Japanese Title: Set Out to the Sea! Line of Chonchie!!
Original Airdate: August 23, 2001
US Airdate: September 28, 2002
On their way to the Whirl Cup competition, Ash and friends are fortunate enough to pass a small mountain village just as an annual Chinchou migration is about to occur. Long ago seismological forces had combined to lift the mountain out of the depths of the sea, bringing along with it the undersea nesting ground of these Chinchou. Guided by instinct, these sea Pokémon continue to lay eggs there even though the land is now above water. Ash and friends join a father and son appointed this year by the village to protect the Chinchou on their journey—and it's a good thing these Pokémon Trainers were along because it turns out Team Rocket has designs on the migrating Chinchou as well.
Tropes
- Continuity Nod: The costumes Team Rocket wears are the sames ones in "Spinarak Attack".
- Epic Fail: The missile's delay leads to Team Rocket capturing a bridge rather than a swarm of Chinchou. To add insult to injury, the bridge is too heavy so the missile sinks into the river.
- Face Palm: Jessie's reaction to the aforementioned Epic Fail.
- Idiot Ball: The plot is kicked off with one. Despite being in the Whirl Islands and needing to get to a different island, Ash decides the cable car is a better option than the ferry. Can also apply to Brock and Misty for not stopping him.
- Mundane Utility: Ash uses Totodile's water attacks to hydrate all the Chinchou.
- Rule of Three: Team Rocket goes blasting off three times this episode. First after the missile mishap, once during the climax and once in The Stinger.
- Where's the Kaboom?: Team Rocket's missile fails to launch due to the button getting jammed.
