With a twinkle in the sky, Team Rocket’s blast off sequences have been a staple of the Pokémon anime for as long as they’ve been featured. From the original Kanto series all the way to Pokémon Journeys, they have been a constant thorn in Ash Ketchum’s side. The tenacious trio of Jesse, James, and Meowth have made it their goal in life to successfully capture his Pikachu, whose exceptional power constantly foils their schemes.

Time and time again, viewers will likely hear the quotable catchphrase, ''looks like Team Rocket's blasting off again!'' By the end of most episodes, Team Rocket is often sent flying by some explosive attack. No matter how many times they blast off into the atmosphere, they always survive no worse for the wear. Team Rocket’s legendary running gag is undoubtedly a great source of comedic value for anime viewers.

It's the First of Many Over The Course of The Series

The second episode of the Pokémon anime is where it all begins for the most iconic villains of the entire series. Jesse, James, and their famous talking Meowth attempt a hostile takeover of a Pokémon Center in Viridian City. With the help of Ash using Misty’s bike to power up electricity for his Pikachu, they strike Team Rocket with a Thundershock. It results in a chain reaction that causes a massive explosion.

Interestingly enough, this isn’t the first instance of their blast off. Rather, when flying debris hits their hot air balloon, they get sent flying in a spiral direction towards the sky. It’s a historical moment for the anime, since this is the start of Team Rocket’s many blast offs. Little did they know just how frequent this would end up becoming for them.

9 Clefairy Sends Them Flying With Metronome

This is The Earliest Instance of a Typical Blast Off

It takes a few episodes into the original Pokémon anime, but when a Clefairy uses a Metronome to mimic Explosion, Team Rocket finally blasts off in the manner they are most well known for. This is the first time viewers see the twinkle star as they fly off into the distance. Interestingly, there are still a few key differences between the later blast offs, so it’s clear the series was still finding its footing with the running gag.

James mentions they are ''blasting off again,'' although later episodes will have all the members say it at the same time. Team Rocket also doesn’t spout their catchphrase at the end of the blast off. Instead, Meowth discusses Metronome while Jesse states her dislike of the move. It’s a really interesting look at how the blast off was gradually formed over time.

8 Team Rocket Causes Their Own Blast Off

Pikachu Didn't Have to Really Do Anything For Once

Team Rocket blast offs follow a specific formula in the Pokémon anime. Jesse, James, and Meowth usually get struck by Pikachu’s thunder bolts, and the hapless trio argue with each other as they become a twinkle in the sky. However, when their plan to steal a secret perfume in the Celadon Gym backfires very badly, their blast off stands out in a few different ways.

For starters, Meowth accidentally sets off a bomb right in the middle of Team Rocket’s motto, which launches them into the air. James argues with Meowth as Jesse happily points out they stole a ''lovely parting gift,'' namely a perfume bottle. Despite the fact that it’s later revealed to be Gloom’s scent, which makes out Team Rocket as soon as they smell it, this is a rare instance where Jesse feels rather victorious in a blast off.

7 Pikachu Tricks Meowth With a Faulty Controller

Foul Play Only Gets Them So Far in a Tournament

Cheaters never prosper in the original Pokémon anime. Team Rocket enters the P1 Grand Prix with a stolen Hitmonlee, and after they advance to the finals, they go up against Ash’s Primeape. They plan to shock it via a remote control device, but it never goes off due to Pikachu’s interference. Jesse and Jame scold Meowth after they predictably lose the finals, but Pikachu suddenly turns up and hands over the device from earlier.

Meowth doesn’t question the sudden generosity from his sworn enemy, and it comes back to bite him when the device electrocutes Team Rocket. Pikachu blasts them off with their own bomb, all while Ash’s Primeape celebrates its championship. For once, the mascot Pokémon beats Team Rocket in their own game of deception and trickery.

6 Bewear Runs Off Into The Sky With Team Rocket

The Strong Arm Pokémon Strong Arms Their Escape Route

Whether they like it or not, a motherly Bewear has decided to look after Team Rocket as her own children. Over the course of Pokémon Sun and Moon, the bear repeatedly defies the conventional tropes associated with Team Rocket’s blasting off. Jesse, James, and Meowth no longer have to be caught in huge explosions just to get sent flying. Rather, they can just wait for Bewear to carry them away, regardless if they want the assistance.

