The Rivals

The subject of this article has no official English name. The name currently in use is the official English translation of the Japanese name.

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← Aim to Be a Pokémon Master

Japanese opening themes

OK! →

ライバル！
Raibaru! The Rivals
TV OP 2 Artist 松本梨香 Rica Matsumoto Lyrics 戸田昭吾 Akihito Toda Composer たなか　ひろかず Hirokazu Tanaka Arrangement たなか　ひろかず Hirokazu Tanaka
Pikachu Records single Title ライバル！ The Rivals Catalog no. ZMDP-156
This was also the opening to the second Pokémon movie, Revelation Lugia.

The Rivals (Japanese: ライバル！ Rival!) is the second Japanese opening theme of the original series.

CD cover of The Rivals

It debuted in EP081, replacing Aim to Be a Pokémon Master.

Opening animation

Synopsis

The opening starts with a brief view of a battlefield which quickly changes into a Poké Ball. The ball opens and the Pokémon logo comes out, appearing over water. Growlithe jumps out from the left, Goldeen makes a splashing entrance, and Pidgeot flies up. The title then disappears with Staryu making its appearance, followed by Snorlax and then Charizard making a roar. The next scene features Marill, Venonat, and Scyther. The background changes as Jigglypuff appears singing. Bulbasaur then comes up, then Slowbro only to be attacked by Squirtle. Magneton scares Squirtle away with an Electric attack. Pikachu makes his entrance and uses Thunderbolt. The earth is shown next as Thunderbolt comes out. Ash and Pikachu appears in battle against Sparky and Ritchie. The screen split into four and shows various Pokémon doing attacks. This changes to a dark stadium where Ash is seen standing with his head low. Misty and Tracey, as well as Professor Oak and Delia Ketchum are watching him from the sidelines. The two girls seem concerned. Ash's fist trembles, then opens. Light is cast on him as he raises his head with a confident smile. Afterward, Ash and Ritchie shake hands.

The scene changes to the sea where Pikachu and Togepi are seen riding on Lapras's head. Ash, Misty and Tracey are riding on Lapras's back, while Goldeen and Staryu are swimming. Psyduck, on the other hand, seems to be drowning. Nurse Joy and Officer Jenny pass by riding on a motorboat. Giovanni appears on the screen with a menacing look. Jessie, James, and Meowth appear standing on their Magikarp submarine. A Gyarados then swats them away with its tail.

The next scene features Lapras and the gang again, shot from behind. Psyduck is hanging onto Lapras, while Goldeen and Staryu are in the water. Pikachu and Togepi are still on Lapras's head, while the Trainers are on its back, all are laughing. Closing up on Ash, Pikachu hops onto his back. Then Ash looks at the sky. Flashbacks of his rivals are seen. The next scene shows Lapras and the gang again, looking up at the sky, with the sun setting over the horizon.

Characters

The titular rivals of The Rivals

Humans

• Ash Ketchum
• Misty
• Tracey Sketchit (debut)
• Jessie
• James
• Gary Oak
• Professor Oak
• Delia Ketchum
• Nurse Joy
• Officer Jenny
• Giovanni
• Ritchie
• Duplica
• Samurai
• Mandi
• A.J.
• Giselle
• Jeanette Fisher
• Hiker from EP051

Pokémon

• Pikachu (Ash's)
• Meowth (Team Rocket)
• Togepi (Misty's)
• Bulbasaur (Ash's)
• Charizard (Ash's)
• Squirtle (Ash's)
• Lapras (Ash's, new, debut)
• Snorlax (Ash's, new, debut)
• Goldeen (Misty's)
• Staryu (Misty's)
• Psyduck (Misty's)
• Venonat (Tracey's, debut)
• Marill (Tracey's, debut)
• Scyther (Tracey's, new, debut)
• Growlithe (Gary's)
• Pikachu (Sparky, Ritchie's)
• Charmander (Zippo, Ritchie's)
• Butterfree (Happy, Ritchie's)
• Ditto (Duplica's)
• Pinsir (Samurai's)
• Golbat (Mandi's)
• Sandshrew (A.J.'s)
• Cubone (Giselle's)
• Bellsprout (Jeanette Fisher's)
• Rhyhorn (Hiker's)
• Jigglypuff (anime)
• Pidgeot
• Growlithe
• Magneton
• Slowbro
• Gyarados

