Line #12 Theatre/PokemonLive


1	[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/pokelive_8685.jpg]]
2	[[caption-width-right:350:[[WillingSuspensionOfDisbelief How did Pikachu get taller than Ash?]]]]
3
4	''Pokémon Live!'' is, in simple words, TheMusical stage show based on ''Anime/PokemonTheOriginalSeries''. It ran late in 2000 and is one of the first ''Franchise/{{Pokemon}}''-based productions made entirely in America. It's not canonical to the anime it's based on, but the story does fit the bill of a MusicalEpisode. The soundtrack was made of songs from the ImageSong album ''Music/Pokemon2BAMaster'', a few songs from the later album ''Totally Pokémon'', and some exclusive musical numbers not heard anywhere else.
5
6	The story begins with a mysterious Gym Leader challenging all trainers to battle him for his one-of-a-kind Gym Badge, the Diamond Badge. Ash Ketchum, protagonist of the anime, is determined to win this Badge with the help of his Pikachu. However, he is also put through a dilemma of sorts; his friend Misty is upset that he never made good on his promise to take her to the movies for her birthday three weeks ago, which she points out is an example of him focusing so much on his Pokémon training that he is ignoring his friends.
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8	What Ash doesn't realize, though, is that the mysterious Gym Leader is in fact [[BigBad Giovanni]], leader of Team Rocket. He has been using the Diamond Badge as bait to make trainers unwittingly come face his new super-robot Pokémon, [=MechaMew2=], based off of the powerful Mewtwo he used to own. [=MechaMew2's=] ability is that it can learn, amplify, and return the attacks of its challengers, thus making it unstoppable. By a strange coincidence, the only two techniques it hasn't yet learned are Thundershock and Thunder, two abilities possessed by Ash's Pikachu. Giovanni once again sends his TerribleTrio, Jessie, James, and Meowth, to capture Pikachu, which, [[TeamRocketWins surprisingly, they actually manage to accomplish]]. During this, he also kidnaps Professor Oak and Ash's mom, Delia, and the latter has a secret past with Giovanni that she's hidden from her son.
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10	If you'd like to know how it ends, you can watch the whole thing on Website/YouTube via the show's production manager [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sgvIdkD_jnE starting here]], or [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bDLj7hT1bk4 here]] for the entire show in one video. The shorter Dubai version can be seen [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4cXLN8SmH84 here]], and the Spanish production can be seen [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9lSRl1RSMso here]].
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12	The official script can be found [[https://www.pocketmonsters.net/content/Pokemon_Live_Script here]]. A Making Of Featurette can be seen [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GiuG0zVC65Q here]], and an interview with the show's writer can be found [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8WE5RAG68UI here]].
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14	Not to be confused with ''Theatre/PokemonTheMewsical'', a fan production.
15
16	----
17	!!''Pokémon Live!'' contains examples of:
18	* AdaptationDyeJob: In the anime, Giovanni wears an orange business suit. For the stage version, his suit is colored black.
19	* AdaptationExplanationExtrication: The Dubai version removes the scene with Jigglypuff's song, making it seem like Team Rocket fell asleep on their own when Meowth went to get help.
20	* AdaptationPersonalityChange: Professor Oak is played up as a comical goofball in the original production, as opposed to the more mild-mannered professor from the original games and anime.
21	* AdaptationalAttractiveness: ''Dexter the Pokédex'', of all characters. At the start of Act II, he "breaks out" of the Pokédex and emerges as a young, energetic rapper, accompanied by a group of backup dancers named the "Dextettes".
22	* AdaptationalBackstoryChange: In the anime's continuity Giovanni succeeded his mother as Team Rocket's boss, while in ''Pokemon Live'' he formed the gang himself as a teenager.
23	* AdaptedOut: The Dubai version cut out Professor Oak, Delia Ketchum and the Jigglypuff trainer. This meant that a large portion of the plot, which involved Delia, was scrapped as well.
24	* AndroidsArePeopleToo: [=MechaMew2=] is treated like an actual Pokémon by the cast even though it's mechanical.
25	* AscendedExtra: Compared to their roles in the anime, Professor Oak and Delia Ketchum have much larger roles here.
26	* TheAtoner: Delia considers herself this, and tries to protect Ash from knowing her troubled past with Team Rocket.
27	* AttackAttackAttack: Ash has Pikachu repeatedly use Thunder and Thundershock against [=MechaMew2=], even when it's apparent it's unaffected.
