A rare original production cel of the trio Jessie, James, and Meowth from Pokémon: The Series, created during the late 1990s cel-animated run at OLM. All three members of Team Rocket are caught in a full “blasting off again” moment, flung straight toward the viewer with Meowth in the centre and Jessie and James spinning around him. It is the classic punchline of the show in a single frame, the instant after some unlucky Pokémon has sent them flying and just before the catchphrase lands.
The drawing style is peak early Pokémon: clean TV linework, bright flats, and a strong effects layer. The radial burst behind them pushes the foreshortening so their hands and feet feel like they are coming off the cel, which is why this type of shot reads so well even from across a room. It is the kind of three character hero shot most fans picture when they think of Team Rocket’s exits.
The original hand painted background for this cut is not present. Instead, the cel is paired with a scene appropriate giclée background, matching the same explosive burst used on screen. It keeps the look and timing of the moment while making clear that only the cel itself is hand painted production artwork.
Title: Team Rocket
Series: Pokémon: The Series
Director: Kunihiko Yuyama (chief director)
Studio: OLM, Inc.
Type: Original production cel with custom giclée background.
Certificate of Authenticity: ORIOGI オリオギ certified. Includes Certificate of Authenticity.
Medium: Hand painted acetate cel on standard 3 peg 12 field. Giclée background on art paper, not an original painted background.
Condition: Cel in very good condition with minor line fading and paint surface scratches. No sticking between cel and background.
Team Rocket scenes are some of the most quoted moments in the entire franchise, and cels that put all three in a single, readable composition are noticeably harder to find. This piece captures them at full volume, right in the middle of the joke that ran through years of the show, making it an ideal centrepiece for any Pokémon focused wall or collection.
