Aim to Be a Pokémon Master

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**Aim to Be a Pokémon Master** (Japanese: **めざせポケモンマスター** *Mezase Pokémon Master*) is the first opening theme of the original series, with a cover by Whiteberry being the fourth in Japanese and {PLACEHOLDER} in the English version. An arrangement made to commemorate the Template:Pkmn's 20th anniversary replaced Alola!! as the second opening theme of *Pocket Monsters: Sun & Moon*.

A verse from this song was featured in the third opening theme of *Pocket Monsters: Advanced Generation*, 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, Template:Smw.

## Versions

Aim to Be a Pokémon Master is the most re-used theme song in the Pokémon anime's history, having no fewer than seven versions including the original:

## Opening animation: TV OP 1

### Synopsis

The type symbols appear in a circle, and the series logo appears on the screen. The final evolutions of the three starters, Pikachu, Ash and an unnamed Lass are seen. This is followed by three scenes showing random Generation I Pokémon.

Ash is then seen with a Poké Ball. 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.

Ash appears looking at the screen, when Misty and Brock 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 Gary Oak holding a Poké Ball. Ash and his friends are seen running from the rain. This is followed by a short clip of Nurse Joy, Professor Oak, 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
* Misty
* Brock
* Jessie
* James
* Gary Oak
* Professor Oak
* Delia Ketchum
* Nurse Joy
* Officer Jenny
* Lass

#### Pokémon

* Template:P (Template:OP, new)
* Template:P (Template:TRM)
* Template:P (Template:OP, newly evolved)
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### Variants

1. EP001 - EP002: The original animation. During the Pokémon images scene, there's a picture of a Kadabra, but it reads "Alakazam"("Foodin") on it.
2. EP003: The Kadabra error is corrected, and an actual Alakazam picture is put in its place.
3. EP004 - ???: The TCG types 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.
4. ??? - 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 Template:P. Several frames were removed from the scene starring Template:P.

### Trivia

* The elemental logos shown before and during the title logo animation are the symbols for the seven TCG types at the time.
* The song can be heard in the instrumental version of High Touch!.
* 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.

## Opening animation: TV OP 4

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### OP text

ポケットモンスターとの
友情と冒険のお話である。</ab>
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 Thunderbolt. 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 Togepi in front of them.

Four Pokémon and five people are on top and Larvitar 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
* Misty
* Brock
* Tracey Sketchit
* Jessie
* James
* Professor Oak
* Delia Ketchum
* Officer Jenny
* Nurse Joy

#### Pokémon

* Template:P (Template:OP)
* Template:P (Template:TRM)
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* Template:P (Pichu Brothers)
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### Trivia

* This is the first opening theme to not be performed by Rica Matsumoto in the Japanese version and by Veronica Taylor in the English version.
* This is the only version of Aim to Be a Pokémon Master to not be performed by Rica Matsumoto or the dub voice of Ash.

## Opening animation: SM OP 2

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### Characters

#### Humans

* Ash Ketchum
* Lana
* Kiawe
* Lillie
* Sophocles
* Mallow
* Delia Ketchum
* Gladion
* Olivia

#### Pokémon

* Template:P (Template:OP)
* Template:P (Rotom Pokédex)
* Template:P (Template:OP)
* Template:P (Template:OP)
* Template:P (Template:OP; Template:DL; SM038-present)
* Template:P (Template:OP)
* Template:P (Template:OP)
* Template:P (Template:OP; Ride Pokémon)
* Template:P (Template:OP)
* Template:P (Template:OP; Template:Rf)
* Template:P (Lillie's; Alolan; Snowy; hatches)
* Template:P (Template:OP)
* Template:P (Template:OP)
* Template:P (Sophocles'; Alolan)
* Template:P (Mallow's)
* Template:P (Jessie's)
* Template:P (Delia's; Mimey; flashback)
* Template:P (Gladion's; Midnight Form}})
* Template:P (Olivia's; Midday Form)
* Template:P (Samson Oak's)
* Template:P (Hobbes's; Pom-Pom Style)
* Template:P (Trainer's; flashback)
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* Template:P (Trainer's; flashback)
* Template:P (Template:An)
* Template:P (Template:DL)
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* Template:P (Template:DL)
* Template:P (School Form; Totem)
* Template:P (Template:Pkmn2)
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### Variants

1. SM030 - SM037: The original animation.
2. SM038 - SM043: The clip of Olivia is cut short to show Ash using Continental Crush with Lycanroc.

