Original subtitles

♪ I want to be the very best Like no one ever was ♪

♪ To catch them is my real test To train them is my cause ♪

♪ I will travel across the land Searching far and wide ♪

♪ Teach Pokémon to understand The power that's inside ♪

♪ Pokémon! Gotta catch 'em all ♪

♪ It's you and me I know it's my destiny! Pokémon! ♪

♪ Oh, you're my best friend In a world we must defend ♪

♪ Pokémon! Gotta catch 'em all ♪

♪ A heart so true Our courage will pull us through ♪

♪ You teach me and I'll teach you ♪

♪ Pokémon! Gotta catch 'em all ♪

♪ Gotta catch 'em all Pokémon! ♪

[birds chirping]

[narrator] With Bulbasaur as his newest Pokémon,

Ash and friends are making their way triumphantly to Vermilion City,

aren’t they?

There's nothing but Spearow around here.

Well, that's the least of our worries, isn't it?

Just because we're a little lost

doesn't mean I have to stop catching all the Pokémon I can, does it?

-Chu. -Of course not. Enjoy yourself.

[narrator] Our friends have gotten off track just a bit.

I just can't go one step further.

We've been looking for Vermilion City for ten whole days!

Uh, there's a bug right on your--

[screams]

-Get it away! -[grunts].

Heh, it was just a piece of grass.

[grunts angrily]

[laughs]

Huh? Oh!

[groans]

I'm going crazy! Where are we?

According to this, we're right in the middle of nowhere.

But it looks like route 24 leads right to Vermilion City.

-Does this trail take us to route 24? -According to my calculations, it does.

All right! Then let's get this show on the road.

Huh?

Hey, Ash, take a look at this thing.

It looks like some kind of giant Pokémon.

-Pikachu. -Chu!

Pikachu!

A Charmander.

Char.

[all grunt]

[Pokédex] Charmander, a flame burns on the tip of its tail from birth.

It is said that a Charmander dies if its flame ever goes out.

When I went to get my first Pokémon from Professor Oak,

I was disappointed because I couldn't get a Charmander.

Now I can catch my own.

I don't know. It looks like it's in bad shape.

[Brock] Yeah, catch it and we'll take it to Pokémon Center for help.

Poké Ball, go!

[gasps]

It looks pretty healthy to me.

You think I should have Pikachu battle it first to weaken it

-and make it easier to catch? -Why don't you let me catch it?

My water Pokémon would be stronger against Charmander.

Hold on a minute. Take a look at the flame on its tail.

Char! Char!

There's no way it could still have the strength to battle.

-Ash, try the Poké Ball one more time. -All right, I will.

Poké Ball, go!

All right!

[grunts]

-It sure has a lot of spunk. -A little too much if you ask me.

I think this Charmander has an attitude problem.

Pikachu.

Charmander.

Pikachu.

What's the story, Pikachu?

Pik, Pikachu.

[Misty] A necktie?

Hm. A man maybe.

Pika!

I don't get it.

Hey, Ash, why don't you try to figure out what Pikachu's saying?

Pikachu, Pika, Pika, Pika. Pikachu. Chu! Chu!

-Pikachu! -Mm-hmm, mm-hmm.

Okay, I think I've got it.

Pikachu says that Charmander's waiting on that rock

for somebody to come and get it.

-[Misty] You mean it belongs to somebody? -[Ash] Well, I'm not exactly sure.

If it's waiting for someone, I think we better leave it.

It's probably best if its own trainer takes care of it.

I hope its trainer comes back soon.

[whimpers]

Hey, you guys, look over there. It's the Pokémon Center.

The one on the map. Route 24 can't be too far.

[rain splashes]

-Pi. Pikachu. -[Ash] Hurry!

-[Misty] Here's some nice hot soup. -[Ash] Thanks, Misty.

Have some soup, Brock. Huh? What's wrong?

I wonder, do you think anybody picked up that Charmander yet?

What if its trainer left it there?

I don't think the Charmander would wait around this long, do you?

I don't either, Ash. Its trainer must have gotten it by now.

[men laughing]

-Sure got a lot of them. -For sure.

Just look at them. It's a pretty cool collection.

Heh, way cool.

You're the man, Damian.

Yo, I thought you had a Charmander too.

Yeah, I had one but that puny thing was so weak,

it couldn't even beat the weakest opponents.

I don't like his attitude.

Charmander may be weak against water Pokémon,

but if their trainers work hard, they can be strong.

So what did you do with the Charmander?

Eh, I left it on some rock in the woods.

[all gasp]

That thing is so stupid.

No matter I do to it, it keeps on following me.

I finally got rid of it by promising I'd come back for it. It fell for it.

It's probably still there waiting for me.

[all laughing]

[growls]

He's the one who abandoned that Charmander.

Yeah, and it's still waiting for him on that rock.

Brock, what are you doing?

