Jessie
Gender: | Female |
Region: | |
Position: | Pokémon Coordinator Pokémon Performer Member of Team Rocket |
Generation Appearance: | Generation I, II, VII, VIII and IX |
Debut Appearence | Pokémon Emergency! |
Anime appearances
Pre-series
In the Pokémon anime’s pre-series, Jessie’s background is revealed through flashbacks and episodes that explore her past. Raised in the rural outskirts of Sunnytown, she lived with her mother, Miyamoto. Miyamoto, a former high-ranking Team Rocket agent, embarked on a mission when Jessie was around five years old. Her departure left Jessie in a financially struggling foster home. During tough times, Jessie reminisces about the simple joy of “snowgasboard” meals, highlighting one of the few happy memories from her childhood in ”Snow Way Out!”.
Jessie once aspired to be a pop idol but faced disappointment during auditions. Later, she pursued a career as a Pokémon nurse but struggled at the Pokémon Nurse School, designed for Chansey. Despite her skills in bandaging, she lacked abilities like using Sing to soothe Pokémon. Ultimately, she left the school without graduating, choosing to embark on a different path.
In “The School of Hard Knocks” Jessie and James confessed to Meowth about their dismal performance at Pokémon Tech, scoring the lowest in the school’s history. The memories of their time there haunted them. Later, they joined a bicycle gang in Sunnytown, with Jessie known for her skills with a chain while riding. In “Spring Fever” it’s hinted she was a model once. Before Team Rocket, she had tumultuous relationships with several boyfriends.
Conflicts in canon make it unclear what happened between Jessie and James after the bike gang. In Training Daze, they joined Team Rocket separately, initially on unfriendly terms. However, they quickly reconciled and became close friends. Despite rivalry with Cassidy, Jessie befriended trainee-hopeful Christopher, encouraging his dreams outside Team Rocket. Wendy, a Team Rocket member, held a grudge against Jessie for unpaid drinks, adding the charge to her Team Rocket bill as revenge.
Original series
In the original series of Pokémon, Jessie serves as one of the primary antagonists as a member of Team Rocket alongside James and Meowth. The trio’s main objective is to capture rare and powerful Pokémon, particularly Ash‘s Pikachu, in order to impress their boss, Giovanni, and further Team Rocket’s goals of world domination.
Jessie first appeared in the anime during the episode “Pokémon Emergency”. Teaming up with James and Meowth, they targeted the injured Pokémon at the Viridian Pokémon Center. Here, Team Rocket resolved to capture Pikachu, recognizing him as an exceptionally powerful Pokémon, and made it their mission to seize him.
In “Battle Aboard the St. Anne” the Team Rocket trio collaborated with other Grunts to snatch Pokémon from Trainers on the S.S. Anne. In “The Punchy Pokémon” Jessie disguised herself as Giant to enter the P1 Grand Prix but lost when Hitmonlee was defeated by Primeape. Additionally, in “Princess vs. Princess” Jessie took part in the Princess Festival but was ousted by Misty. In “The Ultimate Test” Jessie opted to undergo the Pokémon League Admissions Exam to qualify for the Indigo Plateau Conference. However, her impulsive behavior during the theory test led to her expulsion after a dispute with the instructor.
In “The Battle Of The Badge” Jessie, James, and Meowth assumed temporary leadership of the Viridian Gym on Giovanni’s behalf. They pursued Ash to the Orange Islands, where Giovanni tasked them with operating a blimp. In “Dues and Don’ts” they were disbanded from Team Rocket due to unpaid dues but were offered a chance to return by defeating Ash and his friends.
Pokémon the Series: Ruby and Sapphire appearences
Jessie continues her mischief in “Pokémon the Series: Ruby and Sapphire” as part of Team Rocket’s ongoing schemes. Throughout their misadventures, she, along with James and Meowth, concocts various schemes to capture rare Pokémon and thwart Ash‘s progress in his journey. Despite their repeated failures, Jessie’s determination and cunning remain as strong as ever as she navigates through the challenges presented in the Hoenn region.
