JE071: Moving Pictures

Synopsis
On the road to Olivine City, Ash and co meet up with their old friend Todd Snap, who's on the lookout for the legendary bird Pokemon, Articuno. What they find is a Sunkern trapped in ice. They take it to a nearby lodge run by an elderly woman named Sophia.

She tells a story of how she and her lover Marcello were in love and were surrounded by Sunflora, but one day Marcello was in a coma and was hospitalized. She waited patiently for his return. Days turned to weeks, weeks turned to months. Sophia was about to give up hope until Marcello returned and they were happily married. But the happiness was not meant to last as a year later Marcello passed on. Ash and co. couldn't help but cry, that is until Marcello was revealed to be alive and well and that Sophia loves to make up romance stories which star the two of them.

Sophia reveals that every year for 49 years they would have an anniversary picture with some Sunflora. This was going to be their 50th anniversary but there were no Sunflora in sight this year. Will this unforeseen event ruin Sophia and Marcello's 50th anniversary? will Todd ever find Articuno? And can YOU listen to one of Sophia's stories without crying?

Pokemon Debuts

 * Sunkern

Trivia

 * Veronica Taylor not only provided the voice of Ash in this episode, but the voice of both young and present day Sophia.
 * This was the final episode to use the pan-out display with "To be Continued..." after it. From the next episode on they would have "To Be Continued..." in the picture itself.

Quotes

 * Ash: "Then we came to the perfect place."

Brock: "We sure did. Sunkern are the pre-evolved form of Sunflora, right?"

Sophia: "That's right. And the reason we call this the Sunflora Lodge is... Oh well. That's a very long, complicated story and I'm sure you young people wouldn't be interested in listening to an old lady reminice. (Snacks are set up) Of course it is rather interesting and I could tell you if you insist.
 * Todd: "We're stuck now."

Ash: "She's gettin' ready to tell her whole life story."

Misty: "We'll be here forever."

Brock: "Wonder if she has any string cheese."
 * "If you can't trust a little old lady, who CAN you trust?"

Ash