AG140

←	AG139 : On Cloud Arcanine

Sitting Psyduck

AG140

EP414

コダックの憂鬱！
Koduck's Depression!

First broadcast

Japan	August 25, 2005
United States	May 27, 2006

English themes

Opening	Unbeatable
Ending

Japanese themes

Opening	バトルフロンティア
Ending	ポケモンかぞえうた

Credits

No additional credits are available at this time.
Animation	Team Ota
Screenplay	大橋志吉 Yukiyoshi Ōhashi
Storyboard	秦義人 Yoshito Hata
Assistant director	井硲清高 Kiyotaka Itani
Animation directors	志村泉 Izumi Shimura
Animation directors	山下恵 Megumi Yamashita

Screenshots on Filb.de

Sitting Psyduck (Japanese: コダックの憂鬱！ Koduck's Depression!) is the 140th episode of Pokémon the Series: Ruby and Sapphire, and the 414th episode of the Pokémon animated series. It was first broadcast in Japan on August 25, 2005, and in the United States on May 27, 2006.

Spoiler warning: this article may contain major plot or ending details.

Blurb

A Psyduck is frantically running from a Machop, Machoke, and Machamp when it hurls headlong into Ash and friends, on their way to the Pokémon Contest in Saffron City. Ash sends out Phanpy, who drives off the three Superpower Pokémon. Brock feeds the Psyduck, who makes fast friends with Phanpy and Pikachu.

Meanwhile, the Superpower Pokémon trio returns to their Trainer, a rich girl named Emily who orders them not to return unless they have Psyduck in tow. They dutifully head out again.

The kids and Psyduck walk along until they reach a hill where a disguised Team Rocket coerces them into trying out "grass-sledding." But as they're coasting down the grassy hill, Jessie activates a trap that sends the kids barreling around like pinballs and then Meowth catches Psyduck and Phanpy in a net. Team Rocket begins to escape with the two Pokémon using their balloon, but Machop, Machoke, and Machamp show up just in time to pull them back down. Team Rocket is sent blasting off, and Emily arrives to take her Psyduck home.

Back at Emily's mansion, everyone notices that despite the posh surroundings, Psyduck is not happy there. Ash and May have a practice battle on the grounds, and they find out that Emily never lets Psyduck battle. Brock speculates that it's lonely. Team Rocket shows up again, and this time Psyduck eagerly steps up to the plate to drive them off. Emily doesn't know how to battle, so Max gives her some advice. Psyduck holds its own against Cacnea, Seviper, and Meowth, just before Pikachu sends the thieves off with Thunderbolt.

Emily realizes that she needs to bond with her Pokémon more, and considers going on her own Pokémon journey as the kids resume their own travels.

Plot

As a Psyduck is being chased by three shadowy figures through a stretch of grass, Ash and his friends are taking a break on their journey to Saffron City. The frightened Psyduck leaps from the cliff and lands on top of their cooling campfire. Psyduck gets burned from the charcoal and leaps frantically into a nearby stream to cool itself down. The three shadowy figures are soon revealed to be Machop, Machoke, and Machamp. Psyduck, upon seeing them, begins swimming hastily away from its pursuers, but the three Pokémon follow it into the water and soon manage to corner it. Ash and his friends arrive on the scene to see Psyduck struggling as Machoke holds it by its necktie, so they intervene. Phanpy attempts to help but is easily swatted away by the Machop's Karate Chop. Phanpy responds back with a Rollout and easily defeats Machop. Machamp tries to hit Phanpy but is blocked by Phanpy's Defense Curl and is defeated by yet another Rollout attack. Brock comments that Ash did well by using Rollout after Defense Curl, as it doubles the damage dealt. Machoke steps up to try to defeat Phanpy and is joined by the recovering Machop and Machamp. As all three of them corner Phanpy, Pikachu interrupts by electrifying the trio with a powerful Thunderbolt, sending them running off into the distance. Ash offers Psyduck to stay with them until they reach a safe place.

Psyduck and Phanpy start playing by the stream as Brock offers Psyduck some Pokémon food. Psyduck quickly starts devouring the food as May consults the Pokédex. May also notices that Psyduck has a red scarf on it, meaning that it is not a wild Pokémon and belongs to a Trainer. Later, the three Superpower Pokémon report back to their Trainer, a wealthy young girl called Emily, empty-handed. She orders them to continue searching for Psyduck, and the trio leaps into action once again.