I bet it's still up there wagging its tail.

It'll probably wag it so long, it'll put the flame out.

Yeah, for sure.

[laughs]

-Hey, what-- -[Brock] Go and get it!

[gasps]

[Brock] That Charmander is still waiting for you. Go and get it now.

Why should I?

You lied to your Pokémon and said you'd be back.

Now its waiting out there in the rain for you.

And if its tail flame goes out, it'll die.

Oy, what I do is none of your business.

-[Ash] Do what he says! -What'd you say, nerd?

You heard what I said. And you want to be a Pokémon trainer.

-You're disgusting. -Pika, pika!

-You want to fight with me? -You better not mess with Damian.

Let's go!

Let's break it up. You know the rules.

[all gasp]

Pokémon are never to be used in personal fights.

It's disrespectful to the Pokémon and their trainers.

Yeah, well, tell them. They were the ones what started it.

I think you'd be better off not to get mixed up with them.

They have a very bad reputation.

Uh, thanks for the advice.

[giggles]

She sure is pretty. I've never seen anyone as pretty as her.

What are you talking about? She looks just like all the other Joys.

Yeah, it's a joyful world.

-All right, snap out of it. -Ugh, huh?

Oh, quit spacing out. What about Charmander?

Ah, that's right! We've got to help it.

This is dangerous, going out in a storm like this to help a Pokémon.

-What if we all catch pneumonia? -Well, nobody asked you to follow along.

Got to help a Pokémon in need.

[Spearow screeching]

[whimpering]

[Ash] Knock it off!

[all grunting]

-Thunder shock, Pikachu! -Chu!

Pikachu!

[squawking]

Pika.

Next time, make sure you don't shock us too, Pikachu.

Pikachu.

[Ash gasps] Oh, no! The flame on its tail is almost out.

Let's get it to the Pokémon Center.

I'll make sure its tail flame stays lit!

[wind whooshing]

[all panting and grunting]

[Brock] Hold on! You can make it, Charmander.

[door opens]

Joy, please help us.

[Joy] What is it? What's wrong?

-This Charmander is in bad shape. -The flame on its tail...

[gasps There's not much time.

[wind whooshing]

[machine bleeping]

-[Brock] Will it survive? -[Joy] Charmander is very weak.

How could you let it get into this condition?

It's not our fault. Damian's the one who abandoned it.

What?

Well, Damian promised Charmander to come back for it.

Charmander's loyal to Damian, so it believed him.

Poor Charmander.

And Damian just left with the rest of them.

Joy, I'm begging you. Please, save it.

Charmander has got to get better.

I'll do whatever I can.

[wind whooshing]

[in mind] Charmander, you've got to hold on.

Please, keep your flame burning.

[dings]

[all] Huh?

Mm.

[all sigh]

Charmander's recovering. It should be fine by morning.

[in mind] That's the spirit, Charmander.

[all snoring]

[grunts]

-[Brock] Wake up, everybody! -Ah! [grunts]

-What's up, Brock? -Yeah, what's the matter?

Pikachu?

It's Charmander. Charmander has disappeared from the ER!

[Ash] But how?

I bet it went back to that rock to wait for Damian.

-We got to go back. -But that's no use.

We can't force Charmander to come with us

if it wants to wait for Damian, even if he is a lying creep.

She's right. There's nothing you can do until Charmander realizes the truth.

Oh, I thought Charmander understood that we cared about it.

Brock, Charmander knew that we cared but don't you see?

It couldn't forget about Damian. It's still loyal to him.

-Chu. -That's why it went back.

Hmm. Unh!

Come on! Route 24 is just ahead.

Once we get to Vermilion City, there will be plenty of Pokémon.

[Brock sighs]

To protect the world from devastation...

To unite all peoples within our nation...

[both] To denounce the evils of truth and love,

to extend our reach to the stars above.

-Jessie. -James.

Mm, mind if I cut in?

Huddle up! They're going to be here soon.

Finally, a foolproof plan to capture Pikachu.

I'm so excited.

I can't wait to test our new automatic, high-speed, super-duper, whatchamacallit!

[Jessie and James] Start it up.

So, what does this thing do, anyway?

[clanking and whirring]

Not another hole driller! We tried that already!

If at first you don't succeed...

This time, we'll remember where the hole is.

Are you sure you're going to remember where the trap is?

Meowth, don't you think we're smarter than that?

[sighs]

-Our trap is set. -Huh?

Hey, here they come now!

[bleeping]

Hm, they're getting warm.

-[chuckles] Warmer... -They're burning up.

It's too strong. You used too many tree branches.

Me? You're the one who covered it with too much dirt.

[growls]

Meowth!

Quiet.

-Whoa, you feel something? -I did.

Huh? Feel what?

[rumbling]

[all yell]

Pikachu.

[all groaning]

Pika, pika?

