TV-Series
Description
Nyarth, known in English as Meowth, is a Meowth who appears throughout the Pokémon anime as a member of Team Rocket and one of the series' main recurring antagonists. He is part of a trio alongside his partners Jessie, known in Japanese as Musashi, and James, known as Kojirou, and together they follow the protagonist Ash Ketchum, known as Satoshi, and his friends on their journey, usually attempting to steal Ash's Pikachu. Nyarth made his first appearance in the early episodes of the original series, alongside his two human partners, and remained a fixture of the anime through nearly every subsequent series.
In terms of appearance, Nyarth is a small, feline Pokémon with cream-colored fur that turns brown at the tips of his hind paws and tail. His ovoid head features four prominent whiskers, wide eyes with slit pupils, two pointed teeth in his upper jaw, and a gold coin known as a koban embedded in his forehead. Unlike typical members of his species, he is bipedal and walks upright on two legs.
Nyarth's background is unusual among Pokémon. He was abandoned as a young kitten and spent his early life alone on the streets, learning to steal in order to survive. At some point he traveled to Hollywood, referred to in the anime as Tinseltown, in search of fame and fortune. There he fell in love with a female Meowth named Meowzie, who belonged to a wealthy trainer and showed no interest in him because he was a common street Meowth. Determined to win her affection, Nyarth taught himself to walk on two legs and to speak human language, a difficult process that took considerable time and effort. Despite these efforts, Meowzie rejected him again, calling him a freak for no longer behaving like an ordinary Meowth. Heartbroken, Nyarth later taught himself to read, and the first word he learned was rocket. This word led him to seek out Team Rocket and join the organization, where he eventually came to serve the group's boss, Giovanni, before being assigned to work with Jessie and James.
Personality-wise, Nyarth is cunning, sharp-tongued, and ambitious. He frequently serves as the brains of the Team Rocket trio, devising elaborate schemes and strategies to capture Pikachu and other Pokémon for their boss. He often views himself as the leader of the group, though his plans regularly backfire and leave him frustrated. Beneath his confident and sometimes boastful exterior, he is sensitive and good-hearted, and he forms genuine emotional attachments. He values his place within Team Rocket and is deeply loyal to Jessie and James, viewing them as a kind of family, which is significant given his lonely beginnings. He is also driven by a desire for recognition, particularly from Giovanni, and constantly hopes to prove his worth and rise to a favored position within the organization.
Nyarth's primary motivation is to capture Pikachu and present it to Giovanni in order to gain his favor. His eagerness to please his boss fuels most of his schemes, and he repeatedly strives to demonstrate his usefulness and talent. At the same time, his actions reveal a deeper longing for belonging, stability, and acceptance. He finds some measure of these things in his partnership with Jessie and James, and his loyalty to them often overrides his personal ambitions.
His role in the story is that of a recurring antagonist, though he is not a threatening villain in the typical sense. Most of his appearances involve him and his partners attempting to steal Pikachu, only to be defeated and launched into the sky with a familiar blast-off. Over time, he became a constant presence in the anime, appearing in the vast majority of episodes across many series, as well as in numerous animated films and in the Pikachu Shorts spin-off works, in which he often takes a more central role. In some storylines, he temporarily sets aside his rivalry with the heroes and works alongside them when a greater threat appears, such as in episodes involving a mind-controlling Malamar, where Nyarth plays a key part in helping the heroes defeat the villain.
Key relationships shape much of his character. His bond with Jessie and James is the most important, and their dynamic is one of mutual reliance and affection despite frequent bickering. Episodes focused on their history together show how the three became a team and formed a close-knit unit, and Nyarth's loyalty to them is repeatedly demonstrated, including occasions where he chooses to remain with them rather than pursue personal glory or comfort. His relationship with Giovanni is defined by admiration and a desire for approval, yet he has been replaced in Giovanni's favor by a Persian, a Pokémon he harbors a strong dislike for and views as a rival for their boss's attention. His relationship with Pikachu is complex, somewhere between rivalry and friendship. Although he constantly tries to capture Pikachu, the two are often forced to cooperate when separated from their respective groups, and on these occasions they form a genuine bond. Nyarth himself has noted that, under different circumstances, he and Pikachu would likely be good friends. He also has a history of showing compassion toward outcast and vulnerable Pokémon, such as comforting a troubled Chimchar and showing affection for the egg that later hatched into Misty's Togepi.
