Team Rocket motto
The Team Rocket motto (Japanese: ロケット団の名乗り Rocket Gang's self-introduction) is a motto that Team Rocket members often recite and/or live by.
Jessie, James, and Meowth
In the anime, Jessie, James, and Meowth have several mottos, saying one of them in nearly every episode when they reveal themselves to Ash and his friends. Early on, they had an irresistible urge to say it whenever hearing the word "trouble", but this seemingly has been left to the past. This motto would usually be said by all members of the trio, but when one of them is not present, another member takes their line.
Original series
The original motto was used from Pokémon Emergency! to From Brags to Riches. The original background music was used until the end of the original series. The new music debuted in Get the Show on the Road!.
| Japanese | Translation | English |
|---|---|---|
| ムサシ: なんだかんだと聞かれたら | Musashi: If you ask us this or that... | Jessie: Prepare for trouble! |
| コジロウ: 答えてあげるのが世の情け | Kojirō: The pity of the world is what responds! | James: Make it double! |
| ムサシ: 世界の破壊を防ぐため | Musashi: To prevent the destruction of the world! | Jessie: To protect the world from devastation! |
| コジロウ: 世界の平和を守るため | Kojirō: To protect the peace of the world! | James: To unite all peoples within our nation! |
| ムサシ: 愛と真実の悪をつらぬく | Musashi: To stand by the evils of love and truth! | Jessie: To denounce the evils of truth and love! |
| コジロウ: ラブリー・チャーミーな敵役 | Kojirō: The lovely, charmy villains! | James: To extend our reach to the stars above! |
| ムサシ: ムサシ | Musashi: Musashi! | Jessie: Jessie! |
| コジロウ: コジロウ | Kojirō: Kojirō! | James: James! |
| ムサシ: 銀河をかけるロケット団の二人には…… | Musashi: The pair from Team Rocket soars through the galaxy! | Jessie: Team Rocket, blast off at the speed of light! |
| コジロウ: ホワイトホール、白い明日が待ってるぜ | Kojirō: A white hole, a white tomorrow awaits us! | James: Surrender now, or prepare to fight! |
| ニャース: にゃんてにゃ | Nyarth: Something like that! | Meowth: Meowth! That's right! |
Note that the lines "To denounce the evils of truth and love!" and "To extend our reach to the stars above!" were often said by both Jessie and James in the first season. In many later episodes, starting from Fit To Be Tide, James said "fight, fight, fight" instead of just the singular "fight" at the end of his last line. Wobbuffet also began saying his name at the end of the motto in Tunnel Vision, and has done so in most episodes since. There were many occasions in which the trio would use a radio or something similar to play the background music.
Since the episode Team Rocket was introduced in, the duo has been rhyming "prepare for trouble" and "make it double" phrases. Also, in almost all episodes after the Orange League, they tend to alter the first two sentences to match the current situation. An example from ZigZag Zangoose!, in which Jessie was training Seviper and Meowth filled in for her, is:
- Meowth: Prepare for trouble, here in the wood...
- James: ...and make it double like you know that you should!
This version of the motto was used in commercials for Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen with each line being said by different children, omitting the parts at which Jessie, James and Meowth say their own names and the line "Team Rocket, blasting off at the speed of light." This motto was also adapted into the songs Team Rocket Forever and Double Trouble
Team Rocket used this motto in A Lean Mean Team Rocket Machine, as a return to their "hip and cool" ways, done by only Jessie, James, and Meowth, without the usual ending additions of Wobbuffet and Mime Jr.
This motto was also used in Alola, Kanto!, where Team Rocket had followed Ash and his classmates to Kanto during their extracurricular activity.
Advanced Generation series
During the Battle Frontier saga, Jessie, James, and Meowth changed their motto. This motto was used from The Scheme Team to Two Degrees of Separation!.
| Japanese | Translation | English |
|---|---|---|
| ムサシ: なんだかんだと声がする | Musashi: There is a voice saying something. | Jessie: Prepare for trouble from the skies! |
| コジロウ: 地平線の彼方から | Kojirō: From beyond the horizon... | James: From beyond the stars, a nasty surprise! |
| ムサシ: ビッグバンの彼方から | Musashi: From beyond the big bang... | Jessie: An evil as old as the galaxy... |
| コジロウ: 我らを呼んでる声がする | Kojirō: A voice is calling us! | James: ...sent here to fulfill our destiny! |
| ニャース: お待たせにゃ | Nyarth: Sorry to keep you waiting! | Meowth: Plus, there's me! |
| ムサシ: 健気に咲いた悪の花 | Musashi:Evil flowers who have courageously bloomed! | Jessie: To denounce the evils of truth and love! |
| コジロウ: ハードでスイートな敵役 | Kojirō: In the role of the villains who are hard and sweet! | James: To extend our reach to the stars above! |
| ムサシ: ムサシ | Musashi: Musashi! | Jessie: Jessie! |
| コジロウ: コジロウ | Kojirō: Kojirō! | James: And James! |
| ニャース: ニャースでニャース | Nyarth: And Nyarth! | Meowth: And Meowth are the names! |
| ムサシ: ロケット団のあるところ | Musashi: The place where Team Rocket is | Jessie: Anywhere there's peace in the universe... |
| コジロウ: 世界は | Kojirō: The world- | James: ...Team Rocket... |
| ニャース: 宇宙は | Nyarth: The universe- | Meowth: ...Will be there... |
| All: 君を待っている | All: Awaits you! | All: To make everything worse! |
| ソーナンス: ソーナンス！ | Sonans: Sōnansu! | Wobbuffet: Wobbuffet! |
Since the first episode, they have adapted their traditional rhyming phrases "Prepare for trouble" and "Make it double" into the motto, thereby restoring the first two lines of the original motto. James's Chimecho and Mime Jr. also contribute their names at the end of the motto in most episodes they appear in.
