Team Rocket is an infamous criminal organization set on stealing, capturing, and selling Pokémon. They also conduct cruel experiments that sometimes lead to the death of their subjects. They're the overarching villains of the series and their aim is to take over the world, as evildoers are wont to do.
As awful as Team Rocket's intentions are, their saving grace involves a trio of silly independent field agents focused on capturing Ash's Pikachu. Jessie, James, and Meowth have become fan favorites over the years and typically appear for comedic relief purposes. Here are 10 pieces of beautiful fan art inspired by the quirky team of antagonists.
10 Team Rocket in the Rain
Kimkun06 is a Puerto Rican Pokémon fan who crafted an array of Team Rocket art pieces based on song titles. The imaginative approach was effective and the artist expertly nailed the theme. However, this rendition of Jessie and James in the rain is a standout.
The image leaves itself open to interpretation where one can infer the reason behind Jessie's obvious distress. It could just be because she got soaked by the rain... or maybe she failed a task and then got soaked by the rain, which would be twice as frustrating. Either way, we're glad James came equipped with a suitably large umbrella.
9 Jimmy
MistressAinley is a Brazilian character designer and professional illustrator. Her portfolio is a colorful and diverse one that features several Team Rocket fan pieces, so it's no surprise that she makes multiple appearances on this list.
This stunning portrait of James is so beautiful we almost feel guilty for even looking at it. The colors are pleasingly smooth, especially the dazzling shades of purple that overpower the image. Aside from the enlarged eyes, the details are so genuinely human that this could almost be considered a semi-realistic piece. The dimensions added to what little we see of the clothing is the cherry on top.
8 Troublemakers
Greek artist Smolb describes Team Rocket as "maybe the best thing to ever happen to Pokémon" and we can't say he's entirely wrong. This piece of fan art is excellent in so many ways that it can hardly be explained with words (but we'll try regardless).
The colors and textures within this artwork are top-notch, but the image has a distinct attitude that truly makes it unique. A cheeky type of fervor is present on the expressions of Jessie, James, and Meowth while Wobbuffet displays the same dimwitted visage he's known for. The background is just as appealing and features an intimidating Arbok opposite a displeased Weezing.
7 Anime Portrait
Shuukaku92 is an anime fan from the Netherlands who specializes in uncanny portraits of some of our favorite characters. Naturally, that includes Team Rocket's dynamic trio, Jessie, James, and Meowth. Pokémon holds a special place in the artist's heart and it shows with this beautiful piece.
Jessie and James were reimagined in terms of facial features to resemble lifelike versions of themselves. Meowth's fur was granted some subtle texture that — with the aid of some savvy shading — makes the cat look like a real creature. It's an impeccable family photo that makes us want to teleport into the world of Pokémon even more than we already do.
6 James and Meowth
OhNips is a full-time professional freelance artist with her own original webcomic, OFFcell. While she has remained busy with a slew of personal projects, OhNips took a moment to grant us this incredible sketch of James playing with Meowth in 2018.
The commissioned piece shows a different, and more playful, side of the duo that we don't often witness. James appears content while dangling a small toy over the cat Pokémon's head and the sheer happiness is palpable. It's an adorably simple concept that unfortunately would never be seen in the anime.
5 Jess and Wobbles
Professional story artist Kiana K. (kianamai) is truly passionate about Pokémon — particularly the Team Rocket trio — and her fan art is usually inspired by the series. She has an endless stream of relevant artwork to choose from, therefore she makes multiple appearances on this list.
The "Jess and Wobbles" piece came about because Kiana wanted to draw something "soft" and she certainly succeeded. The image is enchanting and adorable, partly due to the enthusiastic expression on Wobbuffet's face. It exudes happiness and lightheartedness, which is what "soft" fan art is essentially all about.
4 Underwater Team Rocket
This five-star illustration comes courtesy of Russian artist RenaIllusion. Her work relies heavily on intricate details that mesh together to create mind-blowing pieces. She favors glossy, vibrant colors that bring her images to life in a manner that most anime can't even replicate.
This underwater shot starring Jessie and James is an elaborate demonstration of RenaIllusion's expertise. The way that the duo's hair flows, and the bubbles that frame them, make for a genuine under the sea experience that even Ariel would be jealous of. Our only question is: Did Team Rocket learn how to breathe underwater or do they just look this attractive while holding their breath?
3 Little Jimmy
As promised, MistressAinley pops up on the list yet again with another James illustration. However, this one cranks up the adorable factor with a small, child-like rendition of the character. The icing on the cake is the fact that it features his lovable Growlithe looking as peaceful as ever.
The innocence in this image is utterly disarming, which could mostly be attributed to the serene look in James' eyes. The caption is even more endearing, where the artist describes her piece as, "The sweet prince and his pet, Growlie." We'll take two, please.
2 Semi-Realistic Team Rocket
Athena-Mariah (PelechiAM) is a self-taught digital artist who started drawing at the age of 12. A quick glance at her portfolio is more than enough to prove just how far her dedication took her and she should definitely be proud of her talents. The skillful Greek artist tends to draw characters from her imagination, but she occasionally tackles some of our anime favorites.
This semi-realistic interpretation is one of Athena-Mariah's best and it rejuvenates the classic Team Rocket look that fans are accustomed to. The colorwork is spectacular, as is the detailing on the duo's hairstyles. The Meowth graffiti in the background is also a creative addition.
1 OG Squad
Returning with another piece of fan art is Kiana K. (kianamai) who got the inspiration for this "family photo" of sorts from one of her old 2013 drawings. A glimpse at the original exhibits the growth and evolution of Kiana's art style and it's interesting to see how far she has pushed her talents.
This image of the "OG Squad" features Ash and his Pikachu front and center while the Team Rocket trio (and Wobbuffet) linger behind them. It's a fun, lighthearted piece that makes us want to re-watch some old-school Pokémon episodes for the nostalgia.