Battling the Generation Gap! (Japanese: ポケモンコンテスト！カンナギ大会！！Pokémon Contest! Kannagi Tournament!!) is the 95th episode of the Diamond & Pearl series, and the 561st episode of the Pokémon anime. It first aired in Japan on September 25, 2008, as a part of a one-hour special with Doc Brock! and in the United States on February 21, 2009.
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This episode opens up with a near of the end of a final Contest battle between Johanna and a Chinese-dressed female. Johanna orders an Iron Tail from Glameow. But then Delcatty disappears--the announcer says it is a decoy--and asks where the real one is. The Chinese-dressed female orders Delcatty to use Shock Wave. The announcer remarks that that's Lila's famous "Tiger Lily" smile. After this, it's "time up"-and the winner is reveal to be Lila. Johanna and Lila had some good remarks for each other.
It turns out this is a past memory of Johanna being told to Johanna's daughter, Dawn. Dawn is still somewhat thinking that this is unbelievable. Johanna says this past memory is the truth--and that up to that point Johnna was on a winning streak--but Lila ended that. Ash asks "Who is Lila?" and Dawn shows a present day picture of Lila revealing her to be a top Pokémon Stylist. Johanna
reveal that Lila retired from contests and being a Pokémon coordinator before Johanna could get a rematch. Dawn sadly remarks that the loss still stands. Johanna is fine with that--found memories--and that Lily is doing fine as Pokémon stylist. Brock recalls that he read that her store is in Celestic Town.
When Ash and co leave the Celestic Town's Pokémon Center, Ash goes on his own. Ash is planning on trying to figure out a way to block Fantina's Pokémon's Hypnosis. At Lila's store, Dawn and Brock discovers that Lila has Wallace's stage costume from the Top Coordinator Carnival. Dawn asks one of the staff of the store if she can meet Lila, but the staff remarks that Lila will be out all day, much to Dawn's dismay. Meanwhile, Ash and his Pokémon fall asleep while trying to figure out a way out of a Hypnosis attack.
Later, at the Pokémon Contest, Marian gets the contest underway. While Dawn is getting ready, she catches a glimpse of Lila, but Lila is pulled out by two bodyguards. Meanwhile, Marian introduces the usual judges: Mr. Contesta, Mr. Sukizo, and the town's own Nurse Joy. Lila sends out a Cherrim, and orders a Sunny Day and a Magical Leaf, creating a flower out of it.
After a few more appeals, Jessie disguised as Jessilla dressed like Fantina enters. Jessie calls out Yanmega, then jumps up, surprising the judges. Jessilla remarks that she putting on a new spin on her past win, and orders a Sliver Wind, which makes
her both slide and rotate like on a slow-moving top. Ash remarks Jessilla likes to fine, but Brock is confused if Jessilla's acts are really copycatting Fantina. Meanwhile, James remarks this is the first time he thinks thieving was wrong. Meowth remarks, "If this is the sincerely form of flattery, I quit!"
Finally, it's Dawn turn to make her appeal. She sends out Buneary, orders a Bounce, spin on the ears, and then Ice Beam to create a slide. Dawn orders a Dizzy Punch, but that confuses Buneary. Dawn catches Buneary in her hands. On the way back to the dressing room, Dawn admits that she did mess up a little bit. Ash admits that Dawn pulled together for the first time. They discover Lila talking to Johanna. Lila asked Johanna if she was watching, and Johanna admits she was.
Dawn finally meets Lila face to face. Lila explains that her battle with Johanna was the most important battle of Lila's life. After she had saw that energized Johanna was, Lila started question her path. Back then, Lila was unsure which path she should
take: Pokémon coordinator or Pokémon stylist. Then Lila got a chance to study Pokémon stylist aboard. Not knowing to she had a talk with Johanna, and both went on their own paths: Johanna to a famous Pokémon coordinator and Lila to a famous Pokémon stylist. It turns out Dawn the reason that she entered a contest again. Lila decide to stake her final ribbon on a battle with Dawn. Johanna remarks "somethings never change." After this, Marian reveals the judge's coordinator moving on to the next round--which reveals that Lila and Dawn are moving on the battle round. Jessie faints on finding on that she's not moving on. Lila want to make Dawn the opponent for the final battle. Dawn remarks "no need to worry", and tells Ambipom it her turn.
After quick victory after quick victory for both Lila and Dawn, we reach the finals of this contest—Lila and Dawn. Dawn quickly bashes some doubts out of her mind with her catchphrase, "no need to worry.". Dawn uses Ambipom while Lila uses Delcatty. Dawn opens up with Swift, but Lila uses Substitute. Lila orders a Shock Wave. Even Johanna is over-energized while watching this contest. Dawn orders Double Team and Focus Punch, but Ambipom gets effected by Cute Charm and falls in love with Delcatty. Lila orders her Delcatty to use Sing and Iron Tail. Delcatty then uses Shock Wave, which awakens Ambipom. Dawn orders a Swift, but Lila counters it with Substitute. Ambipom is back in Attract status. Dawn decides to go for broke, and orders Double Team—which works. Lila orders Delcatty to use Sing, but Dawn orders a Double Hit. Ambipom hits the notes back at Delcatty. Dawn orders another Swift, which Lila counters with Substitute. Lila then orders a Shock Wave. Lila remarks that flowers are being blooming on a grand scale-while Dawn remarks "No need to worry". Ambipom's Swift makes it away though Delcatty's Shock Wave. Marian reveals that the time is up--and reveals that the winner of the Contest is Dawn. Dawn remarks that she did it. Dawn thanks Ambipom while Lila thanks Delcatty. Mt. Contesta presents Dawn with the Celestic Town Ribbon.
Back at Lila's store, Lila, to celebrate Dawn's victory, gives her the right to pick up what ever she likes—and that goes for the guys as well. Dawn remarks that Lila's outfits are nice. Ash reveals he has a plan for Fantina's Pokémon's Hypnosis attack.
Jessie, disguised as Jessalina, dresses up like Fantina for this episode's contest. She also uses a French accent similar to Fantina's.
Dawn's appeal corresponds May's Appeal in Lessons In Lilycove as it was their third contest and both had some type of unintentional effect in the appeal.
James and Meowth wore the same outfits they wore in Gymbaliar!.
This episode contains the anime's first representation of Substitute, an attack that has existed since Generation I.
The dub title for this episode is a reference to the phrase "bridging the generation gap".
The status ailmentAttraction does not wear off on its own in the games: the afflicted Pokémon must be switched out or the one who inflicted it must be removed from battle.
