The Punchy Pokémon – Pokémon Season 1, Episode 29

Plot episodePrimeape stays with Anthony

The Punchy Pokémon is the 29th episode of Pokémon: Indigo League, the first season of the Pokémon anime, and the 29th episode of the English dub overall (Japanese episode 29, Bulbapedia code EP029). It first aired in Japan on 14 October 1997 and in the United States on 15 October 1998. It falls within the season’s Fuchsia, the Safari Zone & the Pokémon Shock stretch (EP28–EP38).

Synopsis · Major Events · Trivia · Dub Changes · All episodes

Synopsis

Ash and his friends happen upon a Hitmonchan in the road which appears to be wild. Ash tries to convince Pikachu to battle Hitmonchan, Pikachu is initially not enthused but then Ash gives him boxing tips and the “battle” begins, Hitmonchan is toying with Pikachu until Pikachu hits Hitmonchan with “the Rocket punch”, which bruises Hitmonchans cheek a little and annoys it. Hitmonchan turns out not to be wild,, and his trainer turns up and orders Hitmonchan to a) not drop his guard and b) knock that little pipsqueak out.

After the battle, a girl called Rebecca jumps from behind a tree and begs Hitmonchans trainer to come home (its her father), but it’s clear that he isn’t going to go home until he wins the P1 Grand Prix. He tells the group and his daughter that he’ll be in the gym taking on challengers, and points out which direction the gyms in before running off. The group get introduced to Rebecca who asks them to defeat her fathers Hitmonchan, they arrive at the Fighting Spirit Gym that her father runs and Rebecca explains about the P1 Grand Prix fighting Pokemon Tournament, she says that if her fathers Hitmonchan is defeated he might see sense and go home.

Brock volunteers Ash and Primeape to join the tournament, and himself decides he’ll enter with Geodude. Meanwhile Team Rocket are also eyeing the P-1 Championship belt and prize money, but they don’t have any fighting Pokemon so decide to ‘borrow’ a passing Hitmonlee after taking its trainer hostage.

The Pokemon Numberone Grandprix begins, Rebeccas father Anthony and his Hitmonchan enter, as do Jessie, James and Hitmonlee under the guise of ‘Giant’ and of course Ash, Brock and a whole host of other competititors. The first battle opens with Ash’s Primeape taking on Machop, it looks initially like Primeape is in for a beating but after Machop throws Primeape with a Seismic toss and Ash saving it from hitting the deck, it has a new found will to fight, and to listen to Ash – coming back fighting and defeating Machop with a Mega kick. Brock then takes on Hitmonlee with his Geodude, the battle is looking bad and Anthony advises Brock to throw in the towel, which he does, forfeitting the match.

Anthony, Ash and Team Rocket still in their disguise fight their way through various stages of the tournament until Anthony and his Hitmonchan face Team Rocket and their Hitmonlee in an epic battle. Team Rocket not being ones to fight fair stick Hitmonchan to the ground with glue giving Hitmonlee the edge to win, Rebecca jumps in the way of Hitmonlee’s final kick to save Hitmonchan and Anthony jumps in front of her, forfetting the match. Leaving Ash and Primeape to take on Hitmonlee and Team Rocket in the final. After the battle starts Primeape is taking a lot of hits but manages to get close to Hitmonlee and deliver a flurry back, meanwhile Pikachu spots Meowth messing with the ring and tries to tell Ash, who doesn’t listen. Pikachu goes under the ring to investigate and stops Team Rockets plan to shock Primeape, with the plan foiled Primeape defeats Hitmonlee with a Seismic Toss and becomes the P-1 Champion by knockout!

Anthony tells Ash that Primeape has a great natural fighting ability and asks if he can train him to become a real P-1 Champion (even though he already is). Ash agrees and lets Anthony, who has now promised to spend more time with his family train Primeape. Ash and friends say goodbye to Rebecca, Anthony and Primeape and continue on their journey.

Major Events

• — Ash wins the P1 Grand Prix with Primeape and leaves it with Anthony (not seen again until BW116). Debuts: Anthony, Rebecca
• Poliwrath, Machop, Machoke, Machamp, Hitmonlee, Hitmonchan.

Pokémon making their anime debut

• Poliwrath#0062 · EP029
• Machop#0066 · EP029
• Machoke#0067 · EP029
• Machamp#0068 · EP029
• Hitmonlee#0106 · EP029
• Hitmonchan#0107 · EP029

Trivia

• The screenplay is by Hideki Sonoda.
• This is a plot episode: it advances the Kanto storyline.

Changes in the English Dub

• 闘魂ジム → “Fighting Spirit”
• P-1 banners, 必勝/優勝/がんばれ/ファイト erased
• Jump Kick misnamed Mega Kick; Machoke called Machop
• Dub ending: the Kanto Pokérap (Thursday segment)

Part of our Pokémon: Indigo League guide. Browse every season of the Pokémon anime.