Team Rocket
A red 'R' in sans-serif font
Logo
UniversePokémon
First appearancePokémon Red, Blue, and Yellow
Created byKen Sugimori
GenreJRPG
In-universe information
TypeCriminal organization
LocationCeladon City (Gen I/III/VII) Mahogany Town (Gen II/IV) Five Isle Meadow (Sevii Island Branch Gen III) Team Rocket HQ (anime)
OwnerGiovanni
PurposeTo steal and use Pokémon for profit

Team Rocket (Japanese: ロケット団, Hepburn: Roketto-dan, Japanese: [ɾo̞ke̞t̚to̞ dã̠ɴ]) is a fictional crime syndicate in the Pokémon franchise. Team Rocket is a primary antagonist in the original Pokémon video games Red, Green, and Blue, as well as in the long-running Pokémon anime TV-series. In the latter, Team Rocket is primarily represented through the trio of characters Jessie, James, and Meowth, who are major secondary characters throughout the Pokémon TV-series.

Team Rocket is portrayed as a serious crime syndicate in the video games series, stealing and killing Pokémon. In the TV-series, Team Rocket has a largely comedic role, as they repeatedly fail to steal Pokémon while operating increasingly flashy mecha. The Team Rocket trio in the anime is beloved by Pokémon fans who relate to their roles as young adults and their queercoding.[1]

In video games

Team Rocket first appeared in the video games Pokémon Red, Green, and Blue, where they are portrayed as a serious and affluent crime syndicate aiming to capture and steal Pokémon for profit. The games present Team Rocket breaking and entering, murdering a mother Marowak, and chopping off the tails of Slowpoke to sell on the black market.[2] In Pokémon Gold, Silver, and Crystal, it is revealed that Team Rocket's leader Giovanni had disappeared after being defeated in the original games, and the syndicate is disbanded. Giovanni himself reappears in the 2009 remakes Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver.[3]

Each subsequent set of Pokémon video games has its own villainous teams, such as Team Aqua and Team Magma in Pokémon Ruby and Sapphire, and Team Galactic in Pokémon Diamond and Pearl.[2] Team Rocket and Giovanni returned as a major antagonist team in the 2017 video games Pokémon Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon, as "Team Rainbow Rocket."[4][5]

Team Rocket was introduced to Pokémon Go under the name of "Team GO Rocket" in 2019, allowing players to encounter and battle Team Rocket grunts.[6] Team Rocket grunts also appear in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate as DLC costumes for Mii Fighters.[7] Team Rocket have also appeared in other spinoff games, such as Pokémon Masters EX.[8]

In the anime

Jessie, James, and Meowth
Pokémon characters
James, Meowth, and Jessie, as they appear in the early seasons of the Pokémon TV series
First appearance"Pokémon Emergency!" (1997)
Last appearance"The Rainbow and the Pokémon Master!" (2023)
Designed bySayuri Ichishi
Portrayed by
Voiced by

In the long-running Pokémon anime series, a trio of Team Rocket grunts Jessie (ムサシ, Musashi), James (コジロウ, Kojirō), and Meowth (ニャース, Nyarth) are major secondary characters. The three were the primary antagonists of early seasons of the series, where each episode they attempt to kidnap the protagonist's Pikachu. In the earliest produced episodes of the anime, the trio was halfway intelligent and at times were very formidable foes; while they have assumed a more sinister role in various parts of the series, most notably in the Black and White anime, the three mainly act as comic relief. The characters are presented as simple-minded, bringing slapstick antics to the series.[9] They are associated with several running gags, including an elaborate motto that varies over different seasons of the anime, as well as being sent "blasting off" into the sky by Ash's Pikachu.[10] Team Rocket's Meowth is unusual within the Pokémon canon, as he is the only Pokémon creature able to speak the human language, whereas all other Pokémon in the series only utter syllables of their own names.[11]

Jessie and James originally had an Arbok and a Weezing as their signature Pokémon, respectively. Throughout the anime, they have been associated with a variety of other Pokémon, including the recurring Wobbuffet and Bewear. As the Pokémon series evolved, the Team Rocket trio uses an increasingly large number of vehicles and mecha. Most notably, they travel in a Meowth-shaped hot air balloon throughout the show, and use a Gyarados-shaped submarine in its early seasons. Later on, Team Rocket became known for their large number of mecha and gadgets.[12] The Team Rocket characters have sympathetic backstories and share a strong camaraderie. They are not ideologically aligned with Giovanni and therefore frequently find themselves siding with the series' protagonists. Due to how frequently Jessie and James are shown to crossdress across the series, it has been speculated among fans that the duo may be queercoded.[1]

In 2011, the Pokémon series was building up to an arc in which Giovanni faces off against rival organization Team Plasma, but the episodes were cancelled following the Great East Japan Earthquake.[13] Team Rocket departed the series at the end of the Pokémon Journeys anime.[14] The team also appears in Pokémon Origins and Pokemon Generations, in portrayals more closely aligned with their in-game counterparts.[15][16]

Development

The names Jessie and James reference famous American outlaw Jesse James; their Japanese names Musashi and Kojirō refer to the samurai Miyamoto Musashi and Sasaki Kojiro.

