SM003

Loading the Dex! (Japanese: よロトしく、ボク、ロトム図鑑ロト！ Hello, Roto, I'm the Rotom Pokédex, Roto!) is the third episode of Pokémon the Series: Sun & Moon, and the 942nd episode of the Pokémon animated series. It first aired in Japan on November 24, 2016 as a one-hour special alongside SM004, in Canada on April 1, 2017, in the United Kingdom on April 13, 2017, and in the United States on May 13, 2017.
==Blurb==
Professor Kukui has a gift to help Ash get started in the Alola region. It’s an unusual Pokédex that’s inhabited by the Pokémon Rotom—a Rotom Dex!
Team Rocket is just getting started in Alola, too, and their first meeting with a new Pokémon turns frightening when a mysterious Mimikyu draws Meowth into a nightmare. But when they encounter Ash and his classmates, Mimikyu decides to battle on Team Rocket’s side—until an enormous Bewear grabs Jessie and James and carries them off.
Ash is a little disappointed that he couldn’t catch Mimikyu, but he soon sets off in search of more new Pokémon!
==Plot==
 lands at an airport in the Alola region, being on assignment by Giovanni to capture the resident Pokémon. At 's house, he hands the Pokédex to . They head into Kukui's laboratory, where Ash is greeted by a that is venturing around. After a while, Rotom charges into the Pokédex, activating it. Ash greets Rotom and is surprised when it responds in human language. Professor Kukui requests Rotom to help Ash on his . Rotom understands and begins to boot up, telling Ash that it is equipped with an assortment of languages to communicate with people.
Professor Kukui introduces himself and explains that Ash and are staying at his place. Ash also introduces his Pikachu to Rotom. Rotom takes pictures of Pikachu and and explains that it has a self-learning capability, which Ash does not fully understand. The Pokédex introduces its full name to Ash, which Ash becomes confused with the name. Rotom asks Ash to simply call it Rotom Dex, and Ash tells it to call him by "Ash". Ash asks Rotom Pokédex to provide information on Pikachu, which it does and pulls on Pikachu's tail to test it. This results in Pikachu using which shocks everyone. In a forest, is walking about and hears the bushes rustle as a emerges. Bewear looks at Mimikyu before moving on.
 passes by the Pokémon School and watches sleeping on a tree before moving on. In the classroom, Ash introduces Rotom Pokédex to and they introduce themselves. is amazed to see a Pokédex with a Rotom inside, whilst wants to dismantle Rotom to examine its programming, which Rotom quickly refuses. When Samson Oak arrives with Professor Kukui, Ash introduces Rotom to the principal of the school. Rotom becomes confused by Samson's greetings. explains that he is saying hello, and that he likes to use Pokémon puns when talking. Rotom Pokédex soon understands and begins making a few puns of its own. Professor Kukui starts the lesson by saying that it will be about field work, and suggests to Ash that now that he has his Pokédex, he should catch a wild Pokémon, which leaves everyone excited. Professor Kukui says it should be a new challenge for Ash and he will them to help him out. Rotom starts to describe Destiny Bond's effect and reassures that they could count on it for information on Pokémon. The group heads out into the forest.
In the forest, Team Rocket is exploring and plans to catch the first Pokémon they see, but as they left and back at the headquarters, it will be up to Meowth and to battle Pokémon. Looking around the forest, Jessie finds it creepy and that a ghost may appear out of nowhere. Upon finishing her sentence, the grass starts to rustle and a Pokémon jumps out of it. Team Rocket starts to scream until a Mimikyu lands on the ground. They mistake it for Pikachu and becomes scared when its costume falls down slightly, but Meowth spots that it isn't actually a Pikachu. Hearing Mimikyu's laughter, it creeps Meowth and Wobbuffet out. James asks what Mimikyu is saying, but he refuses to translate it as he thinks it is too scary. Jessie says it actually looks kind of cute and decides to catch it, throwing Meowth at it. As Meowth gets closer, he uses but it has no effect on the Mimikyu. Meowth becomes afraid of what Mimikyu is saying and orders it to take off its Pikachu get-up. Meowth looks under its rag and promptly faints. Meowth finds himself walking in a long tunnel and wonders where he is before spotting a light in the distance. He runs towards it and sees a , , and which he begins to chase after them, having fallen in love with them, unaware that they are illusions caused by a , and . Meanwhile, Jessie and James are trying to wake Meowth up. In Meowth's trance, the Pokémon all disappear and he starts to fall below. Jessie and James throw buckets of water on Meowth, waking him up. He thanks them for bringing him back and explains what happened. They all look at Mimikyu in anxiety and run away after hearing rustling noises from a nearby bush. Ash and his classmates are walking into the forest, becoming increasingly excited about encountering a Pokémon in the forest.
