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| Season | Pokémon: Advanced Battle (Season 8) · The Hoenn Grand Festival arc (AG121–AG123) |
| Episode | Season 8, episode 28 · English episode 393 · Japanese episode 397 · Bulbapedia code AG121 |
| English title | Hi Ho Silver Wind! |
| Japanese title | 開幕！グランドフェスティバル①！！ Kaimaku! Gurando Fesutibaru Wan!! — “Begin! Grand Festival (1)!!” |
| First aired (Japan) | 7 April 2005 · TV Tokyo |
| First aired (US) | 18 February 2006 · Kids’ WB |
| Screenplay | Atsuhiro Tomioka |
| Opening / ending (Japan) | Pokémon Symphonic Medley – Pokémon Symphonic Orchestra · GLORY DAY ~Kagayaku Sono Hi~ (That Shining Day) – GARDEN |
| English opening | Unbeatable – David Rolfe |
| Pokémon Trainer’s Choice | Which comes first? (Slaking / Slakoth / Vigoroth) → Slakoth |
| Previous episode | Satoshi and Haruka! Heated Battles in Hoenn!! (AG120) |
| Next episode | Deceit and Assist (AG122) |
Plot episodeGrand Festival beginsPreliminary appeals
Hi Ho Silver Wind! is the 28th episode of Pokémon: Advanced Battle, the eighth season of the Pokémon anime, and the 393rd episode of the English dub overall (Japanese episode 397, Bulbapedia code AG121). It first aired in Japan on 7 April 2005 and in the United States on 18 February 2006. It falls within the season’s The Hoenn Grand Festival stretch (EP121–EP123).
Synopsis
May reaches Slateport City for the Hoenn Grand Festival, registers her Pokémon and all five Ribbons and receives her entry ticket and a guidebook of rules, maps and restaurants. Her mother Caroline arrives to support her, explaining that Norman is too busy with challengers at the Petalburg Gym to come but will watch on television, and she hands May letters from old friends such as Kelly and Savannah. Brock explains that 247 Coordinators will compete in the preliminary round, but only 64 will advance. Around the city, Ash’s Snorunt freezes him during Ice Beam practice, Munchlax steals a Pokéblock intended for a Zigzagoon, and Team Rocket, disguised as Norman and his manager, lure children into a “Pokémon counselling session” with promises of autographs, planning to steal the strongest Pokémon they see.
Drew arrives, hands May a rose and coolly remarks that enthusiasm is no substitute for talent. Harley turns up too, apologises with suspicious sweetness for cheating at Purika City, gushes over Drew and photographs him, and teases May that the rose must mean romance; as he walks away, he privately vows revenge. Later he urges May to use nothing but Silver Wind throughout the preliminaries and to visit “Norman” for advice. Drew warns her that showing several moves would display her skills better, but Harley dismisses him as jealous. At the counselling session, James “assesses” the children’s Pokémon and Jessie locks the best of them, such as an Espeon, in cages backstage, while Caroline quickly realises that the man on stage cannot be her husband.
Ash confronts the fakes, Beautifly’s Silver Wind blows away Team Rocket’s disguises, Pikachu’s Thunderbolt wrecks their getaway machine, and a second Silver Wind lowers the freed Pokémon gently to the ground. Encouraged, May decides to rely on Silver Wind after all. The preliminary appeals begin with a Zigzagoon’s Shadow Ball, Robert’s sparkling Milotic, Drew’s spinning Roselia with Petal Dance, scoring 95, and Harley’s Cacturne with Bullet Seed, scoring 84. May’s Beautifly sends a shimmering Silver Wind toward the sun and earns 88, beating Harley, whose plan has backfired. Robert finishes first, Drew third and May forty-eighth, while Harley also scrapes through among the 64, and only Drew still looks worried. In Japan this is the first episode broadcast without the Pokémon Trivia Quiz segment.
Major Events
- Hoenn Grand Festival, part 1. 247 Coordinators enter
- Beautifly’s Silver Wind scores 88, putting May through in 48th place of 64
- Caroline arrives
- Drew meets Harley
- Team Rocket pose as Norman
- First Japanese episode without the Pokémon Trivia Quiz
Trivia
- The English title plays on the Lone Ranger’s "Hi-yo, Silver!".
- The screenplay is by Atsuhiro Tomioka.
- This is a plot episode: it advances the Hoenn storyline.
Changes in the English Dub
- A Trainer’s line about his Jynx changed
Part of our Pokémon: Advanced Battle guide. Browse every season of the Pokémon anime.