crime syndicate
The Crime Syndicate or Crime Syndicate of America (CSA, with America sometimes spelled Amerika) is a team of supervillains featured in DC Comics. The team is composed of evil Multiverse (DC Comics), parallel-universe counterparts of the Justice Le ...
in the ''
Pokémon
is a Japanese media franchise consisting of List of Pokémon video games, video games, Pokémon (TV series), animated series and List of Pokémon films, films, Pokémon Trading Card Game, a trading card game, and other related media. The fran ...
'' franchise. Team Rocket is a primary
antagonist
An antagonist is a character in a story who is presented as the main enemy or rival of the protagonist and is often depicted as a villain.''Red'', ''Green'', and ''Blue'', as well as in the long-running ''Pokémon'' anime TV-series. In the latter, Team Rocket is primarily represented through the trio of characters Jessie, James, and
Meowth
Meowth, known in Japanese as , is a List of Pokémon, Pokémon species in Nintendo and Game Freak's Pokémon, ''Pokémon'' media franchise, and the first stage of its Gameplay of Pokémon#Pokémon evolution, evolved form, Persian (Pokémon), Pers ...
, who are major secondary characters throughout the ''Pokémon'' TV-series.
Team Rocket is portrayed as a serious crime syndicate in the video games series. In the TV-series, Team Rocket has a largely comedic role, as the trio of grunts repeatedly fail to steal Pokémon while operating increasingly flashy
mecha
In science fiction, or mechs are giant robots or machines, typically depicted as piloted, humanoid walking vehicles. The term was first used in Japanese (language), Japanese after shortening the English loanword or , but the meaning in Japan ...
. The Team Rocket trio in the anime is beloved by ''Pokémon'' fans who relate to their roles as
young adult
In medicine and the social sciences, a young adult is generally a person in the years following adolescence, sometimes with some overlap. Definitions and opinions on what qualifies as a young adult vary, with works such as Erik Erikson's stages ...
s.
In video games
Team Rocket first appeared in the video games ''Pokémon Red'', ''Green'', and ''Blue'', where they are portrayed as a serious and affluent crime syndicate aiming to capture and steal Pokémon for profit. The games present Team Rocket
breaking and entering
Burglary, also called breaking and entering (B&E) or housebreaking, is a property crime involving the illegal entry into a building or other area without permission, typically with the intention of committing a further criminal offence. Usually ...
, murdering a mother
Marowak
Cubone (), known in Japan as , is a Pokémon species in Nintendo and Game Freak's ''Pokémon'' media franchise. First introduced in the video games ''Pokémon Red'' and ''Blue'', it has appeared in multiple games including ''Pokémon Go'' and t ...
, and chopping off the tails of
Slowpoke
The SLOWPOKE (acronym for Safe LOW-POwer Kritical Experiment) is a family of low-energy, swimming pool reactor, tank-in-pool type nuclear research reactors designed by Atomic Energy of Canada Limited (AECL) beginning in the late 1960s. John W. H ...
Giovanni Giovanni may refer to:
* Giovanni (name), an Italian male given name and surname
* Giovanni (meteorology), a Web interface for users to analyze NASA's gridded data
* ''Don Giovanni'', a 1787 opera by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, based on the legend of ...
Pokémon Go
''Pokémon Go'' (stylized as ''Pokémon GO'') is a 2016 augmented reality (AR) mobile game originally developed and published by Niantic in collaboration with Nintendo and The Pokémon Company for iOS and Android devices. It uses mobile devic ...
'' under the name of "Team GO Rocket" in 2019, allowing players to encounter and battle Team Rocket grunts. Team Rocket grunts also appear in ''
Super Smash Bros. Ultimate
''Super Smash Bros. Ultimate'' is a 2018 crossover fighting game developed by Bandai Namco Studios and Sora Ltd. and published by Nintendo for the Nintendo Switch. It is the fifth installment in the '' Super Smash Bros.'' series, succeeding ' ...
anime
is a Traditional animation, hand-drawn and computer animation, computer-generated animation originating from Japan. Outside Japan and in English, ''anime'' refers specifically to animation produced in Japan. However, , in Japan and in Ja ...
series, a trio of Team Rocket grunts , , and are major secondary characters. The three were the primary antagonists of early seasons of the series, where each episode they attempt to kidnap the protagonist's
Pikachu
Pikachu (; Japanese: , Hepburn: ) is a Pokémon species in Nintendo and Game Freak's ''Pokémon'' media franchise, and the franchise's mascot. First introduced in the video games ''Pokémon Red'' and ''Blue'', it was created by Atsuko N ...
