List of Pokémon anime characters

Team Rocket (ロケット団, Roketto-dan, Rocket Gang) is the crime organization in the Kanto, Johto, and Sevii Islands regions. Their goal is to exploit Pokémon for world domination.

• Giovanni (サカキ, Sakaki)

Voiced by: Hirotaka Suzuoki (Seasons 1-8), Kenta Miyake (Season 9+, Japanese), Ted Lewis (Seasons 1-8, Season 11+), Craig Blair (Seasons 9 & 10, English)

Giovanni is the crime lord and leader of Team Rocket—having inherited his position from his mother—and the Viridian City Gym Leader. He is constantly frustrated by Ash's continuous interference in his plans which lead to the many failures of his operatives Jessie and James. Aside from the operations of Team Rocket, he also funded the creation of Mewtwo in Mewtwo Strikes Back. Mewtwo eventually escapes from him and he attempted to recapture the Pokémon in Mewtwo Returns—resulting in Mewtwo erasing all memories of himself from Giovanni's mind. Giovanni plays nearly the same role in the Pokémon Red, Blue, Yellow, FireRed, and LeafGreen video games. He also appears in the Pokémon Adventures manga. Like in the anime, he organizes Mewtwo's creation. In the FireRed and LeafGreen chapters, he uses Red, Blue, and Green to capture Deoxys and use it to find his son Silver. He also appears in the Pokémon Live! stage musical where he is played by Darren Dunstan. It is stated that he and Delia Ketchum were possibly romantically involved as teenagers, and she never told Ash as she feared he would misunderstand. However, the musical is not considered canon.

• Jessie (ムサシ, Musashi)

Voiced by: Megumi Hayashibara (Japanese), Rachael Lillis (4Kids), Michele Knotz (TPCI) (English)

Partner of James and have been bumbling for the first three series. During the Best Wishes series she gets promoted and no longer serves for comic relief. After her adventures in Unova, she was returned to her old, comical self. Jessie owns a Wobbuffet, who is the source of a running gag where he pops out of his Poke Ball at the strangest times.

• James (コジロウ, Kojirō)

Voiced by: Shin-ichiro Miki (Japanese), Ted Lewis (up to and including episode 8; 4Kids), Eric Stuart (4Kids), James Carter Cathcart (TPCI) (English)

Partner of Jessie and have been bumbling for the first three series. During the Best Wishes series he gets promoted and no longer serves for comic relief. After his adventures in Unova, he was returned to his old, comical self. Before joining Team Rocket, James was part of a noble, rich family, but it was a life he desperately wanted to escape from.

• Meowth (ニャース, Nyarth)

Voiced by: Inuko Inuyama (Japanese), Matthew Sussman (up to and including dub episode 30; 4Kids), Maddie Blaustein (4Kids), James Carter Cathcart (TPCI) (English)

Meowth fits in perfectly with his human comrades of Team Rocket as he is conniving, prideful, greedy, and mischievous. His ability to speak like a normal human only makes him equally outspoken. He sometimes views himself as the boss and the leader of the trio, reason being, he builds all the contraptions and thinks of all the plans, though he is rarely taken seriously. For all his faults however, he is loyal to Jessie and James, and never lets a few fights get in his way of being friends with them. He thinks highly of their boss Giovanni, and dwells on becoming his "top cat". Meowth is superb at lying, as he often tricks Ash and his friends to believe he is on their side. Pikachu is the only one who doubts Meowth's loyalty due to remembering his countless double crosses. Despite their rivalry, Meowth has arguably the most sociable moments with Pikachu, especially since they are often forced to team up for real. In some cases he laments they can easily be friends if not on opposite sides. As often as he likes to consider himself a dastardly villain, he is also often shown to be rather jaded and even philosophical at times. He often looks at the moon and laments his directions in life. Among the trio, Meowth tends to be the one who stands most on the facts rather than belief. Meowth frequently shows himself to be a rather amorous cat: in Kanto, before he met Jessie and James, he fell in love with a female Meowth named Meowzie, in Hoenn he fell in love with May's Skitty and in Sinnoh he fell in love with a female Glameow. In Unova he competed with Ash's Oshawott for both a male Purloin and Meloetta despite she was the main target for Team Rocket's Operation Tempest in the BW series until in the episode Unova Survival Crisis!. Also, in the short "Eevee and Friends" he also shown attraction for Espeon, Glaceon and Leafeon. His pursuits for Meowzie in particular chained off his ambitions to learn to speak and act human-like and ultimately his employment within Team Rocket. Meowth sparsely battles, he explains learning to walk and talk came at the expense of his battle abilities. As such, most instances he is forced to fight prove pitiful. On rare occasions however, when passionate or incensed enough, Meowth can be very formidable in battle. He has also proven quite able as a performer as well, helping Jessie win several contests and showcases. More commonly, Meowth acts as a translator for Team Rocket and sometimes Ash and his friends, translating what other Pokémon are saying. Meowth is jealous of Giovanni's Persian and has a desire to fill in for it as the boss's "top cat". In "Acting True to Form!", Meowth has a bitter rivalry with an Alolan Meowth who is very smart and cunning and also loyal to Jessie and James. Upon hearing that the Alolan Meowth was now working with Team Rocket later owned by their secretary Matori, he became disappointed to hear when he translated its language about its main reason to stay at their headquarters.

