Meowth (Team Rocket)
- This article is about the Meowth who works for Team Rocket. For the TCG card from the Team Rocket set, see Meowth (Team Rocket 62).
- For the Wizards Promotional card, see Team Rocket's Meowth (Wizards Promo 18).
- For the EX Team Rocket Returns card, see Rocket's Meowth (EX Team Rocket Returns 46).
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Meowth (Japanese: ニャース Nyarth) is a member of Team Rocket, more specifically part of a trio with Jessie and James, that follows Ash Ketchum and his friends around in the Pokémon anime, usually trying to steal Ash's Pikachu. His major difference from other Meowth, and nearly all other Pokémon, is that he can talk and walk on two legs like a human.
History
Pre-series
In a flashback in Go West Young Meowth, Meowth's earliest memory is being alone at Camp Pokéhearst. With no food, he was always starving and once tipped over a basket of baseballs believing it was food. As punishment for tipping the basket over, the baseball coach hung him from a tree; from this tree, he was able to see a movie called That Darn Meowth!, which depicted a Meowth in Hollywood being given delicious food by its family. Meowth instantly decided to go to Hollywood, which he believed would be a paradise.
However, when he arrived in Hollywood, he was merely perceived as a stray Pokémon, and was constantly being chased for stealing food. Soon, a Meowth gang, led by a Persian, took him in. Meowth lived on the streets as a member of the gang for a long time; the gang annoyed the humans in town by stealing food and causing trouble, the town's local Butcher Shop Owner in particular. One day, Meowth came across a female Meowth named Meowzie. She rejected him, saying that he was poor and that she preferred humans, so Meowth attempted to make himself more human-like to make her love him. Thus, he painstakingly taught himself to speak human language and walk upright like a human. When he approached her after this transformation, she once again rejected him, calling him a freak. Heartbroken, Meowth remembered the first human word he understood—"rocket"—and was inspired to join Team Rocket.
In Battle Aboard the St. Anne, Meowth stated that he was Giovanni's "Top Cat" in front of Giovanni with no objection (while noticing that Persian was now in that position). In Training Daze, however, he was shown to have been present at Team Rocket HQ for a short time, during which we see that Persian is already there. During this time, Meowth became a servant to Giovanni, bringing him food and drinks; however, he was unsuccessful at this task because he tripped over a wire, spilled Giovanni's coffee and got himself electrocuted. Giovanni didn't appear to be angry, but he assigned Meowth to Jessie and James's team.
Original series
Kanto
Meowth made his debut in the anime in Pokémon Emergency. Alongside Jessie and James, they set their sights on the injured Pokémon in the Viridian City Pokémon Center. As the two sent out their TREkans ([[{{{2}}} (move)|{{{2}}}]]) and TRKoffing ([[{{{2}}} (move)|{{{2}}}]]) from their Meowth balloon, they quickly overtook the Pokémon Center, which only had Nurse Joy, Ash and Misty inside. Before they could steal any of the Pokémon, however, Ash's Pikachu, who teamed up with many other Pikachu in the Pokémon Center, used an electric attack, causing the entire Pokémon Center to explode. It was here that Team Rocket vowed to capture Pikachu, deeming Ash's one as an exceptionally powerful Pokémon, making it their lifelong goal to capture him.
In Electric Shock Showdown, after hearing that Pikachu would fight to defend his own honor and Ash's, the trio were inspired to cheer on Pikachu before his rematch against Vermilion Gym Leader Lt. Surge's Raichu.
In Island of the Giant Pokémon, Team Rocket was swept away onto Pokémon Land, located on the Island of the Giant Pokémon, after a group of Gyarados, including James's own, triggered a cyclone using Dragon Rage. Meowth, Ekans, and Koffing were separated from Jessie and James in the chaos and landed on another part of the island. When Meowth found Pikachu without Ash, he ordered Koffing and Ekans to attack Pikachu, but they refused since Meowth was not their actual master. The following day, the trio found their way back to Jessie and James.
Jessie used Meowth during the Queen of the Princess Festival contest in Princess vs. Princess.
In Go West Young Meowth, Meowth, Jessie, and James returned to Hollywood while following Ash. While there, Meowth was reunited with Meowzie, who had since been abandoned by her mistress and was forced to join the gang of street Meowth. Meowth fought his former Persian leader to win Meowzie's love, and won, but Meowzie demonstrated that her loyalty was with Persian since he took care of her when she needed it (in addition to calling him a walking talking freak Meowth). Meowth was, once again, left heartbroken.
Orange Archipelago
Because of the effort Meowth exerted while learning to speak and walk like a human, he has not learned the signature move of his species, Pay Day. In Meowth Rules!, Meowth was worshiped by an island of people who believed that he could bring them riches with Pay Day. When he was caught in a battle meant to induce Pay Day, Jessie and James had to secretly bail him out by throwing the last of their spare change and some of James's prized bottlecaps in order to appease the islanders.