Diamond & Pearl series
In Sinnoh, the trio changed to a new motto yet again. This motto was used from When Pokémon Worlds Collide! to Bucking the Treasure Trend!.
| Japanese | Translation | English |
|---|---|---|
| ムサシ: なんだかんだの声を聞き | Musashi: We hear voices saying this and that... | Jessie: Listen, is that a voice I hear? |
| コジロウ: 光の速さでやってきた | Kojirō: We come along in a swift current of light... | James: It's speaking to me loud and clear. |
| ムサシ: 風よ | Musashi: The wind! | Jessie: On the wind! |
| コジロウ: 大地よ | Kojirō: The land! | James: Past the stars! |
| ニャース: 大空よ | Nyarth: The sky! | Meowth: In your ear! |
| ムサシ: 世界に届けよう デンジャラス | Musashi: The danger we will deliver to the world! | Jessie: Bringing chaos at a breakneck pace. |
| コジロウ: 宇宙に伝えよう クライシス | Kojirō: The crisis we will convey to the universe! | James: Dashing hope, putting fear in its place. |
| ムサシ: 天使か悪魔か その名を呼べば | Musashi: Whether angels or demons, if you call the name, | Jessie: A rose by any other name is just as sweet. |
| コジロウ: 誰もが震える魅惑の響き | Kojirō: The captivating echo that shakes everyone... | James: When everything's worse, our work is complete. |
| ムサシ: ムサシ | Musashi: Musashi! | Jessie: Jessie! |
| コジロウ: コジロウ | Kojirō: Kojirō | James: And it's James! |
| ニャース: ニャースでニャース | Nyarth: And Nyarth! | Meowth: And Meowth, now that's a name! |
| ムサシ: 時代の主役はあたしたち | Musashi: The stars of the era are us! | Jessie: Putting the do-gooders in their place... |
| コジロウ: 我らは無敵の | Kojirō: We are the invincible... | James: ...we're Team Rocket... |
| All: ロケット団 | All: Team Rocket! | All: ...in your face! |
| ソーナンス: ソーナンス | Sonans: Sōnansu! | Wobbuffet: Wobbuffet! |
In the dub, they often replace the first two lines with
- Jessie: Listen, is that a twerpish voice I hear?
- James: It's shrieking to me loud and clear.
- Jessie: Listen, is that a pitiful head of a Pokécenter I hear?
- James: It whines to me loud and clear.
or something similar. As in Battle Frontier, Mime Jr. contributes its name after Wobbuffet.
It is notable that the Sinnoh motto is modified more often even in the Japanese version.
Best Wishes series
Best Wishes! and Best Wishes! Season 2
In Unova, the trio changed to a new motto yet again. This motto was used from Enter Iris and Axew! to A Restoration Confrontation! Part 1.
| Japanese | Translation | English |
|---|---|---|
| ムサシ: 「＊」と聞かれたら | Musashi: If we were asked "*" | Jessie: What a question, twerpish indeed! |
| コジロウ: 答えてあげよう明日のため | Kojirō: We will answer for the sake of tomorrow! | James: We'll answer these questions when we feel the need! |
| ムサシ: フューチャー 白い未来は悪の色 | Musashi: Future! A white future reflects the color of evil! | Jessie: Bringing the blinding white light of evil into the future! |
| コジロウ: ユニバース 黒い世界に正義の鉄槌 | Kojirō: Universe! The hammer of justice in a black world! | James: Thrusting the hammer of justice down onto the black darkness of the universe! |
| ニャース: 我らこの地にその名を記す | Nyarth: Our names will be remembered in this place! | Meowth: Carving our names in the Rock of Eternity! |
| ムサシ: 情熱の破壊者 ムサシ! | Musashi: Destroyer of passion, Musashi! | Jessie: The fiery destroyer, Jessie! |
| コジロウ: 暗黒の純情 コジロウ! | Kojirō: Pure heart of darkness, Kojirō! | James: And with thunderous emotion, I am James! |
| ニャース: 無限の知性 ニャース! | Nyarth: Infinite intelligence, Nyarth! | Meowth: Wisest of the wise, Meowth! |
| All: さあ集え! ロケット団の名のもとに! | All: Come gather! Under the name of Team Rocket! | All: And now gather, under the name of Team Rocket! |
"*" denotes the phrase Jessie copies when they are about to announce their motto.
Best Wishes! Season 2: Episode N and Best Wishes! Season 2: Decolora Adventure!
In New Places... Familiar Faces!, Jessie, James and Meowth reverted to their original motto with some slight alterations, after having failed in their latest operation and making a brief retreat back to Kanto. Starting in Adventures in Unova and Beyond, the motto is altered to the situation.
| Japanese | Translation | English |
|---|---|---|
| ムサシ: なんだかんだと聞かれたら | Musashi: If you ask us this or that... | Jessie: Prepare for trouble, you know the drill! |
| コジロウ: 答えてあげるのが世の情け | Kojirō: The pity of the world is what responds! | James: And make it double, you'll get your fill! |
| ムサシ: 世界の破壊を防ぐため | Musashi: To prevent the destruction of the world! | Jessie: To protect the world from devastation! |
| コジロウ: 世界の平和を守るため | Kojirō: To protect the peace of the world! | James: To unite the people within our nation! |
| ムサシ: 愛と真実の悪をつらぬく | Musashi: To stand by the evils of love and truth! | Jessie: To denounce the evils of truth and love! |
| コジロウ: ラブリー・チャーミーな敵役 | Kojirō: The lovely, charmy villains! | James: To extend our reach to the stars above! |
| ムサシ: ムサシ | Musashi: Musashi! | Jessie: It's Jessie! |
| コジロウ: コジロウ | Kojirō: Kojirō! | James: And it's James! |
| ムサシ: 銀河をかけるロケット団の二人には…… | Musashi: The pair from Team Rocket soars through the galaxy! | Jessie: Team Rocket, blast off at the speed of light! |
| コジロウ: ホワイトホール、白い明日が待ってるぜ | Kojirō: A white hole, a white tomorrow awaits us! | James: Surrender now, or prepare to fight! |
| ニャース: にゃんてにゃ | Nyarth: Something like that! | Meowth: Meowth! That's right! |
XY series
Just like in Adventures in Unova and Beyond, Jessie, James and Meowth still currently use their original motto from the original series, but it is altered to the situation at hand in the episode.
