SM002

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Sun & Moon series

SM003 : Loading the Dex! →

The Guardian's Challenge!

SM002   EP941 守り神カプ・コケコ登場！挑戦、オレたちのZワザ！！ The Guardian Deity Kapu-Kokeko Appears! Challenge, Our Z-Move!!

First broadcast Japan November 17, 2016 United States December 5, 2016* February 11, 2017* March 17, 2017*

English themes Opening Under The Alolan Sun Ending

Japanese themes Opening アローラ!! Ending ポーズ

Credits Animation Team Kato Screenplay 松井亜弥 Aya Matsui Storyboard 冨安大貴 Daiki Tomiyasu 樋口香里 Kaori Higuchi Assistant directors 高橋知也 Tomoya Takahashi 牧野吉高 Yoshitaka Makino Animation directors 安田周平 Shūhei Yasuda 村田理 Osamu Murata 松田真路 Shinji Matsuda 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

The Guardian's Challenge! (Japanese: 守り神カプ・コケコ登場！挑戦、オレたちのZワザ！！ The Guardian Deity Kapu-Kokeko Appears! Challenge, Our Z-Move!!) is the second episode of the Sun & Moon series, and the 941st episode of the Pokémon anime. It first aired in Japan on November 17, 2016 as a one-hour special alongside SM001, and in the United Kingdom as a sneak peek preview of the full series on November 20, 2016 as a one-hour special alongside Alola to New Adventure!. It aired in the United States as a sneak peek preview of the full series on December 5, 2016 as part of a marathon with Volcanion and the Mechanical Marvel and Alola to New Adventure!. It was later broadcast in sequence in the United States on March 17, 2017.

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

Blurb

Now that Ash has decided to become a Pokémon School student in the Alola region, his classmates throw him a welcome party! Three of them challenge him to various competitions—a balloon-popping contest versus Sophocles and his Togedemaru, a land-and-water race between Pikachu and Lana’s Popplio, and a Tauros race against Kiawe.

Finally, Professor Kukui challenges him to a Pokémon battle, but Tapu Koko interrupts. It wants to battle Ash instead—and it wants him to try out his very first Z-Move, Gigavolt Havoc! As Pikachu unleashes an astonishingly powerful burst of electricity, Ash’s Z-Crystal shatters. He decides to undergo an island challenge trial to earn a new one!

Plot

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The episode starts at Pokémon School where Lana tells her Popplio to make a balloon, which pops. Sophocles puts Togedemaru in a wheel to charge his program, but she falls over. Lillie tells Mallow that if she added a few Berries to her Pokémon food, it would be better. Mallow thanks for the suggestion, but Bounsweet scares Lillie. Mallow thinks Lillie is afraid to touch them, but Lillie objects, saying the factor is if she wants to touch them. Kiawe comes in, tired because he had a delivery to Ula'ula Island. Sophocles thinks this is far away, but Kiawe says his Charizard makes the ride shorter. After that, Professor Kukui, Ash and Pikachu come in. Kiawe notices the Z-Ring equipped with an Electrium-Z recieved in the previous episode from Tapu Koko. Kukui reveals that Ash will be a student in the Pokémon School. Ash then reveals his intentions to become a Pokémon Master, how much he wants to learn about Alola and that he is glad to be at the school.

The narrator explains a brief summary of the previous episode, and his mysterious encounter with Tapu Koko. Sophocles and Mallow notice the Z-Ring with the Z-Crystal, with Kiawe saying that it was an Electrium-Z. He then says that Ash did not participate in the island challenge and pass any trial of some sort that he knew. Ash explained that Tapu Koko had given it to him, much to Mallow's shock, as he had now seen Tapu Koko twice. He then did a more in-depth explanation, with Kiawe thinking on how Tapu Koko got a Z-Ring. Lillie said she had read about Tapu Koko. The guardian deity of Melemele Island, Tapu Koko likes to play tricks on people or even punish them, but give gifts to people it likes. Kiawe got his Z-Crystal from clearing the Akala Island grand trial. Ash thinks he can now use Z-Moves just like Kiawe, but Kiawe objects, saying there must be a connection of a Trainer and his/her Pokémon. The feeling turns to power, and the feelings are about helping Alola, other Pokémon, or other trainers. Kiawe says Ash needs to learn about his responsibilities, and Ash says that Kiawe could count on him. Kukui states that they have a clash between a Thunderbolt and a Flamethrower. He then says that the class would be taught by their principal: Samson Oak.