In the Hoenn region, Jessie pursued a new endeavor as a Pokémon Coordinator, participating in numerous Contests. Despite her efforts, she faced consistent setbacks, often reaching the battle round only to be defeated. Throughout Hoenn and Kanto, she entered countless Contests but failed to secure victory in any, whether in the initial rounds or the grand finals.
Pokémon the Series: Diamond and Pearl appearences
In the Diamond and Pearl series, Jessie continued her pursuit of rare Pokémon and riches as a member of Team Rocket. Alongside James and Meowth, she devised elaborate schemes to capture Pikachu and other valuable Pokémon.
In “Two Degrees of Separation!” Giovanni greenlit Team Rocket’s Sinnoh operations. Donning her alter ego, Jessilina, Jessie entered the Jubilife City Pokémon Contest, sparking a competitive rivalry with Dawn across Sinnoh’s contest circuit.
In “A Secret Sphere of Influence!”, Team Galactic hired the trio to steal the Adamant Orb. Despite framing Nando, their attempt failed. Later, in “Team Shocker!”, Jessie triumphed in the Solaceon Contest, earning her first Contest Ribbon.
In “Crossing Paths” Jessie reminisces about her past crush Astin while observing her Dustox’s budding romance with another Dustox. Remembering her own missed opportunity for love, she releases Dustox to pursue happiness, urging it to follow its heart and experience love fully at the Dustox Crossing.
In “Our Cup Runneth Over!”, Jessie sets her sights on competing in the Wallace Cup. Despite initially believing her victory at the Solaceon Town Pokémon Contest was aided by her teammates’ schemes, James and Meowth reveal she won fair and square through her own Coordinator skills.
In “Our Cup Runneth Over!”, Jessie sets her sights on competing in the Wallace Cup. Despite initially believing her victory at the Solaceon Town Pokémon Contest was aided by her teammates’ schemes, James and Meowth reveal she won fair and square through her own Coordinator skills.
In “Teaching the Student Teacher!”, Jessie clinches victory at the Neighborly Town Pokémon Contest, securing her fourth Ribbon with Seviper’s help. However, in “Dawn of a Royal Day!”, despite her efforts at the Arrowroot Contest, Dawn emerges triumphant, earning her fifth Ribbon. Jessie receives a Ribbon from Salvia, which she sees as a pity gesture. Jessie participates in the Sinnoh Grand Festival, advancing to the Contest Battles after the initial rounds. With Yanmega and Seviper’s aid, she secures a victory. In the semifinals, she faces Dawn but ultimately loses despite her Seviper and Carnivine’s efforts.
After her defeat and witnessing Dawn’s loss in the Grand Festival, Jessie’s dream shattered. Enraged, she renounced Pokémon Contests, discarding her Jessilina persona before storming off. Her dual identity remained a secret to the main characters.
Pokémon the Series: Black & White appearences
In the Black & White series, Jessie, along with James and Meowth, after being promoted, continue their pursuit of Pikachu and their schemes to capture rare Pokémon in the Unova region encountering various challenges and setbacks but always bounce back with new plans to achieve their goals.
In the initial episodes of the series, the trio, under Giovanni‘s orders, undertook various missions. In “Triple Leaders, Team Threats!”, they were tasked with seizing control of the Dreamyard’s ‘Future Energy’. Later, in “The Bloom Is On Axew!”, they investigated a meteorite fragment at the Desert Resort as per Giovanni’s instructions.
In “A Home for Dwebble!”, the trio successfully stole data about the Meteonite from the Antimony Research Lab. In “A Night in the Nacrene City Museum!”, they were tasked with replacing a fake meteorite with the real one at the Nacrene Museum, which they accomplished. In “A Venipede Stampede!”, they located the Meteonite in the Desert Resort, marking their final mission from Giovanni. From then on, they decided to pursue capturing Ash‘s Pikachu independently.
In “Stopping the Rage of Legends! Part 2” Team Rocket attempted to capture the Forces of Nature after destroying shrines but were thwarted by Ash and friends. In “A Restoration Confrontation! Part 1” they aimed to steal a Cover Fossil to access a time gate for Fossil Pokémon but were stopped by Ash. In “An Epic Defense Force!– they pursued Meloetta for “Operation Tempest” and in “Meloetta and the Undersea Temple!” captured Ash, Pikachu, and Meloetta for their plan at the Abyssal Ruins.