28	* AuthorVocabularyCalendar: Giovanni seems to be rather fond of referring to [=MechaMew2=] as a "mechanical marvel". The term is even used in its [[http://bulbapedia.bulbagarden.net/wiki/File:MM2Card.png promotional trading card.]]
29	* BadassArmFold: Giovanni does this in "You Just Can't Win" after grabbing Ash by the chin/neck and shoving him away.
30	* BadassBoast: At the climax, Mewtwo and Giovanni both get these in rapid succession.
31	-->'''Giovanni:''' Mewtwo, meet [=MechaMew2=]. Quite an improvement, don’t you think? Better-looking, more obedient, and much more powerful!\
32	'''Mewtwo:''' ''I'' am the world's most powerful Pokémon.\
33	'''Giovanni:''' Then here's your chance to prove it.
34	* BerserkButton: Giovanni mentioning Ash's mom to him makes him ''furious''.
35	* BigBad: Giovanni serves as the musical's main antagonist.
36	* BigDamnHeroes: [[spoiler:Mewtwo of all characters]] saves the day when Ash is about to be killed by [=MechaMew2=].
37	* BigEntrance: Team Rocket's entrance; they repeat it to get the audience to cheer for them.
38	* BigWhat: Ash when he realizes that Brock lost the map to Viridian City.
39	* BlackHelicopter: The Rockets carry Professor Oak and Delia away by dangling them in cages from an (offscreen) helicopter.
40	* BreakingTheFourthWall:
41	** Dexter literally pulls this during his song when he claims to "break out" of Ash's Pokédex when things get too difficult.
42	** As in the anime, Team Rocket does this a lot, particularly in their first scene when they address the kids in the audience and encourage them to say their names.
43	* BringHimToMe: Giovanni instructs Team Rocket to bring him Pikachu alive and unharmed so it can fight [=MechaMew2=]. Pikachu refuses to obey them, so Giovanni orders that Ash be captured as well.
44	* BumblingHenchmenDuo: Jessie and James are Giovanni's main enforcers despite their zero-win track record and even getting a song lamenting their own failures.
45	* TheCameo: Numerous Pokémon including Jigglypuff and Psyduck, along with Nurse Joy and Officer Jenny during "Two Perfect Girls". A Mew also appears during "Misty's Song", where it dances in the air before disappearing into the forest.
46	* CannotSpitItOut: Misty can't confess her feelings to Ash, partially because she feels he's completely focused on Pokémon and ignoring her.
47	* CapturedOnPurpose: Upon hearing Team Rocket has Pikachu, when Jessie and James arrive to capture him, Ash lets them. They're put off by this.
48	* CardCarryingVillain: All of Team Rocket, including Giovanni.
49	* CareBearStare: [[spoiler:The real Mewtwo psychically projects Ash's love for his Pokémon into [=MechaMew2=]]], thus causing it to become sentient and self-destruct to take down Giovanni.
50	* CastFromHitPoints: [[spoiler:Mewtwo]] hits [=MechaMew2=] with enough of Ash's memories to make him faint, and when he wakes up he can't remember the fight or what happened afterwards.
51	* CharacterExaggeration: Let's just say that Brock has no personality here besides being excitable and [[LoveableSexManiac going after every girl he sees]]. He even flirts with ''Misty'' at one point.
52	* ChekhovMIA: Mewtwo is mentioned early on as Giovanni relates how he escaped from him, necessitating the creation of [=MechaMew2=], and [[spoiler:he appears in the finale to help Ash]].
53	* ChekhovsGun: [=MechaMew2=] learning Selfdestruct becomes important in the climax.
54	* TheChessmaster: Giovanni orchestrates the entire plot and manipulates just about everyone.
55	-->'''Darren Dunstan:''' He manipulates a whole lot of people during the show, and it makes him a lot of fun to play.
56	* CirclingMonologue:
57	** Ash and Giovanni circle each other as they sing/fight in "You Just Can't Win."
58	** Rocket Grunts circle Ash and Giovanni as the latter gets the upper hand.
59	* CompanionCube: While the characters generally treat [=MechaMew2=] like an actual Pokémon, Giovanni speaks to it as if it were alive even before it becomes sentient. His comments range from innocuous to parental to outright disturbing.
60	* CompositeCharacter: [=MechaMew2=] is primarily based on Mewtwo, but also has Mew's unique feature of being able to learn every Pokémon move.
