Aim to Be a Pokémon Master

----
Aim to Be a Pokémon Master (Japanese: めざせポケモンマスター Mezase Pokémon Master) is the first Japanese opening theme of the original series, with a cover by Whiteberry being the fourth. An arrangement made to commemorate the 20th anniversary of replaced Alola!! as the second opening theme of Pokémon the Series: Sun & Moon. Another arrangement made to commemorate the series's 25th anniversary titled Aim to Be a Pokémon Master -with my friends- (Japanese: めざせポケモンマスター -with my friends- Mezase Pokémon Master -with my friends-) replaced One, Two, Three as the second and final opening theme of Pokémon Journeys: The Series.
A verse from this song was featured in the third opening theme of Pokémon the Series: Ruby and Sapphire, Pokémon Symphonic Medley, and a synthesized version was used during captures and evolutions in Pokémon Pinball. It is also one of the songs featured in the Japan-only game, .
==Versions==
Aim to Be a Pokémon Master is the most re-used theme song in the history of , having no fewer than ten versions including the original:
! Year
! Title
! Translation
! Artist
! Arrangement
! Used in
|-
| 1997
| めざせポケモンマスター
| Aim to Be a Pokémon Master
| rowspan=2 | Rica Matsumoto
| rowspan=2 | Cher Watanabe
| EP001 - EP080
|-
| 1998
| めざせポケモンマスター'98
| Aim to Be a Pokémon Master '98
| Mewtwo's Counterattack, It's the New Year! Pocket Monsters Special!
|-
| 2001
| めざせポケモンマスター
| Aim to Be a Pokémon Master
| Whiteberry
| Norio Sakai
| EP192 - EP238
|-
| 2001
| めざせポケモンマスター2001
| Aim to Be a Pokémon Master 2001
| Rica Matsumoto
| CHOKKAKU
| Celebi: An Encounter Through Time
|-
| 2002
| めざせポケモンマスター2002
| Aim to Be a Pokémon Master 2002
| coba & Rica Matsumoto
| coba
| Guardians of the Water Capital: Latios and Latias
|-
| 2017
| めざせポケモンマスター -20th Anniversary-
| Aim to Be a Pokémon Master -20th Anniversary-
| Rica Matsumoto
| Saku
| SM030 - SM043, I Choose You!
|-
| 2017
| めざせポケモンマスター -20th Anniversary Ballad ver.-
| Aim to Be a Pokémon Master -20th Anniversary Ballad ver.-
| Rica Matsumoto
| Saku, Kai Shiono
| CD
|-
| 2019
| めざせポケモンマスター'98(2019 Remaster)
| Aim to Be a Pokémon Master '98 (2019 Remaster)
| Rica Matsumoto
| Cher Watanabe
| Mewtwo Strikes Back—Evolution
|-
| 2023
| めざせポケモンマスター -with my friends-
| Aim to Be a Pokémon Master -with my friends-
| Satoshi (CV: Rica Matsumoto)
| Yūsuke Tatsuzaki, Yūsuke Tanaka
| JN137 - JN147
|-
| 2023
| めざせポケモンマスター -with my friends- from THE FIRST TAKE 
| Aim to Be a Pokémon Master -with my friends- from THE FIRST TAKE 
| Satoshi (CV: Rica Matsumoto)
| Yūsuke Tatsuzaki, Yūsuke Tanaka, 
| Aim to Be a Pokémon Master -with my friends- from THE FIRST TAKE digital single
|}
|}
==Opening animation: TV OP 1==
===Synopsis===
The type symbols appear in a circle, and the series logo appears on the screen. The three fully evolved Kanto first partner Pokémon, Pikachu, Ash, and an unnamed are seen. This is followed by three scenes showing random Generation I Pokémon.
Ash is then seen with a . After that, he is riding on the back of a Lapras with Pikachu while a Gyarados and Dragonair are seen jumping out and in the water. Next, Ash and Pikachu are looking at Pallet Town. It cuts to a scene with them walking, and then Ash throws a Poké Ball with a Pidgeot inside. The Pokémon then begins battling with a Fearow.
 appears looking at the screen, when and appear on either side of him. This is followed by Jessie and James rising up in front of them. Koffing, Meowth and Ekans jump up next, followed by holding a Poké Ball. Ash and are seen running from the rain. This is followed by a short clip of Nurse Joy, , Officer Jenny and Delia Ketchum.