Johto
Several times, Meowth and Pikachu have had to team up, such as in the episodes Bound for Trouble and Hoenn Alone! when both were separated from their respective parties. His relationship with Jessie and James varies in quality; for example, in Go West, Young Meowth they stated that they regarded Meowth as a friend, but in Bound for Trouble, having discovered Meowth and Pikachu after the two had been stuck together, they both stated that they had really been looking for Pikachu and Meowth was just 'part of the package'. Meowth seems to have aspects of each of his teammates in him; in arguments, he can often be seen siding with either Jessie (usually denouncing James' incompetence) or James (usually complaining about Jessie's overdramatic and rash behavior). Despite these fights, the three remain very close and loyal friends, although at one point in Giovanni's Gym in Viridian City, they threatened to split up. However they realized they had over reacted, and became friends again, proving themselves very loyal to each other.
In The Trouble with Snubbull, Team Rocket first tried using Meowth as bait for a newly-evolved Granbull, which had been persistently following Meowth, so they could collect a reward from the Granbull's owner, Madame Muchmoney. This failed, and they subsequently used a Meowth-shaped mecha for their next attempt. Through a misunderstanding over Meowth trying to release Granbull from the mecha's tail, Team Rocket were mistakenly assumed to have tricked Madame Muchmoney. When Team Rocket was blasted off following a battle between the mecha and Granbull, Granbull returned home and no longer followed Meowth.
Meowth has also, since late Johto, had frequent fantasies about presenting Giovanni with various Pokémon. These fantasies often involve whatever creature it happens to be assisting Giovanni in his daily routine.
Advanced Generation series
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This section is incomplete. Please feel free to edit this section to add missing information and complete it. Reason: role in AG |
Upon learning of his species' love for gathering coins and shiny objects from Ash's Pokédex in Do I Hear a Ralts?, Jessie criticized him for not doing so.
Jessie, disguised as "The Jester", used Meowth in the Pacifidlog Contest in Mean With Envy. In the Appeals Round, he created an ice sculpture of Giovanni, his Persian and himself. During his Contest Battle against Erica's Jynx, he used "Transform" by using the pouch attached to his belly. He transformed into a Sunflora first, using Razor Leaf against Jynx. Later, he transformed into a Kirlia and again into a Wailord. He popped the inflatable Wailord with his claws and Jessie was eventually disqualified.
Diamond & Pearl series
In Two Degrees of Separation!, Giovanni approved the trio's plans to set up Team Rocket in Sinnoh.
In Noodles! Roamin' Off!, Christopher, a former Team Rocket member and the owner of the ramen shop, saw Meowth use Fury Swipes to slice dough in order to make ramen and asked him to work in his restaurant as a noodle maker. After some thought, which included reflecting back on previous failures and the lack of appreciation and respect from Jessie and James, Meowth quit the Team Rocket Trio and accepted the offer. However, he eventually rejoined the group after hearing that James and Jessie were in danger.
Meowth has used his claws to pick locks on several occasions, such as when Jessie, James, and he wanted to get into the Old Chateau in Canalave City.
In To Thine Own Pokémon Be True!, Jessie and Meowth were competing against another Trainer and his Marowak. Although Jessie complained that Marowak's Thick Club would put her and Meowth at a huge disadvantage, the match continued. However, they were immediately disqualified from the Pokémon Ping Pong Tournament, because Meowth accidentally sliced the ball with his Fury Swipes, instead of hitting it.
In Dressed for Jess Success!, James disguised himself as Jessilina due to Jessie being sick. Meowth, following his promise in Old Rivals, New Tricks!, was used during the Performance Stage, where he used his talent for slicing ramen noodles. The two then gave the judges the ramen to taste, which was declared to be of excellent quality. The performance was impressive enough to advance Jessilina to the Battle Stage. Upon seeing the appeal on TV, Christopher became very proud.
In Arceus and the Jewel of Life, Meowth first made an appearance in the opening song when he and Team Rocket were powering a blimp by peddling on a bike. However, they grew tired and crashed before they had a chance to do anything. Not too long after, Team Rocket appeared again when Kevin explained Sheena's ability to communicate with Pokémon. Meowth appeared later in the movie when Arceus was floating down to investigate the fake Jewel of Life. After Arceus found out the Jewel was fake, it attacked the group. Ash, Sheena, Kevin, Dawn and Brock escaped, but Team Rocket was caught in the explosion and ended up being washed into the lake. Meowth made minor appearances throughout the rest of the movie as the battle between the Legendary Pokémon continued. Meowth also made an appearance in the credits, when an Electrode used Explosion on Team Rocket when they sneaked into the corn field.