Lyrics

TV size

Japanese English バトルしようぜ！ ほえる　はねる　そらをとぶ トライアタック　メガトンパンチ！ うたう　ねむる　サイコキネシス ロケットずつき　10まんボルト！ かってもまけても　おまつりさわぎ バトルしようぜ　ポケモンバトル！ まけた　くやしさは ふるえるほどだけど にぎりこぶしを　ほどいて ズボンであせふき あくしゅしよう！ ときのながれは　ふしぎだね “どっちが　かったか　ねえ　おぼえてる？” いまでは　ホラ わらいながら　はなしができるよ “わすれたね！”って　とぼけてる そんな　オレのライバルたち Let's battle! Roar, Hop, Fly Tri Attack, Megaton Punch! Sing, Sleep, Psychokinesis Rocket Headbutt, 100,000 Volts! Win or lose, I'll celebrate Let's battle, a Pokémon battle! It's so disappointing to lose I'm trembling, but, My clenched fist loosens I wipe the sweat on my jeans, so let's shake hands! Isn't the flow of time mysterious? "Do you remember who won?" Now look! I can laugh as I talk with you "I forgot!" said while playing dumb Those are my rivals

Full version

Japanese English バトルしようぜ！ ほえる　はねる　そらをとぶ トライアタック　メガトンパンチ！ うたう　ねむる　サイコキネシス ロケットずつき　10まんボルト！ 勝っても負けても　おまつりさわぎ バトルしようぜ　ポケモンバトル！ 負けた　くやしさは ふるえるほどだけど にぎりこぶしを　ほどいて ズボンで汗ふき　あくしゅしよう！ 時の流れは　ふしぎだね “どっちが勝ったか　ねえ　おぼえてる？” いまでは　ホラ 笑いながら　話ができるよ “わすれたね！”って　とぼけてる そんな　オレのライバルたち すてみタックル　からてチョップ オーロラビーム　ハイドロポンプ！ にらみつける　ゆびをふる はっぱカッター　でんこうせっか！ 勝っても負けても　おまつりさわぎ バトルしようぜ　ポケモンバトル！ 勝った　うれしさは 泣きたいほどだけど 勝ち負けよりも　だいじな 何かがきっと　あるはずさ！ ライバルどうし　おかしいね “まだまだ育てが　足りないぜ！” それでも　ホラ 選んだ道が　おなじ道だから “負けないぞ！”って　いいながら おなじ夢を　語り合う 夢の　つぼみは つぼみの　ままだけど すこしづつ　ふくらんで　きてる・・・ そんな　気がするよ Let's battle! Roar, Hop, Fly Tri Attack, Megaton Punch! Sing, Sleep, Psychokinesis Rocket Headbutt, 100,000 Volts! Win or lose, I'll celebrate Let's battle, a Pokémon battle! It's so disappointing to lose I'm trembling, but, My clenched fist loosens I wipe the sweat on my jeans, so let's shake hands! Isn't the flow of time mysterious? "Do you remember who won?" Now look! I can laugh as I talk with you "I forgot!" said while playing dumb Those are my rivals Life-Risking Tackle, Karate Chop Aurora Beam, Hydro Pump! Glare, Wag Finger Leaf Cutter, Lightning Speed! Win or lose, I'll celebrate Let's battle, a Pokémon battle! I'm so happy to win I want to cry, but There's something more important Than winning and losing! Rivals are something amusing "You still have a ways to go before you're grown!" You see, look! Because the road we've chosen is the same "I won't lose!" With these words We can talk of our identical dreams The bud that is our dreams Hasn't changed, but Little by little it'll bloom... I can feel it

Trivia

• Unlike most openings, no Legendary Pokémon were featured in this opening.
• Gary is shown with a Growlithe in this opening, even though he has never been seen using one, nor has it ever been confirmed if he obtained his Arcanine when it was still a Growlithe.
• This would be the only opening to not feature Brock up until Best Wishes!.
• This is the first time in the anime where digital coloring rather than hand coloring was used. In this case, it was during the power display of Growlithe, Misty's Goldeen, Misty's Staryu, Ash's Snorlax, and Ash's Charizard.

In other languages

Language		Title
Hindi		हम सब तो एक ही है Hum Sab Toh Ek Hi Hai *
Tamil		The Rivals *
Telugu		The Rivals *

← Aim to Be a Pokémon Master

Japanese opening themes

OK! →

Japanese opening themes of the Pokémon anime OS: Aim to Be a Pokémon Master • The Rivals • OK! • Aim to Be a Pokémon Master (Whiteberry version) • Ready Go! AG: Advance Adventure • Challenger!! • Pokémon Symphonic Medley • Battle Frontier • Spurt! DP: Together / Together2008 • High Touch! / High Touch! 2009 • The Greatest - Everyday! / The Greatest - Everyday! (Band Version) BW: Best Wishes! • Be an Arrow! / Be an Arrow! 2013 • Summerly Slope XY: V (Volt) / Mega V (Mega Volt) • Mad-Paced Getter • XY&Z SM: Alola!! • Aim to Be a Pokémon Master -20th Anniversary- • Future Connection • Your Adventure JN: One, Two, Three • Aim to Be a Pokémon Master -with my friends- HZ: Heart-Pounding Diary • Halo • Will Other: A New Oath • We are the Pichu Brothers! • Koko

This article is part of Project Music, a Bulbapedia project that aims to write comprehensive articles on each Pokémon song, CD and musician.