Really, Meowth? Zorua changed right in front of you!
This episode contains examples of the following tropes:
- Bad "Bad Acting": In-Universe—Ash is horribly stiff and awkward during the first take of the movie. He loosens up and does much better the second time around, though.
- Damsel in Distress: The plot of the movie is for Sir Ash to rescue Princess Yuria.
- Distracted by the Sexy: During the battle with Team Rocket, Zorua disguises herself as a female Meowth to fool Team Rocket's, leaving him distracted long enough to blast away the trio with Night Daze.
- Evil Is Hammy: Pirate Captain Cilan. Not surprising, given that Cilan is naturally a Large Ham.
- Heel–Face Turn: Cilan goes from evil pirate to heroic sorcerer.
- Knight in Shining Armor: Ash's role, which he's naturally excited about.
- The Mentor: Iris' role, until some serious Xanatos Speed Ad-Libbing turns her into the princess, with Zorua as her decoy.
- Princess Classic: The only role that Zorua wants to play in Luke's movie.
- Status Quo Is God: Team Rocket's side job of catching Zorua has them temporarily reverting from their upgraded status in Unova to the zany antics of yore. But as usual for the first season of Unova, they escape with jetpacks instead of being blasted off by Zorua's Night Daze.
- Throw It In!: In-Universe—when Team Rocket crashes the movie, Cilan starts some serious ad-libbing.
