EP012

← EP011 : Charmander – The Stray Pokémon

Original series

EP013 : Mystery at the Lighthouse →

Here Comes the Squirtle Squad

EP012   ゼニガメぐんだんとうじょう！ Enter the Zenigame Corps!

First broadcast Japan June 17, 1997 United States September 23, 1998

English themes Opening Pokémon Theme Ending

Japanese themes Opening めざせポケモンマスター Ending ひゃくごじゅういち

Credits Animation Team Ota Screenplay 園田英樹 Hideki Sonoda 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

Here Comes the Squirtle Squad (Japanese: ゼニガメぐんだんとうじょう！ Enter the Zenigame Corps!) is the 12th episode of the Pokémon anime. It was first broadcast in Japan on June 17, 1997 and in the United States on September 23, 1998.

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

Synopsis

The episode opened with a recap of how Ash caught his Bulbasaur and his Charmander. It seemed that his current successful streak was making Ash quite confident. Ash, Misty, and Brock were walking down the road, Ash was happily humming the background music/the title screen music for Red and Blue.

Our heroes fell into a pit, and wondered if someone dug it as a prank, but it turned out it wasn't Team Rocket this time. A group of Squirtle wearing sunglasses peered into the hole, laughing. Ash angrily climbed out of the hole and used his Pokédex on the Squirtle. He ordered Pikachu to use a ThunderShock, but one of the Squirtle took the hit for the one that seemed to be the leader.

A battle ensued, with Pikachu facing off against the Squirtle that seemed to be in charge. Suddenly, everyone heard sirens, and the Squirtle snatched up their stricken friend and made a break for it. Officer Jenny soon arrived and Ash greeted her, thinking he'd met her before. That's when she revealed that all the Officer Jennys are related, all looking identical, and are all named Jenny (like Nurse Joy).

At the police station, Jenny explained that the group of Squirtle they had met called themselves the "Squirtle Squad". They were a group of Squirtle that were all abandoned by their Trainers, and all they did was run wild and play pranks on everyone.

A short ways away, Team Rocket was scoping out the situation. Jessie saw Pikachu, but Meowth and James were more interested in getting food, which made Jessie hit them. Eventually, though, her tummy rumbled, therefore Jessie realized that she was hungry too, so she decided they could eat and she pulled out a picnic basket. This cheered up Meowth and James.

They realized that the Squirtle Squad was watching them. The lead Squirtle told them to "hand over their food. Or else." Jessie and James weren't amused by the threat, and stepped forward to battle. Suddenly, they fell into another pit dug by the squad.

Later, the Squirtle Squad were happily eating all of Team Rocket's food, while Jessie, James, and Meowth were tied to a nearby tree. Jessie attempted to convince the Squirtle Squad to help them capture Pikachu, but they refused, saying humans couldn't be trusted. Meowth then though up an idea, and explained to the squad that Jessie and James were owned by him. James took offense at this, but Meowth assured him to leave it to him.

Meowth explained that the humans were his pets, and, to give color to his pretense, started kicking James as punishment for raising his voice. The Squirtle bought this, and let Meowth go. Meowth joined them in the eating, but Jessie and James were still tied to the tree. Meowth told them that this will take a while.

Elsewhere, Misty was fishing while Ash and Brock were laid out by the riverside. One of the Squirtle Squad members popped up and soaked them with a Water Gun. Pikachu angrily shook itself off and retaliated with a ThunderShock, but only succeeded in electrifying Ash, Misty and Brock.

Ash, having had enough of this, confronted the Squirtle when it jumped out of the water. Pikachu charged to attack, but the Squirtle withdrew into its shell and spun at it, knocking Pikachu into the water. And at the worst possible time, too, because there was a Goldeen in the water.

Ash yelled for Pikachu to swim to shore, and it started to, but it couldn't out swim the Goldeen. It got stabbed by Goldeen's horn and knocked back out of the water. Ash ran to help it, but a trio of lassos whipped out, roping up Ash, Misty, and Brock. Quickly running around them, the Squirtle Squad turned the lassoing into a full fledged binding. That was when Meowth revealed himself.

Later, Ash, Misty, and Brock were tied to a rock in a cave, with Pikachu in a cage nearby. Meowth said he was the one in charge, and taunted Ash with his tail, but Ash retaliated by biting it. Ash tried to appeal to the Squirtle not to believe Meowth, but Meowth retaliated with a powerful scratch, and asked the Squirtle who they were going to believe, a human or a fellow Pokémon?