| Japanese | Translation | English |
|---|---|---|
| ムサシ: なんだかんだと聞かれたら | Musashi: If you ask us this or that... | Jessie: Prepare for trouble! |
| コジロウ: 答えてあげるのが世の情け | Kojirō: The pity of the world is what responds! | James: And make it double! |
| ムサシ: 世界の破壊を防ぐため | Musashi: To prevent the destruction of the world! | Jessie: To protect the world from devastation! |
| コジロウ: 世界の平和を守るため | Kojirō: To protect the peace of the world! | James: To unite all people within our nation! |
| ムサシ: 愛と真実の悪をつらぬく | Musashi: To stand by the evils of love and truth! | Jessie: To denounce the evils of truth and love! |
| コジロウ: ラブリー・チャーミーな敵役 | Kojirō: The lovely, charmy villains! | James: To extend our reach to the stars above! |
| ムサシ: ムサシ | Musashi: Musashi! | Jessie: It's Jessie! |
| コジロウ: コジロウ | Kojirō: Kojirō! | James: And James! |
| ムサシ: 銀河をかけるロケット団の二人には…… | Musashi: The pair from Team Rocket soars through the galaxy! | Jessie: Team Rocket, blast off at the speed of light! |
| コジロウ: ホワイトホール、白い明日が待ってるぜ | Kojirō: A white hole, a white tomorrow awaits us! | James: Surrender now, or prepare to fight! |
| ニャース: にゃんてにゃ | Nyarth: Something like that! | Meowth: Meowth! That's right! |
Sun & Moon series
In Alola, the trio once again changed to a new motto, which debuted in Loading the Dex!. It's very similar to the Unovan one.
| Japanese | Translation | English |
|---|---|---|
| ムサシ: 「＊」と言われたら | Musashi: If asked, "*" | Jessie: Did someone ask something? We're here to find out! |
| コジロウ: 聞かせてあげよう われらが名を | Kojirō: We shall tell you our names | James: Noble answers are what we're all about! |
| ムサシ: 花顔柳腰 羞月閉花 | Musashi: A flower's face and a willow's waist, makes the moon abashed and flowers wilt | Jessie: The beauty so radiant, the flowers and moon hide in shame. |
| ムサシ: 儚きこの世に咲く一輪の悪の花 | Musashi: A single flower of evil blooming in this fleeting world | Jessie: A single flower of evil in this fleeting world: |
| ムサシ: ムサシ！ | Musashi: Musashi! | Jessie: Jessie! |
| コジロウ: 飛竜乗雲 英姿颯爽 | Kojirō: An exquisite talent and the perfect gentleman | James: The nobly heroic man of our times! |
| コジロウ: 切なきこの世に一矢報いる悪の使徒 | Kojirō: A disciple of evil fighting back against this tragic world | James: The master of darkness fighting back against a tragic world! |
| コジロウ: コジロウ！ | Kojirō: Kojirō! | James: It's James. |
| ニャース: 一蓮托生 連帯責任 | Nyarth: Walking the same path, the deeds of one are the deeds of all | Meowth: It's all for one and one for all! |
| ニャース: 親しき仲にも小判が輝く悪の星 | Nyarth: Even among friends, the star of evil shining like gold | Meowth: A glittering dark star that always shines bright! |
| ニャース: ニャースでニャース | Nyarth: Nyarth! | Meowth: Dig it, while Meowth takes flight! |
| ムサシ、コジロウ: ロケット団参上 | Musashi, Kojirō: We are Team Rocket! | Jessie, James: Team Rocket, let's fight! |
| ニャース: なのニャ | Nyarth: We are! | Meowth: That's right! |
| ソーナンス: ソーナンス | Sonans: Sōnansu! | Wobbuffet: Wobbuffet! |
"*" denotes the phrase Jessie copies when they are about to announce their motto.
Variations
Original series
| Click [show] to see the variations. |
|
In this episode James was depressed while saying his lines of the motto due to the fact that he was conned by the Magikarp salesman. As James was under the trance of Gastly, he was not present with Jessie and Meowth when they encountered the twerps, and Jessie was left to say most of the motto herself. However, James later reacted to hearing the motto, and made his whereabouts known by saying his last three lines.
In this episode Team Rocket opens "Salon Roquet" and for this reason introduces itself with a special motto.
In this episode, James is carrying Jessie on his shoulders, thus James struggles to finish his part of the motto.
In this episode, Team Rocket attempts to recite their motto in a sewer before the horrible smells get to them.
They stop singing
The rest of the motto was not followed in this episode.
In this episode, Team Rocket recites this one after they see Ash and his friends in a forest at night.
The rest of the motto was not followed in this episode. After the motto, Jessie and James presented the newly evolved forms of their Pokémon: Arbok and Weezing.
In this episode, Team Rocket attempts a magic show to steal Pikachu. As they try to leave, the kids swarm them, trying to play with Meowth.
