August 13, 2025 • 31 mins
In this episode of the Pika Pals Podcast, Jed rewatches Pokémon “Bye Bye Butterfree” — the heart-wrenching farewell where Ash must let go of his first caught Pokémon so it can find love and freedom. Expect a full recap, anime trivia, dub changes, and a round of “Who’s That Pokémon?”
⚡️ What you’ll hear in this episode:
Full recap and analysis of Pokémon Indigo League – “Bye Bye Butterfree”
Behind-the-scenes Pokémon anime trivia, production notes, and dub edits
A round of the classic “Who’s That Pokémon?” game — can you guess it before the reveal?
Pokémon-themed jokes, parody sponsors, and nostalgic mini games
Heartfelt life lessons inspired by Pokémon
💬 Join the conversation:
Was Butterfree’s release the most emotional moment of the Indigo League for you?
Do you think Ash made the right decision, or would you have kept Butterfree on your team?
Which other Pokémon release or goodbye in the anime hit you the hardest?
🎙 About the Pika Pals Podcast
Your weekly trip back to Pokémon’s classic era — from Ash’s first steps in Pallet Town to the height of Pokémania. Hosted by Pokémon Trainer Jed, a lifelong fan and proud jelly donut defender, this nostalgic rewatch covers the original anime and the world that surrounded it: toys, trading cards, magazines, playground rumours, and more. Each episode is packed with laughs, trivia, retro fun, satirical “sponsor” skits, and spotlights on the Pokémon of the week.
📲 Follow & Connect
Follow: @PikaPalsPod
Email: pikapalspod@gmail.com
Leave me a voice message: PikaPalsPodcast
Letters via Poké-mail also accepted.
💛 Support Mental Health
I’m raising money for Mind in Somerset — inspired by Pokémon’s themes of courage and connection. Donate via Pika Pals Unite and support mental health in the Pokémon community.
🚨 Disclaimer
Pika Pals Podcast is a fan project and not affiliated with Nintendo, Game Freak, or The Pokémon Company. All rights to characters, names, and images belong to their respective owners. Episode details and Pokémon facts referenced from Bulbapedia and Serebii with appreciation for their amazing fan communities.
Keywords: Pokémon anime podcast, Pokémon nostalgia, Pokémania, Indigo League rewatch, Ash Ketchum, Pikachu, Misty, Brock, Kanto region, Team Rocket, 90s anime, Pokémon episode review, anime podcast, retro anime, classic Pokémon, fan theories, Pokémon rewatch, mental health, fandom, Pika Pals Podcast
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
(00:19):
And now, join Pokémon Trainer Jed for a non-stop,
action-packed, laugh filled perilous journey.
Turn your hat around, grab your pokeballs, and get ready for the
fantastic Pika Pals podcast, where the excitement never ends.
Hello everyone and welcome to the Pika Pals Podcast.
(00:39):
I am your host Pokémon Trainer Jed and I thank you for tuning
in. Now get this folks, we have
already made it to the 1st 20 episodes of the original Pokémon
anime series. The 1st 20 episodes done and
dusted, ticked off and in the bag.
(01:00):
This is a podcast series where Iam on a mission to go back and
revisit the original Pokémon anime series 1 episode at a
time, relive that original Pokomania nostalgia, and have a
few surprises along the way. But I can't believe that I've
already covered the 1st 20 episodes.
(01:21):
We're 1/4 of the way through theoriginal Pokémon anime series.
We're 1/4 of the way through thePika Pals podcast.
I didn't think I was going to make it past episode 1.
And here we are, over 20 episodes later, and I cannot
thank each and everyone of you enough for your support.
(01:42):
Thank you so much, whether you've listened since episode 1,
whether you've joined along the way, or whether today is the
first time that you're listeningto the Peak Pounds podcast.
Hello and welcome. Thank you to everyone who has
supported my little Pokémon show.
I hope you've enjoyed revisitingsome Pokémon nostalgia with me.
(02:03):
Today on the show I'm going backand revisiting episode 21 of
Pokémon Bye bye Butter free. Get your hankies ready.
It's OK to cry, let's get to it.Alrighty folks I just got done
(02:26):
re watching bye bye butter free.The Japanese title for this
episode was the same also Bye bye Butterfree and it was the
21st episode of the original Pokémon animated series.
This episode was first broadcastin Japan August the 19th 1997.
(02:47):
It will be shown in the United States on October the 5th 1998.
Now, in this very emotional Pokémon episode, Ash and the
gang witness the Butterfree mating season.
It's the season of love on Pokémon, and Ash's Butterfree
falls in love with a very special pink Butterfree.
(03:11):
However, Team Rocket show up on the scene and Ash and the gang
have to rescue an entire flock of Butterfree.
And then ultimately, it leads toAsh having to release his
Butterfree to join its new mate in a heartbreaking goodbye.
So let's start off with some cool episode trivia.
This is the first Pokémon episode to feature an
(03:35):
alternately coloured Pokémon. It is also the first example of
an alternately coloured Pokémon in any Pokémon media.
So when this episode was released, the pink Butterfree
was the first time that we saw aPokémon of a different colour.
There's a fun part of this episode where we see Team
(03:56):
Rocket's motto ripped off for the first time when Ash, Misty,
and Brock recite their own version of Prepare for Trouble
or Prepare for Triple in this case.
And this was the first episode of the animated series to have a
fantasy scene featuring Team Rocket's boss.