• Wobbuffet (ソ-ナンス, Sonansu)

Voiced by: Yūji Ueda (Japanese), Kayzie Rogers (EP146-XY140; English) & Erica Schroeder (SM003-present; English)

Wobbuffet is used occasionally for battles, and now he joins Team Rocket. Wobbuffet's knowledge of moves like Counter and Mirror Coat comes in handy, since Team Rocket often find themselves on the receiving end of powerful attacks. Wobbuffet usually serves as a comic relief character due to his goofy, energetic, and looney character. He emerges from his Poké Ball frequently as a running gag, and often at inappropriate times which frustrated Jessie at times. Team Rocket has also had various vehicles and robots based on him.

• Butch (コサブロウ, Kosaburō)

Voiced by: Takehito Koyasu (Japanese), Eric Stuart (4Kids), James Carter Cathcart (TPCI) (English)

Partner of Cassidy and rival of James, more successful than him at first. He is looked upon favorably by Giovanni. The only problem with him is that nobody can get his name right at times, like calling him Biff, Bob, Bill, Buffy, Hutch, Futch etc., which infuriates him. (Butch and Cassidy Turn up in roughly near Only 10 Episodes in the whole Pokemon Series) https://bulbapedia.bulbagarden.net/wiki/Butch

• Cassidy (ヤマト, Yamato)

Voiced by: Masako Katsuki (Japanese), Megan Hollingshead, Andi Whaley (4Kids), Emlyn Morinelli McFarland (TPCI) (English)

Partner of Butch and rival of Jessie, more successful than her at first. She is looked upon favorably by Giovanni. (Cassidy & Butch Turn up in roughly near Only 10 Episodes in the whole Pokemon Series) https://bulbapedia.bulbagarden.net/wiki/Cassidy

• Dr. Namba (ナンバ博士, Dr. Namba)

Voiced by: Ichiro Nagai (Japanese), James Carter Cathcart (English, as Jimmy Zoppi)

A scientist who works for Team Rocket. A running gag with Dr. Namba was that others kept pronouncing his name incorrectly, which he greatly disliked, resulting in him calling the offender (despite that he couldn't possibly have heard them) and yelling that his name is Namba. Like Butch he might be very OCD about people getting his name wrong.

• Professor Sebastian (シラヌイ博士, Dr. Shiranui)

Voiced by: Hidetoshi Nakamura (Japanese), Eric Stuart (English)

A scientist and the leader of Team Rocket's Johto operations, personally overseeing both Tyson and the duo of Atilla and Hun.

• Annie (ザンナー, Zanner)

Voiced by: Uno Kanda (Japanese), Megan Hollingshead (English)

Partner and older sister of Oakley and the secondary antagonist of "Pokémon Heroes".

• Oakley (リオン, Lion)

Voiced by: Yumiko Shaku (Japanese), Lisa Ortiz (English)

Partner and younger sister of Annie and the main antagonist of "Pokémon Heroes".

• Atilla (ブソン, Buson)

Voiced by: Nobuyuki Hiyama (Japanese), Marc Thompson (English)

Partner of Hun and one of the main antagonists of "The Legend of Thunder!". He acts as the muscle in his partnership.

• Hun (バショウ, Bashō)

Voiced by: Toshiyuki Morikawa (Japanese), Veronica Taylor (English)

Partner of Attila and one of the main antagonists of "The Legend of Thunder!". He acts as the brains in his partnership.

Team Aqua and Team Magma (アクア団・マグマ団, Akua-dan Maguma-dan, Aqua Gang and Magma Gang) are the two villainous organizations in the Hoenn Region.

Team Aqua (アクア団, Akua-dan, Aqua Gang) are the rivals of Team Magma. They specialize in Water and Dark type Pokémon. Their goal is to raise the level of all the world's oceans with the power of Kyogre.

• Archie (アオギリ, Aogiri)

Voiced by: Masaki Aizawa (Japanese), Sean Schemmel (English)

Archie is the leader of Team Aqua. His goal is to wipe out the land in order to create more sea by using Kyogre. He is more misguided than truly evil, as he believes that his actions will benefit others. He becomes possessed by the power of the Red Orb, much like Pikachu and the Blue Orb. His only concern from that point is to raise the sea, even if it meant drowning all of his Team Aqua members.

• Shelly (イズミ, Izumi)

Voice by: Shōko Tsuda (Japanese), Bella Hudson (English)

A member of Team Aqua, Shelly first appeared in "A Three Team Scheme!", where she leads a group of Aqua grunts on a mission to intercept Team Magma, who are exploring some ancient ruins on Dewford Island in search of the Cave of Origin. Due to a dubbing error, she is mistakenly referred to as "Tactical Commander Isabel" during this episode, though her name is corrected in all subsequent appearances. In "Fight for the Meteorite!", Shelly leads a squad of Aqua grunts on a mission to Mt. Chimney, to try to steal a meteorite from Professor Cozmo before Team Magma could do so. Though they do not obtain the meteorite, Shelly still considers the mission a success, since the meteorite is destroyed and therefore Team Magma could not use it either. She appears again in "Unfair Weather Friends", where she and a group of Aqua grunts take the staff of the Weather Institute hostage in order to obtain their data on Groudon and Kyogre. However, their plans are thwarted by Magma agent Brodie, who makes off with the data himself. Shelly's final appearance is in "Gaining Groudon" and "The Scuffle of Legends". She sneaks onto Team Magma's base disguised as a Magma grunt and frees Kyogre from the cargo container, allowing Team Aqua to control it with the Red Orb. She is present during the battle between Kyogre and Groudon.