Kids surround them
They never finish due to the kids playing with Jessie, James, and their Pokémon. In this episode, Team Rocket has followed Ash and his friends to Professor Oak's Laboratory. When they start singing their motto, Meowth is constantly trying to get a phrase for himself.
In this episode, Team Rocket sold a fake Leaf Stone to Florinda, the owner of Xanadu Nursery.
In this episode, Team Rocket starts to sell fake Badges to Trainers in the Indigo Plateau. Near the end of the episode, they realize that they are much more successful selling stuff than when they are stealing stuff. At some point, Meowth says that they will eventually open a fast-food restaurant. This leads to the following dialogue:
This variation is a heavy variation of the usual motto and sounds like a restaurant motto.
In this episode, Meowth, being hit by Squirtle's Water Gun, flies up and falls on an island where a strange tribe that worships Meowth lives. Almost in the end of the episode when Meowth feels lonely and says he misses Jessie and James, they both appear and recite a special version of their motto for Meowth. At the same time, the tribal priest and high priest beg Meowth to stay with the tribe.
Since Jessie gets her hair cut short by a wild Scyther in this episode, Team Rocket recites a special motto.
Team Rocket comes down from a cliff along a zip-line, but just when they are about to recite their names, Jessie and James crash into a tree and become a bit dizzy.
Meowth scratches both Jessie and James to their faces
Pretending to be baseball fans, Team Rocket recites the following motto upon stealing Ash's Pikachu and Casey's Chikorita (both were later freed).
James catches a ball thrown by Jessie
Jessie and James throw themselves into each other's arms
In this episode Jessie and James try to imitate The Black Arachnid, a well-known burglar. Upon breaking into a rich mansion and seizing a valuable trophy, they introduce themselves to the stunned witnesses with the following motto.
After quickly taking Chikorita off the Pokémon Center dressed as doctors, Nurse Joy ask where they are from. They respond with a variation of their motto:
In this episode, Ash challenges Bugsy of the Azalea Gym. During the battle, Team Rocket tries to dig a hole underneath Pikachu. While they are excavating, they start dreaming about the bonus that they will receive from their boss. During the beginning of the motto, they recite it without the usual music and stopping the words in the syllables.
Beginning of the usual music and normal recitation
In this episode, Jessie and James try to steal all Pokémon in the Pokémon Swap Meet using a fake trading machine. After all the Trainers have discovered that their Poké Balls are empty, they try to get them back from Team Rocket. After this, Team Rocket recites a simple variation of their motto:
This motto was recited by Jessie and James after they had confused some wares at a food store with free samples and had been caught by a saleswoman.
This episode is also notable due to the fact that Team Rocket did not shout out their usual "blasting off" phrase in it, even before disappearing in the Magnet Train tunnel although the shining star did appear.
This motto was said by Team Rocket after Ash, his friends, Professor Oak, and Foster arrived in the reservoir where the Omanyte and Omastar live.
This is also one of the few episodes in which Jessie doesn't say "speed of light!" and James doesn't say "fight, fight, fight!"
In this episode, Team Rocket breaks into a castle that later appeared to be a hospital, where Pokémon were used to treat people. Upon stealing some food from the dining room and trying to get away, Team Rocket was caught by Dr. Anna and Brock.
In this episode Jessie and James enter a Pokémon Beauty Contest, pretending not to be members of Team Rocket (they even forbid Meowth to talk). Because they want to be the first to show their Pokémon in order to make a better impression on the judges, they lock up the first contestant and appear on the stage instead of him. A small delay happens due to this.
In this episode Team Rocket tries to catch Madame Muchmoney's Snubbull in order to return it to her and receive a reward, which they suppose to be quite large.
Jessie and James recite this motto after Jessie obtains an ancient mask and the staff that can be used to control any Pokémon without catching it.
This motto was inspired by Team Rocket being intensely moved by one of Jack Pollockson and his Smeargle's older paintings
In this episode, Team Rocket steals the Crystal Bells, and they use a different version of their motto.
At the beginning of this episode Ash and his friends meet Jessie, James and Meowth dressed up as American football players.
This motto is recited when Team Rocket steals the Tyrogue that Kiyo later captures.
Team Rocket recites this motto before trying to steal treasures that people have brought to the Xatu for predicting a flood in order to pay the bill that TRDelibird ([[{{{2}}} (move)|{{{2}}}]]) had just brought to them.
Jessie, James and Meowth recite this motto upon being caught by other Team Rocket members while trying to sneak into a Team Rocket's secret base thinking it was a farmhouse, where they could find something to eat.
Team Rocket recites this motto when they encounter Ash and Pikachu in a forest.
Jessie, James and Meowth recite this motto as they steal Egan's Poké Ball with his freshly caught Magcargo. For some reason, they are dressed up as baseball players (maybe because Egan demands that they return his Poké Ball).
Jessie throws a ball.
James hits the ball. Meowth catches it and seems to have been struck.
Team Rocket recites this motto as snowmen in the ice cave. This is a translated version from Japanese to fit with the rest of their mottos.
Team Rocket recites this motto upon appearing on the underwater arena of the Coastline Gym.
Team Rocket recites this motto after snaring a herd of Lapras. The research theme is present in the motto due to the presence of Naomi, a Pokémon researcher, in the episode.
Jessie and James are shown lying on chaises longues in swimsuits
Jessie and James are now riding on surfboards
In this episode, Team Rocket recites this simple variation of their motto after they appear in disguises of a man and woman by a haystack and tell Ash he is being a "goody two-shoes", and Ash demands to know who they are.
In this episode Jessie and James approach "the twerps" disguised as food researchers giving out free milk in order to entrap Ash and his Pokémon.