As a Komala sleeps, Oak comes in wearing an Exeggutor costume explaining how an Alolan Exeggutor is a regional variant, even having a different type! It is because Alola has a different climate, and that it is a part Dragon-type, contradicting to an Exeggutor not in Alola, which is a Grass- and Psychic-type. Ash, surprised, runs up to see its tail, but Lillie warns him that he should know about the tail. By that time, the tail had already threw him up a ladder, but Ash was able to catch himself, and after Lillie explained about the tail having it's own mind, Ash asked her if she could get to the point sooner. Oak tells him learning there will require the "patience of a Conkeldurr".

In Kukui's house, Kukui makes Ash an Alola plate while Pikachu gets some Pokémon food. Both like the food they are given. Ash quickly eats his Alola plate and Rockruff takes a liking to Ash. Kukui explains that Rockruff rub each other with the rocks on it's neck. After Ash gets more rubbing from Rockruff, Kukui's phone rings and he answers. On the other side of the phone, Mallow says that a proposed welcome party was approved by the professor.

Next morning, Ash and Pikachu are late to school, and are trying to rush there. Just as they arrive, confetti flies and Popplio blows a balloon, and all of Ash's classmates give him an "Alola surprise!" Mallow explains that that day was perfect to have a surprise party. Next, Sophocles and Togedemaru challenge Ash and Pikachu. Ash thinks it is a battle, but it is a balloon popping challenge. Sophocles uses Togedemaru's spikes to gain a good lead, but Lillie tells Ash he can use moves. Ash commands Pikachu to use Thunderbolt, but Togedemaru uses its Ability: Lightning Rod. It then uses Zing Zap to pop all the remaining balloons, winning for herself and her trainer. The next challenge is against Lana and Popplio, but they are unaware that a yellow Pokémon is watching them. Though Pikachu gets off to a strong start, Popplio wins with it's superior swimming speed of over 25 MPH.

The third challenge is against Kiawe, and have a Tauros race. Kukui explains to Samson Oak that everyone wanted Ash to have a party, making Oak happy. He then asks the professor if he will take part, revealing that he is the fifth surprise. The race ends in Kiawe winning in a photo finish. Kukui says that he is the fifth surprise, but Mallow says that it is lunchtime. Later, everyone is eating and Ash hears a Pokémon cry and Tapu Koko appears, to everyone's surprise. Ash says thank you to the Melemele guardian deity, but Tapu Koko is off, stealing his hat in the process. No one can see Tapu Koko due to its Speed. Tapu Koko flies to the forest, with Ash on it's heels.

As Tapu Koko and Ash race to the forest, everyone else follows, although Sophocles has trouble. There, Tapu Koko give Ash his hat back, and reveals it wants to have a battle, something that had happened from ages ago, in Lillie's books. Tapu Koko starts with Electric Terrain, making electric attacks more powerful. Tapu Koko then lunges at Pikachu, but Pikachu uses Thunderbolt, with not much effect. Tapu Koko comes to Ash and powers up his Z-Crystal. Ash is going to use his Z-Ring and Electrium-Z. Ash then tells Pikachu to get ready, but much to everyone's nervousness. Ash then performs the pose and Pikachu releases a spectacular Z move, with Kukui explaining that it was Gigavolt Havoc! A huge explosion erupts, and Ash is shocked that he saw a real Gigavolt Havoc, but his Electrium-Z shatters, and Tapu Koko flies away. Mallow was very impressed at how powerful his first Z-move was. Kiawe notices that Ash's Z-Crystal shattered, and explains that it was too soon to use Z-moves, as he had not taken a trial. Ash then decides he will take the island challenge to prove he is worthy of using Z-moves! Mallow says that they will be cheering for him.

Back at the Lab, Ash is eating when Kukui gives him a present: a Pokédex! Now there is one thing left to do...