Team Magma (マグマ団, Maguma-dan, Magma Gang) are the rivals of Team Aqua. They are a group of experts in the fields of geology and plate tectonics. Like Team Rocket, some rebels are Pokémon thieves, but Team Magma specializes in the field of Fire and Ground type Pokémon. Their goal is to raise the level of all the world's landmasses with the power of Groudon.

• Maxie (マツブサ, Matsubusa)

Voiced by: Keiji Fujiwara (Japanese), Marc Thompson (English)

Maxie is the leader of Team Magma. His goal is to wipe out the sea in order to create more land by using a volcano and Groudon. He is more misguided than truly evil, as he believes that his actions will benefit others. Maxie meets Ash in the episode "Gaining Groudon", and tells him of his plans. He also tells Ash about the Blue Orb, which could control Groudon, and with it in his hands, he could make life better for himself. Suddenly, Pikachu gets possessed by the Blue Orb. It controls Groudon, and a cataclysmic battle begins, resulting in Groudon's victory. Afterwards, Maxie thanks Ash, realizing that the land of Hoenn was perfect the way it is.

• Tabitha (ホムラ, Homura)

Voiced by: Yūto Kazama (Japanese), Greg Abbey (English)

A member of Team Magma, Tabitha first appeared in "A Three Team Scheme!", where he leads a group of Magma Grunts in an exploration of some ancient ruins on Dewford Island in search of the Cave of Origin. They also have a confrontation with Team Aqua. Due to a dubbing error, he is mistakenly referred to as "Field Commander Harlan" during this episode, though his name is corrected in all subsequent appearances. Tabitha appears again in "The Spheal of Approval", where he and two Magma Grunts break into the Oceanic Museum in order to steal a rock sample owned by Captain Stern. Although Ash and his friends attempt to stop them, Team Magma successfully makes off with most of the sample. In "Fight for the Meteorite!", Tabitha leads a squad of Magma Grunts on a mission to Mt. Chimney, first stealing a meteorite from Professor Cozmo and then using it to power an experimental machine affecting the volcano. However, their plans were ultimately thwarted by Ash and Cozmo. His final appearances are in "Gaining Groudon" and "The Scuffle of Legends". His submarine accidentally picks up Ash and his friends while out on patrol, bringing them to Team Magma's base. He is present for the battle between Kyogre and Groudon.

• Brodie (バンナイ, Bannai)

Voiced by: Katsuyuki Konishi (Japanese), Andrew Paull (English)

A spy with Team Magma, known as The Man of a Thousand Faces or Brodie The Phantom Thief, Brodie debuts in the episode "Unfair Weather Friends", disguised as Millie, a scientist at the Weather Institute who is supposed to be collecting data on Groudon. Team Aqua tries to steal the data directly, unaware "Millie" is really Brodie. When Shelly threatens to harm Bart and the other scientists at the Institute, Brodie reveals himself as a Team Magma agent and escapes with the information the Institute had gathered on the Legendary Pokémon. Brodie also appears in "The Ribbon Cup Caper". He disguises himself as various people, including Officer Jenny, in order to steal the Ribbon Cup for the Hoenn Grand Festival. When confronted by the real Officer Jenny, Brodie willingly gives up the Ribbon Cup because upon closer inspection "it wasn't valuable enough," and flies away once again.

• Butler (バトラー, Batorā)

Voiced by: Kenji Nojima (young), Kōichi Yamadera, (Japanese), Wayne Grayson (English)

A former scientist of Team Magma and a magician, Butler is fired from working with Team Magma because an experiment to create a Groudon from a fossilized remnant of it had failed. Fueled by bitterness, hatred and an extreme thirst for revenge, Butler assembles plan for alternative ways of creating a Groudon from scratch. He realizes that he needs a stronger energy source for the regeneration process. The power that he seeks is only available once in a millennium. Butler and his girlfriend, Diane, find the crystallized "cocoon" of Jirachi in Forina. When Ash, Brock, May and Max find Butler at the Millennium Festival, Butler presents Jirachi to Max because Max is supposedly the friend that Jirachi needs to find so it can awaken when the Millennium Comet comes. Butler uses Jirachi's power in the hopes to create a Groudon from scratch. However, he ends up with a manifestation of pure evil that resembles Groudon. When the false Groudon starts sucking up every Pokémon in sight, Butler begs Ash and Max to forgive him and help him to set his machine in reverse to get rid of Groudon. The plan is a success and the false Groudon is destroyed.

Team Galactic (ギンガ団, Ginga-dan, Galaxy Gang), is the crime syndicate in the Sinnoh region. Their goal is to catch the Pokémon that created the world: Dialga of time and Palkia of space, as well as Mesprit, Azelf, and Uxie, so that their leader, Cyrus, can destroy the universe and rebuild it in his own image with himself as an absolute god. However, only the Commanders and Boss are aware of this plan.