### Trivia

* This is the first opening to be made up almost entirely of episode clips.
* This is the first opening featuring humans in which Template:TRT does not appear.

## 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 "We're waiting"(「待ってる」). However, it is still displayed in the lyrics on-screen during the opening animation. The first line of the second stanza is formatted as "It's a veryvery veryvery veryvery veryvery Hard task to take on!" (「なかなかなかなか、なかなかなかなか　大変だけど」) and the second and third line of the third stanza are formatted without spaces.
* The Whiteberry cover includes all ad-libs except for "We're waiting"(「待ってる」). The initial "Pokemon, Gotta Cath'em All!"(「ポケモン　ゲットだぜーッ！」) is included only in the TV size version and not in the full version. The first line of the second stanza is formatted as "It's a veryvery veryvery veryvery veryvery Hard task to take on!"(「なかなか　なかなか　なかなか　なかなか　大変だけど」).
* The 20th Anniversary version includes only the "Pokemon, Gotta Cath'em All!"(「ポケモン　ゲットだぜーッ！」) and "Pikachu!"「ピカチュウ～！」 ad-libs, the latter of which is formatted with an exclamation mark. The first line of the second stanza is formatted as 「なかなか　なかなか　なかなか　なかなか大変だけど」. The last two lines of the third, fourth, fifth, and sixth stanzas are displayed as one line. In 2 episodes of Sun and Moon, Misty, Brock, and Professor Oak say the "AAAGH"(「きゃ～～～！！」), "We're waiting"(「待ってる」), and "That's True" (「そりゃそうじゃ」) ad-libs respectively, although they are not displayed in the lyrics on-screen.
* The 1998 movie version and its 2019 remaster include all ad-libs except for "We're waiting"(「待ってる」).
* The 2001 movie remix, 2002 movie remix, and the 20th Anniversary Ballad ver. do not include any of the ad-libs.

### TV size

たとえ　火の中　水の中　草の中　森の中
土の中　雲の中　あのコのスカートの中（きゃ～～～！！）
なかなか　なかなか
なかなか　なかなか　大変だけど
かならずGETだぜ！
ポケモンGETだぜ！
マサラタウンに　さよならバイバイ
オレはこいつと　旅に出る（ピカチュウ～）
きたえたワザで　勝ちまくり
仲間をふやして　次の町へ（待ってる）
いつもいつでも　うまくゆくなんて
保証はどこにも　ないけど（そりゃそうじゃ）
いつでもいつも　ホンキで生きてる
こいつたちがいる
ああ　あこがれの　ポケモンマスターに
なりたいな　ならなくちゃ
ゼッタイなってやるーッ！</ab>
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>
Through the fire, in the water, in the grass, in the forests, My best efforts I'll exert
Also deep inside the ground, and way up high above the clouds, or even under that girl's skirt (AAAAH!)
It's a very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very,
hard task to take on
But I know that I can do it!
I know that I can catch them! Yea-yea-yea-yea-yea-yea-yeah!
So long, Pallet Town! Sayonara Bye bye!
My journey starts today with this guy here (Pikachu!)
We'll win at every battle with moves skilled carefully
And make new friends as we walk the path to the next city (We're waiting!)
Every day and All the time, I have trained to be the best
To despite my effort, I can't guarantee you... (That's true!)
All the time and everyday, I'll live honestly and true
cause my friends are with me too
Oh! Watch me and I'll go! Pokémon Master's what I'll be!
I's destiny's call! I'll give it my all!
Cause that's what I'm gonna do!</ab>