Hanging in a tree, Team Rocket spy on the twerps, contemplating their next scheme. Meowth points to Psyduck as he suggests they focus on an easy victory to get them going. He elaborates by detailing a series of unlikely scenarios involving Giovanni; nonetheless, his teammates are more focused on the potential promotions and agree to steal Psyduck. Jessie and James pose as salespeople, advertising their grass sledding course to the group. As May considers the potential dangers of the sport, Jessie pushes "Jemal" into sliding down the hill to demonstrate. The group is still in doubt, but upon seeing Psyduck on the sled, they agree that they get all fired up to slide down the hill. They all slide down sharing four sleds: Ash and Pikachu in one, May by herself, Brock and Max in another, and finally Phanpy and Psyduck share the last one. While the group is having fun, James returns to the top of the hill feeling a bit dazed. With a press of her remote, Jessie activates giant pillars that rise out of the ground and appear to be a part of a pinball game, each having different point values. The twerps bounce between the pillars and towards a huge netted goal as Meowth appears from the ground and captures both Psyduck and Phanpy. Jessie and James reveal their identities and recite their motto.

Team Rocket starts to float away in their Meowth balloon. Just as it seems that they will get away, Machoke and Machamp come running from the distance and effectively stop the trio's getaway. Jessie and James call upon Seviper and Cacnea respectively. Ash and his friends arrive at the scene as Machop begins to rescue Psyduck and Phanpy from the balloon. Machoke and Machamp dash towards Jessie and James and use Cross Chop to send them flying into their balloon, causing the engine to explode and blast Team Rocket off into the sky. Phanpy and Psyduck are freed from the net.

Emily arrives in her Rapidash-pulled carriage to collect her precious Psyduck, though it doesn't seem thrilled to see its Trainer. She invites the group into her carriage and explains that Psyduck has run away for the third time now. When Ash asks her why, she admits that she does not know. They successfully arrive at Emily's mansion as Psyduck seems to be a little dirty from all the chasing and battling it has experienced. Three maids immediately rush Psyduck to a bath followed by a spritz of perfume, though Psyduck appears miserable throughout the ordeal. After that, everyone is seated at an exquisite banquet. Emily notices Psyduck's sadness and states that Psyduck's appetite has not been very good lately. Max replies that Psyduck was happy eating the Pokémon food earlier and playing with Pikachu and Phanpy. They all seem very puzzled about Psyduck's behavior except Brock, who seems to know what is going on. Later, Ash and May are training outside with Phanpy and Squirtle as Psyduck watches longingly. Emily, however, is horrified by the battle, adding she would never do anything like that. Brock explains to her that Pokémon battling is not the same as normal fighting, and is actually a great way for a Trainer to communicate with their Pokémon. Emily retaliates by saying that she and Psyduck do have a sense of unity and that she gives it every luxury it could ever want. However, Brock points out that Psyduck still seems a little bit empty and lonely. Emily soon realizes that Psyduck is interested in battling after it enters the practice match. It redirects Phanpy's Rollout attack towards Ash, knocking him into a nearby pond. Psyduck laughs as it and Ash start splashing water at each other; Emily also notices Psyduck's happiness.

Suddenly, Seviper's Haze rolls in as Team Rocket appears in a Chimecho balloon to once again attempt to capture Psyduck. Meowth uses a claw device to catch Psyduck and bring it to the balloon. Ash has Grovyle to use Leaf Blade to cut the wire attached to Psyduck, whereupon it begins falling to the ground. Emily runs over and saves it from the fall. Grovyle uses Bullet Seed to riddle Team Rocket's balloon with holes, sending it crashing to the ground. Jessie and James emerge from the wreckage just as Phanpy goes into a Rollout and knocks Seviper backward. Meanwhile, Emily asks Psyduck if it is okay. Psyduck responds by smiling and laughing, making Emily happy as well. Cacnea beckons menacingly to Psyduck and Max suggests that Psyduck wants to battle, the thought of which appalls Emily. Cacnea sends a strong Sandstorm toward Psyduck as Max tells her to direct Psyduck to attack. Emily eventually orders Psyduck to use Focus Punch, sending Cacnea flying through the air. Seviper appears, but Psyduck's Fury Swipes keeps it away. Meowth steps up and challenges Psyduck with his own Fury Swipes attack. As Psyduck and Meowth are trading hits, Emily asks Max what to do. This time, Max tells her that it is okay to come up with something on her own. Emily tells Psyduck to use Hydro Pump at Meowth, knocking it back toward Jessie and James. Seviper attacks repeatedly with Poison Tail, but Psyduck dodges and retaliates with Confusion, which sends Team Rocket flying towards their balloon. Pikachu uses Thunderbolt to send Team Rocket blasting off again.