Best Wishes series
Jessie, James, and Meowth were sent to the Unova region under orders from Giovanni after they were promoted in Memories are Made of Bliss!. To prevent them from getting too much attention, Giovanni did not allow Jessie's and James's other Pokémon to be sent to them, only making them use Pokémon native to Unova. This, however, made Meowth think of what would happen to him. Throughout most of the series, Meowth and his two friends were presented as horribly failing and erroneous criminals, always failing in their missions to capture Ash's Pikachu or other Pokémon. In Unova, however, he, along with the rest of his team, developed a more serious attitude in their work, as he had when first introduced, being quicker-witted and much more resourceful than before and using ingenious methods of escape and thus proving much more difficult for Ash to defeat. He has also demonstrated much more battling skill than before, being agile enough to land on his feet when blown back by Ash's Pidove's Gust, and unlike before, does not horribly injure himself in battle.
In Club Battle Finale: A Hero's Outcome!, while in Nimbasa City, Team Rocket prepared to put their latest plan into action. Later, in the next episode, Meowth's Scrafty Tactics!, Meowth was found injured by Ash, Iris and Cilan. While recovering, Meowth explained that while in Nimbasa City, he had botched up Team Rocket's scheme badly and was fired by Giovanni, leading to Jessie and James turning their backs on him. Later, Iris's Axew was kidnapped by a Scrafty, who wanted Axew's help to get its home back from a Mandibuzz. Using his ability to speak to both Pokémon and humans, Meowth not only helped get Axew back but also helped Scrafty get its home back and helped Mandibuzz return to her original nest. Afterwards, Meowth decided to travel with Ash and his friends, only for Iris to attempt to capture him in a Poké Ball. The capture nearly succeeded but Meowth broke out and told her he was going to help her regardless. Ever since, it seems to have become a running gag that he ends up in a Poké Ball at one point in an episode, as Iris tried twice (one of which was because Meowth didn't want a Purrloin to get caught), and by Cliff. However, in Crisis from the Underground Up!, it was revealed that Meowth's being fired was fake and all just one of Team Rocket's schemes to steal all the Pokémon from Nimbasa City's Pokémon Center.
He along with Jessie and James later left Unova temporarily in Unova's Survival Crisis! and then reappeared starting in New Places... Familiar Faces!.
In The Pokémon Harbor Patrol!, he, along with Jessie and James demonstrated their agility by easily dodging Pikachu's Thunderbolt. In Meowth, Colress and Team Rivalry!, Team Rocket invaded Colress's newest laboratory and drew his security into a trap in the woods. Once Colress was alone, Meowth approached him and attempted to convince him to join Team Rocket. Colress refused, but offered to allow Meowth to participate in an experiment to increase his strength. Meowth agreed, having undergone training to resist the mind control device. However, Colress still managed to take control of Meowth, and ordered him to attack Jessie and James. Using Frillish and Amoonguss, they managed to snap him out of it before escaping. In What Lies Beyond Truth and Ideals!, the extension of his battling skill was shown again; he took on multiple opponents, including several of Team Plasma's Liepard.
XY series
Meowth continued to travel with Jessie and James through Kalos in the XY series.
In A Battle of Aerial Mobility!, Giovanni approved the trio's plan to steal as many rare and powerful Pokémon as they could in Kalos.
In A Conspiracy to Conquer! Meowth along with Jessie and James encountered an evil, psychopathic Malamar. Malamar managed to take control of Jessie and James, as well as their Pokémon, but Meowth used Fury Swipes on itself to endure the hypnotizing. After Meowth escaped he encountered Ash and his friends and warned them of the Malamar. With Team Rocket in tow, Malamar found the whereabouts of Ash and his friends by a tree. It took Pikachu with them and forced him to be under their control. By the time Meowth, Ash and his friends arrived in the observation chamber of the radio observatory, Malamar took control of Clemont, Bonnie, and Serena. Meowth and Ash managed to endure it by once again using Fury Swipes on their faces to keep focus. The Automatic Pikachu Retrieving Device that Clemont built earlier entered the observatory and crashes into Malamar, breaking its control over everyone it hypnotized. Meowth translated Malamar's evil ambitions of conquering the world as part of an evil grand design to Ash and company and tried to stop it from doing so. But unfortunately for them, Malamar escaped. As Team Rocket recuperates from their ordeal with Malamar, Meowth reveals to them that Malamar is the evolved form of Inkay, causing them to react nervously when they looked at James's Inkay.
In Coming Back Into the Cold!, Meowth tried to stop Serena, Bonnie, and Alexa from rescuing an Amaura that he stole alongside Jessie and James, even showing off his prehensile strategy of using Fury Swipes to block Serena's Fennekin's Hidden Power. However, the parent Aurorus appeared in front of Meowth and froze him with Blizzard, allowing the three heroes to save Amaura.
In Facing the Grand Design!, Team Rocket, Ash, his friends, and Officer Jenny faced the evil Malamar from before. Meowth was scared of Inkay again because Inkay evolves into Malamar. They followed Inkay and met the evil Malamar again. Clemont, Meowth and James managed to escape but the evil Malamar held Ash, Pikachu, Serena, Bonnie, Jessie, Wobbuffet, and Officer Jenny with Psychic. However, thanks to the combined forces of the good Malamar and Inkay from the forest below Grace Tower, they managed to stop the evil Malamar, rescue everyone and save the world from certain destruction. But the evil Malamar escaped into the future, swearing to fight again and their grand design will succeed someday once they return.
