A Talent for Imitation!

### Written by

Sonic876, Punkasaurus0530, Frogadier55, NegimaLover, TMNTHedgehog5, and DragonSpore18

### Directed by

Sonic876 and NegimaLover

***A Talent for Imitation!*** is the 19th episode of *Josh's Adventures of Pokémon Journeys the Series*.

## Plot

Goh catches a Rattata as he and Ash make their way over to the film studio of world-famous film director Kublock. Goh explains that the movie plot involves twin Gardevoir sisters, the older played by an actual Gardevoir and the younger one by a Ditto. The boys soon arrive on set where a Manager takes them through. Team Rocket, however, are pushed away despite Jessie's claims that she is a real actress.
Kublock calls for "Action", and the filming of the next scene gets underway. The older Gardevoir twin arrives to save her younger sibling from a pair of Shiftry. As the twin sisters hold hands, Ditto is suddenly stunned and reverts to its pink gelatinous form. Kublock orders "Cut!" as they will have to film the scene again. Goh scans Ditto on his Rotom Phone and learns about its unique ability to reorganize its cells to Transform into any Pokémon. Kublock's frustration intimidates Ditto, causing the Pokémon to run from the set while crying. The Manager calls out for Ditto, but it is determined to escape. At that moment, the Team Rocket trio is walking away from the studio still upset for being kicked off. Ditto spots Jessie's bag and leaps inside. The Manager returns to Goh and Ash, where she reveals that Ditto was once a no-name actor but soon became a big star under Kublock's watch because of its perfect transformations. The boys pledge to help find Ditto.

Team Rocket returns to their secret base, where they discover Ditto hidden in Jessie's handbag. Meowth learns that Ditto ran away from the set because of Kublock's intense frustrations. He suggests that they make Ditto a member of Team Rocket, explaining that its transformation abilities will be a great asset. Jessie orders Ditto to show them a proper transformation. Meowth shows Ditto a picture of Absol, but Ditto fails to completely transform its face. Next, Ditto Transforms into a blubbery Glaceon and again fails to change its face. James suggests it try transforming into a Salamence, and Ditto gets it mostly right except for the tail. The trio is all stunned by the flawed Transformations, admitting they can see why Ditto would have been fired. The comments leave Ditto feeling deflated and it retreats to a corner to cry. Jessie orders Ditto to stop moping and decides to take Ditto under her wing to learn about being a real performer.

Jessie suggests they pretend they're magicians and steal Pokémon at the same time with a simple teleportation trick. She explains that an audience member's Pokémon is placed in one box and will be made to appear in the other box on the count of three. James and Meowth are stunned that the trick actually worked, but Jessie explains that they will have Ditto waiting in the other box to give the impression of teleportation. The audience member will receive Ditto instead, while they make off with the real Pokémon and Ditto will rejoin them later to repeat the trick. The trio put their plan into action, disguising themselves as street magicians. A young boy with an Eevee is their first victim, but Ditto's failure to transform its face ruins the trio's first attempt. Team Rocket’s operation is proving a failure thanks to Ditto’s transformation mishaps. Jessie suggests Ditto try a different approach, declaring that they are partners after all. Ditto is greatly encouraged and promptly transforms into a perfect copy of Jessie's Wobbuffet, thrilling the trio. However, when they return to base, Ditto is unable to replicate its perfect Wobbuffet transformation again. Jessie realizes that Ditto's nervousness is stopping it from transforming perfectly. James asks Jessie how she overcomes nerves, though she argues that she is never nervous. Meowth adds that he cleans his face using his paws, while James reveals that he has an odd habit of sniffing his socks when nervous. James shakes off his teammates’ shocked expressions by saying that everyone has a way of keeping calm and that they simply need to find Ditto's approach. Jessie suggests it try slapping its own face for motivation. Ditto follows through and transforms perfectly into Meowth, but only for a few moments. James orders Ditto to try again, and the Transform Pokémon slaps itself again and is already showing promise by holding its transformations for longer. The Team Rocket trio is thrilled with Ditto’s progress, declaring that it will be their key to climbing the Team Rocket ranks to success. As the new "Super Team Rocket," Jessie suggests they finally catch Ash's Pikachu and Ditto agrees to help.

