Ash and his friends spotted Articuno flying through the night sky, accompanied by a biplane. After meeting up with Noland, he explains that he'd been cruising with Articuno the previous night. Max was impressed on how Noland caught such a powerful Pokémon, but Noland further explains that Articuno is wild, and a friend of his.
Noland revealed that, on his biplane's maiden voyage, he was surprised to find an Articuno flying beside him. The Legendary bird had trouble flying due to an injured wing. The Factory Head managed to get the Pokémon to land on top of his plane and brought it down. Noland helped it to heal, and ever since then Articuno had been regularly visiting him.
When Noland told Ash to select one of the Head's Pokémon to battle, Ash decided on Articuno. Noland asked it if it agreed to battle under his ownership, which it did. In Numero Uno Articuno, Ash's Charizard made a return from Charicific Valley to battle Articuno. Noland battled Ash and Charizard with Articuno in The Symbol Life.
Even though Charizard had a type advantage as well as learning the move Overheat prior to the battle, it still struggled against Articuno. But after a fierce battle Charizard defeated Articuno with a devastating Seismic Toss earning Ash the Knowledge Symbol.
Articuno later made cameos in the form of flashbacks in A Pyramiding Rage! and The Fires of a Red-Hot Reunion!.
