of M03.
  • Psyduck was not the only Pokémon of the team to display psychic moves on the occasion. They could also use the newly caught Noctowl, that would be more useful against ghosts for being part-Normal.
  • Despite forest surrounding Len Town to be described as filled of Ghost Pokémon, not a single real one is in fact seen within it, besides three Fearow, that are not Ghost type.

Errors

  • During this episode, it is mistakenly stated that Psychic-types are strong against Ghost-types, when in fact the reverse is true (though Gastly, Haunter, and Gengar were weak due to their secondary type). In Generation I, an error in programming resulted in Ghost-type attacks having no effect on Psychic Pokémon, rather than being super effective against them as was intended; as this particular episode was released well into Generation II, after the mistake was fixed, it is unclear how this error entered into the script.
  • When Ash and his friends look at the bushes, Misty's bag is missing.
  • When the group comes across Girafarig for the first time and Misty is telling Psyduck to use Confusion, Psyduck's bill becomes the same color as the rest of its body.
  • When Girafarig speaks after Cherry tells Ash to relax, its voice plays before its mouth moves.
  • After Brock says that Misty has a Psyduck, the strap on Misty's bag is missing.
  • When Jessie opens up her compact, which gives a reflection of James and Meowth, the "R" on James' shirt is facing the correct way instead of being flipped horizontally as it should be seen on a mirror.
  • At the end of the episode, the narrator says "What will happen to our heroes on their way to Johto?" However, they are already in Johto.
  • Psyduck's miscolored bill

    Psyduck's miscolored bill

  • The reflection error

    The reflection error

Dub edits

In other languages



← EP155 : Forest Grumps
Original series
EP157 : The Fortune Hunters →
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