They also recite their slightly altered usual motto later in the episode, as they attempt to steal Nelson's Misdreavus in order to use its Mean Look for their own purposes.
Team Rocket begins reciting this motto after launching their new Pokémon-sucking machine that creates a blast.
Jessie and James laugh
In The Power of One, when Team Rocket decides to help Ash, they use a different version of their motto. This was in the dubbed version only, as the original Japanese version had them do their regular motto.
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Advanced Generation series
| Click [show] to see the variations. |
This motto is recited when a guy and his girl enter a café, where Team Rocket appears to be working.
Team Rocket recites this motto upon being spotted in Brawly's secret base stealing food from his fridge.
Jessie, James and Meowth recite this motto when Ash and Romeo find out that they have stolen Juliet's Illumise. While reciting this motto, Jessie and James are dressed up as Illumise and Volbeat, respectively.
This motto is recited after snatching Swablu from May.
In this episode Jessie can't register in a Pokémon Contest, so she tries to steal May and Savannah's Ribbons. James and Meowth aren't really in the mood to Jessie's evil plans, so they recite their lines with low emotion.
With James confident in the training Team Rocket went through during the episode, they decide to steal Pikachu.
Jessie, James and Meowth sing this motto before trying to steal Lunatone and Solrock.
In this episode the main antagonists temporarily split up, only to get reunited in the end of the episode. During the time they were split, Jessie teamed with Butch, and James joined Cassidy and Butch (even though Butch never was with them). During the experience, both teams tried to recite a motto, which really didn't work because neither could remember the correct version.
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Diamond & Pearl series
| Click [show] to see the variations. |
Jessie and Meowth are angry about losing the dress-up competition and they plan on stealing the Pokémon Egg that's the prize for the winner of the competition, and when they interrupt James and Mime Jr. were in the middle of their performance, and they were both bummed out about getting interrupted so when James and Mime Jr. do their parts of the motto they show little emotion.
While Ash, Dawn, and Brock are at the store buying groceries, they leave their Pokémon on the steamboat, and while the Pokémon are on the steamboat alone, Team Rocket shows up dressed as entertainers and puts on a show for the Pokémon with some lines from the motto mixed in along with singing.
Jessie wants to steal an Electrike, but James and Meowth think it's too soon.
Jessie falls asleep during the motto due to Hippopotas's Yawn, so James says her parts sounding like her while moving her body.
Jessie pretends to be a psychic to catch Spiritomb and Pikachu.
In this episode, Team Rocket steal water to build a hot spring, at the expense of Leona's family's hot spring. The first line builds off an earlier line about juvenile court.
In this episode, Jessie and James try to ruin Cassidy and Butch's plans, and, in the way, steal Ash's Pokémon.
May has come back to battle in Wallace Cup—and Team Rocket has just stolen food—which is May's berserk button. The first two remark on May's return.
Jessie is angry at losing the Hearthome Collection Contest, but James is upset with Jessie for ruining his accessories—and not a happy camper making him very unenthusiastic during the motto (even the music is turned off during his parts):
Team Rocket only says the introduction of their motto while their asleep when Jessie was a student and James and Meowth were janitors at Professor Rowan's Summer Academy.
Team Rocket attacks the twerps in a new machine shaped like a bowl of ramen noodles.
Team Rocket has stolen Poké Balls from Snowpoint Trainers' School. Candice notices that Meowth is able to talk and says that it's impossible.
Team Rocket is working disguised at a construction site, rebuilding a ruined battlefield.
Team Rocket has just stolen the food served at Johto Festival.
Team Rocket has just stolen Rhyanna's Misdreavus. Rhyanna asks them who in the world they are.
Team Rocket only says the introduction of their motto before they get blasted off by lightning.
[lightning strikes, sending them flying]
The rest of the motto was not followed in this episode. Team Rocket is stealing the Sunyshore Tower, causing a blackout to the whole city. Flint asks what's going on.
Bertha asks Team Rocket who they are.
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Best Wishes series
Only the line Jessie copies from and the line she begins the motto with are shown. The rest of the motto follows.
| Click [show] to see the copied phrases. |
The rest of the motto was not followed in this episode.
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Starting in Adventures in Unova and Beyond, the motto is altered to the situation.
| Click [show] to see the variations. |
Team Rocket is trying to steal three Rotom by using electric beam emitters.
Team Rocket is trying to steal a Jirachi.
Ash, Iris, Cilan, and Alexa have just discovered the passageway that would lead them to the treasure when Team Rocket showed up.
Emolga has temporarily sided with Team Rocket after she and Iris had gotten into an argument at the beginning of the episode so she has her own lines in the motto as well.
Team Rocket interrupts Ash while he's at Professor Oak's lab.
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XY series
| Click [show] to see the variations. |
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Team Rocket is bundling up with tablecloths. Due to fright, the trio recite the motto in a tense tone.
Team Rocket is trying to steal the Poké Flute.
Team Rocket shows up while Ash and company are fishing.
Team Rocket appears in the middle of a battle between Ash and Diantha.
Team Rocket recites the motto during a snowstorm, and they spend their last respective lines shivering in cold.
Jessie and James recite the two first lines of the motto until Meowth crashes them into their balloon.