Brock realized that Pikachu was in bad shape, and that they needed to get it a Super Potion. Ash tried to appeal to the Squirtle to let him go into town to get the medicine, but the Squirtle refused. Ash resorts to begging, even shedding a few tears. The Squirtle decide to show a small instance of mercy.

Ash, and only Ash, was released. The Squirtle gave him a warning, which was translated by Meowth that if he was not back by noon tomorrow, "the redhead" was to get her hair dyed purple. Misty flipped, but Ash told her that he would be back, then he left. Of course, Meowth was more than willing to let him go, because by the time he got back, they would be long gone.

Ash was racing towards town, when he tripped over a rock. The image of the injured Pikachu in the cage, however, got him up and moving again. He later came to a dangerous bridge, and tried to make his way across. However, halfway across, the bridge broke, sending him down into the river, where he, too, got nailed by a Goldeen.

Ash finally made it into town, but by this point, he was reduced to relying on a walking stick. However, the store soon came into view. Ash made his way up to the door, but it suddenly flew open as Gary walked out and smacked Ash in the face. Ash was knocked for a loop.

Back at the cave, Pikachu was getting worse, and Brock and Misty were starting to get worried about it. Meowth was starting to get worried, too, wondering why Jessie and James hadn't returned yet?

Back in town, Ash was snapped out of his unconsciousness by the voices of Jessie and James. They were holding up the store with ice guns, demanding all their Flash Powder and Dental Floss. When given what they wanted, they fired a rocket that made it snow inside the store, and made a break for it with their balloon.

Ash knew he needed to chase them down, but before he did, he rushed in to buy the Super Potion and found himself staring at the barrels of four guns. However, Officer Jenny cut in, saying he was not with Team Rocket.

Jenny was soon racing back for the cave, Ash was riding with her. Unfortunately, they soon came to the bridge that broke when Ash tried to cross it. They were forced to ride off to find another way across the river. Meanwhile, the Team Rocket Balloon flew over, Jessie and James were busy making flash bombs.

Jenny and Ash found another way into the cave, but it was too narrow for an adult, so Ash had to go it alone. It soon became too dark to see, but Ash used Charmander as a walking torch. He soon pushed his way back into where everyone was, but they were gone.

Ash quickly raced out of the cave, where the Squirtle Squad was. He demanded to know where Misty and Brock were, but it turned out they were right there. Apparently, the Squirtle Squad were bluffing. They may play tricks, but they would never change a girl's natural hair color. In any case, Pikachu was soon sprayed with the Super Potion.

Suddenly, a flash bomb explosion signified the arrival of Team Rocket, complete with their motto. They threw down a few more flash bombs, and dropped a ladder for Meowth to climb up with Pikachu, who he apparently nabbed while everyone else was distracted by the bombs. Ash told everyone to run for cover, and they headed for the cave.

Ash looked back, though, and found the Boss Squirtle was knocked over and was stuck on its back. Ash quickly raced back, diving on top of the Squirtle, protecting it from the ensuing explosions. Another pair of bombs were dropped, and Ash told the Squirtle to save itself. The Squirtle, however, hefted Ash up over its head and ran for the cave. Squirtle took a massive leap so that another explosion bowled them over the others and into the cave.

Team Rocket was jubilant with their victory, but Ash informed them otherwise. Team Rocket was shocked, and Ash ordered the Squirtle to use Water Gun. The Water Gun blew a hole in the balloon, and James dropped Pikachu. Ash ran down the side of the cliff and made a great leap to catch and save Pikachu. Meanwhile, Team Rocket and their balloon went blasting off again.

However, it turned out there was bigger problems. The Flash Bombs dropped by Team Rocket had started a fire that could burn down the whole town. Ash wasn't worried, though. He told the Squirtle Squad that, if they work together, they could stop the fire, and that's what they did.

With the fire stopped and the town saved, the Squirtle Squad was presented with a certificate thanking them for their bravery. They were also appointed the town's official firefighters.

Ash and his friends were on their way once more, Pikachu back to its perky self. Misty realized that the Squirtle Squad boss was following them. Ash offered the Squirtle the opportunity to join them, and the Squirtle accepted. Squirtle removed its sunglasses and ran into a hug from Ash. Ash guessed he caught another Pokémon, but Misty would hardly call this a catch. Even so, Squirtle was still on their side.

Major events

• Ash obtains a Squirtle.