### Full version

たとえ　火の中　水の中　草の中　森の中
土の中　雲の中　あのコのスカートの中（きゃ～～～！！）
なかなか　なかなか
なかなか　なかなか　大変だけど
かならずGETだぜ！
ポケモンGETだぜ！
マサラタウンに　さよならバイバイ
オレはこいつと　旅に出る（ピカチュウ～）
きたえたワザで　勝ちまくり
仲間をふやして　次の町へ（待ってる）
いつもいつでも　うまくゆくなんて
保証はどこにも　ないけど（そりゃそうじゃ）
いつでもいつも　ホンキで生きてる
こいつたちがいる
たとえ　火の中　水の中　草の中　森の中
土の中　雲の中　あのコのスカートの中（しつこーい！）
なかなか　なかなか
なかなか　なかなか　大変だけど
かならずGETだぜ！
ポケモンGETだぜ！
たたかいつかれて　おやすみグッナイ
まぶたを閉じれば　よみがえる（ピカチュウ？？）
ほのおが燃えて　風が舞い
鳴き声とどろく　あのバトルが
きのうの敵は　今日の友って
古いコトバが　あるけど（古いとはなんじゃ～っ！）
きょうの友は　あしたも友だち
そうさ　永遠に
ああ　あこがれの　ポケモンマスターに
なりたいな　ならなくちゃ
ゼッタイなってやるーッ！
ユメは　いつか　ホントになるって
だれかが歌って　いたけど
つぼみがいつか　花ひらくように
ユメは　かなうもの
いつもいつでも　うまくゆくなんて
保証はどこにも　ないけど（そりゃそうじゃ）
いつでもいつも　ホンキで生きてる
こいつたちがいる
ああ　あこがれの　ポケモンマスターに
なりたいな　ならなくちゃ
ゼッタイなってやるーッ！
ああ　あこがれの　ポケモンマスターに
なりたいな　ならなくちゃ
ゼッタイなってやるーッ！</ab>
Even if in fire, in water, in grass, in forests
In ground, in clouds, in that girl's skirt (AAAAH!)
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>
Through the fire, in the water, in the grass, in the forests, My best efforts I'll exert
Also deep inside the ground, and high above the clouds, or even under that girl's skirt (Eek!)
It's a very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very,
hard task to take on
But I know that I can do it!
I know that I can catch them! Yea-yea-yea-yea-yea-yea-yeah!
So long, Pallet Town! Sayonara Bye bye!
My journey starts today with this guy here (Pikachu!)
We'll win at every battle with moves skilled carefully
And make new friends as we walk the path to the next city (We're waiting!)
Every day and All the time, I have trained to be the best
To despite my effort, I can't guarantee you... (That's true!)
All the time and everyday, I'll live honestly and true
cause my friends are with me too
Through the fire, in the water, in the grass, in the forests, My best efforts I'll exert
Also deep inside the ground, and way up high above the clouds, or even under that girl's skirt (Persistent!)
It's really really really really really really really really
tough but it's my call
And I know that I can do it
Pokemon Gotta catch 'em all!
I'm tired from battling Let's all have a good night
If I just close my eyes the memories replay (Pikachu?)
A flame burns deep inside me A wind blows like a roar
This voice is calling out to me to battle ever more
Yesterday you may have been my foe today you are my friend
At least that's how the old saying seems to go (Who're you calling old?)
That a friend you had today will be your friend the next day too
and that's a friend who'll stay with you!
Oh! Watch me and I'll go! Pokémon Master's what I'll be!
I's destiny's call! I'll give it my all!
Cause that's what I'm gonna do!
Chase your dreams, keep them close they'll eventually come true
So it's said in all those songs and childhood stories
And I know just like flower buds eventually will bloom!
That all my dreams will soon come true!
Every day and All the time, I have trained to be the best
To despite my effort, I can't guarantee you... (That's true!)
All the time and everyday, I'll live honestly and true
cause my friends are with me too
Oh! Watch me and I'll go! Pokémon Master's what I'll be!
I's destiny's call! I'll give it my all!
Cause that's what I'm gonna do!
Oh! Watch me and I'll go! Pokémon Master's what I'll be!
I's destiny's call! I'll give it my all!
Cause that's what I'm gonna do!</ab>

## In other languages

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Template:Opening themes

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