Animated series move errors

In the Pokémon animated series, occasionally know moves they cannot learn legitimately in any of the . It is unknown whether most of these instances are actual mistakes, a writing policy of not having to stick to the games too closely, or merely the Pokémon using an attribute that shares the name of a move in the games. In Bulbasaur... the Ambassador!, Professor Oak states that in times of need, Pokémon can call upon power that had never been known to them previously, such as Ash's Bulbasaur learning .
==Pokémon with moves that they cannot learn in the games==
===Former errors===
Artwork	Name 	Move	First use 	Notes 	Picture
 	A.J.'s 	 	The Path to the Pokémon League 	A.J.'s used . However, Sandshrew was unable to learn Defense Curl until Generation II. 	
 	James's Koffing 	 	The Ghost of Maiden's Peak 	James ordered his to use . However, Koffing was unable to learn Poison Gas until Generation II. 	
 	James's Weezing 	 	The Song of Jigglypuff 	James ordered his to use . However, Weezing was unable to learn Poison Gas until Generation II. 	
 	Gary's Arcanine 	 	The Battle of the Badge 	Gary's Arcanine uses in this episode. However, Arcanine was unable to learn Fire Spin until Generation II. 	
 	A 	 	The Ancient Puzzle of Pokémopolis 	In the Japanese version, a was mentioned to use . However, Gengar was unable to learn Disable until . 	
 	Jessie's Lickitung 	 	Pikachu Re-Volts 	Jessie's Lickitung uses in this episode. However, Lickitung was unable to learn Tackle until Pokémon Legends: Arceus. 	
 	 	 	Mewtwo Strikes Back 	uses in this movie. However, Mew was unable to learn Barrier until Generation IV. 	
 	Ritchie's or Assunta's	 	Friends to the End 	A belonging to either Ritchie or Assunta uses in this episode. However, Tentacool was unable to learn Bubble until Generation V. 	
 	 	 	Pikachu Re-Volts 	A used in the episode. However, Ponyta was unable to learn Flamethrower until . 	
 	 	 	Bye Bye Psyduck 	A used in the episode. However, Golduck was unable to learn Psychic until Generation II. 	
 	Brock's Vulpix 	 	Hot Matches! 	Brock's Vulpix uses in this episode. However, Vulpix was unable to learn Agility until Generation VIII. 	
 	 	 	UnBEARable 	A used in the episode. However, Teddiursa was unable to learn Charm until Generation IV. 	
 	 	 	UnBEARable 	An used in the episode. However, Ursaring was unable to learn Charm until Generation IV. 	
 	 	 	For Ho-Oh the Bells Toll! 	A used in the episode. However, Parasect was unable to learn Sleep Powder until Pokémon: Let's Go, Pikachu! and Let's Go, Eevee!.	
 	 	 	Hocus Pokémon 	A used in the episode. However, Parasect was unable to learn Sleep Powder until Pokémon: Let's Go, Pikachu! and Let's Go, Eevee!.	
 	 	 	Big Meowth, Little Dreams (Part 2)	A used in this episode. However, Skitty was unable to learn Fury Swipes until Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl. 	
 	 	 	Jump for Joy! 	A used in the episode. However, Shiftry was unable to learn Whirlwind until Generation IV. 	
 	 	 	Beg, Burrow, and Steal! 	A used in the episode. However, Vibrava was unable to learn Supersonic until Generation IV. 	
 	Ash's Staravia 	 	Getting the Pre-Contest Titters! 	Ash's Staravia used in this episode. However, Staravia was unable to learn Gust until Pokémon Legends: Arceus. 	
 	Kylie's 	 	A Full Course Tag Battle! 	Kylie's used in this episode. However, Munchlax was unable to learn Giga Impact until Pokémon Legends: Arceus. 	
 	 	 	Pillars of Friendship! 	A used in the episode. However, Regigigas was unable to learn Hammer Arm until Generation VIII. 	
 	 	 	Meloetta's Moonlight Serenade 	A used in this Pikachu short. However, Piplup was unable to learn Water Gun until Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl. 	
 	Chester's 	 	Breaking Titles at the Chateau! 	Chester's used in this episode. However, Fletchling was unable to learn Feather Dance until Generation IX. 	
 	 	 	Going for the Gold! 	A used in this episode. However, Corsola was unable to learn Water Gun until Generation VIII. 	
