XY085 : Mending a Broken Spirit!
XY series
XY087 : The Tiny Caretaker!
A Legendary Photo Op!
XY086.png
XY086   EP885
シャッターチャンスはファイヤー !伝説を撮れ!!
Photo Op on Fire! Snap the Legend!!
First broadcast
Japan August 27, 2015
United States October 24, 2015
English themes
Opening Be a Hero
Ending
Japanese themes
Opening ゲッタバンバン
Ending ガオガオ・オールスター
Credits
Animation Team Kato
Screenplay 藤田伸三 Shinzō Fujita
Storyboard 村野佑太 Yūta Murano
Assistant director いわもとやすお Yasuo Iwamoto
Animation director 篠原隆 Takashi Shinohara
No additional credits are available at this time.

A Legendary Photo Op! (Japanese: シャッターチャンスはファイヤー !伝説を撮れ!! Photo Op on Fire! Snap the Legend!!) is the 86th episode of the XY series, and the 885th episode of the Pokémon anime. It first aired in Japan on August 27, 2015, in Canada on October 17, 2015, and in the United States on October 24, 2015.

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

When our heroes arrive at the foot of Mt. Molteau, the sudden appearance of a fiery Charmeleon lets them know that Trevor, their friend from Pokémon summer camp, is nearby! His goal is to take a photograph of the Legendary Pokémon Moltres, who is reputed to live on Mt. Molteau.

The Team Rocket villains are close behind, hoping to catch Moltres for the Boss. But first they grab Pikachu and a battle ensues near the volcano’s crater. The Legendary Pokémon awakens during the fray and sends Team Rocket blasting off with a powerful Flamethrower!

Unfortunately, Moltres thinks our heroes are also enemies and turns its attack on them! While trying to protect Ash and his friends, Fletchinder evolves into a magnificent Talonflame. When Talonflame finds itself in trouble, Ash jumps to the rescue, saving his beloved Pokémon and proving to Moltres that he means it no harm.

Trevor has gotten his photograph, our heroes have met Moltres, and Ash and Talonflame vow to work hard together. And now the journey to Anistar City continues!

Plot

The episode opens up with Ash and his friends arriving at the foot of Mt. Molteau and speculating that it may be a volcano. Hearing a noise to their right, they notice a Charmeleon stepping out behind some bushes. Pikachu and Dedenne express their delight and run towards the Charmeleon, only to find Charmeleon retaliating with Flamethrower. The Charmeleon is revealed to be Trevor’s as he arrives and meets the group, only to find himself attacked with Charmeleon's Flamethrower too.

Serena asks why Charmeleon is in an awful mood, and Ash suggests maybe Charmeleon wants a battle. Charmeleon agrees and Ash decides to battle with Fletchinder. Charmeleon begins by attacking with Fire Spin, which Fletchinder dodges. Charmeleon then uses Flamethrower, which Fletchinder deflects with Steel Wing. Fletchinder then hits back with Flame Charge. Charmeleon takes the attack and attacks back with Dragon Claw. Charmeleon then uses Flamethrower, which Fletchinder dodges and uses Steel Wing again, this time knocking Charmeleon out. After the battle, Charmeleon seems to be much calmer than before.

The group then take a break to eat, and reminisce about their time at the Pokémon Summer Camp. Bonnie comments Charmeleon’s attitude hasn’t changed since then, and Trevor remarks how Charmeleon has been amazing in battle, earning him the Bug Badge. Trevor then asks the others whether they also are searching for Moltres, with his analysis having tracked down Moltres to Mt. Molteau. Trevor proceeds to show photos he had taken of Zapdos and Articuno, and continues to ramble on about other photos of other rare Pokémon which leaves the others dumbfounded. Afterwards, Ash and group decide the help Trevor in finding Moltres.

Meanwhile, Team Rocket are spying on the group, and decide to catch Moltres.