The next scene shows Ash and his friends in Viridian Forest. Then, Ash and Pikachu are seen running with an Arcanine and a Rapidash. The latter Pokémon jumps up, and the three legendary birds are seen flying in the sky. A clip of Mewtwo and Mew in space is shown, followed by Ash in a stadium holding a Poké Ball. His friends appear with him.
===Characters===
====Humans====
* Ash Ketchum
* 
* 
* Jessie
* James
* Gary Oak
* 
* Delia Ketchum
* Nurse Joy
* Officer Jenny
* 
====Pokémon====
* (, new)
* ()
* (, newly evolved)
* ()
* ()
* 
* 
* 
* 
* 
* 
* 
* 
* 
* 
* 
* 
* 
* 
* 
* 
* 
* 
* 
* 
* 
* 
* 
* 
* 
* 
* 
* 
* 
===Variants===
#EP001 - EP002: The original animation. During the Pokémon images scene, there's a picture of a , but it reads "" on it.
#EP003: The Kadabra error is corrected, and an actual Alakazam picture is put in its place.
#EP004 - EP038: The symbol background keeps rotating after the "Pocket Monsters" logo appears in the title screen, and after the executive production credits appear on the final shot.
#EP039 - EP080: After the "Pokémon Shock" incident of EP038, the opening was changed to be broken up into four images per screen. This change was also applied to reruns of the first 37 episodes.
#EP039 - EP080: A shot where Ash throws a Poké Ball is slowed down, removing part of the scene where the spinning Poké Ball covers the entire screen, and Ash holding another one was edited to remove one frame where it glows over the entire screen. Two frames were also removed from the battle between Ash's Pidgeot and . Several frames were removed from the scene starring .
In reruns (including on Kids Station and in Pocket Monsters Premier 10), the fifth variant with a CGI-animated title screen is used for all episodes from EP001 to EP080.
OPJ01 variant 1.png|EP001 - EP038
OPJ01 variant 2.png|EP039 - EP080
OPJ01 logo variant 1.png|The hand drawn logo
OPJ01 logo variant 2.png|The CGI logo
OPJ01 Kadabra.png|Kadabra on the first variant
OPJ01 Alakazam.png|Alakazam on the next variants
===Trivia===
* The battle between Ash's Pidgeot and the Fearow is a parallel of Pallet Party Panic, the first episode in which the following opening was used. Ash's did not become Pidgeot until that episode.
* The elemental logos shown before and during the title logo animation are the symbols for the seven at the time.
* The song can be heard in the instrumental version of High Touch!.
* The image of was interestingly not removed after the EP038 incident.
* At one point of The Road to Humilau!, Ash and hum this theme in the Japanese version. However, it was not kept in the English dub.
* An instrumental version of the original version of this song appears in both the Japanese and English versions of Pokémon Pinball when the player is attempting to catch or evolve a Pokémon.
* A scene in which Ash stands in a stadium was used as part of a bumper with Brock's voice saying "We'll Be Back After These Messages!" when the 4Kids dub was first aired in syndication in 1998 in America.
* A mashup of this and the first English opening titled Pokémon Mezase Catch 'em All was posted on the official English and Japanese YouTube channels on March 10, 2023.
====Errors====
* When , Ekans, and Koffing jump onscreen, Meowth's right fang disappears for a split second.
* When Ash and are running from the rain, Poliwrath's eyelid is white instead of blue.
OPJ01 error 1.png|Meowth's missing fang
OPJ01 error 2.png|Poliwrath's white eyelid
==Opening animation: TV OP 4==
===OP text===
! Japanese
! English
|-
| <ab>この物語は少年サトシと
ポケットモンスターとの
友情と冒険のお話である。</ab>
| <ab>This story is about a boy, and
Pocket Monsters, and
Their friendship, adventures and meetings.</ab>
|}
|}
===Synopsis===
Ash is holding a Poké Ball towards the screen. The logo appears, followed by Pikachu fighting a Tyranitar and using . Ash and his friends are then seen jumping into the water. There, a Mantine, Lanturn, Lapras, and Lugia swim alongside them. Ash turns his hat and faces left.