(04:19):
Now, the episode title Bye Bye Butterfree is the same message
that appears when a player releases a Pokémon in the
Pokémon games. When you choose to release a
Pokémon, the message that used to appear was Bye Bye Butterfree
or Bye Bye Pikachu. And Speaking of the episode
(04:40):
title, this is one of the few episode titles to be exactly the
same in terms of spoken words inboth English and Japanese.
This one is exactly the same in terms of the translation for
both English and Japanese. Speaking of releasing Pokémon,
this would be the first episode where we'd see a main character
(05:03):
formally release a Pokémon that they previously caught.
And of course, let's talk about the dub edits, the changes from
the original Japanese release ofthis episode.
At the end of this episode, the song that plays during the scene
when Ash and his friends are saying goodbye.
The Butterfree is different in both versions.
(05:25):
In the Japanese version, it usesthe song Aim to be a Pokémon
Master, while in the English version it uses the opening
Pokémon theme. However, in both instances, they
are the first theme songs for their respective versions.
In the Dutch version of this episode, however, the time has
(05:48):
come to say goodbye. A song that we know very well
here on the Pika Pals Podcast, also known as Pikachu's Goodbye
Song, is the song that is playedduring the montage scene
featuring Ash and Butterfree, and it's also played again
during the scene where Ash and his friends are saying goodbye
(06:08):
to Butterfree. So the Dutch version of this
episode doubled down on the emotion.
We weren't just saying goodbye to Butterfree, we were also
playing Pikachu's goodbye song. Just thank God they didn't have
me singing. It may have taken the emotion to
a different level. Anger, I imagine.
And the Dutch episode wasn't theonly version to change the
(06:29):
goodbye song. Because in the Portuguese dub of
this episode, during the scene where we see Pikachu using the
Thunder Shock to take out Team Rocket helicopter, there's
actually an instrumental versionof the poker rap being played
instead of the goodbye song or the Pokémon theme song.
(06:51):
And you know, that got me thinking, what if I wrote my own
goodbye song for Butterfree? Rewatching this episode was very
emotional. Caterpie and Metapod and
Butterfree were some of my favorite Pokémon as a child and
I remember being really sad watching this episode and having
to see Ash say bye bye to Butterfree.
(07:13):
So that's why I put pen to paperand wrote my own Bye Bye
Butterfree song. Get ready folks, you might want
to mute your headphones and skipforward a few minutes.
It's inspired by the track Undressed by Somber and it's my
song of Bye Bye Butterfree. You had a.
(07:51):
Dream you want it better Sore up, pink butter free.
I said go get her. You look to me and.
Wondered whether I was the trainer to which you were
tethered. I'm looking at you and you're
looking. At me.
But I know that the time has come to say bye bye.
(08:14):
Butter free, you say? You don't know what your future
will be. But the glimmer in your eyes is
telling me to set you free. I don't want to search the grass
for a new caterpie all over again.
I don't want to see someone else's metapod and have to
(08:35):
pretend it's you instead. Well.
I guess you have to leave us now, don't you?
They have to cross the ocean to start their new family.
Don't. Miss you, Bumfrey.
Regret my train. So came back together with your
yellow scarf. You've never looked better.
(08:58):
Now here you are. And now remember that love means
letting go, not holding on forever.
I'm looking at you and you're. Looking at me.
But I know the time has come to say bye bye butter free.
You say? You don't know.
What your future will be? But the glimmer in your eyes is
(09:19):
telling me to set you free. I don't want to search the grass
for a new canopy all over again.I don't want to see someone
else's Metapod and have to pretend it's you instead.
And I don't want to lose who's another friend.
(09:42):
I don't want the poker ball of another ash to hold the wings of
the bug. I won't forget, I won't forget.
This is a great butterfree so take care of it for me your.
Babies are gonna be beautiful. I guess you better get going.
(10:07):
I don't want to search the grassfor a new catapea all over
again, lying off where sun meetssea.
Goodbye. Goodbye, my Butterfree.
Don't. Worry, I'll just tell all the
other Pokémon that you're on a trip and you'll come back
(10:28):
someday. Maybe.
Goodbye Butterfree. Well, that's officially now on
the Internet, but I guess I could say I now officially have
my own song on Spotify. That's if Spotify don't mute it.
(10:49):
They might mute it for the betterment of the world.
Who knows. Hope you enjoyed my bye bye
Butterfree song. It's only for fun.
I don't claim to be a professional by any stretch.
I'm not even sure how to get thetiming right on music and songs
and beats and tempos, and that is quite complicated business.
Anyway, let's look at the episode Bye Bye Butterfree and
(11:11):
what went down Well, we saw Ash's Butterfree fall in love
with a pink Butterfree and attempt to mate.
Butterfree rescued an entire flock of Butterfree from Team
Rocket, and Ash had to make the tough, poignant decision to
release his Butterfree into the wild.
(11:32):
This episode really slowed things down and built to an
emotional ending. The story focused on
Butterfree's journey, and we hada nice flashback scene showing
Ash catching Canopy, evolving into Metapod evolving into
Butterfree. But we also got to see Ash
evolving as a character too, highlighting that he knows that
(11:54):
sometimes he has to make difficult decisions.
I think that Ash showed maturityand selflessness in this
episode, showing that true trainers sometimes have to let
go for love and destiny. Misty and Brock were great
supportive friends in this episode, supporting him
emotionally and reinforcing their deep bond.