. In the earliest produced episodes of the anime, the trio was halfway intelligent and at times were very formidable foes; while they have assumed a more sinister role in various parts of the series, most notably in the ''Black and White'' anime, the three mainly act as comic relief. The characters are presented as simple-minded, bringing
slapstick
Slapstick is a style of humor involving exaggerated physical activity that exceeds the boundaries of normal physical comedy. Slapstick may involve both intentional violence and violence by mishap, often resulting from inept use of props such as ...
antics to the series. Team Rocket's
Meowth
Meowth, known in Japanese as , is a List of Pokémon, Pokémon species in Nintendo and Game Freak's Pokémon, ''Pokémon'' media franchise, and the first stage of its Gameplay of Pokémon#Pokémon evolution, evolved form, Persian (Pokémon), Pers ...
- a common species of Pokémon- is unusual within the ''Pokémon'' canon, as he is the only Pokémon creature able to speak the human language, whereas all other Pokémon in the series only utter syllables of their own names.
Jessie and James originally had an Ekans and a Koffing as their signature Pokémon, respectively, and the trio were later joined by a Wobbuffet as one of their only major recurring Pokémon as the series progressed. As the ''Pokémon'' series evolved, the Team Rocket trio uses an increasingly large number of vehicles and
mecha
In science fiction, or mechs are giant robots or machines, typically depicted as piloted, humanoid walking vehicles. The term was first used in Japanese (language), Japanese after shortening the English loanword or , but the meaning in Japan ...
. Most notably, they travel in a Meowth-shaped
hot air balloon
A hot air balloon is a lighter-than-air aircraft consisting of a bag, called an envelope, which contains heated air. Suspended beneath is a gondola or wicker basket (in some long-distance or high-altitude balloons, a capsule), which carri ...
throughout the show, and use a
Gyarados
Magikarp, known in Japan as , and Gyarados ( ; ) are a pair of Pokémon species in the ''Pokémon'' franchise. Both Pokémon first appeared in ''Pokémon Red'' and ''Blue'', going on to appear in almost every subsequent installment in the ser ...
-shaped submarine in its early seasons. Later on, Team Rocket became known for their large number of mecha and gadgets. The Team Rocket characters have sympathetic backstories and share a strong camaraderie. They are not ideologically aligned with Giovanni and therefore frequently find themselves siding with the series' protagonists. Due to how frequently Jessie and James are shown to
crossdress
Cross-dressing is the act of wearing clothes traditionally or stereotypically associated with a different gender. From as early as pre-modern history, cross-dressing has been practiced in order to disguise, comfort, entertain, and express onesel ...
across the series, some people view them as queercoded.
In 2011, the ''Pokémon'' series was building up to an arc in which Giovanni faces off against rival organization Team Plasma, but the episodes were cancelled following the
Great East Japan Earthquake
Great may refer to:
Descriptions or measurements
* Great, a relative measurement in physical space, see Size
* Greatness, being divine, majestic, superior, majestic, or transcendent
People
* List of people known as "the Great"
* Artel Great (bo ...
. Team Rocket departed the series at the end of the ''Pokémon Journeys'' anime. The team also appears in ''
Pokémon Origins
''Pokémon Origins'', known in Japan as , is a Japanese anime television special based on Nintendo's ''Pokémon'' franchise which follows the plot of ''Pokemon Red'' and ''Blue''. Like the television series, it was not owned by Media Factory (b ...
'' and ''
Pokémon Generations
is a 2016 Japanese-animated original net animation (ONA) series produced by OLM and released on YouTube by The Pokémon Company. The series consists of several short stories inspired by Nintendo's ''Pokémon'' video game series (from Generati ...
'', in portrayals more closely aligned with their in-game counterparts.
Development
The names Jessie and James reference famous American outlaw
Jesse James
Jesse Woodson James (September 5, 1847April 3, 1882) was an American outlaw, Bank robbery, bank and Train robbery, train robber, guerrilla and leader of the James–Younger Gang. Raised in the "Little Dixie (Missouri), Little Dixie" area of M ...
; their Japanese names Musashi and Kojirō refer to the samurai
Miyamoto Musashi
, was a Japanese swordsman, strategist, artist, and writer who became renowned through stories of his unique double-bladed swordsmanship and undefeated record in his 62 duels. Miyamoto is considered a ''Kensei (honorary title), kensei'' (swo ...
and
Sasaki Kojiro
Sasaki may refer to;
*Sasaki (clan), Japanese clan
*Sasaki (surname), Japanese surnames
*Sasaki (company), American landscape architecture firm
*Sasaki and Miyano, Japanese manga series
*Sasaki and Peeps
is a Japanese light novel series ...
