EP007

The Water Flowers of Cerulean City File:Cerulean.JPG.png

EP007   ハナダシティのすいちゅうか Suichūka of Hanada City

First broadcast Japan May 13, 1997 United States September 16, 1998

English themes Opening Pokémon Theme Ending

Japanese themes Opening めざせポケモンマスター Ending ひゃくごじゅういち

Credits Animation Team Ota Screenplay 大橋志吉 Yukiyoshi Ōhashi Storyboard 井上修 Osamu Inoue Assistant director 井上修 Osamu Inoue Animation director 藤田宗克 Munekatsu Fujita No additional credits are available at this time.

水中花 suichūka are a type of artificial flower which "blossoms" when placed in water.

The Water Flowers of Cerulean City (Japanese: ハナダシティのすいちゅうか Suichūka of Hanada City) is episode 7 of the Pokémon anime. It was first broadcast in Japan on May 13, 1997 and in USA on September 16, 1998.

In this episode, Ash arrives in Cerulean City, eager to get a second badge. When he gets to the Gym, he finds out that Misty is the Gym Leader.

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

Synopsis

Excited about winning his Boulder Badge, Ash can't wait to get to Cerulean City to battle for his Cascade Badge. For some reason, though, Misty is trying to avoid Cerulean, and leaves Ash and Brock as they enter the city.

When they get to the gym, they find three sisters performing underwater. Ash confronts the girls backstage, finds out that they are the Gym Leaders and challenge them to a battle. The girls (Lily, Daisy and Violet) explain that their Pokémon are too tired to battle, and offer Ash the badge without a battle. Ash is about to take it, when Misty appears and challenges him.

It turns out that Misty is the youngest of the "Sensational Sisters" - also known as "the runt" who said she wouldn't come back to Cerulean until she was a great Pokémon trainer. Ash battles Misty (who's coming out on top) but suddenly Team Rocket turns up with a huge modified vacuum cleaner. They suck the water out of Cerulean's pool, taking all the Pokémon with it. Ash helps the girls save all their precious Pokémon, and gains the Cascade badge for his assistance.

Major events

• Ash gets a Cascade Badge.
• Misty caught a Starmie prior to this episode

Debuts

• The Sensational Sisters:
  • Daisy
  • Violet
  • Lily
• Starmie (Misty's Starmie)
• Seel

Characters

Humans

• Ash
• Misty
• Brock
• Jessie
• James
• Officer Jenny
• The Sensational Sisters
  • Daisy
  • Violet
  • Lily

Pokémon

Who's That Pokémon?: Seel

• Pikachu (Ash's)
• Meowth (Team Rocket)
• Caterpie (Ash's; flashback)
• Butterfree (Ash's)
• Pidgeotto (Ash's)
• Goldeen (Misty's; flashback)
• Staryu (Misty's)
• Starmie (Misty's; debut)
• Onix (Brock's); flashback)
• Zubat (Brock's); flashback)
• Seel (Cerulean Gym's; debut)

Trivia

• Brock's absence during the episode is never explained, and is the source of much speculation among fans.
• This episode has lead many fans to believe that Misty's last name is Waterflower. In actuality, the words "water flowers" used in the title are merely a metaphor used to describe the three sisters' grace and beauty.
• This is the second time real animals are shown. Fishes are seen behind the glass when Ash walks into the aquarium.

Dub edits

• The outside of the store Team Rocket loot simply says "MASHIIN" (machine) in the Japanese version, while it says "MACHINE SHOP INDUSTRIAL SUPPLIES ALL MAKES AND MODELS" in the dub. The next shot replaces "RUUMU" with "LS".
• Like the Pewter Gym, the "Hanada Gym" sign is changed to "Cerulean Gym".

In other languages

• French: Les fleurs d'eau d'Azuria
• Portuguese: As Flores Aquáticas da Cidade de Cerulean
• Spanish: Las flores acuáticas de Ciudad Celeste