(12:16):
This episode showed us love, selflessness, growth, and
letting go. This was a meaningful coming of
age Pokémon tell, symbolizing Ash's personal development and
emotional understanding. Some of the highlights from this
episode included Butterfree's rejected mating dance team
(12:38):
Rockets helicopter attack, the final Montal showing Caterpie,
Metapod, and Butterfree, and Ashhaving to make that final
decision to say bye bye and let Butterfree go.
And here is one of my favorite clips from the episode where
Ash, Misty and Brock are trying to instill some confidence into
(13:00):
Butterfree and say go get her Butterfree Pika.
Do you think maybe Dexter might be able to tell us how
Butterfree can get that other Butterfree to be it's mate?
Dexter's never been in love. I just don't understand it.
(13:23):
My butterfree is great, why would any other butterfree
reject it? Butterfree.
Maybe you just have to show off your strength and let the others
see how great you are. Show how powerful your tackle is
or how you can use stuns for that's.
Right Butterfree, you've got to be assertive.
Love Is All about attacking youropponent first, Get in a quick
punch and surprise them. Then, while they're still weak,
(13:45):
take the lead and you'll beat them hands down.
Trust me, I know that's the bestway to win.
You mean it? Sure do.
That's love. I wish I'd known that.
Sooner. Let's give it another try.
Well, there you go. Who knew that falling in love
was so similar to winning a Pokémon battle?
And As for Butterfree, all he had to do was just show off his
(14:06):
impressive tackle. Then the Butterfree would have
come flocking. But let's take a look what
Pokémon fans said about this episode.
It's time for IMDb. The very best three.
Z said. That was heartbreaking, Steph
Annie Fong says. I always tear up when watching
(14:29):
this episode. Rock Bing says Oh my God this
episode broke my heart. Maja Tomyans said my man be
dripping respectfully and has posted a picture of Butterfree
wearing his yellow scarf. Rika says I cried like a baby
during the flashback. Goodbye Butterfree.
(14:52):
Mossy Moss says you're the one crying, not me.
Matthias says. So sad, Lesie Robes said, I'm a
grown up woman. This won't hurt as much as it
did more than 10 years ago. It can't possibly.
Oh my God, I'm back. Why is there a montage with sad
(15:12):
music? This is not helping.
Why is everything so sad? Sorry, Lesie Robes is just as
sad whether you're a grown womanor a child, Cleo Taco said.
Better story than Twilight in Simmer says.
I don't know why I got so emotionally involved with a
Pokémon and Antonio said. I was 8 years old when I first
(15:35):
saw this episode and it still makes me sad.
Well thank you Antonio and thankyou to everyone for your
comments. That was IMDb the very best and
the Pika Pals Podcast will continue to roll on.
But first I've got to take a pause for the course.
Keep the lights on in the Pika Pals studio with a quick message
(15:57):
from our sponsors. This week's episode of the Pika
Pals Podcast is sponsored by Butterfreeze.
Instant attract scarves. Tired of going unnoticed?
Sick of standing in the corner of the Pokeball without a single
trainer making eye contact? Well, buzz no more, because
(16:21):
Butterfree's Instant Attract scarves are here to change your
love life, your social life, andmaybe even your evolution chain.
Each scarf is woven from 100% genuine Butterfree Wing dust,
ethically collected from Butterfree's who definitely
volunteered. Probably just drape one around
(16:44):
your neck and watch as complete strangers approach you,
captivated by your mysterious pheromone infused aura.
Side effects may include air flicking, slow motion entrances,
and romantic music seemingly playing from nowhere.
So whether you're trying to catch the eye of that special
someone at the Pokémon Center, charm a Gym Leader into giving
(17:05):
you a badge, or simply get the last seat on the pokey bus,
Butterfree's Instant Attract Scarves will have you saying
Wow, that worked almost too well.
Available now in three irresistible colors, Very Red,
Sweet Saffron, Yellow, and Mildly Damp forest Brown, all
(17:29):
approved by Professor Roke except for the Damp Forest 1.
He said that one is concerning. Order today using the code Free
Love and get a second scarf Absolutely free so you and your
partner can attract each other in an infinite romantic feedback
loop. Don't wait.
(17:49):
Flutter into a better social life with Butterfree's Instant
Attract Scarves. Butterfree's Instant Attract
scarves because love is super effective.
(18:36):
Welcome back everyone to the Peek of Pals podcast.
Thank you if you are still listening.
I think most people probably tuned out during my Butterfree
song, but stay with it folks. Sometimes it's gets better,
sometimes it does. Anyway, it's time to crack open
the Pokedex. It's time for Who's that
Pokémon? This Pokémon evolved through
(18:59):
metamorphosis, sports giant white wings with striking black
patterns, and once held Ash's heart.
Can you guess this fluttering friend that returns to nature?
It leaves me with just one question.
Who's that Pokémon? It's Butterfree.
(19:30):
Butterfree's National Pokedex number is #12 and Butterfree is
a bug and flying type Pokémon. It evolves from Caterpie into
Metapod into Butterfree. Butterfree looks like a
butterfly with a purple body, blue legs, black and tan red
(19:51):
eyes, and white wings with blackpatterns.
Butterfree's wings are coated with poisonous scales that can
be dangerous if inhaled. Found in forests and jungles,
Butterfree feeds on nectar and tree SAP, and also Brock's
special Pokémon food. As we see in previous episode,
(20:15):
Butterfree shares its category with Beautiful Eye, and
Butterfree can be seen as a parallel to the Pokémon Bee
Drill. Did you also know that
Butterfree's parallel beedrill could possibly be a reference to
the phrase look like a butterflyand sting like a bee, which was
(20:36):
coined by the American boxer Muhammad Ali?