.
In the English dubbed anime, Jessie was initially voiced by
Rachael Lillis
Rachael Lillis (July 8, 1969 – August 10, 2024) was an American voice actress. She was best known for her performances as Misty, Jessie, and Jigglypuff in the first eight seasons of the English dub of the TV series ''Pokémon''. In additio ...
, until the dub switched production from
4Kids Entertainment
4Kids Entertainment, Inc. (formerly known as Leisure Concepts, Inc. and later known as 4Licensing Corporation; stylized as 4K!DS ENTERTAINMENT) was an American licensing company. The company was previously also a film and television production ...
to
The Pokémon Company International
''The'' is a grammatical article in English, denoting nouns that are already or about to be mentioned, under discussion, implied or otherwise presumed familiar to listeners, readers, or speakers. It is the definite article in English. ''The ...
in 2006, when she was replaced by
Michele Knotz
Michele Knotz is an American voice actress who works for New York City-based studios, including TAJ Productions, Headline Sound, and Central Park Media.
Career
Born in New Jersey, Knotz attended Marywood University in Scranton, Pennsylvania.
...
. During her audition, Lillis was instructed to make Jessie "sultry" while also keeping her "tough." Lillis did not expect Jessie to be a recurring character in the series. James was originally voiced by
Eric Stuart
Eric Stuart is an American voice actor and musician who worked for 4Licensing Corporation, 4Kids Entertainment, NYAV Post, and Central Park Media.
Among some of his prominent roles, he is best known for being the voice of Brock (Pokémon), Bro ...
. The two actors quickly started to play around with their voices, giving the characters a "prissy" attitude that contrasted with their inability to succeed.
Meowth was voiced by
Maddie Blaustein
Madeleine Joan Blaustein (born Adam Blaustein, October 9, 1960 – December 11, 2008), also known as Kendra Bancroft, was an American voice actress and comic writer who was known for her voice acting work for 4Kids Entertainment, DuArt Film and ...
for seasons one to eight of the series until her death in 2008. James Carter Cathcart took over the roles of James and Meowth in 2006, and continued to voice the characters until 2023, when he retired from ''Pokémon'' due to
oral cancer
Oral cancer, also known as oral cavity cancer, tongue cancer or mouth cancer, is a cancer of the lining of the lips, mouth, or upper throat. In the mouth, it most commonly starts as a painless red or white patch, that thickens, gets ulcerated ...
.
Other media
Team Rocket appear as the main antagonists in several arcs of the ''
Pokémon Adventures
is a Japanese manga series based on the ''Pokémon'' media franchise. The series is written by Hidenori Kusaka. was the illustrator for the first nine volumes. When Mato became ill and was unable to continue illustrating the series, Satosh ...
'' manga, including the ''Red, Green,'' and ''Blue, Yellow,'' and ''Gold and Silver'' arcs. The Team Rocket trio from the anime appear in the Electric Tale of Pikachu manga adaptation, where Jessie and James are shown at the end to be married and expecting a child.
Team Rocket is the central antagonist in the 2000 stageplay ''
Pokémon Live!
''Pokémon Live!'' is a musical stage production that toured the United States from September 15, 2000, to January 28, 2001. The musical was based on the ''Pokémon'' anime series, using similar characters, clothing, and story elements. The show ...
'', in which Jessie, James, and Meowth successfully steal Ash Ketchum's Pikachu and use it to train Giovanni's
Mewtwo
Mewtwo (; Japanese: , Hepburn: ) is a Pokémon species in Nintendo and Game Freak's ''Pokémon'' media franchise. It was first introduced in the video games ''Pokémon Red'' and ''Blue'', and later appeared in subsequent sequels and spin-off ...
. Team Rocket characters additionally frequently appear on cards in the ''
Pokémon Trading Card Game
The , abbreviated as ''PTCG'' or ''Pokémon TCG'', is a tabletop and collectible card game developed by Creatures Inc. based on the ''Pokémon'' franchise. Originally published in Japan by Media Factory in 1996, publishing worldwide is curre ...
,'' most notably in the ''Team Rocket'' expansion released in 2000.