61	* ConfettiDrop: Subverted. The show doesn't end with one, but it is used alongside pyrotechnics to represent [[spoiler:when [=MechaMew2=]'s self-destructs]].
62	** The one-off Mexican version did avert this by ending the show with an explosion of pyrotechnics.
63	* ContrivedCoincidence: [=MechaMew2=] has learned every single move... except for Thundershock and Thunder. This gives Giovanni the perfect excuse to have Jessie and James kidnap Ash's Pikachu for him. Keep in mind that Giovanni keeps referring to the total amount of moves as 251, which it is in the second generation. This means that [=MechaMew2=] has somehow learned ''the signature moves of two'' ''[[OlympusMons legendary Pokémon]]'' (Lugia's [[BlowYouAway Aeroblast]] and Ho-Oh's [[KillItWithFire Sacred Fire]]) but is yet to meet one that uses either of the two rather common Electric-type moves.
64	* DarkAndTroubledPast: Delia Ketchum used to go out with Giovanni.
65	* DarkReprise: Giovanni reprises "Everything Changes" and "You and Me and Pokémon."
66	* DarkSecret: Delia keeps her past relationship with Giovanni secret because she's terrified of how Ash will take the news.
67	* DeadpanSnarker: Misty, Meowth and Giovanni tend to get some of the snarkiest lines.
68	* DemotedToExtra: In the Dubai version, Misty and Brock have significantly reduced screen time compared to the original, and their solo songs are cut.
69	* DeusExMachina: [[spoiler:The original Mewtwo shows up and saves the day when nothing else could, using his telepathy and Ash's memories to give [=MechaMew2=] a CareBearStare.]]
70	* DidntThinkThisThrough:
71	** One trainer that challenges [=MechaMew2=] has his Electrode use Selfdestruct in the hopes that the move would be returned, overlooking the fact that using the move made his Electrode faint.
72	** Turned back around on Giovanni, not realizing that teaching his giant robot how to destroy itself [[ChekhovsGun probably wasn't the best idea.]]
73	* DiegeticSoundtrackUsage: The show opens with the Orange Islands ''Pokémon'' theme before being interrupted by Giovanni's commercial, and Ash listens to the original ''Pokémon'' theme on the radio.
74	* DisabilityImmunity: A deaf Trainer uses a Jigglypuff to put its opponents to sleep, and is unaffected because he can't hear Jigglypuff's song.
75	* DoNotAdjustYourSet: The show begins with Giovanni's broadcast interrupting a song. In-universe, it's a commercial for the Diamond Badge.
76	* DynamicEntry: In the Dubai version Brock enters almost every scene with a backflip.
77	* EccentricMentor: Professor Oak's eccentricity is taken up to eleven in the show.
78	* EveryoneCanSeeIt: Brock can easily tell Misty loves Ash, despite her denial.
79	* EvilFormerFriend: Delia used to date Giovanni, and in an earlier draft of the show Giovanni was Ash's father. The finished version softened it to suggesting he was Ash's biological father, before Delia met the man she eventually married.
80	* EvilGloating: "It Will All Be Mine" is basically evil gloating in the form of a song.
81	--> '''Giovanni''': There'll be world domination / complete obliteration / of all who now defy me. / Let the universe prepare / good Pokémon beware / you fools shall not deny me!
82	* EvilIsHammy: All the villains, especially Jessie, James, and Giovanni.
83	* EvilLaugh: Giovanni is prone to sinister laughing even in the middle of his songs. Jessie and James also get a few, such as partway through "It Will All Be Mine."
84	* EvilWearsBlack: Giovanni wears an all-black uniform as the BigBad.
85	* FailedASpotCheck: Jessie and James report that Ash got away from them while walking right past him.
86	* FailureHero: It's easy to miss, but Ash doesn't win a single Pokémon battle throughout the entire show. He's knocked out by Jigglypuff's song, and Giovanni soundly defeats Pikachu with [=MechaMew2=].
87	* FinishingEachOthersSentences: Jessie and James do this quite a bit, both in songs and in dialogue.
88	* ForgottenBirthday: Ash forgot to take Misty to the movies for her birthday, which she uses as an example of him focusing so much on his Pokémon training that he is ignoring his friends.
89	* FormerTeenRebel: Delia Ketchum dated Giovanni when she was young.
