The perfect villains for a show like Pokémon are undoubtedly Jessie and James. This duo works together to block Ash Ketchum and his team from succeeding, but their true focus is to get their hands on Ash's Pikachu. Jessie, James, and Meowth don't follow the rules of the Team Rocket organization, and they instead try to handle business their own way.

RELATED: 10 Pokémon Anime That Don't Include Ash

Unfortunately, this is most likely why they always struggle to come out on top. It's a genuine surprise that Giovanni doesn't just cut them loose. That being said, Jessie and James' ability to endure has made them particularly popular Pokémon antagonists.

Updated November 30th, 2022 by Daniel Kurland: Among the many changes that the Pokémon anime has experienced, Jessie, James, and Meowth of Team Rocket remain an important constant in these adventures. Jessie and James’ radical attempts to steal Pikachu have become increasingly incredulous, but audiences have learned to love these awkward antagonists. Pokémon fans see Jessie and James on a regular basis whenever they tune into the anime, but there’s a lot about these characters that get overlooked by audiences.

15 Jessie & James Have Collectively Owned 23 Pokémon

Jessie and James dance with their Pokemon in the anime

Team Rocket’s Jessie and James exhibit extreme tunnel vision over their desire to capture Pikachu, but the two of them have managed to acquire a respectable party of Pokémon since Ash’s partner first popped up on their radar. Jessie and James have owned close to two-dozen Pokémon between the two of them.

Jessie has owned 11 unique Pokémon, with Arbok, Wobbuffet, and Mimikyu being some of her most prominent, while James has owned 12, which includes Weezing, Victreebel, Cacnea, and Mareanie. They’ve formed tender bonds with these Pokémon, even the ones that they’ve captured under duress.

14 Jessie & James Possess Impressive Pokémon Technology

Meowth experiments with Rotom Phone in Pokemon anime

Jessie and James aren’t against using Pokémon to accomplish their nefarious needs, but they also have some useful technology that’s made their lives much easier. Some of the most famous include the many signature vehicles they've relied on over the years, such as their balloons and submarines.

Jessie and James also have a Rotom Phone that doubles as a Pokédex and has helped them out of many situations where they’re overwhelmed. The team also has regular use of a Rocket Prize Master, which dispenses single-use Pokémon that help complement Jessie and James’ parties.

13 Jessie & James Become Pokémon Streamers

Jessie and James as World Masters streamers in Pokemon anime

Pokémon Journeys: The Series has finally rewarded Ash with the ultimate accomplishment with his victory in the World Coronation Series’ Master Eight Tournament. These epic proceedings dominate a wise stretch of episodes and Jessie, James, and Meowth infiltrate them with the hopes of stealing Ash’s Pikachu.

RELATED: 10 Times Pokémon Broke Our Hearts

Jessie and James’ cover for the event is to masquerade as two streamers who are covering the World Coronation Series. Curiously, Jessie, James, and Meowth get lost in these roles, begin to truly enjoy their commentator positions, and lose sight of their original mission.

12 Jessie & James Are In Possession Of Z-Crystals

James show off a Darkinium Z Z-Crystal ring in Pokemon anime

There have been exciting developments across the decades of Pokémon content, and the franchise has found smart ways to give characters an extra power boost that doesn’t require a permanent evolution. Gigantamax forms and Mega Evolutions are powerful changes, but so is the existence of debilitating Z-Moves.

Ash’s use of Z-Moves with Pikachu has helped him win some of his most challenging battles. Jessie and James receive the same privilege when they visit Ula’ula Island. Jessie gets Mimikium Z and James receives Darkinium Z. It helps bring their Pokémon’s powers to unprecedented places.

11 Jessie & James Are In Their Twenties

Team Rocket poses with a Ditto in Pokemon anime

Age is a funny thing in the Pokémon anime since certain characters appear to exist in a state of perpetual adolescence. Ash has been on adventures for more than two decades, and yet he remains a pre-teen boy. When it comes to Jessie and James’ ages, there’s evidence to suggest that these outlaws are in their twenties.

There’s a special promotional CD for the Pokémon anime that confirms this information, and the original Japanese version of Pokémon: The Movie 2000 mentions that Jessie is 25. This makes Jessie and James quite older than Ash, whereas the Team Rocket enemies in the video games are the same age as the protagonist.

10 Jessie & James Get Married & Have Children In The Manga

Jessie and James kissing in Pokemon anime

In a manga titled The Electric Tale of Pikachu, readers get to see Jessie and James explore a romantic relationship together. They even get married and have kids together. This manga story makes for a fascinating narrative to some fans who have always considered Jessie and James to be the perfect couple.

RELATED: 10 Differences Between Classic Pokémon & The Modern Series

However, other readers were angered by this manga because Jessie and James have never really shown each other affection or significant romantic interest throughout the anime. Jessie and James might be one couple from Pokémon that actually makes the most logical sense

9 James Had A Partner Named Jessebelle Before He Meets Jessie

Jessebelle acts coy in Pokemon anime

Before James and Jessie got together, there was actually another woman in his life. James' former flame is Jessebelle, an extremely rude, possessive, and controlling individual. James comes from a wealthy family, and it was unfortunately an environment that wasn't filled with a lot of love.

Jessie's relationship with Jessebelle and the unhappy life that he's come from eventually pushed him to his breaking point where he runs away. It's after this newfound freedom that James meets Jessie and they decide to work together, effectively leaving his past behind him for good.