This is further backed by the phrase being used in two
episodes of the English dub, where the phrase is changed to
floating like a butterfree and stinging like a beedrill.
Butterfree seems to be based on the black veined white butterfly
(20:59):
and Butterfree's name may be a combination of the words
butterfly and free. Butterfree's Japanese name may
involve the words patapata. The sound of wings flapping, and
the room to flap. That's one fine flyer, folks.
A true transformational story. And that's this week's Pokémon
(21:23):
Spotlight on Butterfree. OK, before I continue with the
next segment, I have received ane-mail which I'd like to read
out here on the show. The subject of this e-mail said
formal complaint in capital letters.
Pokémon jokes must stop immediately and immediately is
(21:43):
also in capital letters. Dear Jed slash Pika Pals
Podcast, I am writing to you in utter disgust.
The constant barrage of your Pokémon jokes.
They've put jokes in quotation marks on your so-called Pokémon
podcast has crossed the line from irritating to life ruining.
(22:08):
Because of you, I can no longer walk into my local coffee shop
without flinching at the word latte, fearing it will be
followed by the word latius or latios.
I haven't actually come up with that pun, so that's pretty good.
That's kind of on you that my husband, who has never even
played Pokémon in his little life, now greets me in the
(22:29):
morning with Prepare for troubleand thinks it's funny.
It isn't. Last week I tried to order fish
and chips. Why?
Why is that an e-mail to me last?
OK, I'll carry a ring. Last week I tried to order fish
(22:53):
and chips and the man behind thecounter winked and asked if I
wanted any magic carp. With that I burst into tears.
My children are now speaking in nothing but Pokedex numbers
which I'm sure is some sort of code and I will be contacting
Ofcom about this. I don't think Ofcom know what
(23:14):
the Pika Pals podcast is. You'd be doing me a favour.
You have a responsibility to your listeners and you have
failed. I expect a full public apology
and the immediate removal of Pokémon related humour from your
and the immediate removal and the immediate removal of Pokémon
(23:41):
related humour from your show. If I hear one more pun about
Squirtle, I will not hesitate totake this to the highest
authority, which in this case will be my local Facebook mums
group where we are not afraid toname and shame.
End this madness before more families are torn apart.
(24:03):
No more Pokémon jokes. Sincerely pokey Karen.
Hmm. Well, it's now time for
everyone's favorite segment. It's time for Joke him on.
Joke him on joke him on, joke him on, joke him on part of the
(24:26):
show where I Tell Pokémon Jokes,a cornerstone of the Pika Pals
podcast. Let's get going with the first
joke. Why did Jigglypuff start a
bakery? Because it wanted to make
everything fluffier than Clefairy's butt.
(24:46):
Oh dear. Think I might be getting another
letter next week. What do you call a magic carp in
a suit? A well dressed fish out of
water. Why did Diglett go to therapy?
Because it had deep seated underground issues.
(25:08):
What did Snorlax say at the buffet?
Wake me up when it's all you caneat again.
OK, let's go to another one. Why did Psyduck fail its driving
test? It kept making quack decisions,
(25:33):
actually, like that one. What's Cuban's least favorite
holiday? Mother's Day.
Oh God, Savage. Why did Mr. Mime go to jail?
(25:53):
Well, I'm not surprised he went to jail.
But why did Mr. Mime go to jail for unsolicited invisible wall
touching? Seems like that's everything Mr.
Mine would do. What's Hitman Lee's favorite
drink? Kick start coffee.
(26:15):
Why did Geodude break up with Onyx?
It found the relationship too rocky to know that Geodude and
Onyx were in a relationship, butthere you go.
Love is love, and this episode is all about Pokémon love.
Speaking of, why can't Dojo get a date it can't decide?
(26:42):
Why can't Doduo get a date it can't decide who should pay the
bill? What did Atkins say to Arbok?
You're such a boring snake. Why did Ghastly fail the
(27:04):
spelling bee? Because it kept ghostwriting the
answers. What's Charmander's favorite
type of relationship? Long distance.
As long as it's a fire hazard. OK.
Yeah. OK.
Well, we're back on track. Why was Alakazam banned from the
magic show? It kept spoiling the tricks
(27:27):
before they happened. OK, final one on this week's
Jokemon. Why did Slowpoke join the gym?
It heard they were still doing the New Year's offer from 1998.
Well, there you go. That was this week's Pokémon
jokes. That was joke him on.
(27:59):
Well, it's the end of the show and you know what that means.
But wait, think I've tortured you with enough singing in this
episode? And seeing as this was the
episode where we said bye bye Butterfree, how about we say bye
bye to this week's Pick A Pals podcast in style?
(28:22):
Butterfree. Hey Ash, Butterfree's almost out
of. Sight take care of Butterfree.
Good luck buddy. Goodbye Butterfree.
I'll always remember you. Thank you for everything.
Goodbye Butterfree. I'm always my destiny.
(28:49):
Have a good trip Butterfree. Take care of yourself.
Goodbye Butterfree. Be happy, old friend.
You know, Ash, you raised Butterfree to have a lot of courage
and I think you just proved you have a lot of courage too.
(29:10):
Thank you, Brock. He got.