While Ash and Goh search the streets for the missing Ditto, a disguised Team Rocket suggests the boys try their teleportation trick. Pikachu is instantly curious and leaps forward to participate. James places him under the blue box. On the count of three, a Pikachu reappears under the red box, while nothing is standing under the blue one. Raboot is instantly skeptical and Ash also becomes suspicious after inspecting the Pikachu. Jessie is forced to reveal her hand, and the trio removes their magician disguises to reveal their true identities. Team Rocket performs their motto, and the Pikachu reverts back to its true Ditto form. Jessie declares that Ditto is their new member, while James reveals that Pikachu is safely contained in a metal box. Goh orders Raboot to attack. Jessie calls for Ditto to Transform into a Salamence. However, the transformation is halted by the sudden appearance of the Manager, who is happy to see Ditto. Jessie orders her to leave, but the attendant refuses to budge as Ditto is a rising star and must return to Kublock. Despite the Manager's pleas, Ditto is left paralyzed in fear at the thought of returning to set. Raboot uses the opportunity to kick Pikachu's capsule out of James's hands, returning him to Ash. Realizing that a blast-off is imminent, Jessie grabs Ditto as she and her teammates flee to the safety of their hidden base. Team Rocket sits down to think things over before Jessie pipes up and declares that they need to give the performance of their lives.

Later, Ash, Goh, and the Manager walk towards the agreed rendezvous point with the ransom money to get Ditto back. They encounter Team Rocket who are now holding Ditto captive in a glass capsule. Playing the part of villains, Team Rocket orders the ransom money to be handed over first. Goh prepares to give Raboot an order to attack, though it runs forward before an order is issued. However, Wobbuffet uses Mirror Coat to block the attack. The Rocket trio hints that only a zap of Thunderbolt will defeat them, but Ash fails to get the hint. The trio turns to chastising Ash, ordering him to attack them with Thunderbolt. Ash follows through and gives Pikachu the order, sending Team Rocket blasting off. Team Rocket cheers, seemingly happy to be blasted off for once. Raboot promptly frees Ditto from its capsule with a kick. Ditto is happily reunited with the female attendant but turns back to look at the sky, seemingly missing Team Rocket. Meanwhile, the trio has landed in a tree and still feeling the sting of Pikachu's Thunderbolt. James and Meowth thank Jessie for the excellent scheme, and Jessie opines that she is an incredible actress after all. Jessie turns to the Vermilion City skyline and wishes Ditto luck with becoming a star performer.

Ditto has returned to the film studios but instantly gets nervous after Kublock yells at one of the studio hands. Recalling Jessie's advice, Ditto slaps its face for motivation and Transforms into a Gardevoir. Filming for Kublock's latest blockbuster resumes, with Ditto and Gardevoir reshooting the scene from earlier. The older Gardevoir twin defeats the two Shiftry before the sisters are reunited. Kublock proudly declares "Cut!" and wraps up. Ditto is thrilled, finally feeling confident and encouraged to fulfill its acting ambitions.

## Characters

### Humans

* Ash
* Goh
* Jessie
* James
* Kublock
* Manager
* Staff
* Trainers

### Pokémon

Who's That Pokémon?: Ditto

* Pikachu (Ash's)
* Meowth (Team Rocket)
* Wobbuffet (Jessie's)
* Raboot (Goh's)
* Rattata (Goh's; new)
* Rotom (Professor Cerise's; Rotom Phone)
* Eevee (Trainer's)
* Wooper (Trainer's)
* Gardevoir
* Shiftry (×2)
* Ditto
* Absol (Pokédex image)
* Glaceon (Pokédex image)
* Salamence (Pokédex image/fantasy)
* Charizard (fantasy)
* Mantyke (fantasy)
* Wobbuffet (fantasy)

## Transcript

*Main article: A Talent for Imitation!/Transcript*
## Trivia

* Get Inspired! Let's Solve a Poké Riddle!!: Ditto
* The clapperboard used at the film studio has the number 2020 on it, reflecting how this episode was released in the year 2020. It also has the number 31 on it, which is Gardevoir's number in the Hoenn Pokédex. At the end of the episode, the clapperboard also has the number 19 on it, a reference to this being the 19th episode of *Pokémon Journeys: The Series*.
* This episode shares many similarities to *Ditto’s Mysterious Mansion*:
	+ Ash and his companion(s) encounter a performing Ditto.
	+ Ditto is struggling with performing a complete transformation.
	+ Team Rocket takes hold of the Ditto and influences its improvement at transforming.
	+ Team Rocket tries to swap Ditto while transformed into another Pokémon but the trainer can instinctively see through the trick due to a close, personal relationship.
* This marks one of the very few times when Team Rocket has willfully wanted to be blasted off.
* This episode marks the first appearance of a Shiftry in the anime since *Mystery on a Deserted Island!*, 312 episodes earlier.
* Chloe, Professor Cerise, Ash, Pikachu, Goh, Ash's Rotom Phone, Jessie, James, and Meowth narrate the preview for the next episode.