• Cyrus (アカギ, Akagi)

Voiced by: Kenta Miyake (Japanese), Sean Schemmel (English)

Cyrus is the leader of Team Galactic. His goal is to "create a new world" in his own image, with himself as the God of that world. In his first appearance, it is shown that he is a rich businessman who has made most of the buildings and libraries throughout Sinnoh. However, Ash and the others do not know that he is also the Team Galactic leader. Since then, he has appeared many times as the Team Galactic leader. In the end he has his dimension created, and enters it shortly before it is destroyed by Dialga and Palkia.

• Charon (プルート, Purūto, Pluto)

Voiced by: Ken'ichi Ogata (Japanese), Mike Pollock (English)

One of the Commanders and scientist of Team Galactic, Charon appears in "Saving the World From Ruins!", albeit not in a speaking role. He is seen briefly in Team Galactic's base. Charon makes his first full appearance in "Gateway to Ruin!" along with Saturn where they try to find the Spear Pillar in Mt. Coronet. Charon appears from "Unlocking the Red Chain of Events!" to "The Battle Finale of Legend!", where he assists in the final stages of the Red Chain project. He is not arrested, unlike the other three Commanders at the end of the arc. He appears briefly in "Memories are Made of Bliss!" in Team Rocket's fantasy with all the other members of Team Galactic. He is often seen with a laptop computer and does much of the technical work for Team Galactic's plans, such as monitoring energy levels and other statistics. Compared to the other Galactic members, he is the most laid back and upbeat, which often causes one-sided squabbles between him and Saturn.

• Saturn (サターン, Satān)

Voiced by: Akemi Okamura (Japanese), Marc Thompson (English)

One of the Commanders of Team Galactic, Saturn makes his first appearance at the end of "A Secret Sphere of Influence!" He, along with the other Team Galactic Grunts, comment that Jessie, James and Meowth did a lousy job at stealing the Adamant Orb for them, and framing Nando for the crime. Saturn's first speaking appearance is in "Journey to the Unown!" He manages to steal a cube that under the guard of the Unown of the Solaceon Ruins and brings it with him back to the Team Galactic HQ. Saturn appears again in "Enter Galactic!". He exposes the cube to the meteorites in Veilstone City, transforming it into the Spear Key. Later, he and a few Galactic Grunts go to steal the meteorites, but fails after battling with Brock in a match ending with a draw. He appears in "Losing Its Lustrous!" and "Double Team Turnover!", along with Cyrus, Jupiter and Mars. They steal the Lustrous Orb and Adamant Orb from the Celestic Town Historical Research Center. He reappears with Cyrus, Jupiter and Charon in "Saving the World From Ruins!" where he is put in charge of excavation of the Spear Pillar from Mt. Coronet. Saturn appears again in "Gateway to Ruin!", along with Charon, where they attempt to locate the ruins of Mt. Coronet. Saturn also appears "Unlocking the Red Chain of Events!", "The Needs of the Three!" and "The Battle Finale of Legend!", where he loses to Brock during the final battle. After Cyrus passes through the portal created by Dialga and Palkia he realizes that Cyrus is just using him and the other commanders to reach his own goals and cares little for those who serve him. Afterwards he is arrested along with Mars and Jupiter by Looker and states that Team Galactic was finished.

• Mars (マーズ, Māzu)

Voiced by: Rie Tanaka (Japanese), Lisa Ortiz (English)

One of the Commanders of Team Galactic, Mars makes her debut appearance in the anime in "Losing Its Lustrous!" She, along with Saturn, attempts to steal the Lustrous Orb from the Celestic Town museum. She also appears in "Double Team Turnover!", in which she informs Cyrus that the Red Chain project is nearing completion. Mars appears again in "Steeling Peace of Mind!" She brings the Spear Key to Iron Island, where she activates the ruins in the island to find the exact location of the Spear Pillar in Mt. Coronet. After failing to complete the task in "Saving the World From Ruins!", she attempts to blow up the island on Cyrus's orders, but she fails due to Riley and his Lucario. She later appears in "The Needs of the Three!" and "The Battle Finale of Legend!" After the disappearance of Cyrus, she becomes distraught and even tries following him, but is stopped by Saturn. The duo, along with Jupiter, are later arrested.

• Jupiter (ジュピター, Jupitā)

Voiced by: Chinami Nishimura (Japanese), Eileen Stevens (English)

One of the Commanders of Team Galactic, Jupiter makes her debut appearance in the anime in "Double Team Turnover!", where she is the one to get the Lustrous Orb back from Team Rocket after they steal it from the Celestic Town Historical Research Center. She is later assigned by Cyrus to lead the capture squad for the Lake guardians, along with some assistance from Pokémon hunters. She also has a cameo appearance in "Saving the World From Ruins!" Jupiter's first major appearance is in "Unlocking the Red Chain of Events!", where she protects Charon at the Fuego Ironworks while he works on the Red Chain. She successfully captures Looker, Jessie and James and later encounters Ash and his friends for the first time. During their encounter, she notes her disgust that Mesprit, Azelf and Uxie had chosen Dawn, Ash and Brock as their protectors rather than herself, Saturn and Mars. She and Charon escape. Jupiter is present when Team Galactic's plans come to a head in "The Needs of the Three!" where she battles Ash and his friends again. In "The Battle Finale of Legend!", she guards the outside of the Spear Pillar. She is quickly captured by Cynthia and later arrested, along with Mars and Saturn.

