JN041

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Pikachu Translation Check...
Up to Your Neck!

JN041

EP1126

ピカチュウアテレコ大作戦！
半分、ヌマクロー。
The Great Pikachu Dubbing Operation!
Half a Numacraw

First broadcast

Japan	October 16, 2020
United States	March 5, 2021

English themes

Opening	The Journey Starts Today
Ending

Japanese themes

Opening	１・２・３
Ending	ポケモンしりとり（ミュウ→ザマゼンタVer.）

Credits

No additional credits are available at this time.
Animation	Team Kato
Screenplay	赤尾でこ Deko Akao
Storyboard	湯山邦彦 Kunihiko Yuyama
Storyboard	樋口香里 Kaori Higuchi
Assistant director	牧野吉高 Yoshitaka Makino
Animation directors	岡昭彦 Akihiko Oka
Animation directors	柳原好貴 Yoshitaka Yanagihara

Pikachu Translation Check... / Up to Your Neck! (Japanese: ピカチュウアテレコ大作戦！／半分、ヌマクロー。 The Great Pikachu Dubbing Operation! / Half a Numacraw) is the 41st episode of Pokémon Journeys: The Series, and the 1,126th episode of the Pokémon anime. It first aired in Japan on October 16, 2020 and in the United States on March 5, 2021.

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

Blurb

Meowth has a cold, so Jessie and James decide to practice their Pikachu translation skills by watching a video of Pikachu and guessing what it says! Jessie goes first, portraying Pikachu as a snob; James offers a friendlier version. They agree that Pikachu loves them, but Meowth’s not about to reveal the truth…

Then, Ash and Goh find a Marshtomp buried in hard, dry ground! Realizing that it had been playing in the mud when the ground dried out, our heroes decide to help as its friends look on. After some failed attempts, a Ludicolo appears; it uses Rain Dance to soften the ground…but then Marshtomp’s friends get stuck, too!

Plot

Pikachu Translation Check...

Inside Team Rocket's Vermilion City secret base, James carefully stacks Poké Balls to beat his personal record. Jessie is initially impressed by James's hidden talent, before declaring that is really isn't any use to their evil operations. Feeling dejected, James and his Poké Ball stack come crashing down as a result. Meowth, meanwhile, emerges with a mask on his face and reveals that he has come down with a sudden cold. Jessie and James suggest he gets some rest, offering him warm blankets and a cool towel. Jessie asks Meowth if he wants anything to eat, but Meowth suspects his teammates plan to slack off while he is sick as they list a heap of treats for themselves. In his weary state, Meowth declares that there is one thing Team Rocket is missing, but he collapses before he can reveal the answer.

As they set Meowth up to rest, Jessie and James try to think of what to do in the meantime. Wobbuffet then reveals a drone and clicks on the television set, showing Jessie and James some footage of Ash's Pikachu. They marvel at Pikachu's speed before Jessie unveils their next scheme "Operation Get Pikachu For Sure". Jessie explains that they have always needed Meowth to translate Pikachu's speech, but if they dub over the footage they will truly be able to understand Pikachu for themselves. Meowth overhears the scheme, remarking to himself that it isn’t bad, but worries that he won't be needed by his teammates. Jessie tries to shake Meowth awake, hoping Meowth can review their dubbing efforts, but Meowth instead faints from illness again. Realizing Meowth needs to rest, Jessie orders Wobbuffet to roll the footage. Jessie's attempt at dubbing Pikachu only infuriates James, who declares that she has made Pikachu sound unusually pompous and obnoxious. Jessie is quick to pick apart James's more sincere attempt, criticising him for adding "Pi" to the end of every sentence. The situation quickly descends into an argument. James then suggests some closer analysis is in order, so Wobbuffet scrolls for a Pikachu close-up. The scene played shows a Team Rocket blast off with the camera focusing on Pikachu saying something afterwards. James rewinds then replays the footage. He notices the twinkling gaze in Pikachu's eyes, before declaring that Pikachu is nice natured and must be bidding them fair well. James's pure-hearted interpretation brings himself and Jessie to tears, both declaring that they love Pikachu as well. Meowth, meanwhile, remains silent but struggles with the thought of telling his teammates what Pikachu really said.

Meowth has since recovered after a day of rest, so Team Rocket summons the Rocket Prize Master to begin their next scheme. They receive two Poké Balls, and inside they receive only leaflets with the day's two episode titles, and they realize one of them is for the part of the episode that had just ended; breaking the fourth wall.

Up to Your Neck!