In A Frenzied Factory Fiasco!, Team Rocket staged an ambush for Ash and his friends, tricking the heroes into giving them their Pokémon in their Poké Balls before trapping them. However, after stealing some freshly made Poké Balls, the group discovered that Pikachu was still free. Meowth then chased Pikachu throughout the Poké Ball Factory, attempting to recall the Mouse Pokémon into his Poké Ball. Failing to do so, Team Rocket attempted to escape with their stash of stolen Poké Balls in their getaway van, but got stopped in their tracks by Pikachu's Thunderbolt. Meowth then challenges Pikachu to a duel, wagering Ash and his friends's Poké Balls, while at the same time trying to recall Pikachu again. However, the Scratch Cat Pokémon is still defeated by his enemy before blasting off again with the rest of his team.
In Performing with Fiery Charm!, he performed with Jessie and Wobbuffet in the Dendemille Town Pokémon Showcase. They lost but they made it to the performing round.
In Dream a Little Dream from Me!, Meowth appeared with other members of his group, apparently unable to sleep due to the loud snoring of Jessie and James, but successfully did so after putting in earplugs and counting Mareep. Later it woke up in a nightmare of Squishy, caused by a wild Darkrai's Bad Dreams, wherein he wished up to drink some water but is shocked to see Serena's Delphox, Clemont's Diggersby and Ash's Froakie speaking human language during their conversation with Ash's Pikachu. He tried to tell this strange event to Jessie and James, and was all the more surprised to see the two talk like Wobbuffet and Inkay respectively. Utterly distraught by the strange happenings, he ran away from those two and collides with a similarly fleeing Pikachu. Glad that Pikachu is still normal, the two met up with Squishy who suggested running way as the trio stumbles across a flame monster and successfully evade the monster. Later when the Order Pokémon tries to explain its position in the ecosystem and transformed into its Complete form, the real, still asleep, Meowth clang to James in horror. When the day sets in and he woke up, he set on to find Squishy after explaining his horrible experience to Jessie and James and collided once again with Pikachu. At this moment, the two were dragged into Squishy's nightmare once again by Darkrai. After meeting up with Squishy again, they were forced to flee the flame monster and pass a clearing burnt by the latter, which is subsequently replenished by Squishy. The trio continued further but was shocked to see the flame monster right in front of them. Squishy ordered the Scratch Cat Pokémon and the Mouse Pokémon to battle but the monster's powerful flame attacks easily caused Meowth to retreat. The monster was eventually dealt with assistance from Delphox, Diggersby, Froakie, Serena's newly evolved Pangoro and Clemont's newly evolved Chesnaught. However, before the battle can be over, a ticking sound was heard and Clemont's alarm clock exploded, awakening Meowth, Pikachu and Squishy. Meowth then returned to Jessie and James, and explained his strange dream. James however claimed that Meowth has been working too much and is starting to hallucinate, and Jessie suggested that Meowth should go back to sleep but the Normal-type Pokémon decided that he's never going to sleep again, because he doesn't want that dream again.
In A Dancing Debut!, he and his teammates reached Couriway Town and witnessed the Showcase venue. Later they sneaked up in the Showcase premises to learn the theme of the Theme Performance so that Jessie might prepare before hand. When Jessie revealed a sheet with an abstract drawing on it she stole rather hastily due to Meowth setting up the alarm, he deduced that Theme Performance is about fashion and making hats. However his intuition is proved wrong when they learn that the theme actually revolves around Poké Puff baking. Later, in Jessilee's performance, the Scratch Cat Pokémon was seen giving a 'paw massage' to the dough and later imprinted his charm on the Poké Puff. He then ended his part by using Fury Swipes to spread chocolate syrup on the Poké Puff. When the Showcase ended and Jessie is awarded the Princess Key, he was seen crying, happy that Jessie managed to win the Princess Key.
In Master Class Is in Session!, Meowth first appeared praising Jessie, who had entered the Gloire City Pokémon Showcase Master Class, as the future Kalos Queen. During the first round, he was seen with Wobbuffet in the waiting room, cheering on Jessilee as she performed with her Gourgeist. He was Jessie's partner Pokémon in the quarter finals and semi-finals (along with Gourgeist). When Jessie lost the semi-finals, he and Gourgeist held on to each other, fearing Jessie's anger, but their fears were unfounded, as she seemed pretty delighted at her performance in the Master Class, happy that Kalos could see her beauty. When the Master Class was over, he, along with James, Inkay, Gourgeist and Wobbuffet, were seen walking behind a silent Jessie through Gloire City, fearing her wrath on losing. However, she shrugged their fears and decided that she just wanted to give them a feast for supporting her, which caused them to be overjoyed and jump over her; Jessie then angrily declared that the feast shall be financed by James.
