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| Season | Pokémon: Indigo League (Season 1) · Bulbasaur, Charmander & Squirtle arc (EP8–EP14) |
| Episode | Season 1, episode 10 · English episode 10 · Japanese episode 10 · Bulbapedia code EP010 |
| English title | Bulbasaur and the Hidden Village |
| Japanese title | かくれざとのフシギダネ Kakurezato no Fushigidane — “Fushigidane of the Hidden Village” |
| First aired (Japan) | 3 June 1997 · TV Tokyo |
| First aired (US) | 21 September 1998 · first-run syndication |
| Screenplay | Yukiyoshi Ōhashi |
| Opening / ending (Japan) | Mezase Pokémon Master (Aim to Be a Pokémon Master) – Rica Matsumoto · Hyakugojūichi (One Hundred Fifty-One) – Professor Oak & the Pokémon Kids |
| English opening | Pokémon Theme – Jason Paige |
| Who’s That Pokémon? | Bulbasaur (US) · Bulbasaur (Japan) |
| Previous episode | The School of Hard Knocks (EP009) |
| Next episode | Charmander – The Stray Pokémon (EP011) |
Plot episodeAsh gets Bulbasaur
Bulbasaur and the Hidden Village is the 10th episode of Pokémon: Indigo League, the first season of the Pokémon anime, and the 10th episode of the English dub overall (Japanese episode 10, Bulbapedia code EP010). It first aired in Japan on 3 June 1997 and in the United States on 21 September 1998. It falls within the season’s Bulbasaur, Charmander & Squirtle stretch (EP8–EP14).
Synopsis
Our heroes are continuing on their journey to Vermillion City (well hopefully, they’re a bit lost.) and take a short break near a pond. After seeing an Oddish drinking from the pool Misty and Ash jump straight up to try to catch it. After laying into the Oddish Misty throws a ball to catch it, the ball is batted away by a Bulbasaurs vine whip and fails to catch it. The Bulbasaur stands in front of Oddish to protect it, it then attacks and defeats Starmie quickly. Ash steps in and battles Bulbasaur with Butterfree, the wily Bulbasaur blows Butterfrees own sleep powder back at it, defeats it and Oddish & Bulbasaur flee into the bushes. Shortly after the trio find themselves crossing a rope bridge which promptly collapses as they’re crossing it, Brock falls into the water and is swept away but Ash and Misty manage to climb across, only to be caught in a trap and get stuck in a tree. Brock appears beneath them and cuts them down. Brock had been saved by a beautiful girl who pulled him out of the water. The three go back to her hut in the woods where Brock introduces his friends to Melanie who has just finished feeding a load of Pokémon. It’s then revealed that Melanie runs a sort of sanctuary where Pokémon can come and be safe and relax without battling etc. It turns out that the Oddish Ash and Misty tried to catch was one of the ones from the sanctuary. It turns out that the whole place is also surrounded by Team Rocket style traps in order to keep the Pokemon safe.
The group start helping Melanie care for the Pokemon and Misty apologises to Oddish for what happened previously. Oddish befriends Misty when she shows remorse. Bulbasaur turns up and is less understanding and takes Misty from behind. Ash is about to take Bulbasaur on in battle when Melanie steps in and explains that Bulbasaur volunteered to be the guardian of her Pokemon Sanctuary. Bulbasaur growls at Ash and clearly wants him to leave the village. Team Rocket finally make it to the sanctuary after falling victim to various traps where they attempt to steal all the Pokemon with a big suction machine. Bulbasaur rescues Oddish just in time, and Ash helps push Bulbasaur against the wind to escape into the cabin. Ash sends out Pidgeotto to get rid of Team Rocket and they are promptly blown away by a whirlwind. With the village safe, Melanie offers Bulbasaur (who has now fortunately warmed to Ash a little) to Ash, and that he needs to travel and to grow and that the village is too small for him. Bulbasaur communicates that he will join Ash on one condition, that he takes him on in battle first! Pikachu manages to defeat Bulbasaur in battle and our heroes say their goodbye and leave the village.
Major Events
- — Ash catches Bulbasaur (Melanie’s village)
- Misty fails to catch Oddish. Debuts: Bulbasaur (in person), Oddish. Source of the 2018 “Surprised Pikachu” meme. All-Stars Vol. 7.
Pokémon making their anime debut
Bulbasaur#0001 · EP010
Oddish#0043 · EP010
Captures and evolutions
- Bulbasaur#0001 · Ash · from Melanie’s village
Trivia
- The screenplay is by Yukiyoshi Ōhashi.
- This is a plot episode: it advances the Kanto storyline.
Changes in the English Dub
- Team Rocket’s platform banners erased (one shot missed)
- Dub ending: the Kanto Pokérap (Friday segment)
Part of our Pokémon: Indigo League guide. Browse every season of the Pokémon anime.