Although the Pokémon anime introduced many iconic and one-off characters for fans to adore or despise, Team Rocket's Jessie, James, and Meowth are amongst many comedic failures. Despite gaining new Pokémon in every region they travel to, Team Rocket mostly blasts off without Ash's Pikachu in their grasp.
On the other hand, Team Rocket hasn't given up their quest for Pikachu, regardless of their many failed attempts at snatching him from Ash. Therefore, it'd be intriguing to highlight times where Team Rocket almost accomplished this goal in the anime.
10 Team Rocket's Alien Abduction Scheme Would've Been Successful If Not For Pidgeotto & Clefairy's Interference
Considering how bad Team Rocket wants Pikachu, they're willing to perform ridiculous shenanigans in hopes of snatching Pikachu from Ash. One notable Team Rocket scheme that almost worked for them was their alien abduction plan involving them wearing hilarious alien-looking suits while Meowth operated a spacecraft vehicle.
Although Team Rocket's plans fail because of Ash's Pidgeotto and some wandering Clefairy, they cleverly placed Pikachu inside a locked container that could withstand his electric powers. If not for Ash's other Pokémon and Clefairy swiping Pikachu from Team Rocket while he was in that container, Team Rocket could've stolen Pikachu.
9 Team Rocket's Sinnoh Region Debut Mecha Withstood Piplup's Attacks But Couldn't Defeat Ash's Passion For Wanting Pikachu Back
Many argue some characters could be better protagonists than Ash Ketchum, but to belittle his bond with Pikachu isn't something anyone should do. To begin a new regional journey by losing one's signature, Pokémon wasn't something Ash expected when embarking on his Sinnoh region journey.
Team Rocket managed to find Pikachu with Dawn and Piplup and successfully capture it and prevent Dawn from swiping Pikachu back. Although all hope seemed lost, Ash manages to find Team Rocket and catches them off-guard to the point where Team Rocket accidentally punches a hole in their mecha's base, causing it to explode and send Team Rocket blasting off.
8 Team Rocket's Lack Of Self-Awareness & Goofy Nature Cost Them Pikachu & Goomy
Despite Team Rocket's many failures, one of their schemes in the Kalos region almost stole Ash's Pikachu alongside Goomy, a Pokémon many argue shouldn't be a dragon type. Team Rocket seals Ash and his Kalos companions with an electric rope and captured Goomy and Pikachu in an electronic net capable of withstanding Pikachu's electric powers.
Although Team Rocket manages to escape and hide somewhere in the forest with Pikachu and Goomy still trapped in a net, their foolishness and lack of self-awareness get the better of them. Essentially, Pikachu charges into the cage, leaves a dent, and gets drenched in Goomy slime, allowing him and Goomy to escape after Team Rocket departs.
7 Team Rocket's Attempt At Capturing Pikachu Is Thwarted By A Cook's Raichu Who Sends Team Rocket Flying
Pikachu is one of the best anime mascots of all time and is a creature many characters often have in the anime, besides Ash. Abigail's grandmother, Theresa, was someone that owned a Pikachu but wanted to use Ash's to help her grandmother win a cookoff.
Afterward, they encounter Team Rocket two times, with their second attempt at catching Pikachu working. Even when Ash sends out his Staravia to destroy Team Rocket's second mecha invention, Team Rocket manages to defeat it with their mecha. However, to everyone's surprise, Sugar arrives, focus punches Team Rocket's new vehicle, and manages to save Pikachu from Team Rocket.
6 Team Rocket's Argument With Each Other Over Directions Led To Pikachu Escaping From His Cage & Blasting Them Off With A Thunderbolt
Team Rocket's Jessie, James, and Meowth have always been a team no matter how many times they failed at capturing Ash's Pikachu. If given the power of the Dragon Balls, Team Rocket would wish for each other's lives to have turned out better. However, there was a time where Team Rocket split up and associated with a rival Team Rocket member.
Before James would team up with Butch and Jessie with Cassidy, the argument started because of their naivety with directions while holding Ash's Pikachu in a cage. Due to their bickering, Pikachu managed to unlock his cage and send them flying with a thunderbolt.
5 Meowth Utilizes Pikachu's Amnesia To Convince Him That He's Pals With Team Rocket, But Ash Ruins Their Plans
Meowth tried to manipulate Pikachu in an episode of Pokémon by making him believe he was pals with Team Rocket. Considering Pikachu underwent Amnesia after a collision with Team Rocket, it was a terrible thing for Meowth to do.
It would've led to Team Rocket's victory if not for Ash's persistence to convince Pikachu that Team Rocket had manipulated him.
4 Meowth Strategically Tricks Ash & His Friends That He's No Longer Buddies With Jessie & James As An Attempt To Steal Their Pokémon
Team Rocket may be villains in the Pokémon anime, but there were several times when Team Rocket helped Ash and his friends out, despite their evil reputation. Despite helping Ash and his friends find a relaxing area where their Pokémon could get massages, Meowth betrays them, captures Pikachu and Axew, and leaves off with Jessie and James.
Team Rocket got assistance from scientist Dr. Zager during their operation, with Subway Boss Ilgo's Chandelure using its psychic powers to lift Ash and friends onto their vehicle. Once reunited, Ash and friends put a stop to Team Rocket's plans, and instead of blasting off, they make a getaway using Dr. Zager's helicopter.
3 Team Rocket Almost Manages To Fool Ash By Having A Ditto Transform Into Pikachu During A Short Magic Show
Team Rocket's Pokémon allies tend to stay with them throughout an entire series's run, but Pokémon Journeys wished to change that norm by adding a Ditto to their team for one episode alone. Team Rocket saw great potential in Ditto, despite it fleeing from its trainer Kublock because of their frustrations with it.
Later, Team Rocket devise a magician scandal to swipe Ash's Pikachu by utilizing Ditto's transform powers. Thanks to Goh's Raboot and Ash's wit, they manage to discover Team Rocket's plan and successfully save Pikachu from getting captured. Since they failed, Team Rocket devised a quick scheme that would force Ditto to return to its trainer in hopes of becoming a star performer.
2 Team Rocket's First Scheme Was A Great Attempt That Was Thwarted By Other Pikachu
Despite being the original anime's second episode, "Pokémon Emergency" was Team Rocket's best attempt at stealing Pikachu, despite the plan not working out in the end. Team Rocket was aiming to steal everyone's Pokémon inside Viridian City's Pokémon Center.
Ash and Misty try to fend them off but don't have the Pokémon necessary to defeat Jessie's Ekans and James's Koffing, considering Pikachu was injured. Luckily, Pikachu manages to wake up and receive electric powers and energy from other Pikachu, which gave him the boost necessary to defeat Team Rocket.
1 Team Rocket Pull Off Two Successful Disguises But Are Thwarted By Clemont's Devices Malfunctioning On Them
If there's one thing fans can say about Team Rocket's Jessie, James, and Meowth, it's that they never give up even after being humiliated many times. During their Kalos venture, Team Rocket develops a plan to disguise themselves as Ash, Serena, and his other companions and frame them for various crimes.
Miraculously, they succeed, and Ash and his friends get some heat from the authorities, which gives Team Rocket time to devise a plan to dress up as scientists to trick Clement into making them an invention that'll help them catch Pikachu. Although everything was looking bright for Team Rocket, they weren't aware that Clemont had a knack for making malfunctioning devices, which leads them to blast off again.
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