You. Isn't that beautiful?
It sure is. Good friendships last forever,
even though friends don't alwaysstay together.
Helping Butter Free to grow, Ashjust might have grown a little
himself. It wasn't that nice.
(29:39):
It's always nice to hang out here on the Peek of Pals podcast
and I truly appreciate everyone who supports the show and tunes
in. I hope you enjoy it.
It's a little bit of Pokémon nostalgia and a little bit of
Pokémon fun. That's all for today's episode.
If you enjoyed the episode, please do leave a review and a
rating to help others discover the show and don't forget to
(30:03):
share the episode with a fellow trainer, family member or your
very own Pikachu. Coming up next time trainers,
we're revisiting the city that never sleeps.
It's off to Saffron City and a gym showdown you don't want to
miss. Remember I'm also raising money
for mental health through my local mental health charity Mind
(30:26):
in Somerset. You can donate via my Pika Pals
Unite fundraiser and help spreadfriendship beyond the screen.
Details of how to donate and thelink to the Just Giving page is
in the episode description. You can catch me across all your
socials at Pika Pals Pod or e-mail at
(30:48):
pikapals.pod@gmail.com. But I've been Jed, this has been
the Pika Pals podcast, and you've been a real Pika pow.
The show may be over, but the journey continues.
And now, join Pokémon Trainer Jed for a non-stop,
action-packed, laugh filled perilous journey.
Turn your hat around, grab your pokeballs, and get ready for the
fantastic Pika Pals podcast, where the excitement never ends.
Hello everyone and welcome to the Pika Pals Podcast.
(00:39):
I am your host Pokémon Trainer Jed and I thank you for tuning
in. Now get this folks, we have
already made it to the 1st 20 episodes of the original Pokémon
anime series. The 1st 20 episodes done and
dusted, ticked off and in the bag.
(01:00):
This is a podcast series where Iam on a mission to go back and
revisit the original Pokémon anime series 1 episode at a
time, relive that original Pokomania nostalgia, and have a
few surprises along the way. But I can't believe that I've
already covered the 1st 20 episodes.
(01:21):
We're 1/4 of the way through theoriginal Pokémon anime series.
We're 1/4 of the way through thePika Pals podcast.
I didn't think I was going to make it past episode 1.
And here we are, over 20 episodes later, and I cannot
thank each and everyone of you enough for your support.
(01:42):
Thank you so much, whether you've listened since episode 1,
whether you've joined along the way, or whether today is the
first time that you're listeningto the Peak Pounds podcast.
Hello and welcome. Thank you to everyone who has
supported my little Pokémon show.
I hope you've enjoyed revisitingsome Pokémon nostalgia with me.
(02:03):
Today on the show I'm going backand revisiting episode 21 of
Pokémon Bye bye Butter free. Get your hankies ready.
It's OK to cry, let's get to it.Alrighty folks I just got done
(02:26):
re watching bye bye butter free.The Japanese title for this
episode was the same also Bye bye Butterfree and it was the
21st episode of the original Pokémon animated series.
This episode was first broadcastin Japan August the 19th 1997.
(02:47):
It will be shown in the United States on October the 5th 1998.
Now, in this very emotional Pokémon episode, Ash and the
gang witness the Butterfree mating season.
It's the season of love on Pokémon, and Ash's Butterfree
falls in love with a very special pink Butterfree.
(03:11):
However, Team Rocket show up on the scene and Ash and the gang
have to rescue an entire flock of Butterfree.
And then ultimately, it leads toAsh having to release his
Butterfree to join its new mate in a heartbreaking goodbye.
So let's start off with some cool episode trivia.
This is the first Pokémon episode to feature an
(03:35):
alternately coloured Pokémon. It is also the first example of
an alternately coloured Pokémon in any Pokémon media.
So when this episode was released, the pink Butterfree
was the first time that we saw aPokémon of a different colour.
There's a fun part of this episode where we see Team
(03:56):
Rocket's motto ripped off for the first time when Ash, Misty,
and Brock recite their own version of Prepare for Trouble
or Prepare for Triple in this case.
And this was the first episode of the animated series to have a
fantasy scene featuring Team Rocket's boss.
(04:19):
Now, the episode title Bye Bye Butterfree is the same message
that appears when a player releases a Pokémon in the
Pokémon games. When you choose to release a
Pokémon, the message that used to appear was Bye Bye Butterfree
or Bye Bye Pikachu. And Speaking of the episode
(04:40):
title, this is one of the few episode titles to be exactly the
same in terms of spoken words inboth English and Japanese.
This one is exactly the same in terms of the translation for
both English and Japanese. Speaking of releasing Pokémon,
this would be the first episode where we'd see a main character
(05:03):
formally release a Pokémon that they previously caught.
And of course, let's talk about the dub edits, the changes from
the original Japanese release ofthis episode.
At the end of this episode, the song that plays during the scene
when Ash and his friends are saying goodbye.
The Butterfree is different in both versions.
(05:25):
In the Japanese version, it usesthe song Aim to be a Pokémon
Master, while in the English version it uses the opening
Pokémon theme. However, in both instances, they
are the first theme songs for their respective versions.
In the Dutch version of this episode, however, the time has
(05:48):
come to say goodbye. A song that we know very well
here on the Pika Pals Podcast, also known as Pikachu's Goodbye
Song, is the song that is playedduring the montage scene
featuring Ash and Butterfree, and it's also played again
during the scene where Ash and his friends are saying goodbye
(06:08):
to Butterfree. So the Dutch version of this
episode doubled down on the emotion.