In a dramatic turn, Giovanni’s possession led to a retreat from Unova, with Jessie, James, and Meowth joining him. They resurfaced in “New Places… Familiar Faces!” with renewed determination to catch Pikachu, bolstering their team with new Pokémon.
Pokémon the Series: XY appearences
Throughout Pokémon the Series: XY, Jessie, along with James and Meowth, made a comeback continuing her role as a member of Team Rocket, accompanying Ash to the Kalos region. There, she pursued a new endeavor as a Pokémon Performer, participating in competitions using the aliases Jessilee and Jessilia.
In “A Battle of Aerial Mobility!”, Giovanni sanctioned the trio’s scheme to snatch rare Pokémon in Kalos. In “A Battle by Any Other Name!”, they participated in the Poké Puff Contest but shifted to theft when they lost. Their plan was thwarted by the twerps’ Pokémon.
In “A Showcase Debut!”, Jessie joined the Pokémon Showcase in Coumarine City but was eliminated for being the least voted performer. In “A Fork in the Road! A Parting of the Ways!”, she and Wobbuffet got lost after a failed Pikachu heist. In “Performing with Fiery Charm!”, Jessie aimed for her first Princess Key at the Dendemille Rookie Class Showcase but fell short.
In “A Festival Trade! A Festival Farewell?”, Jessie joined Team Rocket at the Gourgeist Festival, donning a Mismagius costume. She showcased her talents at the Couriway Town Pokémon Showcase in “A Dancing Debut!”, winning her first Princess Key from Monsieur Pierre. Later, in “Party Dancecapades!”, Jessie and her team attended a lively dance party hosted by Monsieur Pierre.
In “An Explosive Operation!”, Jessie, James, and Meowth reported to Giovanni about Team Flare and a unique Pokémon with multiple forms. Giovanni tasked them with capturing it. Later, in “Master Class Is in Session!”, having acquired two Princess Keys, Jessie entered the Gloire City Pokémon Showcase Master Class but was ultimately defeated.
In “A League of His Own!” through “Down to the Fiery Finish!”, Jessie, along with her team and Wobbuffet, assisted Malva during the Lumiose Conference to earn money and capture strong Pokémon. In Kalos League Passion with a Certain Flare!, Team Rocket aimed to steal Ash and Alain’s Pokémon after the finals but were thwarted by Team Flare’s attack. In ”A Towering Takeover!”, Jessie narrated the chaos until Team Flare interrupted. In ”Coming Apart at the Dreams!”, disguised as a news reporter, she joined Serena, Mairin, and Professor Sycamore to take down Team Flare. They confronted Celosia and Mable in ”The Right Hero for the Right Job!”, defeating them with her Gourgeist and Wobbuffet. She later aided Ash and Alain against Zygarde, but the helicopter was hit, and they were saved by Diantha’s Gardevoir. They claimed victory over Team Flare to Giovanni.
In “The First Day of the Rest of Your Life!”, she and Gourgeist took part in an Exhibition Showcase in Lumiose City, aiming to uplift citizens after a disaster.
Pokémon the Series: Sun & Moon appearences
In Pokémon the Series: Sun & Moon, Jessie, along with James and Meowth, find themselves in the tropical paradise of the Alola region. They continue their pursuit of Pikachu while also encountering various new Pokémon species unique to the region.
In “The Sun, the Scare, the Secret Lair!”, Jessie’s disdain for Giovanni’s secretary, Matori, is unveiled. She views Matori as a rival, often referring to her as “four eyes”. In “A Seasoned Search!”, they finalize their secret base in Bewear’s den. And in “A Team-on-Team Tussle!”, they embark on a quest for a Z-Crystal after discovering Z-Moves.