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

Debuts

Pokémon debuts

• Squirtle (Ash's)
• Squirtle Squad

Characters

Humans

• Ash
• Misty
• Brock
• Jessie
• James
• Officer Jenny
• Gary (cameo)

Pokémon

Who’s That Pokémon?: Squirtle

• Pikachu (Ash's)
• Meowth (Team Rocket)
• Bulbasaur (Ash's; flashback)
• Charmander (Ash's)
• Squirtle (Ash's; new, debut)
• Squirtle (Squirtle Squad)
• Goldeen (Seiyū: 林原めぐみ Megumi Hayashibara)*

* No official credit was given for this character.

Trivia

• This is the first time Ash has ever deliberately hurt a Pokémon, biting Meowth on the tail.
• This episode can be found on the third GBA video.
• This is the third and final episode of a three-episode arc where Ash gets each of Kanto's starter Pokémon.
• This is the first episode that shows a town not featured in the games.
• This is one of the few times that the gang uses a Super Potion, an important item in the games. It is depicted as a spray bottle, which later became its sprite in Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen, with even the same colors.
• In this episode, it is revealed that all Officer Jennys are related.
• This episode features four frightened store owners pointing guns at Ash. However this episode aired in the U.S. anyway unlike the infamous The Legend of Dratini episode for the same reason (Though they did change the dialog to make it seem less serious, see dub edits.). Ironically, in terms of gun use, Team Rocket did actually use a bazooka.
• At the start of the episode, Ash is seen singing the Pokémon theme.
• When the gang falls into the hole that the Squirtle dug, there is a skeleton of a unknown animal/Pokémon.
• After getting out, Brock says he landed on his head even though it is shown he is on his side.
• This is the third straight episode where the main characters fall for a hole trap. These three episodes are the ones where Ash obtains a starter Pokémon, and that in each one the trap was set by a different character. In Bulbasaur and the Hidden Village, Melanie set the traps (though technically speaking Misty and Team Rocket were the only ones who fell for the hole trap); In Charmander - The Stray Pokémon, Team Rocket set the trap; In this episode, the Squirtle Squad set the trap.
• Squirtle was not actually captured in the episode. It chose to come with Ash but was captured off screen.
• During the scene when an exhausted Ash enters town to get the Super Potion, there is a sign hanging from a store awning that says "BEER".
• When Jenny tells the group about the Squirtle Squad, one of the activities the Squirtle are shown doing is stealing fruit from a fruit seller. This man closely resembles the Magikarp salesman, who appears three episodes later.
• The book Return of the Squirtle Squad is based on this episode.
• This episode is featured on the Volume 4: Squirtle copy of Pokémon All-Stars.

Dub edits

• Ash mentioning that with his very own Squirtle, he can beat Gary was added to the dub.
  • Ash also was humming an entirely different tune from the background music in the original version.
• The dub makes it seem as though the Squirtle Squad called themselves the Squirtle Squad, whereas the original implied that it was the townspeople who gave them the name. Also, Ash seemed surprised that they were abandoned, when in the original, he states "not again", because he already rescued a Pokémon just an episode prior.
• In the dub, the Squirtle Squad threatens to dye Misty's hair purple, while in the original, they threaten to kill her.
  • In that same scene, Misty's reaction to the threat was changed to her threatening Meowth in regards to dying her hair purple. In the original she said that she would get the Super Potion for Pikachu herself.
• The rice balls Team Rocket are eating are called doughnuts and éclairs in the dub.
• Ash tells the Squirtle Squad that Pikachu will be in big trouble if he doesn't go to town to get the Super Potion, while in the original, he says that Pikachu would actually die if he doesn't.

In other languages

Language		Title
Mandarin Chinese		傑尼龜軍團 / 杰尼龟军团登场
Czech		Pozor na Squirtla!
Dutch		Opzij voor de Squirtle Bende
Finnish		Squirtlejengi vauhdissa
French	Canada	Gare aux Squirtles
	Europe	Sans maître ni loi
German		Die Schiggy-Meute
Hebrew		כוח סקווירטל ko'ach Squirtle
Hungarian		A Squitlebanda támadása
Italian		Una squadra scatenata
Polish		Przybywa brygada Squirtle'ów
Portuguese	Brazil	Aí Vem o Esquadrão Squirtle
	Portugal	Aqui vem o Pelotão do Squirtle
Spanish	Latin America	¡El Escuadrón Squirtle!
	Spain	Aqui llega el Esquadrón Squirtle
Swedish		Squirtle gänget

← EP011 : Charmander – The Stray Pokémon

Original series

EP013 : Mystery at the Lighthouse →

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