We weren't just saying goodbye to Butterfree, we were also
playing Pikachu's goodbye song. Just thank God they didn't have
me singing. It may have taken the emotion to
a different level. Anger, I imagine.
And the Dutch episode wasn't theonly version to change the
(06:29):
goodbye song. Because in the Portuguese dub of
this episode, during the scene where we see Pikachu using the
Thunder Shock to take out Team Rocket helicopter, there's
actually an instrumental versionof the poker rap being played
instead of the goodbye song or the Pokémon theme song.
(06:51):
And you know, that got me thinking, what if I wrote my own
goodbye song for Butterfree? Rewatching this episode was very
emotional. Caterpie and Metapod and
Butterfree were some of my favorite Pokémon as a child and
I remember being really sad watching this episode and having
to see Ash say bye bye to Butterfree.
(07:13):
So that's why I put pen to paperand wrote my own Bye Bye
Butterfree song. Get ready folks, you might want
to mute your headphones and skipforward a few minutes.
It's inspired by the track Undressed by Somber and it's my
song of Bye Bye Butterfree. You had a.
(07:51):
Dream you want it better Sore up, pink butter free.
I said go get her. You look to me and.
Wondered whether I was the trainer to which you were
tethered. I'm looking at you and you're
looking. At me.
But I know that the time has come to say bye bye.
(08:14):
Butter free, you say? You don't know what your future
will be. But the glimmer in your eyes is
telling me to set you free. I don't want to search the grass
for a new caterpie all over again.
I don't want to see someone else's metapod and have to
(08:35):
pretend it's you instead. Well.
I guess you have to leave us now, don't you?
They have to cross the ocean to start their new family.
Don't. Miss you, Bumfrey.
Regret my train. So came back together with your
yellow scarf. You've never looked better.
(08:58):
Now here you are. And now remember that love means
letting go, not holding on forever.
I'm looking at you and you're. Looking at me.
But I know the time has come to say bye bye butter free.
You say? You don't know.
What your future will be? But the glimmer in your eyes is
(09:19):
telling me to set you free. I don't want to search the grass
for a new canopy all over again.I don't want to see someone
else's Metapod and have to pretend it's you instead.
And I don't want to lose who's another friend.
(09:42):
I don't want the poker ball of another ash to hold the wings of
the bug. I won't forget, I won't forget.
This is a great butterfree so take care of it for me your.
Babies are gonna be beautiful. I guess you better get going.
(10:07):
I don't want to search the grassfor a new catapea all over
again, lying off where sun meetssea.
Goodbye. Goodbye, my Butterfree.
Don't. Worry, I'll just tell all the
other Pokémon that you're on a trip and you'll come back
(10:28):
someday. Maybe.
Goodbye Butterfree. Well, that's officially now on
the Internet, but I guess I could say I now officially have
my own song on Spotify. That's if Spotify don't mute it.
(10:49):
They might mute it for the betterment of the world.
Who knows. Hope you enjoyed my bye bye
Butterfree song. It's only for fun.
I don't claim to be a professional by any stretch.
I'm not even sure how to get thetiming right on music and songs
and beats and tempos, and that is quite complicated business.
Anyway, let's look at the episode Bye Bye Butterfree and
(11:11):
what went down Well, we saw Ash's Butterfree fall in love
with a pink Butterfree and attempt to mate.
Butterfree rescued an entire flock of Butterfree from Team
Rocket, and Ash had to make the tough, poignant decision to
release his Butterfree into the wild.
(11:32):
This episode really slowed things down and built to an
emotional ending. The story focused on
Butterfree's journey, and we hada nice flashback scene showing
Ash catching Canopy, evolving into Metapod evolving into
Butterfree. But we also got to see Ash
evolving as a character too, highlighting that he knows that
(11:54):
sometimes he has to make difficult decisions.
I think that Ash showed maturityand selflessness in this
episode, showing that true trainers sometimes have to let
go for love and destiny. Misty and Brock were great
supportive friends in this episode, supporting him
emotionally and reinforcing their deep bond.
(12:16):
This episode showed us love, selflessness, growth, and
letting go. This was a meaningful coming of
age Pokémon tell, symbolizing Ash's personal development and
emotional understanding. Some of the highlights from this
episode included Butterfree's rejected mating dance team
(12:38):
Rockets helicopter attack, the final Montal showing Caterpie,
Metapod, and Butterfree, and Ashhaving to make that final
decision to say bye bye and let Butterfree go.
And here is one of my favorite clips from the episode where
Ash, Misty and Brock are trying to instill some confidence into
(13:00):
Butterfree and say go get her Butterfree Pika.
Do you think maybe Dexter might be able to tell us how
Butterfree can get that other Butterfree to be it's mate?
Dexter's never been in love. I just don't understand it.
(13:23):
My butterfree is great, why would any other butterfree
reject it? Butterfree.
Maybe you just have to show off your strength and let the others
see how great you are. Show how powerful your tackle is
or how you can use stuns for that's.
Right Butterfree, you've got to be assertive.
Love Is All about attacking youropponent first, Get in a quick
punch and surprise them. Then, while they're still weak,
(13:45):
take the lead and you'll beat them hands down.
Trust me, I know that's the bestway to win.
You mean it? Sure do.
That's love. I wish I'd known that.
Sooner. Let's give it another try.