He along with his teammates and Jessie's Wobbuffet worked as Malva's assistants during the Lumiose Conference from A League of His Own! to Down to the Fiery Finish!, with the aim of earning money and capturing any strong Pokémon in the Kalos League. However, they were not very pleased with their job and felt that they were over-working; despite this, they did not quit their jobs. In Kalos League Passion with a Certain Flare!, they made it a point to steal the two finalists, Ash and Alain's, Pokémon after the battle, but could not execute their plan due to Team Flare wrecking havoc in Lumiose City. In Coming Apart at the Dreams!, he, in disguise of a news reporter, set out with his teammates, Serena, Mairin and Professor Sycamore towards Lysandre Labs in an attempt to take over the base and bring Team Flare down. In the next episode, he fled the Lysandre Labs after the Giant Rock transformed into a Zygarde, along with his teammates, on their helicopter. He was in-charge of shooting footage of the entire incident surrounding the Rock as he followed it on their helicopter on its way towards Anistar City, and like his teammates, was utterly surprised to see the seven Gym Leaders and Kalos Champion Diantha arrive on the scene to deal with the Giant Rock.
After the disaster, he and his teammates claimed sole credit for defeating Team Flare to Giovanni.
Sun & Moon series
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This role is incomplete. Please feel free to edit this role to add missing information and complete it. Reason: SM016, SM021, SM025, SM028, SM062, SM063 and SM081 |
In Loading the Dex!, the trio arrived in the Alola region to obtain some rare Alolan Pokémon for Giovanni. The first Pokémon they encountered was a Mimikyu on Melemele Island. After being scared by it, Meowth was the first to ascertain that it was not actually a Pikachu. He also refused to translate what Mimikyu was saying, determining it to be too scary. Since Jessie and James had left Gourgeist and Inkay at headquarters before going to Alola, Jessie threw Meowth at Mimikyu to try to capture it. Fury Swipes had no effect on it. Meowth then tried to remove its Pikachu costume. But when it looked within, Meowth was badly hexed, and fell unconscious. He had a vision of walking down a long tunnel, then ran into a light, finding visions of Glaceon, Gardevoir, and Lopunny calling for him. They turned out to be projections cast by Gastly, Haunter, and Gengar. Everything disappeared, and he fell into an abyss.
In the real world, Jessie and James dumped water on Meowth, reviving him. After relating his apparent near-death experience, he blamed Mimikyu for it. They hid from the approaching Ash and his classmates from the Pokémon School. When Mimikyu battled Pikachu hard, Team Rocket decided to attempt to capture it, and stepped in to stop Ash. When Pikachu threw an Electro Ball at Meowth, Mimikyu used Shadow Ball to deflect it, aligning itself with Team Rocket. Before they could fight again, however, a Bewear stepped in and carried Jessie and James off. Meowth got Mimikyu to disengage from Pikachu so they could chase the Bewear.
In First Catch in Alola, Ketchum-Style!, Bewear looked after the trio, giving them food and shelter at its den.
In A Seasoned Search!, the trio completed their secret base in Bewear's den.
Personality and characteristics
Meowth has an ambitious, conniving, and idealistic personality. He has made it his life goal to please Giovanni (or "Boss", as he and his teammates call Giovanni), and will stop at nothing to capture or steal useful or rare Pokémon, especially Ash's Pikachu, which he has been pursuing since he encountered him in Pokémon Emergency. Unlike most other Pokémon, who are not truly evil and will only commit evil deeds when ordered to do so, as stated by Jessie's Ekans in Island of the Giant Pokémon, Meowth is both perfectly capable of and willing to commit evil deeds without the aid of others.
Despite his seemingly outgoing nature, Meowth also has a contemplative inner side not seen as often. In one of his image songs, Meowth's Song, and in Mewtwo Strikes Back, he is shown to be a bit of a philosopher. In Mewtwo Strikes Back, he and his clone (in addition to Pikachu) were the only Pokémon not to participate in the giant battle, Meowth remarking (in the dub) that the originals and the clones shared the same air, moon, and planet, giving them common ground. He noted that if all living beings focused on what was the same among them as opposed to what was different, the world would be a much better place. Meowth comforted Ash's Chimchar in Tears For Fears! and actually expressed some admiration for Ash and his friends, commenting, "You (Chimchar) have buddies who'd give you the shirt off their backs if you needed one." It is possible during that time that Meowth developed a friendship with it, as seen in A Real Rival Rouser! when he, Jessie and James cheered it on, and in Evolving Strategies! when he was happy to see it evolve. On a few occasions, Meowth has become stranded with Pikachu, and during these times, the two work together fairly well. Pikachu distrusts Meowth for obvious reasons, but Meowth is more willing to let go of the past and work together. Usually, by the end of these episodes, Meowth will betray Pikachu once they find Jessie and James.