Emily declares that she now understands what Psyduck has wanted all along and looks forward to the good times yet to come. Psyduck’s stomach suddenly grumbles, admitting that it is ready for a full-course meal. After a well-deserved meal, everyone is standing outside the mansion gates. Psyduck appears to be happy again as it wants to participate in Pokémon battles and strengthen itself and Emily reveals that she would like to go on a journey of her own one day. Psyduck and Emily, along with her Superpower trio, say goodbye to Ash and his friends as they head off toward their next destination, Saffron City.

Major events

For a list of all major events in Pokémon the Series: Ruby and Sapphire, please see the timeline page.

Debuts

Pokémon debuts

Characters

Humans

Ash
May
Brock
Max
Jessie
James
Giovanni (fantasy)
Emily
Emily's maids
Emily's chef

Pokémon

Pokémon Trainer's Choice

Pokémon Trainer's Choice: Celebi

Trivia

The episode's English dub title is derived from the idiom "sitting duck", meaning an easy target.
Emily's Psyduck shows a similar distaste for a life of luxury to Madame Muchmoney's Snubbull.
This is the last episode in which Ash's Phanpy is voiced by Lindsey Warner and Ash's Grovyle by Darren Dunstan.
Smile is used as background music for this episode.

Errors

After Ash and his friends say that three against one is unfair, the briefs on Emily's Machoke are the same color as its skin. This also happens when it uses Cross Chop.
When Ash tells Phanpy to use Defense Curl, his glove is missing while one of his sleeves is colored blue instead of black.
When the camera zooms out on Ash and his friends sliding down the hill, May's gloves turn completely blue.
When Ash approaches the bumpers, his bag is missing. This also happens before he points out that the Machoke and Machamp are the same ones from earlier.
In the scene where Ash and his friends land in the net, Brock and Max disappear for a few frames when May falls onto them.
When Meowth is keeping the bag closed, Psyduck's feet are colored white instead of cream.
- In the same scene, Jessie speaks, but her mouth does not move.
When Emily says that this is the third time Psyduck has run away, May's gloves are missing.
In one scene, when Team Rocket appears in their Chimecho-faced balloon, part of the balloon is colored like their usual Meowth balloon.
When Seviper is first called out of its Poké Ball, its tongue is missing.
When Ash and his friends leave, the pattern on Ash's bag is drawn incorrectly.

Machoke's miscolored briefs
May's missing gloves
Team Rocket's miscolored Chimecho balloon

Dub edits

The wall scrolls and Team Rocket banners had their text removed in the English dub.
In the English dub, James remarks that Jessie is getting good at the game. In the original Japanese version, James says that the "Big Pokémon Pinball Plan" was a success.

Pokémon Trainer's Choice

Question: Trainers, which species is the "Time Travel Pokémon"?
Choices: Mewtwo, Celebi, Deoxys
Answer: OK, Trainers! If you chose Celebi, you were right!

In other languages


Language		Title
Mandarin Chinese		可達鴨的憂鬱！
Danish		En dyst med Psyduck
Dutch		Een Psyduck leventje
Finnish		Yrmeä Psyduck
European French		Un Psykokwak fugueur
German		Enton klein - Im Netzchen fein!
Hebrew		סיידאק הלוחם
Hindi		परेशान Psyduck Pareshaan Psyduck*
Italian		Lo Psyduck triste
Korean		누가 고라파덕을 괴롭히는가!
Norwegian		Psyduck savnet
Brazilian Portuguese		O Indefeso Psyduck
Russian		Подсадной Псайдак
Spanish	Latin America	Cuidando a Psyduck
Spanish	Spain	Un Psyduck de lujo
Swedish		Fast förankrad!