90	* FriendshipSong: "My Best Friends" serves as one for Ash, Brock, Misty and Pikachu, who sing the song in celebration of their long-lasting companionship.
91	* FriendToAllLivingThings: Ash is a friend to all Pokémon. His memories and pure heart even [[spoiler:wreck Giovanni's plan by giving [=MechaMew2=] knowledge of love and right and wrong]].
92	* FunnyBackgroundEvent:
93	** During the DarkReprise of "You And Me and Pokémon," Professor Oak is seen banging on the bars of the cage he's locked in and even ''climbing'' on them.
94	** During "Double Trouble," Giovanni nurses a migraine as Jessie and James sing.
95	* GadgeteerGenius: Giovanni built [=MechaMew2=] all by himself.
96	* GenkiGirl:
97	** Brock gets the most high-energy, elaborate dancing in the show.
98	** Professor Oak was turned into this, making him one of the show's funniest characters.
99	* TheGhost: Ash's father and Professor Xalrons are mentioned but never seen.
100	* GoKartingWithBowser: In the finale, Giovanni dances with the rest of the cast, as does the rest of Team Rocket.
101	* AGodAmI: During "It Will All Be Mine," Giovanni says he'll have divine power and make the sun shine on only him.
102	* GoodMorningCrono: The story starts with Ash sleeping in and Pikachu shocking him awake.
103	* GoodOldFisticuffs: When [=MechaMew2=] defeats Pikachu, Ash tries to fight Giovanni himself, with his fists. Giovanni responds in kind.
104	* HelpImStuck: Jessie and James fall into their own pit trap and Meowth has to fetch a rope to rescue them.
105	* HeyThatsMyLine: Jessie and James are confused when Ash demands to be taken to Giovanni, claiming those are their lines.
106	* HiddenDepths: Brock knows sign language, which lets him communicate with a deaf trainer.
107	* HoistByHisOwnPetard:
108	** [[spoiler: Giovanni gave [=MechaMew2=] the ability to "learn", which results in it "learning" the difference between good and evil thanks to Mewtwo and Ash. Having learned right from wrong and which one Giovanni is, [=MechaMew2=] tries to take Giovanni with it by blowing up.]]
109	** Earlier, Jessie and James fall into their own pit trap.
110	* HumanFocusedAdaptation: Likely due to the constraints of theatre, most of the Pokémon are bit characters and the focus is instead on the human cast. For example, even with being the only Pokémon able to talk, Meowth has very few lines compared to Jessie and James.
111	* HumanityIsInfectious: Thanks to Ash's memories, [=MechaMew2=] gains sentience and the ability to talk.
112	* IWantThemAlive:
113	** Giovanni instructs Team Rocket to bring him Pikachu alive and unharmed so it can fight [=MechaMew2=].
114	** Later, when Ash surrenders to Team Rocket, his friends and family try to follow them--but Meowth specifies the Boss ''only'' wanted Ash.
115	* IdiotHero: Ash comes across as this since he is solely focused on obtaining the Diamond Badge, oblivious to Misty's feelings, and seemingly obsessed with Pokémon. However, in "I've Got A Secret", Ash sings about how he must move on from Pikachu's departure to follow his dream and become an adult. He gets over his idiocy by the end of the musical.
116	* InTheEndYouAreOnYourOwn: Since Giovanni told Jessie and James to only capture Ash, none of his friends and family can follow him to the final battle.
117	* InvincibleVillain: [=MechaMew2=] wins every battle it participates in until the very end, meaning it defeated at least 250 trainers offscreen. It takes [[spoiler:Mewtwo]] to stop it by [[spoiler:using Ash's memories to give it knowledge of right and wrong, causing it to become sentient and blow itself up to stop Giovanni's plans]].
118	* IrrelevantActOpener: Act II opens with "What Kind of Pokémon Are You?", performed by Dexter. It has no connection to the main plot, and only serves to hype the audience up after intermission.
119	* JukeboxMusical: The soundtrack was made of songs from the ImageSong album ''2.B.A. Master'', as well as a few songs from the later album ''Totally Pokémon'' and some exclusive musical numbers not heard anywhere else.
120	* JustBetweenYouAndMe: Defied. Delia wants to avoid this trope, so she tells Ash about her past before Giovanni can.
121	* KeepingSecretsSucks: The song "I've Got A Secret" is about Delia and Misty lamenting how they can't tell their respective secrets to Ash.