Meowth is an amorous Pokémon, developing crushes on occasion (obviously not as much as Brock, but still a fair amount). The first of these was the aforementioned Meowzie. The next one seen is Cassandra, the (human) herbalist. Due to this infatuation, he decided to help her Paras evolve. However, he was replaced by a Persian so that he can continue traveling with Jessie and James, as Cassandra thought he was a hero and should continue doing his (not so) good work with Team Rocket. After this, three more cat-based Pokémon followed, beginning with May's Skitty. However, due to the fact that Jessie wanted to catch the Skitty, Meowth helped Skitty escape in order to avoid Skitty getting hurt with the rest of the team. Later on, in Big Meowth, Little Dreams he fell in love with another Skitty. In For The Love Of Meowth!, Meowth fell in love with a Glameow this time, one that belongs to Mamie. Similar to May's Skitty, Meowth tried to get away from Jessie and James so Glameow would not join them in blasting off. After Meowth was surrounded by Jessie, James, Ash, Dawn, Brock and Mamie, Meowth gained power from the love he felt, allowing him to defeat several Pokémon thrown at him, including Ash's Infernape and Staraptor, Jessie's Seviper and Yanmega, and Dawn's Togekiss. However, after getting hit with James's Carnivine's Bullet Seed, Glameow evolved into Purugly and squished Meowth, making Meowth lose his feelings for her. In Movie Time! Zorua in "The Legend of the Pokémon Knight"!, Luke's Zorua used this trait to her advantage and turned into a female Meowth causing Meowth to become infatuated and unable to do her harm. He did this again in Purrloin: Sweet or Sneaky? when he fell in love with a Purrloin he thought was female. During the time when Meowth was traveling with the group, Oshawott fought with him, usually when the two exploit two of their characteristics at the same time (falling in love with the same Pokémon, or when their prides are being entangled).
Meowth also has demonstrated aspirations of being a parent-like caretaker, like in Who Gets to Keep Togepi?, when he coddled Togepi's Egg before fighting for custody of it, only to finally lose it to Misty. To regain custody of Togepi, he even defeated Brock's Onix by throwing a bucket of water in its face and finishing it with a Fury Swipes attack to the head.
Much like Ash's Pikachu, Meowth does not stay inside a Poké Ball, but is technically a wild Pokémon unlike Pikachu. Strangely, though he first appeared in the second episode, in an era where Ash scanned nearly every Pokémon he came into contact with his Pokédex, it took until Do I Hear a Ralts? for Ash to do this to Meowth. However, this was a mere accident: Meowth was dressed up like a Kirlia, and Ash had never seen one before. In Two Degrees of Separation!, Dawn, unlike Ash, scanned him right away. She also made the same mistake as Ash when she scanned Meowth as a Shiftry in Leave it to Brocko!. Also, in the episode The Lost Lapras, Tracey started examining Meowth (despite not having a Pokédex), but only because he was interested in the fact that he could talk.
In Japanese, he often puts the word "Nya" into his sentences, the equivalent of a meow in Japanese. This was abandoned in the English dub shortly after the beginning of the series. Because Meowth can speak human language but is a Pokémon, he is useful as a Pokémon translator. Despite being a Pokémon though, he is in charge of building and repairing the machines used by his team.
Meowth normally does not battle unless there are extreme circumstances; his explanation is that his ability to talk and walk upright came at the expense of battling ability. However, when forced to fight, Meowth is fairly resourceful, such as dumping a bucket of water on an Onix to weaken it, most notably Brock's Onix in Who Gets to Keep Togepi.
Meowth has also, since late Johto, had frequent fantasies about presenting Giovanni with various Pokémon. These fantasies often involve whatever creature it happens to be assisting Giovanni in his daily routine.
Meowth is also shown to be somewhat sensitive whenever he gets separated from Jessie and James such as in Hoenn Alone when he became sad when the three of them got separated, and whenever the three of them are reunited he's always super excited to see them again. Evidence of this can also be seen in Lucario and the Mystery of Mew when he became sad after Jessie and James got swallowed up by the antibodies and was happy once again to see them when Mew saved Jessie and James along with Ash and his friends who had all gotten swallowed as well.
Moves used
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| A † shows that the move was used recently, unless all moves fit this case or there are fewer than five known moves. | ||||||||||||||||
- Meowth claimed to be learning Night Slash in Jumping Rocket Ship!, but he has never been seen using the move. The reason to this is that he claimed the move was too scary to use.
Moves improvised
| Picture | First Used In | Moves Involved | Partnered With |
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Bound For Trouble | None | None |
| Description: Meowth jumps onto a Rhydon and uses an improvised Tickle attack, however the move Tickle wasn't released until Generation III. | |||
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For The Love Of Meowth! | Fury Swipes | None |
| Description: Meowth also improvised a move that he called "Fury Swipes of Love" to protect a Glameow he was in love with. | |||
In I Choose You! and M21
Meowth appeared in I Choose You!, which is set in a different continuity from the main anime. He first appeared in disguise with Jessie and James in a Pokémon Center, wanted for stealing Pokémon. When a Pokémon Trainer who had just battled an Entei hurried inside the Pokémon Center, Team Rocket eavesdropped on the conversation and decided to hunt for Entei themselves. While looking for Entei in the forest, they were blasted off by a raging Onix.