Ash and Goh take a walk through the forest, making sure to soak up the sun after several stormy days. They come to a stop when they see a wild Marshtomp stuck in the ground. Goh scans it with his Rotom Phone, learning that Marshtomp require wet conditions to keep their skin from drying out. Acting swiftly, Ash tries to break open the hardened ground with a stick, but this fails. Goh then suggests that he should catch Marshtomp to free it, but the Ball fails to capture it due to it being firmly stuck in place. Ash then spots a group of Marshtomp watching from afar, and suggests having them use Water Gun to free their friend. The other Marshtomp, however, are too timid and step backwards as Ash approaches. Goh then realizes his Water type Sobble could assist, but it instead panics from the pressure and camouflages itself. Next, Goh turns to a bucket relay strategy to free the trapped Marshtomp, by scooping water from a nearby stream with leaves. However this proves tedious, while Ash also trips and spills the first load of water. Ash tries his own Water Gun, but Goh dismisses the idea of carrying water in their mouths as silly.

Pikachu leads everyone back to the trapped Marshtomp, scaring its friends away in the process. Fearing that the situation is going to get worse, Ash and Goh struggle to think of an alternative plan. A passing Ludicolo offers them hope, but it proves to be an absent-minded individual. It fails to understand Ash and Goh's command for a Rain Dance and instead summons the glaring sun with Sunny Day. Goh pleads with Ludicolo to use Rain Dance, but the message still doesn't get through. Ludicolo then stares at the helpless Marshtomp for a few moments before beginning to dance and clap on the spot as it finally performs Rain Dance, summoning rain clouds. The rainwater soaks into the parched ground, allowing Marshtomp to struggle free of the mud. Ludicolo pulls Marshtomp out, before twirling it around as it continues its Rain Dance. The other Marshtomp are overjoyed and start dancing alongside their rescued friend and Ludicolo. Ash and Goh are pleased the result, and soon leave the wild Pokémon to enjoy the rainy weather.

Ash and Goh return the same spot the next day. Much to their astonishment, they find all of the Marshtomp now buried in the ground and no Ludicolo in sight to help.

Major events

Goh tries and fails to catch a Marshtomp.

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

Debuts

Pokémon debuts

Characters

Humans

Dare da?

Pokémon

Who's That Pokémon?

Who's That Pokémon?: Marshtomp

Trivia

Get Inspired! Let's Solve a Poké Riddle!!: Marshtomp
This was the last episode to air before The Crown Tundra Expansion Pass was released for Pokémon Sword and Shield.
Goh does not appear in the first segment.
This episode reconfirms the fact seen in Rise and Shine, Starship! that a Poké Ball will fail to catch a Pokémon if it is too firmly attached to the ground.
The episode's opening and first title card aren't shown until at the end of the first segment, close to the halfway point. The second title card is shown right after the opening.
In this episode, Jessie and James read the first title card, and Ash and Goh read the second title card.
Team Rocket breaks the fourth wall when the Rocket Prize Master gives them the episode's two titles, and they realize one of them is for the part of the episode that had just ended.
Instead of Pikachu, Wobbuffet and Meowth appear on the title cards; Wobbuffet appears in the first one, and Meowth appears in the second one.
This episode marks one of the rare occasions in which a member of Team Rocket refers to one of the main protagonists by name. In this occasion, James mentions Ash by his name while dubbing over Pikachu.
Ash, Goh, and Pikachu narrate the preview for the next episode.

Title Card JN041 Part 1.png

The title card featuring Wobbuffet
Title Card JN041 Part 2.png

The title card featuring Meowth

Errors

Ash trips over a rock while carrying a leaf bucket full of water, despite the rock not appearing in previous scenes.

Dub edits

The opening and the first title card are moved to appear when Meowth makes his realization of what Team Rocket needs to succeed.
Unlike in the Japanese version, Wobbuffet's voice is heard during the first title card.
Due to the first title card being moved to earlier in the episode, Meowth doesn't appear during it to inform the audience of the next segment.

In other languages

Language		Title
Finnish		Pikachua dubbaamassa! / Kaulaa myöten!
European French		Les interprètes de Pikachu... / Jusqu'au cou !
Hebrew		בדיקת תרגום פיקאצ'ו
Italian		Prova di traduzione Pikachu: 1, 2, 3... / Giù nel fango insieme a te!
Brazilian Portuguese		Traduzindo Pikachu! / Até o pescoço! * Dublando Pikachu! / Até o pescoço! *
Latin American Spanish		Interpretando a Pikachu... ¡Hasta el cuello!