Well, there you go. Who knew that falling in love
was so similar to winning a Pokémon battle?
And As for Butterfree, all he had to do was just show off his
(14:06):
impressive tackle. Then the Butterfree would have
come flocking. But let's take a look what
Pokémon fans said about this episode.
It's time for IMDb. The very best three.
Z said. That was heartbreaking, Steph
Annie Fong says. I always tear up when watching
(14:29):
this episode. Rock Bing says Oh my God this
episode broke my heart. Maja Tomyans said my man be
dripping respectfully and has posted a picture of Butterfree
wearing his yellow scarf. Rika says I cried like a baby
during the flashback. Goodbye Butterfree.
(14:52):
Mossy Moss says you're the one crying, not me.
Matthias says. So sad, Lesie Robes said, I'm a
grown up woman. This won't hurt as much as it
did more than 10 years ago. It can't possibly.
Oh my God, I'm back. Why is there a montage with sad
(15:12):
music? This is not helping.
Why is everything so sad? Sorry, Lesie Robes is just as
sad whether you're a grown womanor a child, Cleo Taco said.
Better story than Twilight in Simmer says.
I don't know why I got so emotionally involved with a
Pokémon and Antonio said. I was 8 years old when I first
(15:35):
saw this episode and it still makes me sad.
Well thank you Antonio and thankyou to everyone for your
comments. That was IMDb the very best and
the Pika Pals Podcast will continue to roll on.
But first I've got to take a pause for the course.
Keep the lights on in the Pika Pals studio with a quick message
(15:57):
from our sponsors. This week's episode of the Pika
Pals Podcast is sponsored by Butterfreeze.
Instant attract scarves. Tired of going unnoticed?
Sick of standing in the corner of the Pokeball without a single
trainer making eye contact? Well, buzz no more, because
(16:21):
Butterfree's Instant Attract scarves are here to change your
love life, your social life, andmaybe even your evolution chain.
Each scarf is woven from 100% genuine Butterfree Wing dust,
ethically collected from Butterfree's who definitely
volunteered. Probably just drape one around
(16:44):
your neck and watch as complete strangers approach you,
captivated by your mysterious pheromone infused aura.
Side effects may include air flicking, slow motion entrances,
and romantic music seemingly playing from nowhere.
So whether you're trying to catch the eye of that special
someone at the Pokémon Center, charm a Gym Leader into giving
(17:05):
you a badge, or simply get the last seat on the pokey bus,
Butterfree's Instant Attract Scarves will have you saying
Wow, that worked almost too well.
Available now in three irresistible colors, Very Red,
Sweet Saffron, Yellow, and Mildly Damp forest Brown, all
(17:29):
approved by Professor Roke except for the Damp Forest 1.
He said that one is concerning. Order today using the code Free
Love and get a second scarf Absolutely free so you and your
partner can attract each other in an infinite romantic feedback
loop. Don't wait.
(17:49):
Flutter into a better social life with Butterfree's Instant
Attract Scarves. Butterfree's Instant Attract
scarves because love is super effective.
(18:36):
Welcome back everyone to the Peek of Pals podcast.
Thank you if you are still listening.
I think most people probably tuned out during my Butterfree
song, but stay with it folks. Sometimes it's gets better,
sometimes it does. Anyway, it's time to crack open
the Pokedex. It's time for Who's that
Pokémon? This Pokémon evolved through
(18:59):
metamorphosis, sports giant white wings with striking black
patterns, and once held Ash's heart.
Can you guess this fluttering friend that returns to nature?
It leaves me with just one question.
Who's that Pokémon? It's Butterfree.
(19:30):
Butterfree's National Pokedex number is #12 and Butterfree is
a bug and flying type Pokémon. It evolves from Caterpie into
Metapod into Butterfree. Butterfree looks like a
butterfly with a purple body, blue legs, black and tan red
(19:51):
eyes, and white wings with blackpatterns.
Butterfree's wings are coated with poisonous scales that can
be dangerous if inhaled. Found in forests and jungles,
Butterfree feeds on nectar and tree SAP, and also Brock's
special Pokémon food. As we see in previous episode,
(20:15):
Butterfree shares its category with Beautiful Eye, and
Butterfree can be seen as a parallel to the Pokémon Bee
Drill. Did you also know that
Butterfree's parallel beedrill could possibly be a reference to
the phrase look like a butterflyand sting like a bee, which was
(20:36):
coined by the American boxer Muhammad Ali?
This is further backed by the phrase being used in two
episodes of the English dub, where the phrase is changed to
floating like a butterfree and stinging like a beedrill.
Butterfree seems to be based on the black veined white butterfly
(20:59):
and Butterfree's name may be a combination of the words
butterfly and free. Butterfree's Japanese name may
involve the words patapata. The sound of wings flapping, and
the room to flap. That's one fine flyer, folks.
A true transformational story. And that's this week's Pokémon
(21:23):
Spotlight on Butterfree. OK, before I continue with the
next segment, I have received ane-mail which I'd like to read
out here on the show. The subject of this e-mail said
formal complaint in capital letters.
Pokémon jokes must stop immediately and immediately is
(21:43):
also in capital letters. Dear Jed slash Pika Pals
Podcast, I am writing to you in utter disgust.
The constant barrage of your Pokémon jokes.
They've put jokes in quotation marks on your so-called Pokémon
podcast has crossed the line from irritating to life ruining.