Team Rocket notices them and their Pokémon and decides to use the opportunity to capture all their Pokémon, along with the Pokémon they will be capturing in the region. The group of students spots Mimikyu, but when Mimikyu sees Pikachu, it makes it unhappy. Lillie recognizes it as being a Mimikyu from a book that she read, but Rotom interrupts her to provide information. Meowth overhears the information about a scholar who looked under a Mimikyu's rag passing away and realizes how lucky he was, as James notices the Pokédex moving by itself. Ash decides to try and catch Mimikyu and has Pikachu use which hits, but is surprised that it does no damage. Mimikyu strikes back with before attacking with . Seeing how strong Mimikyu is, Ash orders an . Mimikyu reflects the attack back to Pikachu with its tail, although Pikachu manages to dodge it. Jessie is impressed by Mimikyu's strength and decides to catch it, much to Meowth's horror. As Ash prepares to order Pikachu to attack, Team Rocket reveal themselves and recite their , which Rotom Pokédex takes their organization's name literally. Rotom becomes surprised to see a talking Meowth and starts taking pictures of him. None of Ash's classmates have heard of Team Rocket, but Ash explains that they are bad guys who steal Pokémon. Team Rocket exclaims that they did not know why Ash is in Alola, but they intend to take all of their Pokémon along with Mimikyu. With few Pokémon to use, Meowth goes to battle Pikachu with Fury Swipes as Pikachu attacks with Electro Ball. As the Electro Ball is about to hit, it is deflected by Mimikyu's , saving Meowth from being hit. Jessie realizes that Mimikyu is helping them out, but this isn't the case as Meowth explains that Mimikyu has a deep hatred towards Pikachu. Jessie allows Mimikyu to attack and it begins to launch another Shadow Ball. Jessie and James are ecstatic about what is going on, however, the Bewear appears behind Jessie and James and carries them away. Rotom Pokédex informs Ash of what Bewear is, and Ash remembers encountering her before. Meowth tells Mimikyu to stop Bewear and help save Jessie and James, which Mimikyu reluctantly does, and they chase after them. Ash is disappointed at not catching Mimikyu, but Lillie says there are lots of Pokémon around. Ash and his classmates set off to find more Pokémon in the forest.
==Major events==
* arrives in the Alola region, having been assigned by to capture the region's unique Pokémon.
* A inhabits Ash's new Pokédex, turning it into a .
* Jessie and James are revealed to have deposited and at .
* Ash tries to catch a , but it decides to side with Team Rocket instead.
* encounter Team Rocket for the first time.
* A starts following and caring for .
===Debuts===
====Pokémon debuts====
* ()
* ()
==Characters==
===Humans===
* 
* 
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* 
* Jessie
* James
* (flashback)
* 
* Samson Oak
* Matori (flashback)
===Pokémon===
Who's That Pokémon?: (US and international), (Japan)
* ()
* ()
* ()
* (; debut)
* ()
* ()
* ()
* (; flashback)
* (Samson Oak's)
* (Professor Kukui's; taking care of)
* (; debut)
* ()
* ()
* (Alolan form; image)
* (image)
* (image)
* (image)
* (silhouette)
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* (icon)
* (fantasy)
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==Trivia==
* : 
* A segment called Poké Problem replaces Poké TV in this episode.
* Poké Problem: Which appliance will enter in this episode?
** Host: Samson Oak
** Choices: A , a Pokédex, a , a 
** Answer: A Pokédex
* This is the first episode to air in Japan after the release of Pokémon Sun and Moon.
* Viewers could answer the Poké Problem with their remotes during the first airing of SM003 and SM004 on TV Tokyo to take part in a lottery of five s.
* During the first airing on TV Tokyo as one-hour special, the Japanese comedian Abareru-kun appeared in typical Hawaiian clothes, announcing the , , the keyboard quiz, and information about Ash getting his first Alola Pokémon and Mimikyu's appearance.
* During the first airing on TV Tokyo as one-hour special viewers could take part in a , in which ten viewers could win a New Nintendo 3DS XL Pikachu Edition and copies of Pokémon Sun and Moon. The first character was も.
* 's new , which makes its debut in this episode, uses a remixed instrumental of Team Rocket's Team Song as its background music.
* , , , , , , and narrate the preview for the next episode.
* For the first time in the dub, Jessie, James, and read the segment for Who's That Pokémon?.
* Meowth breaks the fourth wall by commenting that they're in a family show when asked to translate what said.
* This marks the longest time taken for Team Rocket to debut in a series, at three episodes. This surpasses their debut in Pokémon Emergency!, which was the second episode of the original series. This would later be shared with Ivysaur's Mysterious Tower!, the third episode of Pokémon Journeys: The Series.
* Even though Mimikyu is seen using its Ability for the first time in this episode, its name is not confirmed until A Battle Hand-Off!, 73 episodes later.
* As of this episode, Erica Schroeder takes over the role of from Kayzie Rogers.
** As of this episode, every character who was part of the main cast during the 4Kids dub is no longer voiced by their original actor, excluding Pikachu, who keeps his voice undubbed. It would remain this way until The Rainbow and the Pokémon Master!, where Ted Lewis reprises his role as .
* Meowth gains a redesign, with the outlines of his eyes now being separated instead of fully drawn similar in the games through Gen VI till Gen VIII. 
* This episode marks the first appearance of a in the main series since An Old Family Blend!, 294 episodes ago.
===Errors===
* When runs out the door of the school with the gang, his passes through the wall.
* In the ian dub, when mentions that she loves field work, field work is mistranslated as fireworks.
===Dub edits===
* The Japanese text used in Team Rocket's motto is edited out in the US and international dubs. The and dubs use their own text.
* In the dub, when Meowth is asked to translate what Mimikyu is saying, he says he does not dare to say it out loud. In the English dub, Meowth breaks the fourth wall by stating that it is a family show.
==In other languages==
003
Category:Episodes written by Aya Matsui
Category:Episodes storyboarded by Yoshitaka Makino
Category:Episodes directed by Yūji Asada
Category:Episodes animated by Masaaki Iwane
Category:Episodes animated by Izumi Shimura
Category:Episodes by multiple animation directors
Category:Episodes focusing on Team Rocket
Category:Episodes focusing on Rotom Pokédex
Category:Episodes focusing on Mimikyu
Category:Episodes which aired in Canada before the United States
Category:Episodes which aired in the United Kingdom before the United States
de:Dex aktiviert!
es:EP946
fr:SL003
it:SL003
ja:SM編第3話
zh:宝可梦 太阳＆月亮 第3集