Team Plasma (プラズマ団, Purazuma-dan, Plasma Gang) is the criminal organization of Unova. Their goal is to liberate Pokémon from trainers and rule Unova.

• Ghetsis (ゲーチス・ハルモニア, Gēchisu Harumonia, G-Cis Harmonia)

Voiced by: Masaki Aizawa (Japanese), Bill Rogers (English)

Ghetsis is the leader of Team Plasma. His goal is to liberate all Pokémon from trainers and to rule Unova. He debuted in "Team Plasma's Pokémon Power Plot!", where he was seen briefly contacting Colress via a hologram communicator. He and Colress discussed the current status of the Pokémon control experiment, and when Ash, his friends, and Looker approached Team Plasma's laboratory, Ghetsis ordered Colress to turn the experimental Pokémon loose on them. He appeared again, this time in person, in "Team Plasma's Pokémon Manipulation!". He was seen contacting Colress for an update on his Pokémon control experiment. Later, Ghetsis spoke to several Team Plasma Grunts, who were spying on the excavations made at the White Ruins as well as looking for N and conducting the mysterious "Project G" and "Project F". Ghetsis reappeared in "Secrets From Out of the Fog!", where he was seen discussing his plans with Colress and Aldith. He was also seen in flashbacks to N's past, in which he raised N alongside Anthea and Concordia and wild Pokémon. In a later flashback, a ceremony he led in N's Castle involving N and the Seven Sages was interrupted by Reshiram, infuriating him. In "What Lies Beyond Truth and Ideals!", Ghetsis successfully summoned Reshiram and, with the help of Colress's machine, took control of it. Despite turning it on his enemies, however, he lost control of Reshiram when Colress's machine was destroyed. Ultimately, he was arrested by Looker along with the rest of his followers.

• N (エヌ, Enu)

Voiced by: Yūichi Nakamura (Japanese), Nicholas DiMichele (English)

Unlike the games, N is not a villain, but an ally to Ash and his friends. Like his game counterpart, N can hear the inner voices of Pokémon and believes that humans are using them for their own gain. However, he is not part of Team Plasma, but rather a defected member; Ghetsis raised him along with Anthea and Concordia, making them believe Pokémon cannot be equals with humans unless they are released from all Poké Balls. A short time before the present, N was about to be crowned King of Team Plasma in Ghetsis' plan to use N's pure-hearted desire to save Pokémon to summon Reshiram and enslave it. However, the attempt backfired, leaving Team Plasma's castle destroyed by Fusion Flare. N, along with Anthea and Concordia flee to a secluded abandoned castle, where they spend their time tending to mistreated Pokémon.

• Colress (アクロマ, Akuroma, Achroma)

Voiced by: Hiroki Tōchi (Japanese), Eli James (English)

Colress is a Pokémon researcher and the second boss of Team Plasma, appointed by Ghetsis. His goal is to discover the true way to draw out the strength of Pokémon. Colress debuts in "Team Plasma's Pokémon Power Plot!", conducting experiments with wild Pokémon with electromagnetic waves in an attempt to bring out their true strength. He plants one of his controlling devices on Ash's Pikachu, forcing him to fight his Trainer. However, Ash's encouragement allows Pikachu to fight against the EM waves, eventually causing the device to break and freeing Pikachu. Before he can gather further data, Team Rocket shows up, using one of their miniature robots to steal Colress's research data from his computer. Colress appears again in "Team Plasma's Pokémon Manipulation!", where it was revealed that he had upgraded his Pokémon-controlling machine with his remaining research data. The machine now fires a narrow energy beam which instantly brings any Pokémon it hits under Team Plasma's control. Using this machine, Colress takes control of a Haxorus and Iris's Dragonite. A Shadow Ball from Aldith's Liepard accidentally hits the machine, breaking it and freeing Haxorus and Dragonite from his control. Colress and the Plasma Grunts retreat. Colress appears briefly in "Secrets From Out of the Fog!" with Aldith, discussing Team Plasma's plans with Ghetsis on a videophone call. Colress appears again in "Meowth, Colress and Team Rivalry!", where he refuses Meowth's attempt to recruit him to Team Rocket. However, he offers to allow Meowth to participate in an experiment to increase his strength. Colress controls Meowth's mind with the experiment, but Jessie and James snap him out of it before escaping. Later, Colress is seen with his Grunts reporting to Ghetsis, who revealed information about the Light Stone to them. In "Ash and N: A Clash of Ideals!", Colress appears with the rest of Team Plasma to commence their operation at the White Ruins. While Aldith, Barret and many other Grunts ambush the workers at the site, Colress uses his perfected machine to seize control of the workers' Pokémon and turn them on their Trainers. In "Team Plasma and the Awakening Ceremony!", he also takes control of Pikachu again, forcing N to surrender the Light Stone to Team Plasma in exchange for Ash's safety. He appears again in "What Lies Beyond Truth and Ideals!", aiding Ghetsis in taking control of the awakened Reshiram. When Ash and Pikachu try to stop him, he uses his machine on Pikachu yet again. However, this time Pikachu fights against its control, and - together with Reshiram - destroy Colress's machine once and for all, thus freeing the controlled Pokémon. Colress and the other Team Plasma members are later arrested by Looker, thus bringing the team down.

