Pokémon "Rocket-dan VS Plasma-dan!" (partially found unaired two-part anime episode; 2011)

A scan of a magazine promo of the episode.

Status: Partially Found

The 5th generation of the Pokémon anime, Best Wishes!, premiered in Japan on September 23, 2010. During its initial run, a two-part episode titled Rocket-dan VS Plasma-dan ("Team Rocket VS Team Plasma", parts 1 and 2 respectively) was scheduled to air in March 2011. The episodes would have revolved around Team Rocket fighting Team Plasma over possession of a meteorite.

However, following the devastating 2011 Tōhoku earthquake, tsunami, and nuclear plant meltdown, both episodes were postponed for featuring scenes reminiscent of the disaster. As such, Team Plasma do not appear until near the end of Best Wishes!, and they appear as they do in the Pokémon Black 2 & White 2 video games as opposed to their Black & White incarnations.

According to Pokémon's English dub voice director Tom Wayland, the episodes were sent to The Pokémon Company International but never actually got to the re-dubbing process before their cancellation in Japan.

Availability

Besides screenshots and previews, neither episode has been released since their cancellation. TV Tokyo claimed in 2011 that it would eventually air, but nothing has come from that. Interestingly, footage from the episodes was later used in the episodes "Meloetta and the Undersea Temple" and "Strong Strategy Steals the Show" a little over a year later.

Gallery

Screenshots

• 

  Screenshot from "Rocket-dan VS Plasma-dan!" part 1.

• 

  Magazine scan from "Rocket-dan VS Plasma-dan!" part 2.

Footage

All footage in chronological order (additional images, no VA audio).

See Also

Anime

• Pokémon "Battle Aboard the St. Anne" (found original American broadcast version of anime episode; 1998)
• Pokémon "Battle of the Quaking Island! Barboach VS Whiscash!!" (partially found unaired anime episode; 2004)
• Pokémon "Computer Warrior Porygon" (lost unaired English dub of anime episode; existence unconfirmed; 1998)
• Pokémon "The Legend of Dratini" (non-existent unaired English dub of anime episode; 1997)
• Pokémon "Pokémon! I Choose You!" (found original Japanese airing of anime series pilot; 1997)

Shorts/Clip Shows

• Pocket Monsters Best Wishes: Hikatokage no Tenkyuugi (partially found short of "Pokémon" anime; 2011)
• Pocket Monsters Diamond & Pearl: Atsumare! Pokémon-boshi Matsuri (lost short of "Pokémon" anime; 2008)
• Pocket Monsters XY: Uchū no Hahen (partially found short of "Pokémon" anime; 2014)
• Pokémon 3D Adventure: Mew o Sagase! (lost 3D short of anime; 2005)
• Pokémon 4D: Pikachu's Ocean Adventure (partially found 4D short of anime; 2006)
• Pokémon "It's New Year's Eve! Pocket Monsters Encore" (lost unaired special of anime series; 1997)
• Pokémon "Pocket Monsters, Fall Special!" (found "clip show" episode of anime series; 1997)
• Pokémon "Pocket Monsters, Winter Special!" (lost unaired "clip show" episode of anime series; 1998)

Other

• Pokémon 3: The Movie (lost first draft of anime sequel film script; late 1990s)
• Pokémon Live! (partially found professional recording footage of musical; 2000-2001)
• The Power of One: The Pokémon 2000 Movie Special (found The WB special; 2000)