This is followed by Ash and Pikachu running with Ho-Oh flying in the background. The Trainer looks at a stadium and clips of his Pokémon appear on the screen. A scene then follows, showing Ash and the others looking at a city in which the Legendary beasts, Celebi, Mewtwo and Mew are seen.
Ash and the others are then shown walking into a cave where Misdreavus and Crobat appear. Ash and the others stood at a bridge. Then, the Pichu Brothers are under it. After that, Ash tried to chase after his Pokémon. Then, Team Rocket chased after Ash and his friends. Finally, Ash and his friends chased after Team Rocket with in front of them.
Four Pokémon and five people are on top and stood in front of them. Ash and Pikachu ran up a flight of stairs together with the legendary birds and reached the Plateau. Ash and Pikachu stood in front of many Pokémon. Ash, Misty, Brock and Ash's Pokémon stood together.
===Characters===
====Humans====
* Ash Ketchum
* 
* 
* Tracey Sketchit
* Jessie
* James
* 
* Delia Ketchum
* Officer Jenny
* Nurse Joy
====Pokémon====
* ()
* ()
* ()
* ()
* ()
* ()
* ()
* ()
* (; )
* (Pichu Brothers)
* 
* 
* 
* 
* 
* 
* 
* 
* 
* 
* 
* 
* 
* 
* 
* 
* 
* 
* 
* 
* 
* 
* 
* 
* 
* 
* 
* 
* 
* 
* 
* 
* 
* 
* 
* 
* 
* 
* 
* 
* 
* 
* 
* 
* 
* 
* 
* 
* 
* 
* 
* 
* 
* 
* 
* 
* 
* 
===Trivia===
* The fact that this, the fourth Japanese opening, is a cover of the first one is mimicked in the English dub, where Born to Be a Winner, the fourth opening, borrows heavily from the first one.
* This is the first Japanese opening theme to not be performed by Rica Matsumoto.
* This is the only version of Aim to Be a Pokémon Master to not be performed by Rica Matsumoto.
==Opening animation: SM OP 2==
===Synopsis===
===Characters===
====Humans====
* Ash Ketchum
* 
* 
* 
* 
* 
* Delia Ketchum
* 
* Olivia
====Pokémon====
* ()
* (Rotom Pokédex)
* ()
* ()
* (; ; SM038-present)
* ()
* ()
* (; Ride Pokémon)
* ()
* (; Alolan form)
* ('s; Alolan form; Snowy; hatches)
* ()
* ()
* ()
* ()
* ('s; Mimey; flashback)
* ('s; )
* (Olivia's; )
* (Samson Oak's)
* (Hobbes's; )
* (Trainer's; flashback)
* (Trainer's; flashback)
* (Trainer's; flashback)
* (Trainer's; flashback)
* (Trainer's; flashback)
* (Trainer's; flashback)
* ()
* ()
* ()
* ()
* (; )
* ()
* ()
* (Ride Pokémon)
* (Ride Pokémon)
* (Ride Pokémon; ×2)
* (multiple)
* 
* (multiple)
* 
* (multiple)
* 
* 
* (Alolan form)
* 
* 
* 
* (multiple)
===Variants===
# SM030 - SM037: The original animation.
# SM038 - SM043: The clip of Olivia is cut short to show Ash using with Lycanroc.
===Trivia===
* This is the first Japanese opening to be made up almost entirely of episode clips.
* Prior to Pokémon Horizons: The Series, this is the only Japanese opening featuring humans in which does not appear.