[squeaks]

[Meowth] I can't believe they fell for it.

[Jessie] Our invention worked. We're geniuses!

-Pi. -Come with us, Pikachu.

-You belong to us now. -[Pikachu] Chu!

[James] Rubber won't conduct electricity.

[Jessie] Just another example of our incredible genius at work.

You have to be a rocket scientist to outsmart us, the team rocket scientists.

We call these our anti-Pikachu suits.

We made them ourselves.

I must admit, I don't think this is really my color at all.

Enough talk! Let's just grab the Pikachu and get out of here!

[gasps]

[James] We'll use our anti-Pikachu rubber balloon bazooka.

Ready. Aim. Fire!

[whimpers]

[pants]

[pants]

Chu!

[all] Pikachu, Pikachu!

Pikachu!

Pikachu!

[grunts]

Come on, you guys, get up! We got to do something!

We'd love to get up Ash. Unfortunately, you're standing on us.

[Jessie cackles]

Hello down there. Thank you so much for dropping in.

Don't worry. Pikachu is safe with us. We won't lose it like you did.

Chu.

-Pikachu. -Let's get out of here.

[Charmander] Charmander!

[Jessie] What is that thing?

Charmander.

It's saying you better give Pikachu back to those guys right now.

It's got to be kidding.

Now, step aside, you insolent little firebug.

We haven't got time to play with you.

Team rocket plays rough so get moving.

[all] Huh?

Char!

[all groan]

[all scream]

You see, didn't I tell you we needed fireproof uniforms?

Shut up and keep running!

Some geniuses. Meowth!

[Team Rocket] Looks like Team Rocket's blasting off again!

Charmander beat them?

Unh! Wow! Thanks for the help, Charmander.

You see, Brock? Charmander knew we cared.

-That's why it's here. -Way to go.

Charmander, how'd you like to join up with us?

I'm afraid your trainer isn't going to be coming back.

Hi, Charmander. Been looking all over for you.

-Damian, it's you! -What do you want, Damian?

I came back for Charmander just like I promised.

[all gasp]

So let's go.

[whimpering]

Careful. This trainer's already abandoned you once before.

Charmander is mine. I'm the one who caught it, remember?

Damian, you bragged about how you abandoned it.

Good thing I did. That toughened it up.

Besides, what's wrong with dumping off a weak Pokémon'

[gasps]

I wasn't going to come back for it,

but now that I've seen what it can do, I'm real glad I ran into you guys.

The best thing is, I didn't have to raise it myself!

That's terrible.

Raising a Pokémon is the best part of being a trainer.

You wish! It's the most boring part of the job.

How dare you call yourself a Pokémon trainer!

You see? He doesn't care about you.

He just wants to use you to win matches.

-Charmander. -Charmander.

Charmander, return!

[squeaks]

Ah! [groans]

[all gasp]

That does it! I'll crush you with every Pokémon I've got!

Char!

Chu!

[yelling]

[sobs] Mommy!

-[Brock] Way to go, Charmander! -[Ash] Yeah, good work.

Go ahead, Ash. You get Charmander. It'll be a great Pokémon.

But, Brock, you saved it, so you deserve it, I guess.

Right, but don't forget, you're the one who kept the flame on its tail lit.

I'm sure you'll raise Charmander to become a great Pokémon.

Thank you, Brock.

Come on, Charmander. Welcome to the group!

Char! Char!

You got a Pokémon and a new friend.

Yeah.

[narrator] And so Charmander joins Ash and his friends on their journey.

Maybe getting lost isn't so bad after all,

especially when you're lost with your friends.

Of course, finding your way with your friends is even better.

Okay, guys, we got to rap some Pokémon.

You just do the singing. I'll take care of the hard part.

Let's get it on.

♪ I want to be the best there ever was ♪

♪ To beat all the rest, yeah That's my cause ♪

♪ Electrode, Diglett, Nidoran, Mankey Venusaur, Rattata, Fearow, Pidgey ♪

♪ Seaking, Jolteon, Dragonite, Gastly Ponyta, Vaporeon, Poliwrath, Butterfree ♪

♪ Catch 'em, catch 'em Gotta catch 'em all, Pokémon! ♪

♪ I'll search across the land Look far and wide ♪

♪ Release from my hand The power that's inside ♪

♪ Venomoth, Poliwag, Nidorino, Golduck Ivysaur, Grimer, Victreebel, Moltres ♪

♪ Nidoking, Farfetch'd, Abra, Jigglypuff Kingler, Rhyhorn, Clefable, Wigglytuff ♪

Thirty-two down! That's it for now!

Tune in tomorrow. We'll rap at you some more .

There's 150, so watch Monday through Friday.

♪ You'll catch 'em all! ♪

♪ Catch 'em, catch 'em Gotta catch 'em all ♪

♪ Gotta catch 'em all, Pokémon! ♪