SM036

This article is about an episode of the Pokémon animated series that has not been dubbed into English. As such, its coverage may contain romanized Japanese names, rather than dub names.

← SM035 : Currying Favor and Flavor!

Sun & Moon series

SM037 : Rising from the Ruins! →

Trials and Determinations!

SM036   EP975 ライチの大試練！一番ハードなポケモン勝負！！ Lychee's Grand Trial! The Hardest Pokémon Match!!

First broadcast Japan August 3, 2017 United States October 21, 2017

English themes Opening Under The Alolan Sun Ending

Japanese themes Opening めざせポケモンマスター -20th Anniversary- Ending ポーズ

Credits Animation Team Kato Screenplay 冨岡淳広 Atsuhiro Tomioka Storyboard 浅田裕二 Yūji Asada Assistant director 小柴純弥 Junya Koshiba Animation director 大西雅也 Masaya Ōnishi No additional credits are available at this time.

Screenshots on Filb.de Preview thread on BMGf Closed Original review thread on BMGf

Trials and Determinations! (Japanese: ライチの大試練！一番ハードなポケモン勝負！！ Lychee's Grand Trial! The Hardest Pokémon Match!!) is the 36th episode of the Sun & Moon series, and the 975th episode of the Pokémon anime. It first aired in Japan on August 3, 2017 and is scheduled to air in the United States on October 21, 2017.

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

Plot

This plot summary is incomplete. Please feel free to edit this plot summary to add missing sections and complete it.

At long last, Ash battles Olivia in the Akala Island Grand Trial Challenge. Ash's Rowlett and Rockruff face Olivia's Lycanroc and Probopass!

Major events

• Ash and Rowlet perform Bloom Doom for the first time.
• Ash defeats Olivia in the Akala Island grand trial, earning a Rockium Z as a reward.
• Olivia informs Ash that his Rockruff will evolve soon.

For a list of all major events in the animated series, please see the history page.

Characters

Humans

Dare da?

• Ash
• Lana
• Kiawe
• Lillie
• Sophocles
• Mallow
• Professor Kukui
• Olivia
• Gladion (flashback)

Pokémon

Who's That Pokémon?: Probopass (Japan)

• Pikachu (Ash's)
• Rotom (Rotom Pokédex)
• Rowlet (Ash's)
• Rockruff (Ash's)
• Litten (Ash's)
• Popplio (Lana's)
• Turtonator (Kiawe's; flashback)
• Vulpix (Lillie's; Alola Form; Snowy)
• Togedemaru (Sophocles's)
• Steenee (Mallow's)
• Lycanroc (Olivia's; Midday Form)
• Probopass (Olivia's)
• Lycanroc (Gladion's; Midnight Form; flashback)
• Tapu Lele (anime)

Trivia

• Poké Problem: Which Pokémon does Olivia send out to battle along with Lycanroc in today's episode?
  • Host: Professor Kukui
  • Choices: Alolan Geodude, Boldore, Tapu Lele, Probopass
  • Answer: Probopass
• This episode marks the first time in the anime that a Pokémon is knocked out by its partner during a Double Battle.
• Alola!! is used as an insert song this episode.
• Lillie, Kiawe, Ash, Sophocles, Professor Kukui, Mallow, and Lana narrate the preview for the next episode.

Errors

• When Ash takes the Rockium Z from Olivia's hand, she is still shown holding it in her hand.

In other languages

Language		Title
Mandarin Chinese		麗姿的大考驗！最艱辛的寶可夢對決！！

This anime-related article is a stub. You can help Bulbapedia by expanding it.

← SM035 : Currying Favor and Flavor!

Sun & Moon series

SM037 : Rising from the Ruins! →

This episode article is part of Project Anime, a Bulbapedia project that covers all aspects of Pokémon animation.