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Sun & Moon series
| Click [show] to see the variations. |
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Meowth filling in for Jessie or James
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This section is incomplete. Please feel free to edit this section to add missing information and complete it. Reason: Lyrics |
On many occasions, because Jessie or James weren't around, Meowth would fill the missing member lines. This first happened in Island of Giant Pokemon, when Meowth, along with Ekans and Koffing, were separated from Jessie and James. When they discover Ash's Pikachu, Bulbasaur, Charmander, and Squirtle, who were separated from their Trainer as well, Meowth attempted to recite the motto but failed because Jessie and James weren't around. In The Stun Spore Detour, where Meowth and James were following Misty to get some Salveyo Weed to heal Jessie from an attack by a wild Vileplume's Stun Spore. It happened again in ZigZag Zangoose!, in which Jessie was training Seviper, and James, Meowth and Wobbuffet tried to steal Ash's Pikachu. Later, in That's Just Swellow, Jessie and Meowth tried to steal the losing flying Pokémon almost at the end of the Contest, and because James was still participating on it, Meowth and Jessie said the motto all by themselves. In The Saffron Con, meanwhile Jessie was at an operation room, Meowth and James tried to steal some Pokémon. When Ash and his friend saw them, they said a special motto. Also, in Off the Unbeaten Path, while James was participating in the Pokémon Orienteering Contest, Jessie and Meowth tried to steal the prize and some Pokémon. When they were spotted by his friends, they said their motto. Meanwhile, they were saying that Ash and his friends saved the Pokémon and the prize, leaving Jessie and Meowth really angry. In Bonnie for the Defense!, Jessie and Meowth said the motto together, surprising Ash and his friends while they were escorting a lost Lapras back to the ocean. James's absence was later explained by him being waiting further ahead, ready to catch the group off-guard in case they got away.
Jessie was training Seviper, and James, Meowth and Wobbuffet tried to steal Ash's Pikachu, and Meowth and James recite the motto.
- Meowth: "Prepare for trouble," I've always wanted to say!
- James: Huh?
- Meowth: Just do it like you always do, you gotta end in a rhyme.
- James: What?
- Meowth: Oh, come on, I'm Jessie! Prepare for trouble here in the wood!
- James: Make it double like you know that you should!
- Meowth: To protect the world from devastation!
- James: To unite all peoples within our nation!
- Meowth: To denounce the evils of truth and love!
- James: To extend our reach to the stars above!
- Meowth: Meowth!
- James: And James!
- Meowth: Team Rocket, blasts off at the speed of light!
- James: Surrender now or prepare to fight, fight, fight!
- Wobbuffet: Wobbuffet!
Jessie and Meowth tried to steal the losing flying Pokémon almost at the end of the Contest, and because James was still participating on it, Meowth and Jessie said the motto all by themselves.
- Jessie: Prepare for trouble as we steal then split!
- Meowth: Make it double as we get away with it!
- Jessie: To protect the world from devastation!
- Meowth: To unite all peoples within our nation!
- Jessie: To denounce the evils of truth and love!
- Meowth: To extend our reach to the stars above!
- Jessie: Jessie!
- Meowth: And Meowth!
- Jessie: Team Rocket blasts off at the speed of light!
- Meowth: So surrender now or prepare to fight!
- Wobbuffet: Wobba...hic!
Jessie was at a contest, so James and Meowth had to say the motto, and steal Ash's Pikachu and other Pokémon again.
- Meowth: Prepare for trouble, cause we're stealing Pokemon and having a ball!
- James: Make it double, that's all!
- Meowth: Evil as old as the galaxy!
- James: Sent here to fulfill our destiny!
- Meowth: Just look at me!
- James: To denounce the evils of truth and love and extend our reach to the stars above! I'm James!
- Meowth: And I'm Meowth!
- James: Whenever there's peace in the universe, Team Rocket!
- Meowth: Will be there!
- Both: To make everything worse!
Butch and Cassidy
Butch and Cassidy also have a set of mottos, which are similar to Jessie and James's mottos. In The Breeding Center Secret, it is implied to be based on Jessie and James's motto, though in Pikachu Re-Volts, they state that theirs is actually the correct version. During Pokémon Chronicles, they add "(now) here's our mission, so ya better listen!" after Butch's first line of their version of the "original" motto. Like Meowth and Wobbuffet, Cassidy's Raticate appears at the end. Apparently, they have switched to a new motto, which is itself similar to Jessie and James's Sinnoh motto, with Butch's Shuckle appearing instead of Cassidy's Raticate.
Original motto
| Japanese | Translation | English |
|---|---|---|
| ヤマト：何だかんだと聞かれたら | Yamato: If you ask us this or that... | Cassidy: Prepare for trouble... |
| コサブロウ：答えないのが普通だが | Kosaburou: We usually don't respond | Butch: ...and make it double! |
| 二人：まあ特別に答えてやろう | Both: But we'll make an exception this time and answer! | Both: Here's our mission, so you better listen! |
| ヤマト：地球の破壊を防ぐため | Yamato: To prevent the destruction of the Earth! | Cassidy: To infect the world with devastation! |
| コサブロウ：地球の平和を守るため | Kosaburou: To protect the peace of the Earth! | Butch: To blight all people in every nation! |
| ヤマト：愛と誠実な悪を貫く | Yamato: To stand by evil with love and sincerity! | Cassidy: To denounce the goodness of truth and love! |
| コサブロウ：キュート でお茶目な敵役 | Kosaburou: The cute, mischievous villains! | Butch: To extend our wrath to the stars above! |
| ヤマト：ヤマト | Yamato: Yamato! | Cassidy: Cassidy! |
| コサブロウ：コサブロウ | Kosaburou: Kosaburou! | Butch: And Butch, of course! |
| ヤマト：宇宙を駆ける ロケット団の二人には | Yamato: The pair from Team Rocket soars through the universe! | Cassidy: We're Team Rocket, circling Earth all day and night! |
| コサブロウ：ショッキングピンク桃色の明日が待ってるぜ | Kosaburou: Shocking pink, a pink tomorrow awaits us! | Butch: Surrender to us now or you will surely lose the fight! |
Sinnoh motto
This is the version used in Sleight of Sand. Because of some of the lines included, it was probably composed especially for whenever the two Team Rocket groups crossed paths.