Major events

• Ash learns about regional variants.
• Sophocles's Togedemaru is revealed to know Zing Zap and have Lightning Rod as her Ability.
• Ash encounters Tapu Koko again, with his classmates encountering it for the first time.
• Ash and Pikachu have a battle against Tapu Koko, which gets called off when Tapu Koko flees.
• Ash and Pikachu perform Gigavolt Havoc for the first time.
• Ash's Electrium Z shatters.
• Ash decides to take on the island challenge in order to get new Z-Crystals and qualify as a Z-Move user.
• Ash receives a Pokédex from Professor Kukui.

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

Debuts

Pokémon debuts

• Rockruff
• Komala

Characters

Humans

Dare da?

• Ash
• Lana
• Kiawe
• Lillie
• Sophocles
• Mallow
• Professor Kukui
• Samson Oak

Pokémon

Who's That Pokémon?

Who's That Pokémon?: Rockruff (US and international), Tapu Koko (Japan)

• Pikachu (Ash's)
• Popplio (Lana's)
• Turtonator (Kiawe's; flashback)
• Togedemaru (Sophocles's)
• Bounsweet (Mallow's)
• Rockruff (Professor Kukui's; taking care of; debut)
• Komala (Samson Oak's; debut)
• Eevee (Trainer's)
• Drifloon (Trainer's)
• Machoke (Trainer's)
• Sableye (Trainer's)
• Electabuzz (Trainer's)
• Elekid (Trainer's)
• Tapu Koko (anime)
• Alomomola (×2)
• Goldeen
• Finneon (multiple)
• Sharpedo
• Poliwag
• Exeggutor (Alola Form)
• Braviary (×6)
• Fearow (×4)
• Corsola
• Luvdisc (×2)
• Tauros (Ride Pokémon; ×2)

Trivia

• During the first airing on TV Tokyo as one-hour special, viewers could take part in a three-characters keyword quiz, in which ten viewers could win a Nintendo New 3DS XL Pokemon Solgaleo Lunala Black Edition and copies of Pokémon Sun and Moon. The second character was ワ and the third ザ.
• During the first airing on TV Tokyo as one-hour special the Japanese comedian Abareru-kun appeared in typical Hawaiian clothes, he announced the Poké Problem data broadcast, a data broadcast that works with Pokémon Sun and Moon, and that next week another one-hour special would air.
• This episode aired as a sneak peek on November 18, 2016, in France; November 19, 2016, in Italy; November 20, 2016, in Germany and Belgium; November 26, 2016, in Spain; November 27, 2016, in the Netherlands; December 5, 2016, in the United States; and December 31, 2016, in Canada alongside Volcanion and the Mechanical Marvel and SM001. Its airdate in France was only one day after its airing in Japan.
• When the Watch Disney XD site and Disney XD app were updated to include episodes from Pokémon: Indigo League on February 11, 2017, the final version of this and the following episode were made available, replacing the special preview previously available through the service.
• Jessie, James, and Meowth narrate the preview for the next episode.

Errors

• As the screen flashes between Ash and Pikachu just before Pikachu fires off Gigavolt Havoc, Pikachu can be heard talking but not actually opening his mouth.

Dub edits

• The Japanese text depicting Gigavolt Havoc's name when Pikachu is about to use the move is edited out in the dub.
• The text saying "To Be Continued" when Ash receives the Rotom Pokédex from Professor Kukui is edited out in the dub.
• In the official debut of this episode's dub, a large portion of the original music is replaced with dub music. However, this was not the case in the preview airing, in which the episode used all of the original music.

In other languages

Language		Title
Mandarin Chinese		守護神卡璞鳴鳴登場！挑戰我們的Z招式!!
Dutch		De uitdaging van de beschermer!
European French		Le défi du Gardien !
German		Die Herausforderung des Schutzpatrons!
Italian		La sfida del protettore!
Spanish	Latin America	¡El reto del guardián!
	Spain	¡El recorrido del espíritu!
Thai		เทพผู้พิทักษ์คาปุ โคเคโคะปรากฏตัว! การท้าทายท่าไม้ตาย Z ของพวกเรา!!

← SM001 : Alola to New Adventure!

Sun & Moon series

SM003 : Loading the Dex! →

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