DP041 : A Stand-Up Sit-Down!
Diamond & Pearl series
DP043 : Malice In Wonderland!
The Electrike Company!
DP042.png
DP042   EP508
ラクライ訓練センター!
Rakurai Practice Center!
First broadcast
Japan August 9, 2007
United States December 22, 2007
English themes
Opening Diamond and Pearl
Ending
Japanese themes
Opening Together
Ending 君のそばで 〜ヒカリのテーマ〜(PopUp.Version)
Credits
Animation Team Iguchi
Screenplay 十川誠志 Masashi Sogo
Storyboard 日高政光 Masamitsu Hidaka
Assistant director 浅田裕二 Yūji Asada
Animation director 岩根雅明 Masaaki Iwane
Additional credits
  • Screenshots on Filb.de
  • The above credits are from the Japanese anime magazine, Newtype. Another magazine, Animage, has different credits for this episode:
    • Storyboard: 大庭秀昭 Hideaki Ōba
    • Assistant director: 牧野行洋 Yukihiro Makino
    • Animation director: 木下和栄 Kazue Kinoshita

The Electrike Company! (Japanese: ラクライ訓練センター! Rakurai Practice Center!) is the 42nd episode of the Diamond & Pearl series, and the 508th episode of the Pokémon anime. It first aired in Japan on August 9, 2007 and in the United States on December 22, 2007.

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

Ash, Brock and Dawn are sitting next to a pond, watching their Pokémon play in it. They see an Electric-type move coming down on them from the sky blowing the nearby rock as they manage to evade at the last second. After that an Electrike comes running up. Dawn scans it on her Pokédex and Electrike zaps Ash. A man comes running up and apologizes to Ash.

He introduces himself as Jaco and says that he trains Electrike and that he is a Pokémon Pokémon Breeder. He bends down to look at Staravia complimenting it while he reveals his passion for Flying-type Pokémon. Another man walks up and introduces himself as Cal. He runs a training center for Electric-types nearby, and Jaco is training one of the Electrike there. Then he offers the group a tour of the center.

The gang go down to the school only to find it mostly abandoned, due to all the other Pokémon graduating. Then Cal shows up with an Electrike in his arms explaining that after graduating it too will go to the Power Generating room. Next, the scene turns to a demonstration of Electrike's training. He orders the Pokémon to use Charge followed by Thunder. The Electrike proves his ability to manipulate electricity by changing its direction to the left, upward and then on a quick descent hitting the target while Jaco's Electrike watches closely from the sidelines.

After he leaves, Jaco expresses his disappointment with Electrike, being used to working with Flying-type than Electric types. Brock volunteers to help coach Jaco in training Electrike and Jaco with his Electrike gladly accept.

Meanwhile, from their Magikarp Submarine, Team Rocket spies on the scene and figures Electrike is a good candidate to kidnap. James and Meowth point out that this Electrike is unstable, and hasn't matured yet. Jessie suggests that they wait for the twerps to do the work for them, then swoop in and steal it.

The scene turns to Brock explaining how to brush a Pokémon. Jaco starts by brushing it but gets zapped by Electrike to which Brock explains not to use a metal brush. Next, the scene turns to Electrike's training. It starts with Charge followed by Thunderbolt, but it loses control over the attack and accidentally hits Ash again. Upon seeing this, Brock suggest Ash and Dawn to make a demonstration with their Pokémon.

They agree and bring forth Pikachu and Pachirisu. Pikachu hits the target with no problem, but Pachirisu overcharges and blasts Ash. Dawn gives Pachirisu a Poffin, and succeeds the second time. Brock then tells him that Electrike is more powerful than other electric Pokémon. Later, Jaco walks in on Brock as he prepares food for the Pokémon. Brock gives him some advice on breeding not only Electric types, but how all different types need different treatments.

That evening, Pikachu is training with Electrike while being remotely watched by James and Meowth who start to feel the bond of partnership the two have and are inspired for them to see it through. Ironically, Jessie has gotten tired to waiting despite her earlier advice and has them rush in. She tries to steal the Pokémon, but James and Meowth hold her back. She gets insulted, and runs off on her own. The others offer to keep helping Electrike, stunning Ash, Dawn and Brock.

Next morning, Pikachu and Electrike enjoy a meal prepared by Jaco. After that, they turn back to their training. Jaco orders Electrike to Charge again and hit the target with a Thunderbolt, this time succeeding. Then Ash, Meowth and James dress in electricity insulated jackets in order to help Electrike learn to control electricity. Cal shows up in his car and acts impressed.

Jessie returns later, in her own pink mecha to steal Electrike. Pikachu attacks, but her machine is insulated. While held captive in the mecha's hand, Electrike evolves into Manectric, shattering the restraint. Manectric is too big for Jessie's hands now, so she steals Pikachu instead. James and Meowth hop onto the back and hack a hole for Manectric to hit. Manectric has gained a lot of power, improved aim and electricity control, able to hit the small target and blasts Team Rocket off.

After that, Cal shows up and congratulates them on their good work and Manectric graduates to go off to the power generator and charge it. In the closing scenes, Jaco bids his farewell to Manectric as he leaves with Cal, while the group heads off to Hearthome City.

Major events

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

Debuts

Characters

Humans

Pokémon

Trivia

  • Music from Jirachi: Wish Maker and Pokémon Ranger and the Temple of the Sea, and an alternate cut of Together, are used as background music.
  • Ash narrates the next episode preview.
  • The dub name may be a reference to the Sesame Workshop show The Electric Company.
  • This is one of the few episodes where Team Rocket actually wants to be blasted off. James and Meowth requested for Ash to blast them off while trying to hold back Jessie.
  • In this episode, Team Rocket uses a variation of their motto.
  • During Team Rocket's motto the music was cut out during James and Meowth's lines to portray their sadness.

Errors

Ash without his gloves
  • When Ash, James, and Meowth are running from Electrike, Ash doesn't have his gloves on, but when he tells Pikachu to use Thunderbolt on Jessie's machine, he has his gloves on again. After Electrike evolves, Ash's gloves are gone again.
  • Pachirisu and Pikachu zap the two outer targets. When the camera pans out, it shows the target on the right undamaged and the left and center targets broken.
    • Similarly, Cal's Electrike zaps the center target, but when the camera zooms out the left one is destroyed while the center one is unscathed.

Dub edits

In other languages



DP041 : A Stand-Up Sit-Down!
Diamond & Pearl series
DP043 : Malice In Wonderland!
Project Anime logo.png This episode article is part of Project Anime, a Bulbapedia project that covers all aspects of Pokémon animation.