Summary
The Rocket Prize Master in Pokémon Journeys is a portable gachapon that randomly distributes Pokémon, connecting back to the Pokémon’s original association with the gachapon. The concept of the Poké Ball in Pokémon was inspired by the gachapon capsule, with the iconic design derived from the half-red/half-white shape of the gachapon capsule. The Rocket Prize Master allows Jessie and James to battle different Pokémon each time they use it, which adds excitement to their battle with Ash and reflects the rarity of the prize in the gachapon machine.
All over Pokémon Journeys, Team Rocket has a secret weapon called the Rocket Prize Master, but this seemingly small element is actually reminiscent of the early versions of the series, when Pokémon were associated with gachapon.
In Japan, gachapon is a type of machine that awards prizes at random, making people surprised at what they will get each time. Gachapon items are often distributed as small, semi-transparent, half-colored orbs, making it possible to see the prize inside. Gachapon games today are probably better known in the West, and they get their name from the gachapon machine’s simulation of the random element. Rocket Prize Master is actually a “mobile” gachapon machine that distributes random Pokémon, but this isn’t the first time a Pokémon has touched a gachapon – this has happened before both the Pokémon Red and Blue games.
Pokémon was inspired by Gachapon from the start
The earliest sketch of a Pokémon, called the “Capsule Monster,” actually takes its name from the gachapon capsule, a drug that was popular in the 90s. These capsules eventually became what we know. Today as Poké Balls, with the iconic half-red/half-white design derived from the traditional shape of the gachapon capsule. By placing Poké Balls inside the Rocket Prize Master, which is undeniably a gachapon machine, the Poké Balls have actually returned to their original inspiration, bringing the concept of a full circle to Pokémon back to its origin. Ironically, Rocket Prize Master uses special Team Rocket Poké balls that are all black.
The Rocket Prize Master’s role in the story is essentially a way to allow more Pokémon to debut in the series, as it means Jessie and James have to fight different Pokémon each time they call for it. . It also adds flavor to Jessie and James’ battles with Ash, as they sometimes gain the upper hand by getting a strong Pokémon from the machine (pulling Gyarados and Tyranitar the first time they use it). Going back to the series’ roots and turning this secret weapon into a gachapon machine is something of a genius, especially since the coin on Meowth’s head is used as the currency to activate the machine.
Rocket Prize Master is definitely an exciting new element that Pokémon Journeys has added to shake things up from the status quo, and its connection to Pokémon’s earliest history is just a nice bonus. While the Rocket Prize Master doesn’t really help Jessie and James win all of that often, it’s an accurate reflection of what it’s like to use a gachapon machine, as the best prizes tend to be. quite rare. Fans are familiar with PokémonIts history can still appreciate gachapon references as a reminiscent of those early days, before people knew what Pikachu was.