===Staff===
StoryboardUnit Director	
*	
* 冨安大貴
Animation Director 	
*	
* 中野悟史
Key Animation 	
* 
* 
* 
*	
* 柳原好貴
* 井上敦子
* 新井達也
* 鈴木敦
==Opening animation: JN OP 5==
===Synopsis===
===Characters===
====Humans====
* Ash Ketchum
* 
* 
* (photo)
* 
* (photo)
* 
* Tracey Sketchit (photo)
* Max 
* (photo)
* 
* 
* (photo)
* (photo)
* (photo)
* (photo)
* (photo)
* Goh (photo)
* Jessie
* James
* 
* Delia Ketchum (JN138)
* Gary Oak
* Fantina (JN142)
* Allister (JN147)
* Wikstrom (JN147)
* Cyrus 
* Wilma (JN142)
* Chloe (photo)
====Pokémon====
* ()
* ()
* ()
* (; photo)
* (; photo)
* (; photo)
* ()
* ()
* (; JN139)
* ()
* ()
* ()
* ()
* (; JN138)
* (; JN139)
* (; JN138)
* (; JN138)
* ('s; Mimey; JN138)
* ()
* (; JN138)
* (; JN140)
* (; JN140)
* (; JN140)
* (; JN140)
* (; JN140)
* (; JN140)
* (; ; JN140)
* (; JN140)
* (; JN140)
* (; unofficial; JN139)
* (; JN141)
* (; JN141)
* (; JN141)
* (; JN141)
* (; JN141)
* (; JN141)
* (; JN141)
* (; JN142)
* (; JN142)
* (; JN142)
* (; JN142)
* ()
* (; JN142)
* (; JN142)
* (; JN142)
* (; JN143)
* (; JN143)
* (; JN143)
* (; JN143)
* (; JN144)
* (; JN144)
* (; JN144)
* (; JN144)
* (; JN144)
* (; JN144)
* (; JN145)
* (; Ash-Greninja)
* (; JN145)
* (; JN145)
* (; JN145)
* (; JN145)
* (; JN145)
* (; JN146)
* (; JN146)
* (; ; JN146)
* (; JN146)
* (; JN146)
* ('s; ; unofficial; JN146)
* ('s; ; unofficial)
* (; JN146)
* (; JN146)
* (; JN146)
* (; JN146)
* (; JN147)
* (; JN147)
* (; JN147)
* (; Galarian Form; JN147)
* (; JN147)
* (; JN147)
* (; JN137)
* ()
* (; JN141)
* (; JN145)
* (; photo)
* ('s; Alolan form; Snowy; photo)
* (; photo)
* ()
* ()
* ('s; JN138)
* ()
* (; JN143)
* ()
* (; JN142)
* (; photo)
* (Pink Butterfree; JN139)
* ()
* ()
* (Silver)
* (; Silver's parent)
* ()
* ()
* 
* 
* ()
* ()
* ()
* ()
* ()
* (; )
* (; )
* ()
* 
* (multiple; JN139)
* (×2; photo)
===Variants===
#JN137: The original animation featuring a clip with , , , and and scenes from the original series featuring said Pokémon.
#JN138: The clip is replaced with Mimey, , , , and and other scenes from the original series featuring said Pokémon.
#JN139: The clip is replaced with , , , , and and other scenes from the original series featuring said Pokémon.
#JN140: The clip is replaced with , , , , , and and other scenes from the original series featuring said Pokémon.
#JN141: The clip is replaced with , , , , , and and scenes from Pokémon the Series: Ruby and Sapphire featuring said Pokémon.
#JN142: The clip is replaced with , , , , , and and scenes from Pokémon the Series: Diamond and Pearl featuring said Pokémon.
#JN143: The clip is replaced with , , , and and scenes from Pokémon the Series: Black & White featuring said Pokémon.
#JN144: The clip is replaced with , , , , and and other scenes from Pokémon the Series: Black & White featuring said Pokémon.
#JN145: The clip is replaced with , , , , and and scenes from Pokémon the Series: XY featuring said Pokémon.
#JN146: The clip is replaced with , , , , , and and scenes from Pokémon the Series: Sun & Moon featuring said Pokémon.
#JN147: The clip is replaced with , , , , and and scenes from Pokémon Journeys: The Series featuring said Pokémon.
===Video===
===Trivia===
* This version of the opening features the first appearance of Ash-Greninja outside of Pokémon the Series: XY. Prior to this point, all of 's appearances in Pokémon Journeys: The Series depicted its basic form, even in flashbacks to scenes which originally featured Ash-Greninja.
* This is the first opening animation since High Touch! to feature all of Ash's traveling companions up to this point. 
* This is the only opening to feature and since their departure at the end of Pokémon the Series: Black & White and Pokémon the Series: XY respectively.
* Despite not being a main character, Chloe is seen with Ash's traveling companions during the ending.
====Errors====
* In JN142, lacks the notch on his fin that signifies his male gender.