- Cassidy: A shrieking whine! A blast from the past!
- Butch: Spinning like a Gyro Ball and moving fast!
- Cassidy: To the moon...
- Butch: ...And beyond...
- Both: ...What a blast!
- Cassidy: Administering justice with lightning speed!
- Butch: Bashing the bad guys, should we feel the need.
- Cassidy: So here's a newsflash from across the wire...
- Butch: The real Team Rocket is now on fire!
- Cassidy: Cassidy!
- Butch: And it's Butch!
- Shuckle: Shuck-uckle!
- Cassidy: Teaching the losers a thing or two...
- Butch: ...The true Team Rocket...
- Both: Us! Not you!
Ripoffs
The motto has been ripped off repeatedly by Ash and his friends during the series. The first time it was done was in Bye Bye Butterfree, in which Ash, Misty and Brock entered the house where Team Rocket was by breaking the windows and by saying the first lines of the motto. In Ditto's Mysterious Mansion, Ash, Misty, and Brock, along with Duplica, put on Team Rocket uniforms and mocked the original motto, with Duplica severely angering the two by saying "ignite" instead of "unite". In Holy Matrimony!, James's parents revealed that they weren't dead by saying the lines "Prepare for trouble!" and "Yes dear, and make it double!".
The director Cleavon Schpielbunk used a motto to introduce himself — "Prepare for trouble! No stunt double!" — with Jessie saying, "Wait a second, aren't those our lines?" after the first two lines.
In It's Mr. Mime Time when Ash revealed that he was the one in the Mr. Mime costume, the Team Rocket background music was playing. The motto was mockingly mimicked again in The Chikorita Rescue!. In The Mother Of All Battles!, the Pokémon Poacher Brothers introduced themselves to Ash and the gang in a Team Rocket-style motto. However, there was no background music like in the Rocket's introduction; instead, they only said their names with a big "B" behind them. But even though it was different, Jessie stated that they were just imitating them. Much later, the DP motto was mocked in Mass Hip-Po-Sis and The Keystone Pops!. Like the many times before, the trio was angered.
In Mega-Mega Meowth Madness!, Bonnie and Serena imitated the motto, angering them once again.
In The Cave of Mirrors!, the Mirror World's version of Team Rocket performed their own motto, reflecting their heroic characteristics.
| Click [show] to see the ripoffs. |
So far, this is the only episode of the series to show Ash and his friends actually completely doing the whole original motto.
The director Cleavon Schpielbunk introduces himself with a motto which is very similar to that of Team Rocket.
In this episode Ash Ketchum breaks into a Team Rocket hideout to save a Chikorita, captured by Jessie and James. He recites a motto and Team Rocket instinctively says their phrases.
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Blasting off
When defeated, and sent flying off due to a Pokémon's finishing attack (usually Pikachu's Thunderbolt or Gigavolt Havoc) or a malfunction in their mechas, Jessie, James, and Meowth usually cry, 「やな感じ！」 ("This feels bad!") in the original, which was dubbed "Looks like Team Rocket's blasting off again!", "Team Rocket's blasting off again!"*, or simply "We're blasting off again!"* before disappearing into the distance where a twinkle appears. The first time they blasted off was in their debut episode, and the first time the twinkle was seen was during their following blast off, in Clefairy and the Moon Stone. In some episodes, they said their catchphrase while finishing each other's sentences or when it's told by one character or two.
Blasting off usually happens only one time per episode, but there have been many occasions in which it has happened multiple times, especially in Malice In Wonderland!, in which they are shown blasting off four times on screen, and heard to blast off many more times offscreen. Another occurrence when they blasted off more than once was in Noodles! Roamin' Off!, but this could be because the episode focused on Team Rocket. In A Faux Oak Finish!, James blasted off by himself. Butch and Cassidy have also "blasted off"; however, James noted once that he, Jessie and Meowth had copyrighted it in Off The Unbeaten Path.
After Memories are Made of Bliss!, Team Rocket initially didn't blast off during the Best Wishes series. In Enter Iris and Axew! and A Sandile Gusher of Change!, they used smoke bombs and disappeared. In The Battle Club and Tepig's Choice! they tried to escape using capsule mecha, but it got destroyed by Ash's Pikachu, but they've escaped using gliders. From Scare at the Litwick Mansion! onwards, they usually used jet packs in order to escape. For this reason, those blastoffs weren't against their will nor involved pain, so they did not cry out their famous quote. Also, there was no twinkle visible when the jet packs were used, except for Scare at the Litwick Mansion! and Movie Time! Zorua in "The Legend of the Pokémon Knight"!. Starting from New Places... Familiar Faces!, Team Rocket has blasted off like before, although they didn't say the catchphrase until Team Plasma's Pokémon Power Plot!. They still used their jet packs in some episodes.
Sometimes, when Team Rocket blasts off, they shout something other than "We're blasting off again!", such as in Team Rocket's Shocking Recruit! when instead they shouted "We're blasting off family style!" after being defeated by Dragonite and Charizard, or A Battle by Any Other Name!, where they shouted "There's nothing sweet about blasting off! AND WE'RE DOING IT AGAIN!!!" after their Octillery mecha was destroyed. There are also occasions where they do not blast off per se, but they disappear with the trademark twinkle by other means such as running away. In some very rare instances, they blast off without a twinkle, as seen in their debut, The Island of Illusions! where they fell into the sea instead, Tracey Gets Bugged, where they get their hair and fur cut short by a Scyther, or To Find a Fairy Flower!, where they were relaxed by a Flabébé's Aromatherapy.