In the English dubbed anime, Jessie was initially voiced by Rachael Lillis, until the dub switched production from 4Kids Entertainment to The Pokémon Company International in 2006, when she was replaced by Michele Knotz.[17] During her audition, Lillis was instructed to make Jessie "sultry" while also keeping her "tough." Lillis did not expect Jessie to be a recurring character in the series. James was originally voiced by Eric Stuart. The two actors quickly started to play around with their voices, giving the characters a "prissy" attitude that contrasted with their inability to succeed.[18]

Meowth was voiced by Maddie Blaustein for the first eight seasons of the series.[19] James Carter Cathcart took over the roles of James and Meowth in 2006, and continued to voice the characters until 2023, when he retired from Pokémon due to oral cancer.[20][21]

Other media

Team Rocket appear as the main antagonists in several arcs of the Pokémon Adventures manga, including the Red, Green, and Blue, Yellow, and Gold and Silver arcs.[22] The Team Rocket trio from the anime appear in the Electric Tale of Pikachu manga adaptation, where Jessie and James are shown at the end to be married and expecting a child.[23]

Team Rocket is the central antagonist in the 2000 stageplay Pokémon Live!, in which Jessie, James, and Meowth successfully steal Ash Ketchum's Pikachu and use it to train Giovanni's Mewtwo.[9] Team Rocket characters additionally frequently appear on cards in the Pokémon Trading Card Game, most notably in the Team Rocket expansion released in 2000.[24][25]

Reception and legacy

As comic relief characters, Jessie, James, and Meowth are very popular among Pokémon viewers. Yahoo!-writer Jay Castello notes that as Pokémon fans grew up, the struggle of "twenty-somethings who couldn’t quite find their place in the world or succeed at their ambitions" became increasingly relatable, and a sub-fandom dedicated to the trio sprang up. The LGBT community largely embraced Team Rocket's queercoding, interpreting them as bisexual drag artists.[1] Blaustein was inspired by Meowth-focused episode "Go West, Young Meowth" to come out and transition as a transgender woman, a friend of her later metaphorically describing the character as "a human trapped in a Pokémon’s body."[26]

In both their games and anime portrayals, Team Rocket have been cited as some of the best villains in the Pokémon franchise.[27] Chris Carter of Destructoid called the English voice team for Jessie, James, and Meowth (Lillis, Stuart, and Blaustein) "some of the show's finest work."[28]

The book Anime Classics Zettai!: 100 Must-See Japanese Animation Masterpieces reviews Team Rocket as the antagonists in the anime who actually provide comedic relief through the characters Jessie and James, with Meowth portrayed as a "clever cat" who stands out among other Meowths. The book also mentions Jessie, who possesses a charming allure, as the leader above James. Although the Team Rocket trio is positioned as antagonists, they are not hesitant to help Ash Ketchum and his friends on several occasions, especially when they find themselves in difficult and dangerous situations, as often depicted in the movies.[29]