8 Jessie Has Grown Up Facing Dire Circumstances

A wet Jessie is reasoned with in the Pokemon anime

Jessie is a tough member of Team Rocket, but she was once a little girl. Jessie's childhood is surprisingly dark, especially for a series like Pokémon that's usually kid-friendly. Jessie's mother is presumed dead after she fails to return home from a mission where she tries to locate Mew. From this point on, Jessie learns to live without a proper maternal figure.

Following her mother's disappearance, Jessie enters the foster care system and is forced to eat snow because there's not enough real food around. Jessie has an oddly bright disposition over all of this, which makes her childhood even sadder since she's unaware that she leads a tough life.

7 Jessie & James Joined The Bridge Bike Gang Before Team Rocket

Jessie and James embrace during a pose in the Pokemon anime

Before Jessie and James were making a name for themselves as part of Team Rocket, they were committed members of the Bridge Bike Gang. Gang admission isn't always easy, but Jessie and James are ready to pledge themselves to this group in order to feel stronger and better about themselves.

RELATED: 10 Unpopular Pokémon Opinions We Can't Disagree With

The Bridge Bike Gang hasn't become a major presence in the Pokémon universe, and Jessie and James are definitely better off having switched associations. However, there's still a little bit of nostalgia that the two have for this scrappy period in their lives when they were just starting to figure out who they really are.

6 Jessie Was Going To Be A Nurse Or A Trainer Before Becoming A Villain

Jessie acts bashful at home in Pokemon anime

Jessie has solidified her status as one of Pokémon's most determined antagonists, but under different circumstances, she might have been a protector of Pokémon and someone who Ash and company turn to for help. Jessie's initial passion was to become a Pokémon nurse and be someone that heals Pokémon. Sadly, Jessie's desire to heal sick and injured Pokémon came to an end when she fails nursing school and loses her determination.

Jessie doesn't immediately shift to villainy, and she briefly makes a go at being a Pokémon trainer, much like Ash. However, Jessie once again faces defeat when she fails out of tech school and decides that her skills are best suited for mischief and crime.

5 Jessie Has A History As A Model

Jessie raises her arm in a pose in the Pokemon anime

It is obvious that Jessie cares about her looks and outward appearance, but maybe just a little too much. Jessie requires constant validation when it comes to her beauty and youthful vitality. Jessie has plenty of other accomplishments to her name, but there's no greater offense than insulting her appearance and triggering deep-seated insecurities that have been with her throughout her entire life.

Curiously, there's a popular theory that Jessie comes from a career in modeling, which is what's responsible for this toxic mindset. Jessie can't help but equate youth and beauty to happiness and success. This unhealthy attitude sets her up for unrealistic expectations and disappointment in life.

4 James Carries A Set Of Pokémon Cards Along With His Pokédex

James reveals some of his Pokemon cards in the Pokemon anime

Together with his Pokédex, James carries around a set of his own Pokémon cards that supply him with additional info. The reason he does this is that he prefers to stay as up-to-date as possible about various Pokémon classifications and details. James has a surprising thirst for knowledge.

RELATED: 10 Best Character Returns In The Pokémon Anime

James' unique combination of cards and technology reflects the many diverse tactics that are available for Pokémon trainers to dominate their fields. There are instances where James would have fallen short if he had relied purely upon a Pokédex or Rotom Phone.

3 Meowth Claims To Be Their Leader

Meowth, Wobuffet, James, And Jessie ride a hot air balloon In Pokemon anime

Meowth is a beyond loyal soldier of Team Rocket, but he also spouts that he is his faction's leader and that he actually outranks his human counterparts, Jessie and James. Jessie and James have grown comfortable ignoring Meowth's delusions of grandeur, but the audience is left to wonder if there is any truth to Meowth's boasts.

It's unlikely, but technically possible, that Meowth is the one who calls the shots and that Jessie and James have just grown comfortable with their lack of responsibility. In the end, the leader of this trio is ultimately irrelevant since they're all there for each other when it matters.

2 Jessie Hates It When Anyone Touches Her Hair

Jessie sparkles in her pose in the Pokemon anime

Jessie definitely puts a lot of stock in her physical appearance, but her hair takes precedence above everything else. Jessie is likely to fall to pieces if she can't cultivate the desired look for whatever disguise she needs. Her sensitivity about the topic reveals itself whenever someone ruffles her hair.

Most people know better than to cross this line, but Seviper accidentally takes off some of Jessie's hair with its intense bite. Needless to say, Jessie does not respond positively, and the Pokémon is left to worry if it might somehow be overpowered by a human.

1 Team Rocket's Motto Is A Contradiction

Team Rocket blasting off again in Pokémon.

Dedicated Pokémon fans can easily recite Jessie and James' motto by heart: "To protect the world from devastation! To unite all peoples within our nation! To denounce the evils from truth and love!” These are pretty words, but in real life, Team Rocket doesn't actually follow through with this motto. They turn this optimistic phrase into a complete contradiction.

Jessie and James do not protect the world from devastation. In fact, they're often responsible for the devastation. They do not unite the nation's people and are usually promoting division. Finally, Jessie and James do not denounce evil from truth and love. Rather, they denounce truth and love by being evil.

NEXT: 10 Things Only Hardcore Fans Know About Pokémon Lore