Butch and Cassidy
Butch and Cassidy (Kosaburō and Yamato in Japanese) are members of the Team Rocket Organization, a fictional evil organization in the world of the anime series Pokémon that attempts to exploit Pokemon as part of its goal of world domination. Butch and Cassidy are the rivals of Jessie, James, and Meowth; unlike the trio, however, Butch and Cassidy are successful Rockets and are looked upon favorably by Giovanni. Butch and Cassidy also appear to be more menacing and unfriendly, at least compared to the trio. Their plans are usually on a bigger scale, and are designed to capture many Pokemon at once. These plans usually take the form of scams. They first appeared in "The Breeding Center Secret" and appear throughout the series semi-regularly as guest stars and regularly as the villains of Pokémon Chronicles. Their names could be a pun on Butch Cassidy the outlaw.
Cassidy
Cassidy and Jessie are rivals: their banter back-and-forth, in which they are very candid about their dislike for the other, has revealed that they knew each other when they were young. Many fans have speculated that the two women were once friends. This theory would be logical, as since both women clearly knew each other and both women chose to join Team Rocket, it would make sense that Cassidy, as was the case with Jessie, had at least one parent who was a Rocket.
As for fact, there is very little to no information on Cassidy's life before joining Team Rocket. She trained to become a Rocket at the same time as did Jessie and James (who knew one another) and Butch, who she did not know at the time. Upon being a certified Rocket, she was assigned to be on a team with Butch, and since then, the two have traveled the world stealing Pokémon.
Butch and Cassidy are favored by the Boss, Giovanni. He once personally sprang the pair from jail, much to the shock of Jessie and James, who have never received such treatment. However, it is worth noting that the trio is very rarely thrown in jail, and on the rare occasions that they are, they are able to escape by themselves almost immediately.
Cassidy seems to be the brains behind the operation; between she and Butch, she also seems to be the leader and the more capable battler.
Also, in a Battle Frointer eposide, Brock fails for Cassidy who is disgused as a Nurse Joy. At this time, this eposide has only aired in Japan.
In the Japanese version, Yamato is voiced by Masako Katsuki, while in the English version, Cassidy is voiced by Lisa Ortiz.
Cassidy's Total Pokémon
Raticate
Raticate was the Pokémon that appeared with Butch and Cassidy in their first episode, The Breeding Center Secret. As Cassidy is the only one of the pair that gives orders to Raticate, it has been generally assumed that Raticate is her Pokémon. Once partnered with Butch's Primeape.
Houndour
Houndour was acquired prior to the episode A Trapped Parent. Usually partnered with Butch's Hitmontop.
Sableye
Cassidy used Sableye while kidnapping Professor Oak in Oaknapped!. Usually partnered with Butch's Mightyena.
Tentacruel
Tentacruel was used in the Pokémon Chronicles episode entitled The Search for the Legend. Partnered with Butch's Cloyster.
Charizard
As Jessie used this Pokémon once before, it's quite possible that this Charizard was given to Cassidy by Delibird. Partnered with Aggron.
Butch
Very little is known about Butch's early life. At one point in time, he was training to become a Rocket member at the same time as Jessie, James, and Cassidy. Cassidy and Butch were assigned together and now work as a team, capturing Pokémon for Team Rocket.
Butch's voice is of particuar interest: his raspy, gravely voice is reminicent of the voice of a chainsmoker. Older fans have taken to this idea, and he is often comically written as a manic depressive, passive-aggressive chainsmoker in fan fiction.
Strangely, Butch was not seen with Pokémon in his possession until his third appearance; before that time, Cassidy had always been the one to battle with her Pokémon. Butch, however, has other skills typical of Rockets, including disguise and some physical prowess.
One running gag in the animated series is how Butch is often referred to as "Botch" ("Kosanji") or "Biff" in recent appearances, as Jessie, James, and Meowth are not familiar with him and forget his name. This occurrence strengthens the idea that Jessie and Cassidy have known one another for many years (as they are very aware of one another), as well as the assumption that Butch and Cassidy were not confidantes before joining Team Rocket.
In the Japanese version, Kosaburo is voiced by Takehito Koyasu; Butch is voiced by Matt Mitler.
Butch's Total Pokémon
Primeape
Primeape was the first Pokémon known to belong to Butch. Before its appearance in The Fortune Hunters, Butch had never before engaged in a Pokemon battle on-screen; Cassidy's Pokémon were always used. Once partnered with Cassidy's Raticate.
Hitmontop
Hitmontop was first seen in A Parent Trapped. Usually partnered with Cassidy's Houndour.
Mightyena
Mightyena was first used to help kidnap Professor Oak in the Pokémon Chronicles episode Oaknapped!. Usually partnered with Cassidy's Sableye.
Cloyster
Cloyster was caught and used prior to in Pokémon Chronicles episode The Search for the Legend. Partnered with Cassidy's Tentacruel.
Aggron
As James used this Pokémon once before, it's quite possible that this Aggron was given to Butch by Delibird. Partnered with Charizard.
Their Motto
The rivalry between the Butch and Cassidy and Jessie and Games includes a dispute over the correct version of the Team Rocket motto. Butch and Cassidy's motto is:
Butch (sometimes simaltaneously with Cassidy): Prepare for trouble and make it double!
Cassidy: To infect the world with devastation!
Butch: To blight all peoples in every nation!
Cassidy: To denounce the goodness of truth and love!
Butch: To extend our wrath to the stars above!
Cassidy: Cassidy!
Butch: Butch!
Cassidy: We're Team Rocket, circling earth all day and night!
Butch: Surrender now or you'll surely lose this fight!
Cassidy: That's right!
As with Meowth, the last verse of the motto is most often a cry from whatever Pokemon with which the duo is seen.
Both teams claim 'their' motto is the correct one, although since the version that Cassidy and Butch chant is more 'evil-sounding,' it is likely the official version.
Their Names
Butch and Cassidy are named after outlaw Butch Cassidy, similar to how Jessie and James are named after outlaw Jesse James. Their original Japanese names also reflect a similar trend: Yamato is the name of the rival of master Japanese swordsman Miyamoto Musashi, for whom Musashi/Jessie is named.
Miscellanea
- In Pokémon Chronicles, Butch and Cassidy are often sent "blasting off again!" in the same manner as Jessie, James, and Meowth.