Reception and legacy
As
comic relief
Comic Relief is a British charity, founded in 1986 by the comedy scriptwriter Richard Curtis and comedian Sir Lenny Henry in response to the 1983–1985 famine in Ethiopia. The concept of Comic Relief was to get British comedians to make t ...
characters, Jessie, James, and Meowth are very popular among ''Pokémon'' viewers. ''Yahoo!''-writer Jay Castello notes that as ''Pokémon'' fans grew up, the struggle of "twenty-somethings who couldn't quite find their place in the world or succeed at their ambitions" became increasingly relatable, and a sub-fandom dedicated to the trio sprang up. The
LGBT
LGBTQ people are individuals who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, or questioning. Many variants of the initialism are used; LGBTQIA+ people incorporates intersex, asexual, aromantic, agender, and other individuals. The gro ...
community largely embraced Team Rocket's queercoding, interpreting them as
bisexual
Bisexuality is romantic attraction, sexual attraction, or sexual behavior toward both males and females. It may also be defined as the attraction to more than one gender, to people of both the same and different gender, or the attraction t ...
drag artist
A drag queen is a person, usually male, who uses drag clothing and makeup to imitate and often exaggerate female gender signifiers and gender roles for entertainment purposes. Historically, drag queens have usually been gay men, and have ...
s. Blaustein was inspired by Meowth-focused episode "Go West, Young Meowth" to
come out
Coming out of the closet, often shortened to coming out, is a metaphor used to describe LGBTQ people's self-disclosure of their sexual orientation, romantic orientation, or gender identity.
This is often framed and debated as a privacy issue, ...
and transition as a
transgender woman
A trans woman or transgender woman is a woman who was assigned male at birth. Trans women have a female gender identity and may experience gender dysphoria (distress brought upon by the discrepancy between a person's gender identity and their ...
, a friend of her later metaphorically describing the character as "a human trapped in a Pokémon's body."
In both their games and anime portrayals, Team Rocket have been cited as some of the best villains in the ''Pokémon'' franchise. Chris Carter of ''
Destructoid
''Destructoid'' is a website that was founded as a video game-focused blog in March 2006 by Yanier Gonzalez, a Cuban-American cartoonist and author. Enthusiast Gaming acquired the website in 2017 and sold it to Gamurs Group in 2022.
Histor ...
'' called the English voice team for Jessie, James, and Meowth (Lillis, Stuart, and Blaustein) "some of the show's finest work." The relationship between Team Rocket and show's central cast has been noted as a core part of the show by children, as was their moral ambiguity, due to their positive actions contrasting with their antagonistic role. Their complex relationship with the main cast was highlighted as an element that was a core part of the television series, acting as a contrast to Ash while viewers are also made to sympathize with them. Their role in Pokémon The Series: Black and White was cited by ''
Polygon
In geometry, a polygon () is a plane figure made up of line segments connected to form a closed polygonal chain.
The segments of a closed polygonal chain are called its '' edges'' or ''sides''. The points where two edges meet are the polygon ...
'' to be one of the biggest missed opportunities with their characters, due to the sudden cancellation of several episodes leading to Team Rocket's character changes in the series being for "nothing." American rapper
Lil Uzi Vert
Symere Bysil Woods ( ; born July 31, 1995), known professionally as Lil Uzi Vert, is an American rapper, singer, and songwriter. Born and raised in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, they gained initial recognition following the release of the commer ...
named the eighth song on their mixtape,
Lil Uzi Vert vs. the World
''Lil Uzi Vert vs. the World'' (shortened L.U.V. vs. the World) is the third mixtape by American rapper Lil Uzi Vert. It was released on April 15, 2016, by Generation Now and Atlantic Records, serving as their second commercial release with Atla ...
, "Team Rocket", along with other Pokémon references on earlier songs.
The book ''Anime Classics Zettai!: 100 Must-See Japanese Animation Masterpieces'' reviews Team Rocket as the antagonists in the anime who actually provide comedic relief through the characters Jessie and James, with Meowth portrayed as a "clever cat" who stands out among other Meowth. The book also mentions Jessie, who possesses a charming allure, as the leader above James. Although the Team Rocket trio is positioned as antagonists, they are not hesitant to help Ash Ketchum and his friends on several occasions, especially when they find themselves in difficult and dangerous situations, as often depicted in the movies. The book ''Japanese Influence on American's Children's Television: Transforming Saturday Morning'' describes them similarly, citing them as comic relief or as a tension breaker despite being the series' core antagonists. It describes Jessie as being a strong female character, acting as James's superior, as well as how she did not fall into a stereotypical female role. Meowth's role on the team has been met with a positive response, being considered an integral and iconic part of the team. He has been highlighted as a key part of why his species was so well-known. The Fandom Post said Jessie and James were the "Best Villain Couple" due to their continuous hard work as well as interactions over several episodes.