Voice actors
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In the games
Meowth appears as part of Jessie and James's team each time they appear in Pokémon Yellow, alongside Ekans, Koffing, and their evolved forms. However, unlike in the anime, Meowth resides in a Poké Ball instead of traveling around with Jessie and James. He is also set to appear in Pokémon: Let's Go, Pikachu! and Let's Go, Eevee!, which is based on Yellow.
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| First battle Mt. Moon |
Second to fourth battle Rocket Hideout/Pokémon Tower/Silph Co. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Pokémon Black 2 and White 2
Team Rocket's Meowth was distributed via Wi-Fi from December 7, 2012 to January 10, 2013 for Japanese players of Pokémon Black 2 and White 2, because of its involvement in the Best Wishes: Episode N season of the anime.
Team Rocket's Meowth was again distributed via Wi-Fi from May 10 to June 9, 2013 for Korean players of Pokémon Black 2 and White 2, because of its involvement in the Best Wishes: Episode N season of the anime.
Team Rocket's Meowth was also distributed in Italy as part of the Pokémon Day event held at the Mirabilandia amusement park. It was available from July 13 to 14, 2013.
| Pokémon Info | Trainer Memo | Battle Moves | Ribbons | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 ニャース
|
♂ | Dex No. | 0052 | Random nature. | Normal | Fury Swipes | 
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| Lv. 15 | Type | Normal | Sing | ||||||||||
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Normal | Pokémon Cartoon | Dark | Nasty Plot | |||||||||
| OT | Ｒだん | Apparently had a | Dark | Snatch | |||||||||
| ID No. | 12072 | fateful encounter at | This Pokémon was available in Japan and Wi-Fi from December 7, 2012 to January 10, 2013. | ||||||||||
| Item | Ability | Lv. 15. | |||||||||||
 Smoke Ball
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Pickup | ||||||||||||
| The date this Pokémon was received is determined by the date on the DS when the Wonder Card is received. | |||||||||||||
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Pokémon Puzzle League
Meowth is a playable character, along with Jessie and James. Their theme is Double Trouble.
Pokémon Zany Cards
In Special Seven mode, Meowth appears as card #2. When the Meowth card is used, he will force the opponent to draw 2 cards. This can be countered if the player has another Meowth card, in which case the effect will pass on to the next player, unless they also have a Meowth card, and so on.
Meowth also makes a cameo in Four Kings mode. When the game is won, he tells the player to try the next level of difficulty. Meowth also appears on the box art.
Super Smash Bros. Melee
Meowth appears as a trophy. This trophy is unlocked after obtaining each All-Star trophy for all 25 playable characters.
Melee trophy information
This...is Meowth's dream. Meowth strides all over the globe scattering invitations to other Pokemon, insisting they come to "Meowth's Party". At this wonderful party, guests are packed in like sardines as Meowth climbs up the stage with its faithful guitar. It strikes a chord, pauses, and then rocks their world.
Pokémon Channel
Meowth appears on the PNF (Pokémon News Flash), along with Psyduck. He goes out and interviews random Pokémon in random locations.
Meowth also appears in Pichu Bros. in Party Panic, along with Jessie's Wobbuffet and the Squirtle Squad. He plans a party for himself and invites all the Pokémon from Big Town.
In the manga
In the Ash & Pikachu manga
In the manga series Ash & Pikachu, based on the anime, Meowth appears along with the rest of the Team Rocket trio, Jessie and James.
Moves used
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| A † shows that the move was used recently, unless all moves fit this case or there are fewer than five known moves. | ||||||||||
In The Electric Tale of Pikachu manga
Meowth appears in The Electric Tale of Pikachu manga series along with his teammates Jessie and James.
His first appearance is in the chapter Pikachu's Excellent Adventure. He is searching for the Hidden Village with Jessie and James when he runs into Tommy, Pikachu and other Pokémon, who are also searching for the village. Meowth offers them free breakfast (made by Jessie and James) and the trio travel with them to the village. Later, he is expelled from the Hidden Village by Kangaskhan when Jessie and James try to steal the Pokémon.
Meowth makes his next appearance in You Gotta Have Friends, when he, Jessie and James attempt to steal a herd of wild Pikachu. Following this, the Team Rocket trio begin regularly appearing in the manga, following Ash to the Pokémon League championship at Indigo Plateau and cheering him on at the Orange League.
In the movie manga adaptations
As Meowth has appeared in every movie to date, he has appeared in the manga adaptations of them.