• Aldith (アンジー, Anjī, Angie)

Voiced by: Akeno Watanabe (Japanese), Lori Gardner (English)

A member of Team Plasma, Aldith first appears in "Team Plasma's Pokémon Power Plot!", observing Colress's work with controlling wild Pokémon with radio waves. During the tests, she experiences some friction with the scientist in terms of their ultimate goals; while Aldith expected the results of the experiment to help Team Plasma's takeover of Unova, Colress was merely interested in unlocking the true strength of Pokémon. When Looker, Ash and his friends arrive, she orders her fellow grunts to hold them off until Colress's test subjects are battle-ready, at which point she leads a retreat to lure her foes into their observatory base. Aldith commands Colress's brainwashed wild Pokémon against the intruders, as well as Pikachu when Colress attaches a transmitter to its head. When Pikachu manages to overcome the brainwashing, Aldith reminds Colress about the situation. After Team Rocket's interference destroys Colress's machine, freeing the mind-controlled Pokémon, Aldith joins her teammates in retreat, using a self-destruct mechanism to destroy the observatory and get rid of the remaining evidence of their activity. She reappears in "Team Plasma's Pokémon Manipulation!", where once again monitors a mind-controlling experiment of Colress, this time on a Haxorus. When Team Rocket shows up in an attempt to steal Colress's mind-controlling device, a battle starts, where a Shadow Ball from Aldith's Liepard misses its target and accidentally hits the machine, freeing the controlled Pokémon and forcing Team Plasma to retreat. Aldith has a short appearance in "Secrets From Out of the Fog!", communicating with Ghetsis alongside Colress. She appears in "Meowth, Colress and Team Rivalry!" as part of Colress's security force at his latest lab. When Team Rocket appears, she, along with Barret and several other Grunts, chase the trio out into the woods. There, they are drawn into a trap and did not escape for some time. Aldith appears with the rest of Team Plasma for the beginning of their operation at the White Ruins in "Ash and N: A Clash of Ideals!" She appears in "Team Plasma and the Awakening Ceremony!" and "What Lies Beyond Truth and Ideals!" She—along with Ghetsis, Colress, and Barret—is arrested in the end.

• Barret (ブラッド, Buraddo, Brad)

Voiced by: Kensuke Satō (Japanese), Darren Dunstan (English)

A member of Team Plasma, Barret first appears with two other grunts looking for N under Ghetsis's orders. Barret finds N when he uses a locator inside his briefcase and deduces the hidden location. With N found, Barret is beaten in battle by Ash and his friends, who escape with N. Barret becomes upset about not being able to capture N and leaves the forest. In "Meowth, Colress and Team Rivalry!", when Team Rocket hacks into Team Plasma's data, the trio imprison Barret, Aldith and the grunts while they run off with the data. However, Barret breaks them free. In "Ash and N: A Clash of Ideals!", he battles with Cedric Juniper's assistants' Pokémon with Colress's aid. In "Team Plasma and the Awakening Ceremony!", he tries to stop Ash and his Pokémon from saving the others using the ones Colress controls with his machine. He is arrested alongside Ghetsis, Colress, Aldith and the other Grunts in "What Lies Beyond Truth and Ideals!" by Looker, after Ghetsis' plan of using Reshiram failed.

Team Flare (フレア団, Furea-dan, Flare Gang), is the crime syndicate in the Kalos region. Their sole goal is to find the Legendary Pokémon Zygarde and wipe out the ugliness within humanity to create a new "beautiful world".

• Lysandre (フラダリ, Furadari, Fleur-de-lis)

Voiced by: Hideaki Tezuka (Japanese), H.D. Quinn (English)

Lysandre is the leader of Team Flare, and the creator of Lysandre Labs. Lysandre is a calm, respected man, who works together with the scientists of his own laboratory, the Lysandre Labs, to create a better future. Despite his somewhat friendly behavior, deep down lies a dark man working with Team Flare to capture the two Zygarde cores. He is able to take control of blue-core Zygarde - referred to as "Z2" - and launches an attack on Lumiose City, devastating it. Alain and Ash team up and defeat him, and Bonnie and Clemont are able to free Zygarde. Z2 and the red-core Zygarde - referred to as "Squishy" - then fuse into Zygarde's Complete Forme and defeat Lysandre, though his fate is unknown after the giant rock is destroyed.

• Xerosic (クセロシキ, Kuseroshiki, Xerosicy)

Voiced by: Tsuguo Mogami (Japanese), Abe Goldfarb (English)

