JN017

←	JN016 : A Chilling Curse!

Kicking It from Here Into Tomorrow!

JN017

EP1102

ヒバニー、炎のキック！明日に向かって！！
Hibanny, Use Your Flaming Kick! Face Tomorrow!!

First broadcast

Japan	March 15, 2020
United States	September 11, 2020

English themes

Opening	The Journey Starts Today
Ending

Japanese themes

Opening	１・２・３
Ending	ポケモンしりとり（ピカチュウ→ミュウVer.）

Credits

No additional credits are available at this time.
Animation	Team Kato
Screenplay	赤尾でこ Deko Akao
Storyboard	斉藤徳明 Noriaki Saitō
Assistant director	上野史博 Fumihiro Ueno
Animation director	篠原隆 Takashi Shinohara

Kicking It from Here Into Tomorrow! (Japanese: ヒバニー、炎のキック！明日に向かって！！ Hibanny, Use Your Flaming Kick! Face Tomorrow!!) is the 17th episode of Pokémon Journeys: The Series, and the 1,102nd episode of the Pokémon anime. It first aired in Japan on March 15, 2020 and in the United States on September 11, 2020.

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

Blurb

When Goh’s Darmanitan challenges Scorbunny to use a Fire-type move, Scorbunny tries as hard as it can but comes up short. It begins training hard so it can use the move Ember, but Goh sees things differently and thinks Scorbunny should focus on the moves it already knows—much to Scorbunny’s sadness and anger. Later, during a run-in with Team Rocket, Goh devises a way for Scorbunny to use its own version of Ember. The move works, and Scorbunny defeats Team Rocket…and also evolves into Raboot! Goh is thrilled, but Raboot seems aloof and walks past its Trainer. What could be wrong?

Plot

Following a practice battle with Ash, Goh, and Scorbunny exchange a high-five. Goh's Darmanitan walks over and begins beating its chest, seemingly challenging Scorbunny's strength. Darmanitan unleashes a powerful Fire attack which almost hits the Sakuragi Park's glass ceiling. Scorbunny tells Darmanitan to step back as it prepares to showcase its own attack. After taking a deep breath, Scorbunny unleashes a measly single ember. Darmanitan is struck by the disappointing effort and breaks out into booming laughter, leaving Scorbunny feeling humiliated. Chloe and Yamper walk into the Park to call the boys over for breakfast, however, they are too occupied with mentoring Scorbunny. Goh explains that Darmanitan challenged Scorbunny to use Ember, but it simply cannot pull off the attack. Chloe is perplexed by Ash's mentoring style, while Goh admits that he doesn't think Scorbunny needs to exhaust itself trying. Hearing this, Darmanitan mocks Scorbunny as its walks off. Scorbunny prepares to follow, but Goh orders it to stop. He reminds Scorbunny that its Quick Attack and Double Kick techniques are getting stronger. Scorbunny instantly makes a frustrated face, and Ash admits that it doesn't feel the same way. Darmanitan again eggs Scorbunny on, and Goh realizes that it won’t give up easily.

Over breakfast, the boys plan to venture into Vermilion City to catch more Pokémon. Chloe wonders if catching Pokémon is even all that fun. Ash insists she joins them for the day, though Chloe steps back and absolutely refuses. Goh then notices that Scorbunny hasn't returned to eat, but Ash assures him that things will be okay. Meanwhile, Scorbunny has been practicing by itself and finally unleashes a promising Ember out of sheer frustration.

Later, Scorbunny joins Ash and Goh in the city. It tries to show off its progress, but the boys ignore it as they run off in search of new Pokémon. Scorbunny continues trying to show Goh its Ember attack, but Goh is too busy scouring the city streets to notice. Goh and Scorbunny decide to take a break on a park bench, having found not even a single Pokémon. Scorbunny then turns and is stunned to see a Pelipper resting behind them. Scorbunny tries to get Goh's attention, however, he is too busy looking up Pokémon on his Rotom Phone to take notice. Goh finally relents, however, the Pelipper flies off and evades Scorbunny's attempt at an Ember attack in the process. Goh and Scorbunny immediately pursue the Pelipper.

