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| Season | Pokémon the Series: Sun & Moon – Ultra Adventures (Season 21) · The Ultra Guardians & new rivals arc (SM061–SM069) |
| Episode | Season 21, episode 22 · English episode 1000 · Japanese episode 1006 · Bulbapedia code SM066 |
| English title | Smashing with Sketch! |
| Japanese title | スケッチでスマッシュ！激闘ポケピンポン！ Suketchi de Sumasshu! Gekitō Poke Pinpon! — “Smash with Sketch! The Fierce Fighting Poké-Ping Pong!” |
| First aired (Japan) | 15 March 2018 · TV Tokyo |
| First aired (US) | 13 August 2018 · Disney XD |
| Screenplay | Shōji Yonemura |
| Opening / ending (Japan) | Mirai Konekushon (Future Connection) – ЯeaL · Jarī Bōi Jarī Gāru (Twerp, Twerpette) – Taiiku Okazaki |
| English opening | Under the Alolan Moon – Haven Paschall and Ben Dixon |
| Who’s That Pokémon? | Eevee (US) |
| Previous episode | Turning Heads and Training Hard! (SM065) |
| Next episode | Love at First Twirl! (SM067) |
Filler / stand-alone episodePoké-Ping Pong
Smashing with Sketch! is the 22nd episode of Pokémon the Series: Sun & Moon – Ultra Adventures, the twenty-first season of the Pokémon anime, and the 1000th episode of the English dub overall (Japanese episode 1006, Bulbapedia code SM066). It first aired in Japan on 15 March 2018 and in the United States on 13 August 2018. It falls within the season’s The Ultra Guardians & new rivals stretch (EP61–EP69).
Premiered on Monday 13 August 2018, the last of Disney XD’s summer line-up of seven Monday-evening premieres (2 July – 13 August 2018); Saturday premieres resumed on 25 August.
Synopsis
Ilima teaches the class Poké-Ping Pong and then wins a tournament final against his intense rival Ikari, showing that empathy between a Trainer and a Pokémon matters more than raw power. Professor Kukui introduces the sport with Ilima as guest tutor, and Ilima’s Smeargle demonstrates against Lana’s Popplio: Pokémon may hit the ball with a racket or with their moves, and matches are best of three. Ash quickly tires of drills, and his match with Kiawe ends when Pikachu’s Iron Tail sends the ball into Ash’s face twice. Sophocles and Togedemaru argue after colliding during a game against Lillie, until Ilima explains that mutual understanding is what matters most, and Sophocles apologises. In the first official match, Steenee’s scented Magical Leaf confuses Ash and Pikachu and her Double Slap wins it for Mallow; Lillie then beats Sophocles when he fails to return her serve.
In the final class match, Kiawe tosses off his shirt and strikes an Inferno Overdrive pose as a feint, then Marowak smashes the ball with Shadow Bone and Iron Head while Popplio answers with its fins and Aqua Jet. Lana fakes a Hydro Vortex of her own, Marowak throws its club in frustration, and Popplio’s real Hydro Vortex drives the ball down and soaks Kiawe and Marowak—but because the ball never touched the table, Kiawe actually wins the point. Ilima invites everyone to his tournament on Sunday. There, Kiawe identifies the perennial champion Ikari, nicknamed “the Dragon,” who beat Ilima the previous year and harshly scolds his Mienshao for being too soft. Ilima’s first opponent is Jessie in a blond wig with a disguised Wobbuffet; Smeargle copies Counter with Sketch, Meowth’s attempt at cheating backfires, and Bewear crashes through the ceiling to carry Team Rocket away.
Ilima and Ikari each win three rounds to meet in the final. Mienshao’s Pound gives Ikari an early lead, but Ilima stays calm, and the game reaches ten points apiece before Smeargle edges ahead. Increasingly frustrated, Ikari lectures Ilima about technique. Mienshao attacks with Drain Punch and Smeargle copies it with Sketch; then Mienshao’s High Jump Kick is copied too, and the impact shatters Ikari’s racket as Mienshao leaps over its own Trainer to reach the ball. Ilima wins, thanks Smeargle and apologises for lecturing during the match, and Mienshao nuzzles Eevee and Smeargle. Ikari asks Ilima not to lose to anyone before their rematch, and Ilima thanks him for being a worthy rival. Later, Ilima boards a ship bound for other islands and eventually Kalos, promising to return as Kukui and the class wave from the dock.
Major Events
- Poké-Ping Pong. A Poké-Ping Pong class, in which Mallow beats Ash, Lillie beats Sophocles and Kiawe takes the deciding point when Popplio’s Hydro Vortex shot misses the table
- Ilima’s Smeargle beats Ikari’s Mienshao in the tournament final
- Ilima sails for Kalos
- The first Smeargle shown using a move, and Sketch’s debut
Trivia
- The screenplay is by Shōji Yonemura.
- This is a stand-alone episode: it can be skipped without losing the thread of the Alola story.
Changes in the English Dub
- The Japanese captions naming Inferno Overdrive and Hydro Vortex are erased
- The Sun & Moon Champion battle theme and the X & Y rival battle theme
Part of our Pokémon the Series: Sun & Moon – Ultra Adventures guide. Browse every season of the Pokémon anime.