122	* KneelBeforeZod: Giovanni's reprise of "You and Me and Pokémon" mentions this. On stage, Rocket Grunts kneel before him as he sings.
123	-->''One fight/Then after that/You'll all be at my feet!''
124	* LargeHam: Giovanni, the Team Rocket trio, Brock and Professor Oak.
125	* LaserGuidedAmnesia: [[spoiler:Mewtwo]] wipes Ash's memories of his appearance; it may have been accidental given he hit [=MechaMew2=] with enough of Ash's memories to make him faint.
126	* LastNoteNightmare:
127	** "Everything Changes" ends on minor [[{{Scales}} key]] violins as Team Rocket enters, interrupting Delia and Oak.
128	** Giovanni's reprise of "Everything Changes" ends on a creepy D minor key. This is exacerbated onstage, where helicopter sounds are played over it as Delia and Professor Oak are captured.
129	* {{Leitmotif}}: [=MechaMew2=] gets a short techno theme whenever it appears.
130	* LifeIsntFair: Giovanni says this to Ash in the climax.
131	-->'''Ash:''' It's not ''fair''! What kind of creature is that?\
132	'''Giovanni:''' Welcome to the ''world'', Ash Ketchum! ''My'' world!
133	* LoggingOnToTheFourthWall: The site for Giovanni's ad campaign, "diamondbadge.com", once redirected to the production's official website.
134	* LukeIAmYourFather: Almost. Giovanni used to date Ash's mom. The audio commentary on ''Spell of the Unown'' mentions that in the first draft, TheReveal would be made that Giovanni was Ash's dad, and the finished version implies he's Ash's biological father.
135	* MaliciousMisnaming: When capturing Delia and Oak, Giovanni calls the latter "Professor Acorn."
136	* MommasBoy: Delia sees Ash as this, although he wants to get out of it and be a man. It turns out Delia wants Ash to remain like this in order to protect him from Team Rocket.
137	* MoodWhiplash: Many serious scenes are immediately followed by Psyduck's set-changing cameos, which have silly music.
138	* MultipleDemographicAppeal: Invoked; the people behind the show wanted to create something parents wound enjoy as well as kids.
139	* MyGodWhatHaveIDone: Delia has this reaction after she tells Ash about her past; the revelation combined with Team Rocket stealing his Pikachu made Ash surrender to them to be taken straight to Giovanni--something Delia desperately tried to avoid.
140	* MythologyGag:
141	** Jigglypuff scribbles drawings on Ash and co. when they fall asleep after she sings.
142	** A Dodrio can be heard giving a morning crow like one does in episode one of the anime.
143	** Giovanni wears a black suit akin to the original games, as opposed to the orange one worn exclusively in the anime up to that point.
144	** The show opens with a video of Giovanni challenging trainers to face him in battle and win the elusive Diamond Badge. He spends most of the scene sitting down and concealed in shadow, as he initially did in the anime.
145	* NearVillainVictory: Giovanni's plan works completely, and he tries to kill Ash and Pikachu with Hyper Beam after they served their purpose in his plan. If not for [[spoiler:Mewtwo's intervention]], he would have won.
146	* NeckLift: Sort of. In "You Just Can't Win" Giovanni grabs Ash by the chin/neck, lifts his head and shoves him away; it'd probably be closer to an actual neck lift if they weren't the same height.
147	* NiceJobBreakingItHero: Pikachu's Thundershock and Thunder were the last two moves [=MechaMew2=] needed to learn; with the list complete, nothing can stop Giovanni from conquering the world.
148	* NighInvulnerable: [=MechaMew2=] is seemingly unaffected by any opponent's attack, no matter how strong.
149	* NoNonsenseNemesis: After Pikachu teaches [=MechaMew2=] its electric moves, Giovanni decides to kill Ash and Pikachu with Hyper Beam.
150	* NoSell:
151	** Ash, Misty and Brock walk over Team Rocket's trap with ease.
152	** None of the Pokémon's attacks seem to have any effect on [=MechaMew2=], not even very strong ones like Thunder and Self Destruct. It takes multiple Thundershocks and Thunders without a scratch.
153	* NoSenseOfPersonalSpace: Giovanni and Ash get up close and personal in "You Just Can't Win."
154	* NonchalantDodge: During "You Just Can't Win," Giovanni tries to punch Ash, who dodges and taunts him about it.