Xerosic is a scientist of Team Flare who detbued in "From A to Z!" He is first seen at Lysandre Labs, receiving information that both Mable and Celosia had failed in their missions to capture 50% Zygarde and Zygarde Core, respectively. He then informs them that Aliana and Bryony would now take on the capturing missions as well. At the end of the episode, he and Lysandre watch the footage Bryony had sent of her encounter with Zygarde, and he becomes excited over discovering that Zygarde possesses a power Team Flare had previously been unaware of. He reappears in "Meeting at Terminus Cave!", again coordinating Team Flare's attacks on Squishy and the study of Zygarde's powers. In "A Meeting of Two Journeys!", Xerosic travels to a remote island to test a prototype weapon that harnesses the energy of the Zygarde Cores and Mega Evolution, causing the trees on the island to bloom red flowers. Following Z2's capture in "An Explosive Operation!", Xerosic is often seen monitoring Z2 and performing experiments on it, using the Giant Rock that Lysandre captures in "Mega Evolution Special III". In "Down to the Fiery Finish!", he uses Team Flare's Mega Evolution energy weapon to control Z2, causing it to unleash massive roots throughout Lumiose City. During the crisis, Xerosic remains in the Lumiose Gym, overseeing Team Flare's operation, and eventually succeeds in controlling Squishy as well. When Clemont and Clembot infiltrate the Gym, Xerosic is challenged by Clemont to a battle for the Lumiose Gym, and is eventually ejected from the Gym. Xerosic reappears in "Facing the Needs of the Many!", kidnapping and possessing Clemont as an act of revenge for defeating him during the Team Flare crisis. Once Ash, Serena and Bonnie, arrive, Xerosic orders Clemont to annihilate them. However, Clemont had placed a microchip on the side of his head beforehand to prevent himself from being controlled. Outraged, Xerosic battles Ash and Clemont, but loses. He then attempts to escape by jumping out of his helicopter, but is grabbed by Clemont's Aipom Arm. After the helicopter lands, he is arrested by Officer Jenny.

• Celosia (コレア, Korea, Correa)

Voiced by: Karin Nanami (Japanese), Rebecca Soler (English)

Celosia is a member of Team Flare who debuted in "From A to Z!" She is first seen leading a group of Team Flare Grunts to recapture Squishy. She manages to find the Zygarde Core, but thanks to Ash, his friends, and Sawyer's interference, she is unable to retrieve it. When she later informs Xerosic of what had happened, he tells her that Bryony has been tasked with capturing the Core as well. The following night, Celosia leads yet another group of Grunts in an attempt to capture the Core, but with Ash and Sawyer covering Serena, Clemont, and Bonnie's retreat, she is once again unsuccessful. She reappeared in "Meeting at Terminus Cave!", teaming up with Bryony to retrieve the Core in Terminus Cave. After a prolonged struggle, during which Team Rocket interferes as well, Team Flare is forced to retreat, as they are unable to defeat Ash's Greninja. In the next episode, she, along with Bryony and several Grunts, monitor sensors to find Squishy, and order two Grunts to watch Ash and his friends. Later, the sensors catch energy waves coming from Squishy and Z2, and manage to determine Squishy's location. However, they are unable to make it in time and lose sight of Squishy. Celosia appears again in "A Towering Takeover!", during Team Flare's attack on Lumiose City, where she allows Team Flare to capture Ash and Pikachu. In the following episode, Celosia is seen at Lysandre Labs with Mable, where the two see the helicopter containing Serena, Mairin, Professor Sycamore, and Team Rocket, nearing their hideout through their security cameras. Upon the infiltration of their base, Celosia goes to stop Serena and the rest and faces Team Rocket in battle. Celosia continues battling with Mable in "Rocking Kalos Defenses!". However, the two Scientists are quickly defeated and subdued in Team Rocket's net trap.

• Mable (モミジ, Momiji)

Voiced by: Sayuri Hara (Japanese), Laurie Hymes (English)

Mable is a member of Team Flare who debuted in "From A to Z!" She is first seen leading a group of Team Flare Grunts in Terminus Cave, where they fail to capture 50% Zygarde. Mable is later seen informing Lysandre and Xerosic of the failure of her mission. Mable briefly appears in "Meeting at Terminus Cave!" in a video call with Xerosic, where she and Aliana are ordered to head to Z2 after Team Flare discovers its location thanks to their sensors. She reappears in "An Explosive Operation!", where she, Aliana, and several Team Flare Grunts try to capture Z2. Despite having his camouflage abilities disabled, Z2 transforms into its 10% Forme and used its powerful attacks to defeat Team Flare. Mable takes part in a battle between Team Flare and Team Rocket, who also wants Z2. After a prolonged struggle, Team Flare emerges victorious and corners Z2. This, however, triggers Z2 to transform to its 50% Forme and it easily blows Mable and the others back. Alain interferes with Z2, allowing Team Flare to fire at Z2 with their lasers and capture it. During Team Flare's attack on Lumiose City, Mable had been ordered to stay at Lysandre Labs. In "Coming Apart at the Dreams!", she and Celosia see a helicopter containing Serena, Mairin, Professor Sycamore, and Team Rocket nearing Lysandre Labs through their security cameras. In the following episode, Mable tries taking down the helicopter, but is attacked by Steven. She and several Team Flare Grunts then face Steven in battle. Mable appears again in "Rocking Kalos Defenses!", where she joins Celosia in her battle against Team Rocket. However, the two Scientists are quickly defeated and subdued.

