Unveiling Pokémon's Hidden Secret: Team Rocket's Ingenious Origins

Summary

The Rocket Prize Master in Pokémon Journeys is a portable gachapon machine that dispenses random Pokémon, connecting back to Pokémon's early association with gachapon.

Poké Balls in Pokémon are inspired by gachapon capsules, featuring the recognizable half-red/half-white design. With the Rocket Prize Master, Jessie and James can engage in battles with various Pokémon each time they utilize it. This not only intensifies their encounters with Ash but also mirrors the limited availability of prizes in a gachapon machine.

Throughout Pokémon Journeys, Team Rocket possessed a hidden asset called the Rocket Prize Master. This seemingly minor addition, however, holds significance as it reflects the early versions of the franchise when Pokémon was closely linked to gachapon.

In Japan, gachapon refers to a type of machine that dispenses random prizes, adding an element of surprise to what one receives each time. Typically, gachapon items are enclosed within small spheres that are half-colored and half-transparent, allowing the contents to be visible. Nowadays, gachapon games have gained popularity in the Western world, owing to their emulation of the random nature of the gachapon machines. The Rocket Prize Master can be seen as a portable gachapon machine, distributing random Pokémon. It is worth noting that Pokémon's encounter with gachapon occurred even before the release of the Pokémon Red and Blue games.

Pokémon Were Inspired by Gachapon From the Beginning

The early versions of Pokémon, initially called "Capsule Monsters," were inspired by the popular gachapon capsules of the 90s. These capsules eventually evolved into Poké Balls, with the distinct half-red/half-white design resembling the traditional look of gachapon capsules. By integrating Poké Balls into the Rocket Prize Master, an unmistakable gachapon machine, the concept of Pokémon comes full circle to its original inspiration. Interestingly, the Rocket Prize Master utilizes unique Team Rocket Poké Balls, which are black.

The role of the Rocket Prize Master in the story is primarily to introduce new Pokémon to the series, as Jessie and James can summon different Pokémon every time they use it. This adds excitement to the battles between Jessie, James, and Ash, as they occasionally gain an advantage by obtaining powerful Pokémon from the machine (such as Gyarados and Tyranitar on their first try). Bringing back the roots of the series and transforming this secret weapon into a gachapon machine was a brilliant move, especially since Meowth's coin serves as the currency to activate it.

The Rocket Prize Master in Pokémon Journeys is an intriguing addition that breaks from tradition, with its connection to Pokémon's early history serving as an exciting bonus. Though Jessie and James didn't always emerge victorious with its help, this mirrors the reality of using a gachapon machine, where the most desirable prizes are rare. Fans well-versed in Pokémon's past can still enjoy the gachapon nods, reminiscent of the franchise's early days when a Pikachu was yet to be widely recognized.