In “Pulling Out the Pokémon Base Pepper!”, Jessie’s secret admiration for Oluolu, a renowned Pokémon Base player from Melemele Island, is uncovered. In “Mimikyu Unmasked!”, she sends out Mimikyu to battle Ash in yet another bid to nab Pikachu, but their plans are quickly foiled. In “Alola, Kanto!”, Team Rocket heads to Kanto on orders from headquarters, aiming to pilfer Pokémon from Professor Oak‘s Lab. Despite their efforts being thwarted, Bewear whisks them back to Alola in “When Regions Collide!”.
In “A Battle Hand-Off!”, Team Rocket plays the role of Ash’s trial opponent at the Thrifty Megamart. Then, in “Spying for the Big Guy!”, Giovanni tasks them with sending Bewear to him, as they previously claimed to have captured her.
In “Battle Royal 151!”, Jessie, disguised as Jessina, competes in the Manalo Conference Battle Royal. Despite trying to stay hidden, Mimikyu’s antics draw attention, yet Jessie manages to advance among the final 16 Trainers. But was defeated by James in the next round.
In “Thank You, Alola! The Journey Continues!”, Team Rocket gets a call from headquarters instructing them to return.
Pokémon Journeys: The Series appearences
In Pokémon Journeys: The Series, in the episode “Ivysaur’s Mysterious Tower!”, Jessie, James, Meowth, and Wobbuffet received orders from Giovanni to capture powerful Pokémon to bolster Team Rocket’s reputation. Utilizing the Rocket Prize Master, they acquired a Tyranitar and Gyarados but were thwarted by Ash’s Pikachu in battle, despite their formidable additions.
Before “Kicking It from Here Into Tomorrow!”, Team Rocket established a secret base in Vermilion City. In “A Talent for Imitation!”, they encountered a Ditto struggling with its transformations. Hoping to recruit it, they trained Ditto but ultimately returned it to its trainer when needed. Later, in “A Little Rocket R & R!”, deceived by Matori’s fake vacation reward, they joined forces with Ash and Goh to thwart her Pokémon-stealing scheme. Their plan succeeded, leading Matori to retreat when faced with Officer Jenny’s intervention.
In “Team Rocket Expedition” Jessie, James, and Meowth journey to the Paldea region. In “Rocket Revengers!” they reunite with all their current Pokémon at Team Rocket HQ. Disappointed by another failure to catch Pikachu, the trio concluded it was time to part ways.
In “Ash and Latios” Jessie, disillusioned with her cafeteria job, attempts to steal Pikachu again. Unexpectedly, she encounters James and Meowth with the same plan. Reunited, they launch their attack but fail. Despite this, they vow to never give up and disappear into the distance.
About Jessie
Jessie is a prominent character in the Pokémon anime, known for her flamboyant personality and relentless pursuit of Ash’s Pikachu alongside her teammates James and Meowth as part of Team Rocket. Despite their repeated failures, Jessie remains determined and often displays surprising depth, revealing glimpses of her past and aspirations beyond Team Rocket’s schemes. She is characterized by her resilience, ambition, and occasional moments of vulnerability, making her a complex and memorable figure in the series.
Jessie’s character is marked by a strong sense of vanity and a quick temper. She takes great pride in her appearance and becomes furious if her beauty is insulted or her appearance is marred. Additionally, Jessie tends to react with explosive anger when missions go awry, unlike her companions who typically feel dejected. Despite her initial incompetence in stealing Pokémon, Jessie undergoes significant growth, ultimately becoming a skilled Performer and reaching the semi-finals of the Master Class competition.
Throughout her tenure in Hoenn, Jessie disclosed her past as a Pokémon Coordinator and resumed this role during her stay in the region. However, her performances were consistently lackluster. It wasn’t until her ventures in Sinnoh that her Coordinator skills markedly improved, showcasing her as a talented competitor in Pokémon Contests.
Overall, Jessie’s character is a dynamic blend of ambition, resilience, and emotional depth, making her a beloved and enduring figure in the series.
Jessie's Pokémon team
Jessie’s Pokémon team has varied throughout the Pokémon anime series. Jessie has a notable fondness for serpent-themed Pokémon, owning both Arbok and Seviper. While she initially favored Poison-type Pokémon like Arbok, her team has diversified to include Bug-type and Ghost-type Pokémon such as Yanmega, Gourgeist, and Mimikyu.