 	 	 	A Race for Home! 	A used in this episode. However, Rhyhorn was unable to learn Tackle until Generation VIII. 	
 	 	 	Flying in the Air 	A used in this episode. However, Starly was unable to learn Gust until Pokémon Legends: Arceus. 	
 	 	 	Flying in the Air 	A used in this episode. However, Staravia was unable to learn Gust until Pokémon Legends: Arceus. 	
 	 	 	A Diamond in the Rough! 	A used in this episode. However, Wooper was unable to learn Hydro Pump until Generation VIII. 	
 	 	 	A Diamond in the Rough! 	A used in this episode. However, Quagsire was unable to learn Hydro Pump until Generation VIII. 	
====Mentioned only====
Artwork	Name 	Move	First use 	Notes
 	 	 	Wherefore Art Thou, Pokémon?	Ash's Pokédex mentioned being able to use . However, Nidorina was unable to learn Supersonic until Generation II.
 	Kim's	 	Cerulean Blues 	Kim commanded his to use Bind, but the move was disrupted by Misty's Gyarados before it could be executed. However, Tentacruel was unable to learn Bind until .
====Japanese version only====
Artwork	Name 	Move	First use 	Notes 	Picture
 	Ash's Starly	 	Two Degrees of Separation!	Ash's Starly used in this episode. However, Starly was unable to learn Gust until Pokémon Legends: Arceus. It was changed to in the dub, a move that Starly could learn at the time. However, after it evolved into , it began using Gust in the dub as well.	
====Dub only====
Artwork	Name 	Move	First use 	Notes 	Picture
 	Brock's Vulpix	 	The Ancient Puzzle of Pokémopolis	in the Japanese version, a move that Vulpix can learn. Vulpix was unable to learn Agility prior to Generation VIII. The move was used in both versions of Hot Matches!.	
 	Ritchie's 	 	The Mystery is History 	in the Japanese version, a move that Pupitar could learn at the time. Pupitar was unable to learn Take Down until Generation IX. 	
===Unresolved errors===
Artwork	Name 	Move	First use 	Picture
 	Samurai's 	 	Challenge of the Samurai 	
 	A Gentleman's Raticate	 	Battle Aboard the St. Anne 	
 	Jeanette's 	 	The Fourth Round Rumble 	
 	Ritchie's Zippo 	 	Friend and Foe Alike 	
 	James's Victreebel 	 	Pikachu Re-Volts 	
 	Jessie's Arbok 	 	A Shipful of Shivers 	
 	's 	 	Wherefore Art Thou, Pokémon? 	
 	Ash's Charizard 	 	Pokémon Double Trouble 	
 	Ash's Pikachu 	 	The Double Trouble Header 	
 	Olesia's 	 	No Big Woop! 	
 	Ash's Pikachu 	 	Hour of the Houndour 	
 	Ash's Cyndaquil 	 	Hot Matches! 	
 	Ash's Totodile 	 	The Fortune Hunters 	
 	Trixie's 	 	Love, Totodile Style 	
 	Malachi's 	 	Carrying On! 	
 	Denjirō's 	 	Carrying On! 	
 	Jessie's Wobbuffet 	 	A Hot Water Battle 	
 	Duplica's 	 	Imitation Confrontation 	
 	Duplica's 	 	Imitation Confrontation 	
 	's 	 	Ariados, Amigos 	
 	Misty's Poliwhirl 	 	Wings 'N' Things 	
 	Tamao's 	 	Trouble's Brewing 	
 	Janina's 	 	Fight for the Light! 	
 	Ash's Bulbasaur 	 	Bulbasaur... the Ambassador! 	
 	Kiyo's 	 	A Tyrogue Full of Trouble 	
 	Lance's Dragonite 	 	Talkin' 'Bout an Evolution 	
 	Clair's 	 	Great Bowls of Fire! 	
 	Brock's Crobat 	 	Lapras of Luxury 	
 	Ritchie's 	 	Oaknapped! 	
 	 	 	Turning Over a Nuzleaf 	
 	 	 	Ready, Willing, and Sableye 	
 	 	 	Jirachi: Wish Maker 	
 	Aerodactyl 	 	Putting the Air Back in Aerodactyl! 	
 	Harley's 	 	New Plot, Odd Lot! 	
 	Jessie's Dustox 	 	Gymbaliar 	
 	of Team Meanies 	 	Pokémon Mystery Dungeon:Team Go-Getters Out of the Gate! 	