As the group walk up the mountain, Trevor shows them an obscured photo of Moltres on top of a big rock, exclaiming they also must go find the big rock to find Moltres. Clemont interjects and pulls out his device he calls "Rock Searcher Mark 1". Clemont inputs the photo’s landscape into the device’s memory, so that the device can find the same rock. The device shudders and moves towards a rock, which it scans and determines as a wrong match. It continues on moving and finding no correct matches.

Later, Trevor notices a rare Crustle and Butterfree and stops to take photos. Meanwhile, as the group is distracted by Trevor, Team Rocket run past the group and follow Clemont’s device. As Team Rocket locate the device, the device happens to come across a rock of the correct match and rings out a bell. Jessie, frustrated, hits the device which explodes. Team Rocket run away as the group approaches, as Clemont cries over another failed invention. The device then malfunctions and chases the group, eventually falling into the volcano’s lava.

Team Rocket then interrupts by grabbing and capturing Pikachu in a capsule. Ash takes out Fletchinder while Jessie and James take out Gourgeist and Inkay. Gourgeist attacks with Shadow Ball and Inkay attacks with Psybeam which Fletchinder dodges. Trevor comments on Gourgeist’s rare size and takes photos of it, only to be stopped by Serena. Charmeleon then attacks by using Flamethrower, which is deflected by Inkay’s Psybeam. Gourgeist proceeds to attack with Shadow Ball and Inkay with Psybeam, which Fletchinder again dodges. Jessie and James continue the same attack, which Fletchinder dodges but the attacks hit a boulder, causing it to fall into the lava.

At this, a roar comes out of the volcano and Moltres appears from the lava. Moltres sets its eyes on Team Rocket which attack Moltres with Shadow Ball and Psybeam. Moltres retaliates with Flamethrower, causing them to blast off, as Pikachu falls out of their grasp. Fletchinder uses Steel Wing on Pikachu’s capsule to release Pikachu.

Moltres now attacks Ash and the group, thinking that they are enemies. Ash takes out Frogadier, and commands it to use Water Pulse, but the move evaporates before hitting Moltres. Charmeleon then attacks Moltres with Flamethrower. Moltres attacks back at the group with Flamethrower, which Fletchinder dodges. Moltres attacks Fletchinder again, this time hitting Fletchinder and causing it to fall, injured. Moltres then attacks the group, but Fletchinder races to them, and blocks the attack, while evolving into Talonflame at the same time.

Talonflame attacks Moltres with its newly learned Brave Bird. Moltres continues to retaliate with Flamethrower, and Ash commands Talonflame to attack with Brave Bird again. Moltres uses Fire Blast, which hits Talonflame, causing it to fall, tumbling towards the lava. Ash races and falls down toward the lava to catch Talonflame, his descent just stopped by Frogadier’s frubbles made into a rope.

Moltres observing this decides that they are not enemies and flies off.

As the group walk down the mountain, Trevor views his photo of Moltres. Ash comments that he and his Pokémon have a lot of things to do, and Trevor decides to take a photo of Ash and his Pokémon.

Major events

For a list of all major events in Pokémon the Series, please see the timeline page.

Debuts

Pokémon debuts

Characters

Humans

Pokémon Quiz

Pokémon

Who's That Pokémon?

Who's That Pokémon?: Charmeleon (US and international)
Pokémon Quiz: Moltres (Japan)

Trivia

File:Title Card XY Ash V2.png
The title card segment focuses on Ash for this episode

Errors

Talonflame without the yellow mark on its right eye
  • In the dub, when Pikachu and Dedenne are excited after seeing Charmeleon, Dedenne's mouth moves but no sound comes out.
  • After Talonflame's Evolution, Frogadier is seen in the background with white-colored arms instead of blue.
  • When Ash grabs his Talonflame while falling down into a volcano together, the yellow mark on Talonflame's right eye is missing.

Dub edits

In other languages



XY085 : Mending a Broken Spirit!
XY series
XY087 : The Tiny Caretaker!
Project Anime logo.png This episode article is part of Project Anime, a Bulbapedia project that covers all aspects of Pokémon animation.