One memorable instance takes place after Team Rocket gets beaten up yet again during the Thrifty Megamart Trials. Bewear simply places them in a shopping cart and runs off a diagonal slope made from a broken rooftop. It’s completely ridiculous, yet that’s what makes it so fun in the first place. Bewear often breaks the monotony of typical blast off scenarios and does something completely different to the formula.

5 Alola Starters Finally Send Team Rocket Packing

It Takes Several Episodes of Build Up to Get There

Many fans love Team Rocket’s portrayal in Pokémon Sun and Moon. Not only do they have stylistic expressions that lend itself well to a brand new art style, they also often succeed in their goals, at least for a temporary amount of time. Surprisingly, their signature blast off doesn’t happen until several episodes into the series, but it’s definitely worth the wait.

Team Rocket manages to capture Litten, Rowlet, and Popplio, the starter Pokémon of the Alola region. However, despite Meowth’s best efforts to get Litten to join his cause, the latter betrays Team Rocket in a key moment. A combination attack of Peck, Ember, and Bubble Beam sends Team Rocket airborne for the first time in this generation. Jesse isn’t even mad at the results, as she gets everybody to ready their pose for a blast off.

4 Entei Destroys Team Rocket's Balloon

Their Cartoonish Landing is What Makes The Moment

The entire world is watching as film crews report a mysterious incident near a mansion. An enigmatic force seemingly known as Entei fiercely guards the place and isn’t letting anybody get inside. Team Rocket can only watch from a distance with their hot air balloon. Naturally, a flying aircraft with a giant Meowth’s head would clearly attract some attention. Entei takes notice and sends forth a Fire Blast in their direction.

This rips a giant hole through their balloon. Team Rocket doesn’t even get a chance to finish their catchphrase as they crash into a crystallized hill. It’s a comedic moment that’s abruptly completed by a cartoonish thud. Nonetheless, they unintentionally create a diversion for Ash’s group so they could enter the mansion, so it does drive the story and provide a few laughs at the same time.

3 Team Rocket Sacrifices Themselves to Save The World

Ash is Surprised to See Them Jump Off Lugia

Jesse, James, and Meowth aren’t necessarily real villains so much as they’re incompetent criminals. They secretly have an honorable side, as shown in the second Pokémon movie. A dangerous collector, along with his Moltres and Zapdos, put the world at risk of destruction. Rather than let everything fall into ruin, Team Rocket saves Ash from a stranded island and races to the skies with the legendary bird Lugia.

However, when they realize their weight is holding down the mythical beast during a major battle, Team Rocket willingly leaps off so Lugia in a heroic ''sacrifice.'' They blast off holding their hands in unison, not unlike a group of skydivers, as they recite their catchphrase and fall downwards. They end up surviving as they always do, but unlike most blast offs in the series, this one is meant to be heartfelt and poignant.

2 Pikachu Blows Up Their Helicopter

Team Rocket Can Only Scream When They See Pikachu's Smile

Nothing gets in the way of true love in the Pokémon anime. Team Rocket disrupts a Butterfree mating season as they capture several of them via a helicopter with a giant net. In a very impressive display of confidence, Ash’s Butterfree fights back to protect his potential lover, and teams up with Pikachu to give Team Rocket the shock of their lives.

There is something darkly comedic about Pikachu’s sinister grin as it gets ready to zap Team Rocket. What follows is several back and forth cuts between Pikachu letting sparks fly and the frantic trio desperately unable to stop what’s about to happen. Their helicopter catches fire and explodes in spectacular fashion. Team Rocket is sent blasting off downwards into a black abyss as their screams trail off.

It's a Bittersweet Send Off For The Anime's Most Prominent Villains

Pokemon Journeys marks the end of a 25 year adventure for Ash Ketchum. In the bittersweet final episode of the season, he says his goodbyes to Brock and Misty as he parts ways forever. Team Rocket also makes one last attempt to capture Pikachu for old time’s sake, but a timely return of Ash’s Pidgeot puts a stop to said plans. Pikachu delivers a Thunderbolt as Team Rocket blasts off for the final time in the anime series.

Ultimately, it’s the journey that counts for something, as they accept that despite constant failure, the chase is more important than the catch. With a smile on their faces and their arms stretched out, Team Rocket happily blasts off knowing they will always go after the world’s strongest Pokémon. While the episode itself has divided the fanbase over how it should’ve ended, at least Team Rocket is happy with their lot in life.