Meanwhile, James checks to see if the coast is clear before sneaking into a phone booth. He punches in the numbers "6-3-4-5-2-6" causing the floor to open up, leading to Team Rocket's secret underground base. James greets his teammates with none other than limited-edition Vermilion City sea breeze flavored potato chips. After polishing off all the chips, Team Rocket are feeling completely stuffed with swollen stomachs to match. Meowth pipes up and suggests they play a game of Team Rocket's special "Nasty Plot Shiritori," a word game where the winner is the last one to not repeat an already said word. Jessie suddenly pauses the game, realizing that only Meowth can understand what Wobbuffet is saying. Meowth replies that no one has repeated a word yet, so the game continues. Jessie goes next, but an argument quickly follows as her teammates insist she just made up a word to avoid breaking the rules.

Goh and Scorbunny finally lose sight of Pelipper, which leads them to the other inconspicuous phone booth. The pair step inside and the floor suddenly gives way before floating back up again, this time with the Team Rocket trio. Things quickly turn into a struggle as a space in the phone booth is limited. After everyone squeezes their way out, Goh wonders about the phone "box". Jessie insists that it is actually a phone "booth", and the trio inadvertently reveals that is also the entrance to their secret base. With the secret out, Jessie suggests that they attack Goh. She and James call for the Rocket Prize Master, but only a plane flies overhead. Pelipper finally arrives, emerging from inside the phone booth. Goh is stunned, realizing it is the same Pelipper from before. Meowth is then quick to blame Pelipper for actually revealing the location of their secret base. Pelipper instantly flees the area before releasing the Rocket Prize Master machine from its bill.

Ash and Pikachu rush in, joining Goh in time to face Team Rocket. Meowth instantly takes position, helping to activate the Rocket Prize Master. With two turns of the mechanism, Jessie and James receive a Ball each, and call out a Chewtle and Poliwrath. Jessie instantly recognizes the Chewtle as the very one from the other day, but wonders if the little thing can even fight. As Chewtle lets out a small sound, Meowth translates that it can, although Jessie remains mildly skeptical. James starts things off with a Water Gun, though Pikachu leaps into a Quick Attack and lands a blow. Jessie calls for Chewtle to use Water Gun, and she is surprised by the attack's incredible power. Goh orders Scorbunny to reply with a Double Kick. However, Scorbunny is determined to use Ember, though only manages to unleash a single flame before being defeated by Chewtle's Water Gun. As Team Rocket congratulates Chewtle on a job well done, Pikachu lashes them with a Thunderbolt, sending them blasting off.

Scorbunny remains determined to master Ember in spite of the humiliating defeat. Goh grabs Scorbunny's head to stop it from trying again, however it writhes free of his grip and continues to try Ember attack. Goh declares that the attack simply isn't good enough. Scorbunny responds by kicking its Trainer from behind. Goh insists that Scorbunny should just focus on what it can actually do. Scorbunny absolutely protests and runs off. Goh turns away, still unable to understand Scorbunny's stubbornness despite his best efforts to bring out its strengths in battle. Ash is taken aback by the remark, admitting that Goh and Scorbunny weren't really working together during the practice match earlier. Ash tries to elaborate, but Goh still doesn't understand. Ash then pushes Goh to find Scorbunny to truly understand.

