Japanese Episode 53

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Japanese Episode 53

Episode Stats:

Japanese Episode 53: "SHATTA CHANSU wa Pikachu" ("Shutter Chance Pikachu")
American Episode 51: "Pokemon Paparazzi"
Pokemon Dare Da? Ishitsubute
Japanese Air Date: July 23rd, 1998
American Air Date: April 17, 1999
Important Characters: Toru (Todd)

Satoshi-tachi are having a picnic, eating Takeshi's onigiri, when Satoshi sees something gleam from the bushes. Satoshi, thinking it's a gun, pushes everyone down to avoid getting hit. Takeshi's onigiri is ruined, and everyone is angry at Satoshi for pushing them. Satoshi tries to explain that he thought someone was trying to shoot them and points to the bush he saw the gleam from, only no one's there now. Satoshi sends out Zenigame to shoot the bushes with its water gun, and this brings the boy out. It's a photagrapher named Toru, and the gleam came from his camera. He wanted to take a picture of Pikachu but didn't want Pikachu to know about it because he didn't want it to look posed. Toru, to show that he had no bad intentions, invites them to his house.

Toru says that they should know about the photos he's taken, but Satoshi-tachi have never heard of him. Toru brings them a magazine with a picture he took of the extinct Putera which happens to have something in its claws...Satoshi! This photo was taken back in Episode 46 ("Resurrection! Anchient Pokemon"). Toru enlarges the photo with his computer, and Satoshi's image is clearly shown. Toru then offers to make everyone food if they'll let him take Pikachu's picture. They agree. They start eating the pancakes, but Pikachu can't act natural around Toru. It's afraid of Toru's camera. Toru doesn't want his pokemon to pose for him because then the picture isn't natural. Satoshi says that even though Pikachu doesn't like to have pictures taken of it, he has other pokemon Toru can take pictures of. So do Takeshi and Kasumi. But Toru only wants to take pictures of Pikachu, but can't tell them why. Satoshi says he won't get the chance, and he vows that he'll get Pikachu's picture.

Toru's hiding in the bushes, watching Satoshi-tachi walk by, when he remembers an old couple asking him to catch Pikachu for them (it's the Rocket Dan in disguise). Meanwhile, the Rocket Dan are eating, talking about how excited they are about getting Pikachu.

Satoshi-tachi are being peaceful when Toru tries to take their pictures. But every time he tries, Satoshi intervenes and prevents Pikachu's picture from being taken. Meanwhile, the Rocket Dan are digging a hole. They see Toru coming from afar, and put on their old couple disguises. Toru promises the "old couple" to catch Pikachu, and he is now more determined than ever. He hides behind a bush while Satoshi-tachi walk by. Satoshi says that Toru doesn't understand the pokemon's feelings, which gets him thinking. Suddenly, Satoshi-tachi fall into the hole created by the Rocket Dan while they watch to see a master (Toru) at work. Toru starts to take pictures, and then the Rocket Dan realize that Toru catches pokemon on film, he doesn't actually capture them. Toru finally gets his picture!

Meanwhile, Toru is bringing a rope down to the Rocket Dan. But the ground below them starts to crumble, and Satoshi falls (but not Takeshi or Kasumi). They're going down a river/sewer and are heading to the end of a waterfall. Toru jumps down and gives them his camera to keep them from falling. Now Satoshi and Pikachu are hanging from the strap of Toru's camera. Suddenly, the Rocket Dan appear and reveal themselves as the Rocket Dan. Nyasu gets a net and snatches Pikachu as Kojirou throws a bomb at Toru and the hanging Satoshi. After he misses a few times, Kojirou gets ready to throw another one. Satoshi gets the camera and says he'll take his picture, so the Rocket Dan interrupt their assault to get ready. Kojirou, with the lit bomb in his hand, forgets about the bomb and it explodes. Toru manages to pull Satoshi up. Now he can send Fushigidane to attack while Pikachu escapes. The Rocket Dan dive into a river to escape, but that river turns into a waterfall and off they go! Everyone's reunited!

Satoshi and Toru decide to become friends. Toru decides to take everyone's picture. Toru falls and lands himself in the picture, and the episode ends with everyone laughing.

*In regards to the "Shutter Chance" episode title. The phrase is said, in English, before taking a really good picture. It's like saying "Here's a chance for a really great photo!"

Need proof? Check out Sailor Stars Episode 175. The "random-monster-of-the-day," Sailor Picture, says it a lot in the episode.

*Brock actually calls his rice balls "rice balls." No doughnuts, they're rice balls! Wonder what changed 4Kids' mind?

*I'm surprised they kept in Satoshi's fear of everyone getting shot. So they can talk about people getting shot and imagine everyone actually getting shot, but they can't show an actual gun (Episode 35, "The Legend of Miniryuu")?

*Toru's name means "take (a photograph)."

The magazine with Toru's picture of Putera has "Pokemon no ---" on the cover (the --- is kanji that I can't read...I think it means "Pokemon Photos"). This was erased in the dub. I wonder how many magazines have no title...

The photo of Putera shown in the magazine has "Kore ga Putera da..." (This is Putera...). This was also erased by 4Kids.

Nyasu's magazine has the same title as Toru's magazine, but is smaller and doesn't have a picture of Nazonokusa on the front. This was also erased by 4Kids.

And the article inside Nyasu's magazine has Japanese writing, "Kore ka...Camera..." ("This is a Cameraman" or something like that). This was also erased by 4Kids. I suppose everyone in the dubbed Pokemon World is illiterate.

*Something strange happens with this episode. As you all may know, I do these comparisons, at least for the moment, from the anime film comics. I don't know if this is a change made by 4Kids or something strange about the film comic, so I won't report this as a *real* change. It involves the order in which scenes in this episode are shown. When Toru says that he can't tell Satoshi-tachi why he can only take pictures of Pikachu, the book shows the flashback of when Toru meets the Rocket Dan for the first time then, not when he's waiting in the bushes. Then the book shows the scene with Toru waiting in the bush and all his attempts at getting Pikachu's picture. Then it shows the Rocket Dan eating, and then it shows them digging the hole. I don't know if 4Kids changed the order of the scenes or what, so until I get this episode on tape (which I'll be getting hopefully end of August/early September) I can't confirm this.

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