Attack of the Prehistoric Pokémon – Pokémon Season 1, Episode 46

Plot episodeCharmeleon evolves into CharizardAsh finds an Egg

Attack of the Prehistoric Pokémon is the 46th episode of Pokémon: Indigo League, the first season of the Pokémon anime, and the 46th episode of the English dub overall (Japanese episode 48, Bulbapedia code EP046). It first aired in Japan on 28 May 1998 and in the United States on 27 February 1999. It falls within the season’s The comeback, Charizard & the Egg stretch (EP39–EP51).

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

Synopsis

Ash and his friends find themselves in beautiful Grandpa Canyon, where they discover a large archaeology expedition taking place. Ash is deliberating what might be happening when Gary turns up in full archaeology gear and gives him some abuse for not knowing anything, explaining that this event is called the Great Fossil Rush, lots of people digging up newly discovered Pokemon fossils. Jigglypuff is still following in the background but doesn’t quite catch up to the group. Lots of people are digging in the Canyon and Gary discovers an “amazing Pokemon fossil”, only to be corrected by an archaeologist moments later and told it’s actually Pokemon Manure. Meanwhile Ash and gang spot Meowth, Jessie and James arriving at the site. They’ve already set up explosives to try and blow chunks out of the Canyon and reveal fossils, with the fuse to the explosives burning away Ash and squirtle try to stop the explosion but to no avail. The whole group incl Ash and friends + Team Rocket then find themselves caught in the blast from the explosives, with Ash and Team Rocket ending up buried in an underground cavern and Ash, Squirtle and Misty trying to uncover the rocks.

Ash, Pikachu and Team Rocket wake up in an underground cavern and start exchanging blame as to whose fault it is that they’re down there. All of a sudden red eyes appear in the darkness and soon later it turns out they are surrounded by the ancient Pokemon; Omanyte, Omastar, Kabuto and Kabutops. Jessie and James are excited to catch these rare Pokemon and take them to the boss, but the Pokemon have other ideas and look particularly furious after being rudely awoken by dynamite after thousands of years asleep. Ash and Team Rocket try to battle the advancing Pokemon, Ash’s Charmeleon ignores his commands and the ancient Pokemon chase the whole group through the underground caverns. Meanwhile Misty and Brock tell Officer Jenny of the situation and that their friend is buried beneath the rocks, she goes to get help and Geodude comes out to help dig out the rocks. Ash, Pikachu, Team Rocket and their Pokemon are being attacked still and just as a couple of Kabutops close in on Ash and Pikachu all the ancient Pokemon start to run away, Ash and TR take a moment to contemplate what happened when all of a sudden another ancient Pokemon flies out, a huge Aerodactyl, it kicks Charmeleon off it’s rock straight onto the ground and attacks the group. Charmeleon, angry that Aerodactyl attacked it now wants to battle but is overpowered by Aerodactyl quickly. Aerodactyl grabs Ash and takes flight just as Misty and co open up the caves entrance, Charmeleon and Pikachu grab on too and Aerodactyl flies out of the cave, Pikachu and Charmeleon being dropped off at the caves entrance. Aerodactyl looks as if its about to eat Ash when an angry Charmeleon challenges Aerodactyl, Aerodactyl taunts him resulting in Charmeleon being so angry it evolves into Charizard so that it can battle Aerodactyl!

Aerodactyl is about to take a huge chunk out of Ash when it spots Charizard flying straight at it, Aerodactyl grabs Ash and flies off, Charizard in pursuit firing flames at Aerodactyl (and inadvertantly hitting Ash). Misty begs Jigglypuff to sing, and it does, putting both everyone to sleep, Charizard resists the song for as much as it can and manages to hold on just long enough to save Ash. Aerodactyl falls back into it’s underground cave and Charizard and Ash land safely, Ash is clutching a mysterious egg. To prevent further such incidents, Officer Jenny commands people to stop talking about sightings of Ancient Pokemon and says it was all just an illusion caused by Jigglypuffs song, she forbids any further digging in the Canyon and tells everyone to be on there way. The heroes leave Grandpa Canyon and Ash reveals the Egg he found. Meanwhile Team Rocket are still trapped underground with the sleeping ancient Pokemon including Aerodactyl!

Major Events

• — Charmeleon → Charizard (still disobedient)
• Ash finds the Egg (Togepi)
• Gary at Grampa Canyon. Debuts: Charizard (in person), Omanyte, Omastar, Kabuto, Kabutops, Aerodactyl. All-Stars Vol. 3.

Pokémon making their anime debut

• Charizard#0006 · EP046
• Omanyte#0138 · EP046
• Omastar#0139 · EP046
• Kabuto#0140 · EP046
• Kabutops#0141 · EP046
• Aerodactyl#0142 · EP046

Captures and evolutions

• Charmeleon → Charizard#0006 · Ash

Trivia

• The English title plays on “1950s B-movie titles”.
• The screenplay is by Junki Takegami.
• This is a plot episode: it advances the Kanto storyline.

Changes in the English Dub

• Kids’ WB! zoom hides Meowth’s lighter
• Grampa Canyon sign → pick & shovel (6 shots)
• Jigglypuff stage signs
• Dub ending: the Kanto Pokérap (Monday segment)

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