DP042

The Electrike Company! (Japanese: ラクライ訓練センター！  Practice Center!) is the 42nd episode of the, and the 508th episode of the Pokémon anime. It first aired in Japan on August 9, 2007 and in the United States on December 22, 2007.

Blurb
On a sunny day in Sinnoh, Ash is literally hit by a bolt out of the blue—an Electrike is practicing its Electric-type moves nearby, but it accidentally zapped Ash instead of its target! Jaco, the Electrike's Trainer, is a Pokémon breeder who's raising Electrike at the Pokémon Training Center. He doesn't think Electrike will ever be able to control its moves, but Brock knows better and offers to help both of them train. It's all about developing trust between Trainer and Pokémon so they can work together as a team. From daily care and feeding to learning Electrike's individual rhythm, Brock knows just how it's done!

Even Team Rocket feels a little touched by the developing bond between Jaco and Electrike. At least, James and Meowth are touched; Jessie is just touchy. She wants to steal Electrike now, but not only do James and Meowth try to stop her, they also volunteer to help Electrike and Jaco train! They have plenty of experience at being zapped by Pikachu, so they're happy to run around in insulated jackets so Electrike can practice hitting moving targets.

Jessie is still determined to steal Electrike, and she uses her own one-woman robot to grab it. But when Electrike evolves into Manectric, Jessie steals an easier prize instead: Pikachu! To stop her getaway, Manectric needs to hit the one exposed spot on her rampaging robot. Will Jaco and Manectric's hard work finally pay off? Of course! Manectric hits its target and sends Team Rocket blasting off. Now that it's finally learned to control its attacks, Manectric is ready to graduate from the Pokémon Training Center, and our heroes can say goodbye knowing that both Jaco and Manectric have grown from the experience.

Plot
,, and are sitting next to a pond, watching their Pokémon play in it, when they see an Electric move coming down on them from the sky. They evade it at the last second, and the rock they were sitting on is blown up. After that an comes running up. Dawn scans it on her Pokédex and Electrike zaps Ash. A man comes running up and apologizes to Ash.

He introduces himself as Jaco and says that he trains Electrike and that he is a. He bends down to look at complimenting it while he reveals his passion for. Another man walks up and introduces himself as. He runs a training center for Electric types nearby, and Jaco is one of the Electrike there. Then he offers the group a tour of the center.

The gang go down to the school only to find it mostly abandoned, due to all the other Pokémon graduating. Then Cal shows up with an Electrike in his arms explaining that after graduating it too will go to the Power Generating room. Next, the scene turns to a demonstration of Electrike's training. He orders the Pokémon to use followed by. The Electrike proves his ability to manipulate electricity by changing its direction to the left, upward and then on a quick descent hitting the target while Jaco's Electrike watches closely from the sidelines.

After he leaves, Jaco expresses his disappointment with Electrike, being more used to working with Flying types than Electric types. Brock volunteers to help coach Jaco in training Electrike and Jaco with his Electrike gladly accept.

Meanwhile, from their Magikarp Submarine, spies on the scene and figures Electrike is a good candidate to kidnap. James and point out that this Electrike is unstable, and hasn't matured yet. Jessie suggests that they wait for the twerps to do the work for them, then swoop in and steal it.

The scene turns to Brock explaining how to brush a Pokémon. Jaco starts by brushing it but gets zapped by Electrike to which Brock explains not to use a metal brush. Next, the scene turns to Electrike's training. It starts with Charge followed by, but it loses control over the attack and accidentally hits Ash again. Upon seeing this, Brock suggest Ash and Dawn to make a demonstration with their Pokémon.

They agree and bring forth and. Pikachu hits the target with no problem, but Pachirisu overcharges and blasts Ash. Dawn gives Pachirisu a Poffin, and succeeds the second time. Brock then tells him that Electrike is more powerful than other Electric-type Pokémon. Later, Jaco walks in on Brock as he prepares for the Pokémon. Brock gives him some advice on not only Electric types, but how all different types need different treatments.

That evening, Pikachu is training with Electrike while being remotely watched by James and Meowth who start to feel the bond of partnership the two have and are inspired for them to see it through. Ironically, Jessie has gotten tired of waiting despite her earlier advice and has them rush in. She tries to steal the Pokémon, but James and Meowth hold her back. She gets insulted, and runs off on her own. The others offer to keep helping Electrike, stunning Ash, Dawn and Brock.

Next morning, Pikachu and Electrike enjoy a meal prepared by Jaco. After that, they turn back to their training. Jaco orders Electrike to Charge again and hit the target with a Thunderbolt, this time succeeding. Then Ash, Meowth and James dress in electricity insulated jackets in order to help Electrike learn to control electricity. Cal shows up in his car and acts impressed.

Jessie returns later, in her own pink mecha to steal Electrike. Pikachu attacks, but her machine is insulated. While held captive in the mecha's hand, Electrike evolves into, shattering the restraint. Manectric is too big for Jessie's hands now, so she steals Pikachu instead. James and Meowth hop onto the back and hack a hole for Manectric to hit. Manectric has gained a lot of power, improved aim and electricity control, able to hit the small target and blasts Team Rocket off.

After that, Cal shows up and congratulates them on their good work and Manectric graduates to go off to the power generator and charge it. In the closing scenes, Jaco bids his farewell to Manectric as he leaves with Cal, while the group heads off to Hearthome City.

Humans

 * Jessie
 * James
 * Jaco
 * Jessie
 * James
 * Jaco

Pokémon

 * (Jaco's; evolves)
 * (Jaco's; newly evolved)
 * ('s)
 * (Jaco's; evolves)
 * (Jaco's; newly evolved)
 * ('s)
 * (Jaco's; evolves)
 * (Jaco's; newly evolved)
 * ('s)
 * (Jaco's; evolves)
 * (Jaco's; newly evolved)
 * ('s)
 * (Jaco's; evolves)
 * (Jaco's; newly evolved)
 * ('s)
 * (Jaco's; newly evolved)
 * ('s)

Trivia

 * Music from Jirachi: Wish Maker and an alternate cut of Together are used as background music.
 * This is the first episode to use music from Pokémon Ranger and the Temple of the Sea, during 's evolution. However, the background music is replaced in the dub.
 * narrates the preview for the next episode.
 * This is one of the few episodes where actually wants to be blasted off. James and  requested for Ash to blast them off while trying to hold back Jessie.
 * In this episode, Team Rocket uses a of their motto.
 * During Team Rocket's motto, the music was cut out during James and Meowth's lines to portray their sadness.

Errors

 * When Ash, James, and Meowth are running from Electrike, Ash doesn't have his gloves on. However, when he tells to use  on Jessie's machine, the gloves are back on. After Electrike evolves, Ash's gloves are gone again.
 * and Pikachu zap the two outer targets. When the camera pans out, it shows the target on the right undamaged and the left and center targets broken.
 * Similarly, 's Electrike zaps the center target, but when the camera zooms out, the left one is destroyed, while the center one is unscathed.

In other languages
Eine „blitzende“ Herausforderung! EP511 DP042 DP042 DP編第42話 精灵宝可梦 钻石＆珍珠 第42集