Japanese Title: The Curtain Rises! Pokémon Contest - Asatsuki Tournament!!
Original Airdate: January 28, 2010
US Airdate: June 26, 2010
The Daybreak Contest has begun, but one of Dawn's rivals, Ursula, has a trump card: Plusle and Minun! Dawn has history with the magnetic Electric mice, and it's not pleasant. Can Piplup and Buneary kick off her latest performance right?
This episode contains examples of the following tropes:
- And Call Him "George": Dawn's fear of Plusle and Minun is rooted in her hugging a pair of them too tightly in Kindergarten, resulting in them electrocuting her. For the rest of that day, her hair was sparking with electricity, leading to classmates picking on her.
- Oh, Crap!: Dawn's reaction to Ursula's Plusle and Minun, especially when they unknowingly recreate the scenario that made her get her infamous nickname.
- O.O.C. Is Serious Business: Everyone is very surprised when Dawn's first reaction to the two cute little Pokemon cheerleaders is to freak out and eventually faint.
- The Reveal: In telling Ash and Brock why she's afraid of Plusle and Minun, they find out why some of her friends call her "Dee Dee (short for “Diamond Dandruff”)" (in Japanese, "Pikari", which tacks the word for sparks, "pika", onto her normal name, "Hikari").