Starting from Loading the Dex!, rather than blasting off, Bewear would unexpectedly appear and take the trio away; Jessie, James, and Meowth would cry, 「何この感じ！？」 ("What's with this feeling!?") in response, which was dubbed as "Off with a new blast!". In To Top a Totem!, they were about to blast off, only for Bewear to jump into the air and catch them before the 'ping' sound. They Might Not Be Giants! was the first episode where the trio successfully blasted off without interference, although Bewear was able to catch them before they hit the ground. Later, they also successfully blasted off in A Team-on-Team Tussle! and Mimikyu Unmasked!. In Alola, Alola!, the trio successfully blasted off without Bewear seizing them in midair or the location where they landed. They were successfully blasted off along with Matori in Spying for the Big Guy! when they were hit by Pikachu's Corkscrew Crash.
In other languages
| Language | Title | |
|---|---|---|
 Hindi
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Lagta hai Team Rocket phir se haar gayi! Hum phir se haar gaye! Team Rocket ek baar phir fail ho gayi! | |
 Russian
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Команда Р опять в пролете Komanda R opyat' v prolyetye* Мы опять в пролете Mi opyat' v prolyetye* Мы снова летим Mi snova lyetim* Мы опять летим My opyat' lyetim* | |
 Vietnamese
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Lại bay lên nữa rồi! (ACE Media, VTV2) Một cảm giác thật đáng ghét! (HTV3) | |
In the manga
In the Pokémon Adventures manga
In the Pokémon Adventures manga, the "Rocket" in Team Rocket is apparently their motto, which is an acronym for:
- Raid
- On
- City
- Knock out
- Evil
- Tusks
When translated from Japanese, this motto means 'Attack cities one after another!! Devastate them!! We are the fangs of evil!!'.
In the games
During their appearances in Pokémon Yellow, Jessie and James use parts of their original Kanto motto in their dialogue, as well as their blast off phrase. They never recite the whole thing, however. They say "Surrender now or prepare to fight!" before their battle at Mt. Moon, and "So render yourself invisible, or prepare to fight!" before their battle at Pokémon Tower. Upon being defeated at Mt. Moon, they say "Team Rocket, blast off at the speed of light!", and they say their usual blast off phrase after being defeated in every other encounter thereafter.
In Pokémon Let's Go, Pikachu! and Let's Go, Eevee!, they do not quote their motto, but they do say their usual blast off phrase after every battle, with the exception of their Route 17 battle.
Trivia
- Since the middle of Best Wishes series, every motto has its own unique animation.
- Also during the Best Wishes series, it changed several times due to Team Rocket's constant role changes.
- The motto used during the Battle Frontier saga is rather unique since it was also used once during the Pokémon: Diamond & Pearl season.
- It was also used in the first episode in the Diamond & Pearl series, but the trio was unable to complete it.
- In every one of Butch's appearances in the original series' English dub, he was the one who said the opening line "Prepare for trouble!", which is usually said by the female character. In The Breeding Center Secret, Butch, along with Cassidy, said "Prepare for trouble and make it double!". In Pikachu Re-Volts, he was the one who began the motto showdown by saying "Then prepare for trouble!". In The Fortune Hunters, he said alone "Prepare for trouble and make it double!". In The Mystery is History!, he said "Prepare for trouble, you got that right!". The last time he did this was in A Parent Trapped!, in which he said "It's time to prepare for trouble!". In Pokémon Chronicles, the motto was dubbed with the Cassidy saying the first line like how it is was in Japanese.
- In the Sinnoh motto, Jessie's section of "A rose by any other name is just as sweet" alludes to Act II Scene II Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet, in which Juliet argues:
What's in a name? that which we call a rose
By any other name would smell as sweet;
- This is a commonly quoted phrase meaning that the names of things do not matter, only what the thing is. This quote is also the origin of the title for A Battle by Any Other Name!.
- In the Unova motto, Jessie likens herself to Reshiram with the words "white" and "fiery", while James likens himself to Zekrom with "black" and "thunderous".
- The first two lines of the motto were mentioned and said by the Fortune Teller as a warning in an episode of Kirby: Right Back at Ya!, a show that was also dubbed by 4Kids Entertainment (and also based on a Nintendo franchise). The episode the Fortune Teller appeared in was "The Fofa Factor".
- In the Finnish dub, the original motto was different than usual in Team Rocket's first two appearances (Pokémon Emergency! and Ash Catches a Pokémon), where it was translated directly from English without rhyming. The rhyming motto was used for the first time in Challenge of the Samurai.
- In the European Portuguese dub, the expression "Preparar para azar!", the Portuguese equivalent to "Prepare for trouble!" (which literally translated is "Prepare for bad luck!") is still used in recent episodes as a Team Rocket's catchphrase, even during some mottos.
- In the Korean dub of the Sun & Moon series, the expressions "화안류오 수월폐화", "비룡승운 영자삽상", and "일련탁생 연대책임", which are direct hanja to hangul translations of the Japanese motto, are given explanations at the bottom of the screen due to the difficulty in understanding these phrases.
- In the Russian dub, the original motto has three variants of translation due to the changes in dubbing companies during the original series, Advanced Generation series, and Diamond & Pearl series.
- Toward the end of the Pokémon Trading Card Game: Trainer Video, the original motto is recited by various kids. It omits "Prepare for trouble; Make it double," and Meowth's name, and the kids make various mistakes before correcting themselves.
- In UK airings of the Sun and Moon series on CITV, Team Rocket's blast off line is often misquoted in the closed captions as "Off with a new plan!"
- In the Latin American Spanish dub, starting from the second season, James would often replace the line "Hasta las estrellas" (the translation for "to the stars above") with random places, most of the time citing places or cities from Latin American locations. The line of "Surrender now or prepare to fight!" would also be replaced by lines of songs from various Latin American performers.