The mysterious creatures of this planet Pocket Monsters... "Pokémon" for short! Now, the story of Satoshi and Hikari, and Pokémon, Their meetings, adventures, and battles Are about to begin!
Synopsis
Ash and Dawn glaring at their rivals
The opening begins with multiple colors shown, as well as the faces of Ash, Dawn, and Brock. The title is then shown. The trio, with Pikachu and Piplup, are now running across a grassy plain. After a close-up of Dawn, they are now on a sailboat, with all their Pokémon and Wingull above.
After a close-up of Brock, he is now seen cooking with Pikachu and Mamoswine nearby and then Pikachu and Piplup are seen playing while the other Pokémon, Ash, Dawn, and Brock are seen cheering them on. Dawn, with Piplup and Ambipom, are then seen glaring at Zoey and her Glameow and Kenny and his Prinplup while Ash, with Pikachu and Monferno, glare at Paul with his Honchkrow.
Dawn then slightly pushes Ash. Ash then gives her a thumbs-up as the sun rises. Close ups of Ash, Dawn and Brock and Pikachu and Piplup are seen. They are now seen running across a map of Sinnoh. Ash and Dawn then give each other a high-five. Then, from left to right, Delia, Professor Oak, Max, Tracey, May, Misty, and Gary are seen.
In the fiery background, Cyrus and Team Galactic's Golbat appear. J, riding her Salamence, then appears with her ship behind her. Ash's Pokémon then appear and show off their moves; Buizel uses Aqua Jet, Staraptor uses Aerial Ace, Gliscor, and then Grotle, run off, Monferno uses Flame Wheel and Pikachu uses Volt Tackle. The gang once again run across the map. Regigigas is then seen fighting Darkrai, using Hyper Beam. The opening closes with the trio, with Piplup and Pikachu, posing happily.
うまくいったら ハイタッチ! へこんじゃっても もとどおり いっしょ ならば あきらめるのは 早いぜ! GO GO GO!
うまくいったね ハイタッチ! バトルあいてと ハンドシェイク! いっしょならば もっと遠くに いけるぜ! GO GO GO! GO GO GO! GO GO GO!
We fight, make up, and then we fight again There are a lot of things I want to say to you But foremost... "Thanks for being here for me!"
Companions in this journey, compassion in the world I pretend to understand those things, but The truth is... "I'm happy you're here for me!"
Nice Partner! Nice Rival! I'll push you forward I'll pull you along The sun seems so dazzling when I look up at it
If it all goes well, let's high five! If we're feeling down, we'll come right back! As long as we are together I will not give up so easily! GO GO GO!
It all went well, so let's high five! Shake hands with our opponent in battle As long as we're together We can go even further than before! GO GO GO! GO GO GO! GO GO GO!
うまくいったら ハイタッチ! へこんじゃっても もとどおり! いっしょならば あきらめるのは 早いぜ! GO GO GO!
うまくいったね ハイタッチ! バトルあいてと ハンドシェイク! いっしょならば もっと遠くに いけるぜ! GO GO GO! GO GO GO! GO GO GO!
We fight, make up, and then we fight again There are a lot of things I want to say to you But foremost... "Thanks for being here for me!"
Companions in this journey, compassion in the world I pretend to understand those things, but The truth is... "I'm happy you're here for me!"
Nice Partner! Nice Rival! I'll push you forward I'll pull you along The sun seems so dazzling when I look up at it
If it all goes well, let's high five! If we're feeling down, we'll come right back! As long as we are together I will not give up so easily! GO GO GO!
Take aim with Bubble Beam! I've come to rely on Pochama, but Sometimes... I'll find myself in a mega pinch!
I let out a cry of "100,000 Volts!" Pikachu is my pride and joy, but To put it simply... That doesn't mean I'll win!
Nice Partner! Nice Rival! We may argue But as long as we follow each other I think we'll find a way to compromise!
It all went well, so let's high five! I won't ever forget today's victory! As long as we're together We'll escape from any kind of pinch!
Extending our arms, let's high five! Smiling this much is so heartwarming! As long as we're together Strong opponents are also welcome! GO GO GO!
Through today, tomorrow, and the day after tomorrow This journey goes forever on, but Always... Your smile is with me!
To the north, to the south, east and west The scenery goes on changing, but No matter where I go... Your smile is always there!
Nice Partner! Nice Rival! Protecting me Saving me Our road goes on through and ever expanding wasteland
Underneath the sky, let's high five! We can understand that more easily than words! As long as we're together We can fly away, facing our dreams!
If it all goes well, let's high five! If we're feeling down, we'll come right back! As long as we're together I will not give up so easily! GO GO GO!
It all went well, so let's high five! Shake hands with our opponent in battle As long as we're together We can go even further than before! GO GO GO! GO GO GO! GO GO GO!
In DP119, the entire sequence is rendered for the upcoming HD format. Some elements are rearranged, while backgrounds are slightly moved or stretched, in order to fit a widescreen 16:9 ratio.
Despite all this, the anime would not switch to HD until two episodes later, which means the newly rearranged sequence is still cropped for the standard 4:3 ratio in the meantime. The reason the changes were made early is likely because they were made alongside the updating of Ash's Staravia to Staraptor.
From DP121 onwards, the presentation actually switches to the high definition, 16:9 ratio.
From DP134 onwards, the song is changed to its remixed version, High Touch! 2009.
Gallery
Note that images are taken from the high definition format whenever possible. Some variants were carried over from the standard definition format and slightly rearranged for the HD widescreen ratio. Those differences are minimal, and thus not showcased on this gallery.
Boat scene
This scene features a camera effect that zooms out from Dawn's eye, moves to an upper view while rotating in 360° around the boat, then ends with a zoom in to Brock's eye. The following images are taken from one of the few frames in which all the characters are visible at the same time. Click on each picture for a larger view.
From DP107 to DP157; Mamoswine replaces Piloswine and is moved to the back
Group shot
This shot pans from right to left, and features a slight depth effect: the Pokémon closer to the camera (Pachirisu and Croagunk) move across faster than the others. For some reason, this effect is not present in the second variant. In addition, Sudowoodo is slightly redeawn in said variant, but switches back from the third variant onwards. Click on each picture for a larger view.
Despite leaving their trainers' respective parties, Dawn's Ambipom and Ash's Gliscor were not removed from the opening animation. Dawn's Cyndaquil was not included into the opening either, despite being updated to include Ash's Monferno.
Due to this opening carrying over into the Pokémon anime's production into HDTV, this is the first opening theme to air in an HDTV format.
While opening updates usually occur in the episode following the one where a team change takes place, Dawn's Swinub was replaced in DP104, the very same episode in which it evolved into Piloswine. Furthermore, it was shown as a Mamoswine in the opening rather than a Piloswine. This was corrected for all subsequent airings and releases.