Team Rocket (ConceptTopic, 6)
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Team Rocket (Known as Rokketto Dan in Japanese versions) is a gang of dubious criminals that debuted in Pokémon 1. Originally under the leadership of Gym Leader Giovanni, the team committed various crimes through out the series including, but not limited to, embezzling income from a casino in Celadon City, Using the same casino to disguise their base of operations, stealing Pokémon and selling them as prizes via the casino, holding hostage buildings and kidnapping people. They, unlike the other teams in Pokémon games, did not seek rare or Legendary Pokémon or status, but rather sought to make profits of off rare Pokémon and unsuspecting gamblers. Red and Leaf however, successfully foiled this grand heist. 3 years Later, Gold, Silver and Krys would have to deal with Team Rocket's reformation and their new scheme. Ultimately, they have failed and been disbanded.
Original Scheme
Mt. Moon
Red and Leaf first encounter Team R. at Mt. Moon, where they are stealing rare fossils and are capturing the rather elusive Clefairy. They foil their efforts by driving them out of the cave and obtaining one of the fossils. The other is subject to an unknown fate, but is likely taken home by the greedy Scientist/Super nerd.
Game Corner
The Game Corner seems to be the main part of Team Rocket's scheme. It includes allowing people to gamble (including children and teens like Red and Leaf themselves) for money, which will then enable the lucky bastards to buy illegally stolen Pokémon as prizes. These Pokémon could be shipped into the Rocket Hideout below and used to supply the Game Corner without anyone noticing...
Er...until Red and Leaf found the switch behind the Team Rocket poster right in the damn lobby. Who's dumb idea was that?
Hideout
The base of Operations of Team Rocket was flooded out by Red and Leaf, and Giovanni was first confronted. However, the astray Gym Leader escaped.
Despite the fact that the Hideout is now probably empty, it continues to run business above the ground as usual by somehow suppling the Game Corner with stolen Clefairys and Sycthers.
Pokémon Tower
In the Pokémon Tower, Team R. was somehow able to avoid being possessed by Gastly and Haunter and held Mr. Fuji hostage. Most likely, they wanted Mr. Fuji's Pokémon Flute, which has numerous enchanting effects on some Pokémon. Red and Leaf climbed up the tower, defeating the crazy channlers all the way up, and also beat up The rockets here. They escaped, and Red and Leaf got the Pokémon Flute.
Silph Co.
At Silph Co., Red and Leaf encoutered many a foe. Not only were they confronted by Team Rocket grunts holding the building hostage, but also found Giovanni and Green. Green was in the building for unknown reasons, and didn't seem to care about what Team R. was doing. Some speculate the Green may have even negotiated with Giovanni to gain the Viridian City Gym. After Dealing with them, our heroes confronted Giovanni again, only to have him escape again. The founder of Silph Co., who was being held hostage by the Team Rocket leader, gave Red and Leaf the legendary Master Ball.
Viridian Gym
At last the final Showdown was here, Giovanni was revealed to be the Gym Leader, and one final duel led to Giovanni disbanding the Team, running off with over 9000 dollars, and possibly giving Green the keys to the Gym. Team Rocket was now plain ass broke, and had no leader to guide their greedy selfish actions. Despite this, business at the casino continued to prosper, and some of the remaining grunts didn't quite get the message...
Dumbassess...
Sevii Islands
On the Sevii Islands, Team Rocket still caused trouble with one last warehouse on Five Island. Red and Leaf eventually became frustrated with them after they stole both the Ruby and the Sapphire out of their hands. As such, revenge was necessary. They told the rockets the bad news, and without their stolen Pokémon or 9000 dollars, they disbanded for good. Or so we thought...
Three Years Later...
Team Rocket Returned, under two new leaders (A Male executive and a Female one), and involved themselves in various scandals, including chopping off Slowpoke tails and once again, selling illegally stolen Pokémon.
Anime Duos
Team Rocket may also refer to two pairs of grunts that appear continuously in the Pokémon anime. One group, Jessie amd James, appears more often than the other, Butch and Cassidy. The former has been trying to kidnap Ash Ketchum's Pikachu for years, despite the fact that it is probably no longer a rare Pokémon worth it's weight in gold. The Latter pair has been the brains of more sinister schemes, and often attacks more minor characters, such as Professor Oak, Delia Ketchum, and Ritchie. Either duo has their own set of running gags and memos, and both are often foiled miserably.
Giovanni still heads the Team in the Anime, and the focus of the group remains the same,but he has also lusted after control of Mewtwo, a Pokémon originally created for him(and before him his mother).
Trading Card Appearences
Team Rocket Grunts and Scientists have been depicted on numerous cards, and Team Rocket had it's own expansion set named after it. The set, Team Rocket Returns, featured new cards, and reprints of most of the old Team Rocket cards, and first displayed Ken Sugimori's awesome stock art of Jessie and James.
Misc. Trivia
- Team Rocket has been the only team to appear in a game set twice.
- Team Rocket is also only team that didn't disband or was killed based on a lust for a legendary Pokémon's powers.
- Team Rocket is also the only team that probably makes it's fund money of off their illegal activities, as well as possibly
Giovanni's income as Gym Leader.
- Finally, Team Rocket was the only team headed by a Gym Leader.
- Jessie and James appeared in Pokémon Yellow, replacing random Rocket grunts. This marked an appearance in a game where it actually mattered.
- Additionally and curiously, Jessie and James are the only anime characters not borrowed from the games to have art drawn by Sugimori.
- Jessie and James also appear in Pokémon Puzzle League (A cover-up for Panel De Pon 2), as well as in official merchandise. This could mean that Jessie and James have become a symbol of Pokémon as a whole, and may actually be the real stars of the anime, and not Ash Ketchum.
- Team Rocket had to be disbanded three times in order to be fully abolished.
- Female Rocket grunts in Pokémon Gold, Silver and Crystal resemble Cassidy andf Jessie.