In the TCG
Meowth is featured in the TCG as one of Team Rocket's Pokémon and as a Pokémon 
. The following is a list of cards featuring Meowth.
| Meowth Cards listed with a blue background are only legal to use in the current Expanded format. Cards listed with a green background are legal to use in both the current Standard and Expanded formats. | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Card | Type | English Expansion |
Rarity | # | Japanese Expansion |
Rarity | # |
| Team Rocket's Meowth | 
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Wizards Black Star Promos | 18 | Unnumbered Promotional cards | |||
| Rocket's Meowth | 
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EX Team Rocket Returns | 
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46/109 | Rocket Gang Strikes Back | 
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059/084 |
| Meowth
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Movie Commemoration Random Pack | 017/022 | ||||
| Meowth |
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Ash vs Team Rocket Deck Kit | 013/026 | ||||
- Meowth also appears in the card Here Comes Team Rocket! (Team Rocket 15), Wobbuffet (Ash vs Team Rocket Deck 8), Team Rocket's Mimikyu-GX (Ash vs Team Rocket Deck 10), and Bewear (Ash vs Team Rocket Deck 18).
Trivia
- Meowth is the first talking Pokémon in the anime. He is also one of the few talking Pokémon that do not do so telepathically.
- Meowth has never been captured in a Poké Ball, which makes him a wild Pokémon, as seen in the Best Wishes series and A Frenzied Factory Fiasco!
- Meowth claims that he is unable to learn Pay Day as a trade off for learning to speak. He claims to have "used up all his move slots" doing so.
- In the English dub, Meowth refers to his koban as a charm.
- Sunflora is Meowth's most frequently used Pokémon disguise in the anime, using the disguise seven times.
- There is some inconsistency as to whether or not Meowth hates water. In Snow Way Out!, he wanted a hot spring, and in Who Gets to Keep Togepi?, he is seen taking a bath with the egg that will hatch into Togepi, and at least twice he suggests that all three of them go into the water (once in Pokémon Paparazzi and once in Fit to be Tide), while in episodes like The Pirates of Decolore! he prominently remains swimming in the sea without showing any displeasure. However, in Pokémon Shipwreck, Friend and Foe Alike and Big Meowth, Little Dreams (Part 1), he hates water, as he is a cat.
- Meowth is the only known Pokémon to have been a Gym Leader, briefly sharing the title with Jessie and James in The Battle of the Badge.
- In the Japanese version, Meowth will still say at least part of his name as a verbal tic, a common trait in anime. The same occurs in the early episodes of the dub, but it is far less frequent, and eventually scrapped altogether except when reciting the motto.
- For DP022, Professor Oak's Big Pokémon Encyclopedia is about Meowth. He writes this senryū about it: 「ピカチュウに いつかはかちたい ニャースかな」 "Wanting to beat Pikachu someday, is that Nyarth?"
References
- ↑ Confirmed in Where No Togepi Has Gone Before!.
Related articles
- For more information on this Pokémon's species, see Meowth.
- Talking Pokémon
- Episodes focusing on Team Rocket
- Images on the Bulbagarden Archives
| Team Rocket's Pokémon | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Travel with: | |||||||
| Jessie | James | ||||||
| On hand: | |||||||
| In training: | |||||||
| At home: | |||||||
| Released: | |||||||
| Traded away: | |||||||
| Lived with (all three): |
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| Worked with (all three): |
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| Temporarily owned: | |||||||
| Befriended: | |||||||
| Status unknown: | |||||||
| For a list of other Pokémon Team Rocket has commanded, see here and here | |||||||
 Team Rocket
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|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rocket Game Corner • Team Rocket Hideout • Viridian Gym • Team Rocket HQ • Rocket Warehouse | |||||
| Boss | Admins | ||||
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| Giovanni (Masters • Pocket Monsters) |
Archer (Masters) |
Ariana (Masters) |
Petrel (Masters) |
Proton (Masters) | |
| Other members | |||||
| Jessie (Masters) • James (Masters) • Meowth • Team Rocket Grunts (Rocket Siblings) • Scientists (Gideon) Grey (Golden Boys) • Kaede (How I Became a Pokémon Card) | |||||
See also: Pokémon the Series • Adventures • Team GO Rocket • Team Rainbow Rocket
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 Aether Foundation
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| Aether Bases (Heahea City • Route 8 • Route 16) • Aether Paradise • Aether House | |||||
| President | Branch Chiefs | ||||
| Lusamine (Masters • anime) |
Wicke | Faba (anime) | |||
| Other members | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aether Foundation Employees | |||||
| Related | |||||
| Mohn • Lillie (Masters • anime) • Gladion (Masters • anime) | |||||
| In Pokémon the Series | |||||
| Former members: Jessie • James • Meowth Ultra Guardians: Ash • Lana • Kiawe • Lillie • Sophocles • Mallow • Gladion | |||||
See also: Team Skull • Ultra Recon Squad
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This article is part of Project Anime, a Bulbapedia project that covers all aspects of Pokémon animation. |