Notes

  1. ↑ Episodes 2 - 8
  2. ↑ Episodes 2 - 31

References

  1. 1 2 3 Castello, Jay (2023-04-08). "The Very Queer, 25-Year Legacy of 'Pokémon' Antiheroes Team Rocket". Yahoo! Sports. Archived from the original on 2023-05-03. Retrieved 2023-05-03.
  2. 1 2 Devries, Jack (2012-06-14). "Pokemon Report: Pokemafia". IGN. Archived from the original on 2023-05-03. Retrieved 2023-05-03.
  3. ↑ Lucard, Alex (2010-03-18). "Pokemon HeartGold and SoulSilver – The Return of Giovanni and Celebi!". Diehard GameFan. Archived from the original on 2023-05-03. Retrieved 2023-05-03.
  4. ↑ Barnett, Brian (2017-11-02). "Team Rocket Officially Returns in Pokemon Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon". IGN. Archived from the original on 2023-05-03. Retrieved 2023-05-03.
  5. ↑ de Coninck, Michiel (2017-11-02). "Pokémon Ultra Sun en Ultra Moon brengen Team Rocket terug". Eurogamer. Archived from the original on 2023-05-03. Retrieved 2023-05-03.
  6. ↑ Thier, Dave (2019-07-17). "Team Rocket Is Coming To 'Pokémon GO' Very Soon With A New Update And Some Special Research". Forbes. Archived from the original on 2023-05-04. Retrieved 2023-05-04.
  7. ↑ Bankhurst, Adam (2019-04-09). "Team Rocket grunts is part of the DLC Mii costume in Round 3 in SSBU". IGN.
  8. ↑ Lawver, Bryan (2020-07-10). "Team Rocket Invades Pokémon Masters In New Event". ScreenRant. Retrieved 2024-01-05.
  9. 1 2 O'Neal, Christopher (2020-04-01). "Pokemon: Why Team Rocket Wants to Catch Ash's Pikachu". Comic Book Resources. Archived from the original on 2023-05-03. Retrieved 2023-05-03.
  10. ↑ York, Paige (2019-11-14). "Pokemon: 10 Of Team Rocket's Best Quotes, Ranked". CBR. Retrieved 2024-01-05.
  11. ↑ Harris, Jeffrey (2008-02-04). "Pokémon: Indigo League Season 1, Volume 3 DVD Review". IGN. Archived from the original on 2021-07-09. Retrieved 2023-05-03.
  12. ↑ York, Marc (2022-06-08). "Pokémon: Why Team Rocket Rarely Used Mechas in Season 1". Comic Book Resources. Archived from the original on 2023-05-03. Retrieved 2023-05-03.
  13. ↑ Jiang, Sisi (2023-05-02). "Lost Pokémon Anime Episodes Rediscovered After 12 Years". Kotaku. Archived from the original on 2023-05-04. Retrieved 2023-05-04.
  14. ↑ Carpenter, Nicole (2023-03-14). "Pokémon's Team Rocket blasts off for what may be the final time". Polygon. Retrieved 2024-01-05.
  15. ↑ "Pokémon TV". watch.pokemon.com. Retrieved 2024-01-05.
  16. ↑ "Pokémon TV". watch.pokemon.com. Retrieved 2024-01-05.
  17. ↑ "Michele Knotz Voice Actor". web.archive.org. 2022-11-27. Retrieved 2024-01-05.
  18. ↑ Liebnson, Donald (2000-03-23). "Anime Star". Chicago Tribune. Archived from the original on 2023-05-04. Retrieved 2023-05-04.
  19. ↑ Enlow, Courtney (2019-03-27). "Forgotten Women of Genre". Syfy. Archived from the original on 2022-11-12. Retrieved 2023-05-04.
  20. ↑ Leung, Hilary (2023-04-19). "Pokémon: Team Rocket's James and Meowth Voice Actor James Carter Retires Due to Cancer". Comic Book Resources. Archived from the original on 2023-05-03. Retrieved 2023-05-03.
  21. ↑
  22. ↑ "POKeMON adventures". web.archive.org. 2000-06-22. Retrieved 2024-01-05.
  23. ↑ Ono, Toshihiro (December 1999). Pokemon Graphic Novel, Volume 4: Surf's Up, Pikachu. Viz Media. ISBN 1569314942.
  24. ↑ Nelson, Joshua (2021-06-16). "Pokémon Japanese Team Rocket Booster Box On Auction At Heritage". Bleeding Cool. Archived from the original on 2023-05-08. Retrieved 2023-05-08.
  25. ↑ Dwyer, Theo (2023-04-11). "Pokémon TCG Reveals Pokémon Card 151: Giovanni". Bleeding Cool. Archived from the original on 2023-05-08. Retrieved 2023-05-08.
  26. ↑ Levesley, David (2019-02-27). "The Inspiring Story of the Trans Actress Behind Your Favorite Pokémon's Voice". Them. Archived from the original on 2023-03-29. Retrieved 2023-05-04.
  27. ↑ Lima, Leo Noboru (2022-07-13). "The Best Characters In The Entire Pokemon Franchise According To Fans". SVG. Retrieved 2024-01-05.
  28. ↑ Carter, Chris (2019-07-09). "Team Rocket might be blasting off into Pokemon Go". Destructoid. Archived from the original on 2023-05-04. Retrieved 2023-05-04.
  29. ↑ Camp, Brian; Julie Davis (May 2007). Anime Classics Zettai!: 100 Must-See Japanese Animation Masterpieces. Stone Bridge Press. p. 283. ISBN 978-1-933330-22-8.
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