155	-->'''Ash:''' Guess you're slowin' down, old man; can't hit what you can't catch!
156	* NotSoForgottenBirthday: Misty is upset with Ash because he never took her to the movies for her birthday as he promised. At the end, he makes it up for it by giving her the Diamond Badge he just won.
157	* NotSoHarmlessVillain: Despite their zero-win track record and seeing ''themselves'' as incompetent, Jessie and James manage to capture both Pikachu and Ash. Delia also takes their threat very seriously, worrying that they may have hurt Ash and knowing that they answer directly to Giovanni.
158	* OhCrap:
159	** Meowth when he realizes that Jessie and James are about to fall into their own pitfall trap after they remove the support stick.
160	** Delia and Professor Oak when they realize that the Snorlax lecture was actually a trap set up by Giovanni.
161	** Ash when he realizes that Brock threw the map away while distracted with the girls.
162	** Ash, Misty and Brock when they realize that the deaf trainer sent out Jigglypuff and they are about to fall asleep.
163	** Ash when he realizes that Pikachu has been kidnapped by Team Rocket.
164	** Ash when he is about to be killed by [=MechaMew2=]'s Hyper Beam.
165	** Giovanni when he realizes that [=MechaMew2=] is going to self-destruct.
166	* OneManArmy: [=MechaMew2=] defeats hundreds of Pokémon trainers in a single day.
167	* ParentService: During several of the songs, there were dancers in the background wearing skin-tight leotards.
168	* ParentalBonus: James delivers a joke about employment benefits and "Don't Ask, Don't Tell".
169	* PromotedToLoveInterest:
170	** Giovanni and Delia are never even onscreen together in the anime. Here, they have a history together.
171	** Misty was [[ShipTease implied]] to like Ash in the anime but it ultimately never went anywhere and has been [[AbortedArc dropped]] since she was PutOnABus. In the musical her arc revolves around her secret crush on Ash.
172	* PowerCopying: [=MechaMew2=] has the ability to learn and amplify any Pokémon's attack.
173	* QuarrelingSong: "You Just Can't Win," sung by Giovanni and Ash ''after'' Pikachu's defeated by [=MechaMew2=].
174	* ReplacementGoldfish: Giovanni made [=MechaMew2=] to replace Mewtwo, who escaped from him.
175	* RuleOfCool: The [=MechaMew2=] robot, the entire last 15 minutes, and the helicopter were probably written to invoke this.
176	* RuleOfThree: There are three trainers and three Pokémon [=MechaMew2=] defeats, and three girls Brock is interested in.
177	* SayMyName: Team Rocket asks the audience to yell "Team Rocket" loudly.
178	* ScareChord: Giovanni's reprise of "You and Me and Pokémon" starts with jarring vocals and guitars.
179	* SchmuckBait: Giovanni's plan is to lure trainers to his Gym by offering a one-on-one battle for an exclusive badge, allowing [=MechaMew2=] to learn every Pokémon attack in the world. He comments that he's learned 75 attacks total by the end of his first scene, and his commercial's only been running ''one day''.
180	* SdrawkcabName: Professor Xalrons' name is Snorlax backwards, as he studies Snorlax.
181	* SeriesContinuityError: [=MechaMew2=]'s [=PoisonPowder=] knocks a trainer's Venusaur out in one hit, despite that [=PoisonPowder=] isn't a damage-dealing move and [[NoSell Venusaur is immune to poison]].
182	* SeriousBusiness: Besides Pokémon being a cornerstone of the world, Giovanni seems ''horrified'' when Team Rocket's motto interrupts his villain song.
183	* SetSwitchSong: Psyduck's cameos are set to silly music and are used to change sets.
184	* ShipTease: Between Ash and Misty, Delia and Professor Oak, and there used to be a relationship between Delia and Giovanni.
185	* ShooOutTheClowns: Towards the end of the musical, Giovanni forces Team Rocket to leave so he can fight against Ash.
186	* SinisterTangoMusic: [[QuirkyMinibossSquad Jessie, James, and Meowth]] get a tango VillainSong called "[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LgDZUY4Vg9Y The Best at Being the Worst]]." Unusually, the song is about the villains ''berating'' themselves, yet at the same time, they seem to take pride in how incompetent they are.
187	* SomethingAboutARose: James has his iconic rose, even in blocking rehearsals.
188	* SpotTheImposter: During the "Pikachu!" number, Jessie and James are hampered when multiple Pikachu appear, forcing them to pick out Ash's from a crowd.