While many of her Pokémon have unconventional appearances, Jessie occasionally shows interest in acquiring “adorable” or feminine Pokémon, like Happiny or Smoochum. In ”Duels of the Jungle!”, she was drawn to a Weavile, indicating a preference for aesthetically pleasing Pokémon.
She doesn’t seem to prioritize training her Pokémon, often utilizing them for battles against Ash and his friends. In Pokémon Contests, she focuses more on coordinating her Pokémon’s appeals rather than training them extensively.
Her team often reflects her personality and strategic preferences, making her a formidable opponent despite her primary role as a member of Team Rocket.
Core series games appearances
Throughout the games, players encounter Jessie and Team Rocket in various locations, thwarting their schemes and ultimately putting an end to their criminal activities. In contrast to the anime, Jessie and James don’t shadow the protagonist or concoct their typical schemes to capture Pikachu.
In Pokémon Yellow, Jessie and James, known collectively as the Rocket Trainer class, appear as in-game bosses representing Team Rocket. They first confront the player in Mt. Moon, attempting to steal rare Fossils. Later, in Celadon City’s Rocket Hideout, they guard Giovanni’s room seeking revenge. They hold Mr. Fuji hostage at Pokémon Tower and later appear in Silph Co. in Saffron City, trying to hinder the player’s progress.
Jessie and James feature in Pokémon: Let’s Go, Pikachu! and Let’s Go, Eevee! as formidable opponents, akin to admins. They stand out with greater strength compared to other Team Rocket Grunts, engaging the player exclusively in Double Battles.
Spin-off games appearances
Pokémon Puzzle League – Jessie and James, along with other anime characters, are featured opponents. They appear with Pokémon like Weezing, Arbok, and Golbat, serving as main adversaries in the “Spa Service” line clear challenge.
Pokémon Zany Cards – Jessie and James serve as the initial opponents in both Wild Match mode and Special Seven mode.
Pokémon GO – Jessie is part of Team GO Rocket.
Pokémon Masters EX – Jessie forms a sync pair with Arbok in this game.
Manga appearances
The Electric Tale of Pikachu
Jessie appears in this manga alongside James and Meowth. In “Pikachu’s Excellent Adventure,” they attempt to steal Pokémon from a Hidden Village but are expelled by Kangaskhan.
Jessie appears next in “You Gotta Have Friends,” where she and James try to steal a herd of wild Pikachu. In the manga, they follow Ash to the Pokémon League championship and cheer him on at the Orange League. In the manga’s epilogue, James confesses his love to Jessie, and they are depicted as married with Jessie pregnant.
Movie adaptations
Jessie has appeared in every Pokémon movie to date, making her a consistent presence in their manga adaptations as well.
Ash & Pikachu
In the manga adaptation Ash & Pikachu, Jessie is featured alongside her Team Rocket companions, James and Meowth.
Pokémon Journeys: The Series
Jessie made her debut in this manga in “Flash of the Titans!” However, the involvement of the Team Rocket Trio is notably reduced compared to the anime, often resulting in their roles being removed or significantly smaller than in the original episodes.
In Pokémon Journeys: The Series, Jessie stands out as the sole main character who doesn’t acquire any Pokémon. Additionally, she is one of just two human characters, and the only main one, featured in the segment “Who’s That Pokémon?” or its Japanese equivalent, “Dare da?”.
Summary
Jessie, a prominent member of Team Rocket, has evolved throughout the Pokémon series, from her early days as a determined but often bumbling villain to a more complex character with her own aspirations and talents.
Despite her initial focus on capturing rare Pokémon, she later discovers her passion for Pokémon Contests and becomes a skilled Performer. Throughout her journey, she forms deep bonds with her Pokémon and her teammates, James and Meowth. Despite their frequent failures, Jessie remains resilient and determined, always ready to pursue her goals with style and flair. As she continues to grow and develop, Jessie remains an integral part of the Pokémon universe, bringing her unique blend of humor, ambition, and heart to every adventure.