BW087

← BW086 : Piplup, Pansage, and a Meeting of the Times!

Best Wishes series

BW088 : The Mystery of the Missing Cubchoo! →

Expedition to Onix Island!

BW087   EP744 イワークの島でサバイバル！ Survival on the Island of Iwark!

First broadcast Japan July 5, 2012 United States November 10, 2012

English themes Opening Rival Destinies Ending

Japanese themes Opening やじるしになって！ Ending みてみて☆こっちっち

Credits Animation Team Kato Screenplay 米村正二 Shōji Yonemura Storyboard 古賀一臣 Kazuomi Koga Assistant director 古賀一臣 Kazuomi Koga Animation director 案浦達哉 Tatsuya Annoura No additional credits are available at this time.

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

Expedition to Onix Island! (Japanese: イワークの島でサバイバル！ Survival on the Island of Iwark!) is the 87th episode of the Best Wishes series, and the 744th episode of the Pokémon anime. It first aired in Japan on July 5, 2012 and in the United States on November 10, 2012.

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

Blurb

At Cynthia’s vacation home in Undella Town, Ash, Iris, and Cilan are doing some special training before the Pokémon World Tournament Junior Cup, but Dawn has decided she needs a break. She tells the others about a nearby deserted island where a special Onix lives, and suggests that they go check it out! Cynthia’s butler Jervis takes them to the island by boat, and drops them off with a promise to be back before dinner—and an ominous warning to be very careful on the island.

They soon discover why: a huge cave on the island is home to a large group of Onix, and the enormous Pokémon aren’t too happy about having visitors! They attack, and our heroes flee, getting separated in the process. Iris and Dawn emerge in a wooded area, and Piplup finds itself in a clearing with Ash and Cilan. The guys run into more angry Onix while trying to escape, but Meloetta steps in to drive them away—first trying to soothe them with its beautiful song, and when that doesn’t work, the Pokémon changes its Forme and leaps into battle!

Meanwhile, Dawn and Iris are experiencing their own bad luck with the Pokémon they meet in the woods. Iris is thrilled to encounter a Magnemite, since she’s never seen one before, but gets zapped when she tries to pet it. And Dawn has a similar run-in with an adorable but poisonous Foongus! The girls eventually find their way into a canyon and reunite with Ash, Cilan, and Piplup—along with the group of Onix chasing them!

Oshawott and Piplup team up to battle the Onix, since their Water-type attacks are super effective—and during the battle, Oshawott learns how to use the powerful move Hydro Pump! But even that isn’t enough against so many Onix, and Ash calls on Meloetta to try singing again. It doesn’t seem to be working, and the Onix are closing in—but then, on the cliff above, an Onix of a different color rears up and roars at the others. It’s the special Shiny Onix our heroes have been looking for! It also appears to be the boss of the island, as the other Onix back off and return to their cave.

When Jervis comes to pick them up, Ash and the others tell him what happened. Jervis suggests that the Shiny Onix helped them escape because it was touched by Meloetta’s singing. As they head back to Undella Town, a beautiful rainbow inspires Meloetta to sing again, and everyone—Iris, Dawn, Cilan, Ash, and even Jervis—comments that Meloetta’s song reminds them of home. It seems the special Pokémon’s voice possesses a mysterious power...

...a power that Team Rocket is looking to take advantage of, as Jessie, James, and Meowth work on the next step in their villainous plan to capture Meloetta for the Boss!

Plot

This plot summary is incomplete. Please feel free to edit this plot summary to add missing sections and complete it.

At Cynthia's house, Ash, Iris, and Cilan are training for the Junior Cup. Dawn decides she needs a break from the training, and suggests they visit a nearby island. They arrive on the beach where Jervis is telling them there's living a special giant Onix on this island. Meanwhile, Cilan is preparing food for them. Oshawott was chasing a Krabby, while Piplup was laughing at him. All ready, enter the huge cave inhabited by the wild Onix. The enraged Onix attack them, and they flee. Iris, Axew and Dawn hide in a wooden area, and Ash, Cilan, Pansage, Oshawott and Piplup hide in a forest clearing, therefore the two are separated. Meloetta attempts to calm the Onix down with its songs, but fails. Meloetta then transforms into Pirouette Forme. It uses Close Combat, after which they flee. Meanwhile, Iris and Dawn are lost and they don't know where to go. Still in search of the special Onix they are cornered by group of Onix about to attack them. Meloetta again sings a song but the Onix are persistent. Suddenly, a huge roar of an Onix is heard. A coiled-up Shiny Onix reveals itself, causing all other Onix to flee. The shiny Onix flees too, and the group find a clearing and a way out of the island. Jervis reminds them of being careful at such places. They all return back to Cynthia's villa.

Major events

• Meloetta is revealed to know Close Combat.
• Dawn's Piplup is revealed to have learned Headbutt.
• Ash's Oshawott learns Hydro Pump.

For a list of all major events in Pokémon the Series, please see the timeline page.

Debuts

Pokémon debuts

• Meloetta (Pirouette Forme)

Characters

Humans

Dare da?

• Ash
• Iris
• Cilan
• Jessie
• James
• Dawn
• Jervis
• Brock (mentioned)

Pokémon

Who's That Pokémon?

Who's That Pokémon?: Onix (US and international) Meloetta's Pirouette Forme (Japan)

• Pikachu (Ash's)
• Meowth (Team Rocket)
• Piplup (Dawn's)
• Axew (Iris's)
• Oshawott (Ash's)
• Excadrill (Iris's)
• Pansage (Cilan's)
• Meloetta (anime)
• Onix (multiple; one Shiny)
• Wailord (multiple)
• Staryu (multiple)
• Kingler
• Krabby
• Tynamo (multiple)
• Remoraid (multiple)
• Alomomola
• Woobat (multiple)
• Magnemite
• Foongus

Trivia

Pikachu surfing

• Team Rocket's Pokémon Live Caster: Meloetta's Moonlight Serenade*/Seismitoad*
  • Viewers could call one of three phone numbers to hear an answer from either Jessie, James, or Meowth. Ten random callers won a copy of Pokémon Black 2 and White 2.
• Cilan narrates the next episode preview.
• During the beach scene, Pikachu makes an allusion to the Surfing Pikachu.

Errors

• When Iris calls out to Dawn after the vine snaps, her mouth doesn't move.

In other languages

Language		Title
Mandarin Chinese		大岩蛇島野外求生！
Dutch		Expeditie naar Onix Eiland!
Finnish		Tutkimusretki Onix-saarelle!
German		Expedition auf die Onix-Insel!
Greek		Αποστολή στο Νησί Onix!
Italian		Spedizione all'Isola degli Onix!
Korean		롱스톤 섬에서 위험한 서바이벌!!
Norwegian		Ekspedisjonen på Onix øya!
Polish		Wyprawa na Wyspę Onixów!
Brazilian Portuguese		Expedição à Ilha Onix!
Russian		Экспедиция на остров Ониксов!
Spanish	Latin America	¡Expedición a Islónix!
	Spain	¡Expedición a Isla Onix!
Swedish		Expeditionen till Onix-ön!
Thai		เซอร์ไวเวอร์บนเกาะอิวาค!

← BW086 : Piplup, Pansage, and a Meeting of the Times!

Best Wishes series

BW088 : The Mystery of the Missing Cubchoo! →

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