189	* StrappedToABomb: [[spoiler:[=MechaMew2=] puts Giovanni in a headlock as it counts down to self destruct]].
190	* SuddenlySpeaking: [[spoiler:[=MechaMew2=] talks after assimilating Ash's memories. Giovanni lampshades this immediately]].
191	* SurrogateSoliloquy: Giovanni often tells [=MechaMew2=] about his plans and how unstoppable it will be.
192	* SurroundedByIdiots: Giovanni is this to the point that Jessie and James give him migraines from sheer annoyance, and Meowth similarly bemoans being stuck with such knuckleheads.
193	* TakeOverTheWorld: Giovanni plans to do this through [=MechaMew2=].
194	* TakingYouWithMe: [[spoiler:[=MechaMew2=] tries to do this to Giovanni; sadly, the Rocket boss escapes before it blows up.]]
195	* TalkingTheMonsterToDeath: This is how [=MechaMew2=] is defeated. Mewtwo hitting it with Ash's memories gives it sentience and an understanding of right and wrong, which it uses to try and take out Giovanni.
196	* TeamRocketWins: To date, this is the only time Jessie and James have ever actually brought Pikachu to Giovanni, [[KarmaHoudini and they suffer no consequences for it either.]] They also capture Ash on Giovanni's orders, and are very happy to have done two things right in one day.
197	* TrueCompanions: Ash considers Pikachu, Misty and Brock his best friends for life, and the song "My Best Friends" is about their unbreakable bond.
198	* UpgradeVsPrototypeFight: The climax has [[spoiler:Mewtwo facing off against [=MechaMew2=]]].
199	* VictoryGuidedAmnesia: [[spoiler:Mewtwo]] wipes Ash's memories of his appearance; it may have been accidental given he hit [=MechaMew2=] with enough of Ash's memories to make him faint.
200	* VillainExitStageLeft: Giovanni escapes and runs away from [=MechaMew2=] just before it explodes at the end of the second act.
201	* VillainousLament: Team Rocket gets "The Best at Being the Worst".
202	* VillainSong: Giovanni's "It Will All Be Mine" and his DarkReprise of "You and Me and Pokémon" and "Everything Changes". Also, Team Rocket's "Double Trouble".
203	* TheVillainSucksSong: "The Best at Being the Worst" is Team Rocket doing this to ''themselves'', except they twist it around to make it sound like they're great for sucking so much and how it's their claim to fame.
204	* VisionaryVillain: Giovanni claims his plan will change the world forever, and his villain songs describe ruling the planet and controlling each day to the point that he'll make the sun shine on him alone.
205	* VoiceOfTheLegion: [=MechaMew2=] speaks with heavy reverb and a male/female voice similar to the Mewtwo/Nurse Joy example from the anime's first movie.
206	* WhatTheFuAreYouDoing: Professor Oak tries to escape from a cage via martial arts training. It doesn't go well.
207	* WhatTheHellHero: A comical version. Brock gets the group lost when he chucks away the map to Viridian City to deliberately talk to a pretty girl and ask for directions. Needless to say, [[BerserkButton Misty is not happy]].
208	* AWildRapperAppears: ''It Will All Be Mine'', Giovanni's otherwise serious VillainSong, has a part where Jessie and James recite their motto by rapping.
209	* WithFriendsLikeThese: Ash, Misty, and Brock spend as much time arguing as they do traveling to the city. Their journey isn't helped by Brock throwing away the map and Misty being unable to confess her feelings towards Ash.
210	* WouldHurtAChild: Giovanni is perfectly willing to kill Ash with [=MechaMew2=]'s Hyper Beam, and he engages him in a fistfight shortly before that.
211	* YouHaveOutlivedYourUsefulness: After Pikachu teaches [=MechaMew2=] its electric moves, he and Ash are no longer useful to Giovanni, so he tries to kill them with Hyper Beam.
212	* YourMom: Giovanni does this in "You Just Can't Win."
213	-->'''Ash:''' No one's gonna side with you; you're stark raving mad!\
214	'''Giovanni:''' Oh yeah? Just ask your mother.
215	* YoureInsane: After Giovanni explains his world domination plans to his prisoners, this exchange occurs.
216	-->'''Delia:''' You're mad!\
217	'''Giovanni:''' ''Not'' mad. Maybe a little angry.

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