• Aliana (アケビ, Akebi)

Voiced by: Rinko Natsuhi (Japanese), Theresa Buchheister (English)

Aliana is a member of Team Flare who debuted in "From A to Z!" She is seen at Lysandre Labs with Bryony when Xerosic informs her that she would be tasked with capturing 50% Zygarde, which Mable had recently failed to accomplish. Aliana briefly appears in "Meeting at Terminus Cave!" in a video call with Xerosic, where she and Mable are ordered to head to Z2 after Team Flare finds its location thanks to their sensors. She reappears in "An Explosive Operation!", where she, Mable, and several Team Flare Grunts try to capture Z2. Despite having his camouflage abilities disabled, Z2 transforms into its 10% Forme and used its powerful attacks to defeat Team Flare, escaping them again. Aliana takes part in a battle between Team Flare and Team Rocket, who also wants Z2. After a prolonged struggle, Team Flare emerges victorious and corners Z2. This, however, triggers Z2 to transform to its 50% Forme and blow Aliana and the others back. Alain interferes with Z2, allowing Team Flare to fire at Z2 with their lasers and capture it. Aliana appears again in "A Towering Takeover!", during Team Flare's attack on Lumiose City, where she guards the Prism Tower with Bryony and prevents Serena, Clemont, Bonnie, Clembot, and Blaziken Mask from entering. In the following episode, she and Bryony battle against Clemont, Clembot, and Blaziken Mask, but both ended up getting defeated and are captured, allowing Clemont and Clembot to enter Prism Tower.

• Bryony (バラ, Bara)

Voiced by: Akane Fujita (Japanese), Emily Woo Zeller (English)

Bryony is a member of Team Flare who debuted in "From A to Z!", where Xerosic sends her to retrieve Squishy. She is later seen cornering Squishy, who transforms into its 10% Forme and fore Bryony and her assistant Grunts to retreat. She reappears in "Meeting at Terminus Cave!", teaming up with Celosia to retrieve Squishy in Terminus Cave. After a prolonged struggle, during which Team Rocket interferes as well, Team Flare is forced to retreat, as they are unable to defeat Ash's Greninja and Squishy flees. In the next episode, she, along with Celosia and several Grunts, monitor sensors to find Squishy. Bryony and Celosia also order two Grunts to watch Ash and his friends. Later, the sensors catch energy waves coming from Squishy and Z2, and manage to determine Squishy's location. However, they are unable to make it in time and lose sight of Squishy. Bryony appears again in "A Towering Takeover!", during Team Flare's attack on Lumiose City, where she guards the Prism Tower with Aliana. In the following episode, she and Bryony battle against Clemont and Blaziken Mask, but both are defeated and are captured by Clembot, allowing Clemont and Clembot to enter Prism Tower.

Team Skull (スカル団, Skaru-dan, Skull Gang) is the criminal organization in the Alola region. Their goal is to steal Pokémon for the Aether Foundation.

• Guzma (グズマ, Guzma)

Voiced by: Yasuyuki Kase (Japanese), Evan Maltby (English)

Guzma is the leader of Team Skull.

• Plumeria (プルメリ, Plumeri)

Voiced by: Saki Endō (Japanese), Jo Armeniox (English)

Plumeria is the admin of Team Skull.

• Tupp (タッパ, Tupper)

Voiced by: Takaaki Uchino (SM001-SM011, Japanese), Toru Sakurai (SM024-present, Japanese), Billy Bob Thompson (English)

Tupp is a member of Team Skull.

• Rapp (ラップ, Wrap)

Voiced by: Madoka Asahina (Japanese), Lori Phillips (English)

Rapp is a member of Team Skull.

• Zipp (ジップ, Zip)

Voiced by: Soshiro Hori (Japanese), Jake Paque (English)

Zipp is a member of Team Skull.

• Pokémon Hunter J (ポケモン ハンター J, Pokémon Hantaa J)

Voiced by: Takako Honda (Japanese), Shannon Conley (English)

J was a ruthless and cruel Pokémon hunter around Sinnoh who captured and stole Pokémon to sell them on the black market to her clients for money. She is extremely ruthless and doesn't care about the well-being of others, even her henchman and her clients. She became angry when her clients decided to end their deal and decided to never work for those who she considered "Contract Breakers". Nonetheless, she always gets proud and underestimates her opponents when she thinks she is about to win, leading her fall into the lake.

• Faba (ザオボー, Sauboh)

Voiced by: Mitsuaki Madono (Japanese), Daniel J. Edwards (English)

Faba is a very skeptical person, who has his doubts in others. In addition, Faba is also very grouchy, and slightly pessimistic on progress of others and showing hostility when he angrily throws Ash's Rowlet after he mistakenly takes it instead of Nebby who manages to Teleport. Faba is also sneaky to convince the Team Rocket trio to serve as bodyguards in Aether Paradise, but strictly orders them whenever their leader has visitors such as Ash and the group. Like the other recurring villains aside from the Team Rocket trio, Faba has a sinister side similar to Giovanni's who has his own evil ambitions and his plans to capture Nebby and other Ultra Beasts for his experiments identical to Xerosic's before being freed by Ash and the group and leading its evolution to Cosmoem. After being rejected by a Nihilego, which ends up possessing his boss instead, Faba regrets his actions. After Nihilego is defeated, he becomes much nicer, apologizing to Ash and his friends for his sinister ambitions. However, he still retains his pride of the inventions he makes.

• Viren (ブルガン, Bourgain)

Voiced by: Kiyomitsu Mizuuchi (Japanese), H.D. Quinn (English)

Viren is the selfish and greedy owner of Rainbow Happy Resorts, building the resorts throughout Alola by illegal means and avoiding any punishments from the crimes he committed.