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| Season | Pokémon: Advanced Battle (Season 8) · The Ever Grande Conference arc (AG124–AG131) |
| Episode | Season 8, episode 31 · English episode 396 · Japanese episode 400 · Bulbapedia code AG124 |
| English title | Island Time |
| Japanese title | サバイバルでいこう！ Sabaibaru de Ikō! — “Let’s Go With Survival!” |
| First aired (Japan) | 14 April 2005 · TV Tokyo |
| First aired (US) | 4 March 2006 · Kids’ WB |
| Screenplay | Shinzō Fujita |
| 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 keeps the same type through all its evolutions? (Torchic / Ralts / Horsea) → Ralts (outdated since Gallade) |
| Previous episode | Rhapsody in Drew (AG123) |
| Next episode | Like a Meowth to a Flame (AG125) |
Filler / stand-alone episodeStranded with RobinWailmer evolves
Island Time is the 31st episode of Pokémon: Advanced Battle, the eighth season of the Pokémon anime, and the 396th episode of the English dub overall (Japanese episode 400, Bulbapedia code AG124). It first aired in Japan on 14 April 2005 and in the United States on 4 March 2006. It falls within the season’s The Ever Grande Conference stretch (EP124–EP131).
Synopsis
The group want to reach Ever Grande City quickly for the Conference, which is now only two weeks away, and May solves the problem by turning up with plane tickets she has won. Ash looks forward to training on the way, but once they are airborne the flight attendant, Jessie in disguise, announces a detour to Team Rocket headquarters, and Meowth and James are revealed to be flying the plane. Unfortunately they never refuelled. The tank runs dry over the ocean, and with everyone bracing for a crash James spots an island, and Meowth manages a bumpy landing on its beach that leaves the plane wrecked but everyone unhurt, heroes and villains alike stranded together on a seemingly deserted shore with no way to call for help.
The island’s only resident is Robin, a salesman who has been stranded there for a long time. He shares his food and explains how he fell overboard in a storm and was rescued by a Wailmer, which became his closest friend. Every attempt he has made to escape has failed because the island is ringed by whirlpools, so the group may be stuck as well. Brock proposes converting the wrecked airplane into a boat strong enough to cross them, and everyone, Pokémon included, pitches in to build it, with Pokémon from every team lending their strength to the work. Team Rocket pretend to help while quietly plotting to steal both the finished boat and Pikachu, and Robin watches the preparations with mixed feelings about leaving his friend.
The next morning Robin is already saying a sad goodbye to Wailmer, reflecting that his old office life was robotic and empty. Team Rocket snatch Pikachu with an extendable arm and make off in the boat, but they run out of fuel, the boat is dragged into a whirlpool and wrecked, and Wailmer rescues the trio from the water. When they try to seize Wailmer itself, it evolves into Wailord and blasts them away with Water Spout. Riding on Wailord’s back, Ash and the others cross the whirlpools as it leaps one vortex and smashes an oncoming tidal wave with Water Pulse, and they are picked up by a passing ship. Robin decides to stay with Wailord and live simply on the island, and the travellers respect his choice as they sail on toward Ever Grande City.
Major Events
- Stranded on a castaway’s island after Team Rocket’s plane runs dry
- Robin’s Wailmer evolves into Wailord
- The Conference is two weeks away
- Glalie replaces Snorunt in the Japanese ending
Captures and evolutions
Wailmer → Wailord#0321 · Robin’s friend
Trivia
- The English title plays on "island time", with a nod to Robinson Crusoe.
- The screenplay is by Shinzō Fujita.
- This is a stand-alone episode: it can be skipped without losing the thread of the Hoenn story.
Changes in the English Dub
- A line on Jessie’s lower back removed
- Pocket-ering Monster-ing as Japanese background music
- Glalie replaces Snorunt in the GLORY DAY animation
Part of our Pokémon: Advanced Battle guide. Browse every season of the Pokémon anime.