A familiar cry gets the boys' attention, leading them to a park where Scorbunny is furiously training. They watch in secret as Scorbunny stamps its feet in frustration, which kicks up a stone. The stone lands nearby, leaving a singe mark on the path. Ash reiterates to Goh that Scorbunny is determined to master a Fire move. Goh tries to approach Scorbunny, but it runs off and later bumps into Team Rocket again. Ash and Goh follow behind, and another Team Rocket battle unfolds. Jessie whips her hair, sending Chewtle out to battle. Following Ash's advice, Goh tries a different approach, and this time he encourages Scorbunny to use a Fire attack. Goh orders a Quick Attack, and Scorbunny complies by sprinting into action. However, Chewtle uses Headbutt, keeping its opponent at bay. Scorbunny returns with a fury of Double Kick, but Chewtle uses its shell to block the attack. Jessie orders a Bite attack, but Chewtle misses its target and instead clamps onto one of the garden arches. Scorbunny follows up with another Double Kick, knocking Chewtle onto the ground. Goh suddenly feels a surge of energy, much like what Ash described. He suggests Scorbunny try its Fire move. Goh orders Scorbunny to use Quick Attack on the spot, which builds momentum before sparking an intense flame from the friction. Goh promptly throws a stone into the air and has Scorbunny kick it. The superheated projectile speeds towards Team Rocket like a comet, though Chewtle blocks it with a powerful Water Gun. Undeterred, Goh declares that this is their Ember. Suddenly Scorbunny bursts into an intense blue light and evolves into Raboot. Goh is impressed and orders another Ember attack. Raboot follows through, kicking the stone around before hurtling it towards Team Rocket. Chewtle stands to its feet but fails to block the attack, so Team Rocket are sent blasting off again.

Goh congratulates his Pokémon, before checking its new name from his Rotom Phone. He holds out his fist, anticipating a fist bump, though Raboot, with its head down and its hands tucked away, simply walks past him. Goh is left stunned by Raboot's new temperament.

Major events

Team Rocket is revealed to have a secret base in Vermilion City.
The Chewtle that Team Rocket found earlier is revealed to have been placed inside the Rocket Prize Master and is used in battle for the first time.
Goh's Scorbunny learns Ember and evolves into Raboot.

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

Debuts

Pokémon debuts

Raboot (Goh's)

Characters

Humans

Dare da?

Ash
Goh
Chloe
Jessie
James
Citizens

Pokémon

Who's That Pokémon?

Who's That Pokémon?: Darmanitan (Standard Mode)

Trivia

The reference to Pokémon the Series: Sun & Moon

Get Inspired! Let's Solve a Poké Riddle!!: Raboot
When entering Team Rocket's secret base, James enters "634526" on the number pad. Using Goroawase, these numbers can be read as "mu-sa-shi-ko-ji-ro", spelling out Jessie and James's Japanese names.
This episode marks the first time in the anime where a main character's starter Pokémon from the current generation evolves before the other two are introduced.
A picture of Aina's Kitchen can be seen on the cover of the newspaper that Jessie is reading. The newspaper's back covers are the exact same as the one Professor Kukui read in Trial and Tribulation!, but in the opposite order.
Pokémon Shiritori is used as an insert song when Team Rocket plays Nasty Plot Shiritori.
Meowth breaks the fourth wall by looking at the audience while explaining the rules of Nasty Plot Shiritori.
Ash, Goh, and Pikachu narrate the preview for the next episode.

Errors

Dub edits

Nasty Plot Shiritori is translated as "Evil Things Name Game", with the loser being the one who comes up with something good instead of something evil.
The Japanese texts depicting Poliwrath and Chewtle's categories and names are edited out.

In other languages

Language		Title
Mandarin Chinese		炎兔兒，火焰飛踢！朝著明日邁進！！
Dutch		Die zal het nog ver schoppen!
Finnish		Potkulla kohti tulevaisuutta!
European French		Une évolution tout feu tout flamme !
German		Der entscheidende Kick!
Hebrew		!בעיטה אל המחר
Italian		La scintilla di oggi, il fuoco di domani!
Brazilian Portuguese		Chutando daqui até amanhã!
Russian		Победим всех сегодня и завтра!
Spanish	Latin America	¡Proyectándose hasta llegar al mañana!
Spanish	Spain	¡Pateando como si no hubiera un mañana!