 	Cheryl's Mothim 	 	An Angry Combeenation! 	
 	 	 	Riding the Winds of Change! 	
 	Roman's 	 	A Full Course Tag Battle! 	
 	 	 	Leading a Stray! 	
 	 	 	The Drifting Snorunt! 	
 	 	 	Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of Sky - Beyond Time & Darkness	
 	 	 	Promoting Healthy Tangrowth! 	
 	Damos's 	 	Arceus and the Jewel of Life 	
 	Damos's 	 	Arceus and the Jewel of Life 	
 	 	 	A Faux Oak Finish! 	
 	Jupiter's 	 	Unlocking the Red Chain of Events! 	
 	 	 	The Needs of the Three! 	
 	 	 	The Needs of the Three! 	
 	 	 	Yes in Dee Dee, It's Dawn! 	
 	 	 	Yes in Dee Dee, It's Dawn! 	
 	Nando's 	 	Last Call — First Round! 	
 	 	 	Zoroark: Master of Illusions 	
 	 	 	PK21 	
 	Normajean's 	 	The Brockster Is In! 	
 	Officer Jenny's 	 	Crisis at Ferroseed Research! 	
 	 	 	The Future Is Now, Thanks to Determination! 	
 	 	 	Defending the Homeland! 	
 	 	 	Flying in the Air 	
 	 	 	Flying in the Air 	
 	 	 	Flying in the Air 	
 	 	 	Flying in the Air 	
 	Sawyer's 	 	Rivals: Today and Tomorrow! 	
 	 	 	A Diamond in the Rough! 	
 	 	 	A Diamond in the Rough! 	
 	Ash's Litten 	 	They Might Not Be Giants! 	
 	Ash's Nebby 	 	A Masked Warning! 	
====Japanese version only====
Artwork	Name 	Move	First use 	Notes 	Picture
 	Ash's Tranquill	 	An Amazing Aerial Battle!	In the dub, Ash merely commanded Tranquill to "attack now", without specifying a move.	
 	Celosia's 	 	Meeting at Terminus Cave!	In the dub, Celosia tells Manectric to "Go after it!" 	
=====Mentioned only=====
Artwork	Name 	Move	First use 	Notes
 	Sawyer's Treecko	 	Battling with Elegance and a Big Smile!	mentioned Treecko having used during his Gym battle with Sawyer. In the dub, the move mentioned was changed to , a move that Treecko can learn.
====Dub only====
Artwork	Name 	Move	First use 	Notes 	Picture
 	Ash's Bulbasaur	 	The Ninja Poké-Showdown	This was a dubbing error, as Whirlwind's Japanese name is ふきとばし Blow Away. Ash was telling Bulbasaur to simply "blow it away" in the Japanese version rather than commanding the actual move. 	
 	's 	 	Bye Bye Psyduck 	in the Japanese version, a move that Starmie can learn. 	
 	Gary's Umbreon 	 	Power Play! 	In the Japanese version, Umbreon was just told to use its footwork, without being given an attack command. 	
 	Morty's 	 	From Ghost to Ghost 	No command given in the Japanese version, most likely a dubbing error. 	
 	Ash's Totodile 	 	Dueling Heroes 	in the Japanese version, a move that Totodile can learn. 	
 	Hun's 	 	The Legend of Thunder! 	in the Japanese version, a move that Steelix can learn. 	
 	Ash's Heracross	 	The Ties That Bind! 	in the Japanese version, a move that Heracross can learn. 	
 	's 	 	Playing with Fire! 	in the Japanese version, a move that Steelix can learn. 	
 	Jessie's Dustox	 	The Bicker the Better 	in the Japanese version, a move that Dustox can learn. 	
===== only=====
Artwork	Name	Move	First use 	Notes 	Picture
 	 	 	Dewpider Ascending!	Being a wild Pokémon, this 's attack was not identified out loud in either the original or dub version of Dewpider Ascending!. However, the English version's closed captions identified the move as .	
==Trivia==
* Ash's Bulbasaur using in Bulbasaur... the Ambassador! is the only time an animated series move error occured where it was acknowledged in-universe.
==Related articles==
Category:Pokémon animated series
Category:Move errors
it:Mosse errate dell'animazione
ja:覚えられないわざを覚えているポケモン (アニメ)