(22:08):
Because of you, I can no longer walk into my local coffee shop
without flinching at the word latte, fearing it will be
followed by the word latius or latios.
I haven't actually come up with that pun, so that's pretty good.
That's kind of on you that my husband, who has never even
played Pokémon in his little life, now greets me in the
(22:29):
morning with Prepare for troubleand thinks it's funny.
It isn't. Last week I tried to order fish
and chips. Why?
Why is that an e-mail to me last?
OK, I'll carry a ring. Last week I tried to order fish
(22:53):
and chips and the man behind thecounter winked and asked if I
wanted any magic carp. With that I burst into tears.
My children are now speaking in nothing but Pokedex numbers
which I'm sure is some sort of code and I will be contacting
Ofcom about this. I don't think Ofcom know what
(23:14):
the Pika Pals podcast is. You'd be doing me a favour.
You have a responsibility to your listeners and you have
failed. I expect a full public apology
and the immediate removal of Pokémon related humour from your
and the immediate removal and the immediate removal of Pokémon
(23:41):
related humour from your show. If I hear one more pun about
Squirtle, I will not hesitate totake this to the highest
authority, which in this case will be my local Facebook mums
group where we are not afraid toname and shame.
End this madness before more families are torn apart.
(24:03):
No more Pokémon jokes. Sincerely pokey Karen.
Hmm. Well, it's now time for
everyone's favorite segment. It's time for Joke him on.
Joke him on joke him on, joke him on, joke him on part of the
(24:26):
show where I Tell Pokémon Jokes,a cornerstone of the Pika Pals
podcast. Let's get going with the first
joke. Why did Jigglypuff start a
bakery? Because it wanted to make
everything fluffier than Clefairy's butt.
(24:46):
Oh dear. Think I might be getting another
letter next week. What do you call a magic carp in
a suit? A well dressed fish out of
water. Why did Diglett go to therapy?
Because it had deep seated underground issues.
(25:08):
What did Snorlax say at the buffet?
Wake me up when it's all you caneat again.
OK, let's go to another one. Why did Psyduck fail its driving
test? It kept making quack decisions,
(25:33):
actually, like that one. What's Cuban's least favorite
holiday? Mother's Day.
Oh God, Savage. Why did Mr. Mime go to jail?
(25:53):
Well, I'm not surprised he went to jail.
But why did Mr. Mime go to jail for unsolicited invisible wall
touching? Seems like that's everything Mr.
Mine would do. What's Hitman Lee's favorite
drink? Kick start coffee.
(26:15):
Why did Geodude break up with Onyx?
It found the relationship too rocky to know that Geodude and
Onyx were in a relationship, butthere you go.
Love is love, and this episode is all about Pokémon love.
Speaking of, why can't Dojo get a date it can't decide?
(26:42):
Why can't Doduo get a date it can't decide who should pay the
bill? What did Atkins say to Arbok?
You're such a boring snake. Why did Ghastly fail the
(27:04):
spelling bee? Because it kept ghostwriting the
answers. What's Charmander's favorite
type of relationship? Long distance.
As long as it's a fire hazard. OK.
Yeah. OK.
Well, we're back on track. Why was Alakazam banned from the
magic show? It kept spoiling the tricks
(27:27):
before they happened. OK, final one on this week's
Jokemon. Why did Slowpoke join the gym?
It heard they were still doing the New Year's offer from 1998.
Well, there you go. That was this week's Pokémon
jokes. That was joke him on.
(27:59):
Well, it's the end of the show and you know what that means.
But wait, think I've tortured you with enough singing in this
episode? And seeing as this was the
episode where we said bye bye Butterfree, how about we say bye
bye to this week's Pick A Pals podcast in style?
(28:22):
Butterfree. Hey Ash, Butterfree's almost out
of. Sight take care of Butterfree.
Good luck buddy. Goodbye Butterfree.
I'll always remember you. Thank you for everything.
Goodbye Butterfree. I'm always my destiny.
(28:49):
Have a good trip Butterfree. Take care of yourself.
Goodbye Butterfree. Be happy, old friend.
You know, Ash, you raised Butterfree to have a lot of courage
and I think you just proved you have a lot of courage too.
(29:10):
Thank you, Brock. He got.
You. Isn't that beautiful?
It sure is. Good friendships last forever,
even though friends don't alwaysstay together.
Helping Butter Free to grow, Ashjust might have grown a little
himself. It wasn't that nice.
(29:39):
It's always nice to hang out here on the Peek of Pals podcast
and I truly appreciate everyone who supports the show and tunes
in. I hope you enjoy it.
It's a little bit of Pokémon nostalgia and a little bit of
Pokémon fun. That's all for today's episode.
If you enjoyed the episode, please do leave a review and a
rating to help others discover the show and don't forget to
(30:03):
share the episode with a fellow trainer, family member or your
very own Pikachu. Coming up next time trainers,
we're revisiting the city that never sleeps.
It's off to Saffron City and a gym showdown you don't want to
miss. Remember I'm also raising money
for mental health through my local mental health charity Mind
(30:26):
in Somerset. You can donate via my Pika Pals
Unite fundraiser and help spreadfriendship beyond the screen.
Details of how to donate and thelink to the Just Giving page is
in the episode description. You can catch me across all your
socials at Pika Pals Pod or e-mail at
(30:48):
pikapals.pod@gmail.com. But I've been Jed, this has been
the Pika Pals podcast, and you've been a real Pika pow.
The show may be over, but the journey continues.
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