===Staff===
Unit Director 	
*	
* 坂本鼓太郎
CG 	
* (from JN138 on)	
* 新村文孝
Animation Director	
*	
* 安田周平
Animation 	
*	
* 松本めぐみ
==Lyrics==
The lyrics for all versions of the song are identical with the exception of formatting, backup singers, and the ad-libs shown in parentheses below.
* The original 1997 version includes all ad-libs except for 「」. However, it is still displayed in the lyrics on-screen during the opening animation. The first line of the second stanza is formatted as 「」 and the second and third line of the third stanza are formatted without spaces.
* The Whiteberry cover includes all ad-libs except for 「」. The initial 「」 is included only in the TV size version and not in the full version. The first line of the second stanza is formatted as 「」.
* The 20th Anniversary version includes only the 「」 and 「」 ad-libs, the latter of which is formatted with an exclamation mark. The first line of the second stanza is formatted as 「」. The last two lines of the third, fourth, fifth, and sixth stanzas are displayed as one line. In SM042 and SM043, , , and say the 「」, 「」, and 「」 ad-libs respectively, although they are not displayed in the lyrics on-screen.
* The 2023 version includes all ad-libs except for 「」.
* The 1998 movie version and its 2019 remaster include all ad-libs except for 「」.
* The 2001 movie remix, 2002 movie remix, and the 20th Anniversary Ballad ver. do not include any of the ad-libs.
* In the 2023 version, backup singers sing the line "With my friends" at the same time as Rica Matsumoto sings 「」.
===TV size===
! Japanese
! English
|-
| lang="ja" | <ab>
</ab>
| <ab>(I'll get you, Pokémon!)
Even if in fire, in water, in grass, in forests
In ground, in clouds, in that girl's skirt (Eek!)	
It's very, very,
Very, very difficult but
I'm sure I'll get you!
Pokémon, I'll get you!
Farewell, bye-bye, Masara Town
I'm leaving on a journey with him (Pikachu!)
Racking up wins with the moves we've trained
Making friends, and then off to the next city (We're waiting!)
Always and forever doing well
Though there's no guarantee of that... (That's true!)
Forever and always, I'll live true
Because they're here
Ah! I aim to be a Pokémon Master
I want to be, I have to be
I know I'll be one!</ab>
|}
|}
===Full version===
! Japanese
! English
|-
| lang="ja" | <ab>
</ab>
| <ab>(I'll get you, Pokémon!)
Even if in fire, in water, in grass, in forests
In ground, in clouds, in that girl's skirt (Eek!)	
It's very, very,
Very, very difficult but
I'm sure I'll get you!
Pokémon, I'll get you!
Farewell, bye-bye, Masara Town
I'm leaving on a journey with him (Pikachu!)
Racking up wins with the moves we've trained
Making friends, and then off to the next city (We're waiting!)
Always and forever doing well
Though there's no guarantee of that... (That's true!)
Forever and always, I'll live true
Because they're here
Even if in fire, in water, in grass, in forests
In ground, in clouds, in that girl's skirt (You're persistent!)
It's very, very,
Very, very difficult but
I'm sure I'll get you!
Pokémon, I'll get you!
Tired from battling, good night, good night
If I close my eyes, it all comes back (Pikachu?)
How flames burned, winds blew
Cries echoed, in that battle
An enemy yesterday is a friend today
Though there is such an old saying... (What do you mean by "old"?!)
A friend today is also a friend tomorrow
Yeah, and for all eternity
Ah! I aim to be a Pokémon Master
I want to be, I have to be
I know I'll be one!
Dreams will someday become reality
Though someone sang that...
Like a bud that will someday bloom
My dream will come true
Always and forever doing well
Though there's no guarantee of that... (That's true!)
Forever and always, I'll live true
Because they're here
Ah! I aim to be a Pokémon Master
I want to be, I have to be
I know I'll be one!
Ah! I aim to be a Pokémon Master
I want to be, I have to be
I know I'll be one!</ab>
|}
|}
==In other languages==
==Related articles==
Category:Japanese opening themes
de:Mezase Pokémon Master (Musiktitel)
es:OPJ01
fr:Objectif Maître Pokémon
it:Mezase Pokémon Master
ja:めざせポケモンマスター
zh:目标是宝可梦大师