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| Season | Pokémon: Indigo League (Season 1) · Ghosts, Psychics & the Celadon fire arc (EP20–EP27) |
| Episode | Season 1, episode 21 · English episode 21 · Japanese episode 21 · Bulbapedia code EP021 |
| English title | Bye, Bye Butterfree |
| Japanese title | バイバイバタフリー Bai Bai Batafurī — “Bye Bye Butterfree” |
| First aired (Japan) | 19 August 1997 · TV Tokyo |
| First aired (US) | 5 October 1998 · first-run syndication |
| Screenplay | Yukiyoshi Ōhashi |
| Opening / ending (Japan) | Mezase Pokémon Master (Aim to Be a Pokémon Master) – Rica Matsumoto · Hyakugojūichi (One Hundred Fifty-One) – Professor Oak & the Pokémon Kids |
| English opening | Pokémon Theme – Jason Paige |
| Who’s That Pokémon? | Butterfree (US) · Butterfree (Japan) |
| Previous episode | The Ghost of Maiden’s Peak (EP020) |
| Next episode | Abra and the Psychic Showdown (EP022) |
Plot episodeAsh releases Butterfree
Bye, Bye Butterfree is the 21st episode of Pokémon: Indigo League, the first season of the Pokémon anime, and the 21st episode of the English dub overall (Japanese episode 21, Bulbapedia code EP021). It first aired in Japan on 19 August 1997 and in the United States on 5 October 1998. It falls within the season’s Ghosts, Psychics & the Celadon fire stretch (EP20–EP27).
Synopsis
As Ash and his group continue their journey to Saffron City they see a large number of Butterfree flying above the sea. Brock then tells Ash and Misty that its the mating season for the Butterfree, Ash releases his Butterfree so it can go and find a mate. It returns to their Hot air balloon and doesn’t seem particularly bothered about finding a mate, that is until he sees a unique looking pink Butterfree… Ash’s Butterfree despite all his best moves, and his new scarf it just couldn’t get this female Butterfrees interest and he left beaten and dejected.
Team Rocket show up shortly after as they’ve decided that a massive load of Butterfree would be a great gift for the boss. They approach the flock in a helicopter with a giant net attached to it and start capturing massive amounts of the Butterfree. With no realistic chance of anyone in a Hot Air Balloon catching a helicopter it’s all up to Ash’s Butterfree who is about the only one not trapped in a net at this point. Ash’s Butterfree sees the pink butterfree trapped in it’s net and starts to tackle the net but to no avail, it tries stun spore on the chopper also to no effect and Team Rocket get away with Ash’s Butterfree hot on their tail.
Ash, Misty and Brock can’t keep up in the Hot Air Balloon but follow in the direction that TR and Butterfree left in. Eventually they find Ash’s butterfree who leads them to the compound where Team Rocket are holding the 100 stolen Butterfree. Ash’s Butterfree sees the Pink butterfree he loves trapped in the net and with his most powerful tackle manages to break it. All the Butterfree flee except Ash’s one and the Pink one who is now starting to like him back!
Team Rocket set off to try to recapture all the Butterfree again, this time Butterfree with Pikachu on his back head straight at their chopper, Pikachu jumps on and completely destroys it with a thundershock, Team Rocket are defeated once more. The Butterfree mating season goes ahead as planned, with the Pink Butterfree doing the courtship dance for Ash’s Butterfree! It’s only now that Ash and the gang realise that Butterfree will be leaving to start his family across the ocean. After a tearful goodbye Butterfree and his new mate head off into the sunset, while Ash reminisces about their time together.
Major Events
- — Ash releases Butterfree (first formal release)
- Pink Butterfree = first alternately coloured Pokémon in any medium
- First boss fantasy
- First motto rip-off. Rica Matsumoto’s *Premier 10* pick (#2).
Trivia
- The screenplay is by Yukiyoshi Ōhashi.
- This is a plot episode: it advances the Kanto storyline.
Changes in the English Dub
- Chopper motto banner blanked
- Last shot of the farewell montage replaced
- Count 90 → 100
- Dub ending: the Kanto Pokérap (Monday segment)
- The farewell montage plays Mezase Pokémon Master in Japan and the Pokémon Theme in the dub
Part of our Pokémon: Indigo League guide. Browse every season of the Pokémon anime.