Nyarth undergoes notable development over the course of the anime. His backstory, revealed in a dedicated origin episode, explains how his early abandonment and unrequited love shaped his decision to become a talking Pokémon and eventually a member of Team Rocket. Later stories expand on his past and his time training with Jessie and James, deepening the sense that the trio genuinely care for one another. Although he remains a scheming villain throughout much of the series, his character is consistently humanized through moments of vulnerability, kindness, and selflessness. These moments include encouraging a struggling fellow Pokémon, siding with the heroes during crises that threaten the world, and choosing friendship and loyalty over personal gain.
In terms of abilities, Nyarth is the only non-legendary Pokémon in the anime who can speak human language, and he can also read and understand written language. He frequently acts as a translator and liaison between humans and Pokémon, using his speech to communicate with both sides, gather information, and devise plans. He taught himself to walk on two legs in addition to speaking, making him physically distinct from other Meowth. However, his ability to speak came at a cost, as he gave up the ability to use the move Payday in exchange for learning human speech, which is why he is never seen using that attack. He is also notably fast and agile, able to dodge quick attacks and react swiftly in dangerous situations, and he uses his sharp claws in battle when the need arises. His intelligence, resourcefulness, and quick thinking are his greatest strengths, allowing him to escape tight situations and outwit opponents despite his frequent failures in capturing Pikachu.
In terms of appearance, Nyarth is a small, feline Pokémon with cream-colored fur that turns brown at the tips of his hind paws and tail. His ovoid head features four prominent whiskers, wide eyes with slit pupils, two pointed teeth in his upper jaw, and a gold coin known as a koban embedded in his forehead. Unlike typical members of his species, he is bipedal and walks upright on two legs.
Nyarth's background is unusual among Pokémon. He was abandoned as a young kitten and spent his early life alone on the streets, learning to steal in order to survive. At some point he traveled to Hollywood, referred to in the anime as Tinseltown, in search of fame and fortune. There he fell in love with a female Meowth named Meowzie, who belonged to a wealthy trainer and showed no interest in him because he was a common street Meowth. Determined to win her affection, Nyarth taught himself to walk on two legs and to speak human language, a difficult process that took considerable time and effort. Despite these efforts, Meowzie rejected him again, calling him a freak for no longer behaving like an ordinary Meowth. Heartbroken, Nyarth later taught himself to read, and the first word he learned was rocket. This word led him to seek out Team Rocket and join the organization, where he eventually came to serve the group's boss, Giovanni, before being assigned to work with Jessie and James.
Personality-wise, Nyarth is cunning, sharp-tongued, and ambitious. He frequently serves as the brains of the Team Rocket trio, devising elaborate schemes and strategies to capture Pikachu and other Pokémon for their boss. He often views himself as the leader of the group, though his plans regularly backfire and leave him frustrated. Beneath his confident and sometimes boastful exterior, he is sensitive and good-hearted, and he forms genuine emotional attachments. He values his place within Team Rocket and is deeply loyal to Jessie and James, viewing them as a kind of family, which is significant given his lonely beginnings. He is also driven by a desire for recognition, particularly from Giovanni, and constantly hopes to prove his worth and rise to a favored position within the organization.
Nyarth's primary motivation is to capture Pikachu and present it to Giovanni in order to gain his favor. His eagerness to please his boss fuels most of his schemes, and he repeatedly strives to demonstrate his usefulness and talent. At the same time, his actions reveal a deeper longing for belonging, stability, and acceptance. He finds some measure of these things in his partnership with Jessie and James, and his loyalty to them often overrides his personal ambitions.
His role in the story is that of a recurring antagonist, though he is not a threatening villain in the typical sense. Most of his appearances involve him and his partners attempting to steal Pikachu, only to be defeated and launched into the sky with a familiar blast-off. Over time, he became a constant presence in the anime, appearing in the vast majority of episodes across many series, as well as in numerous animated films and in the Pikachu Shorts spin-off works, in which he often takes a more central role. In some storylines, he temporarily sets aside his rivalry with the heroes and works alongside them when a greater threat appears, such as in episodes involving a mind-controlling Malamar, where Nyarth plays a key part in helping the heroes defeat the villain.
Key relationships shape much of his character. His bond with Jessie and James is the most important, and their dynamic is one of mutual reliance and affection despite frequent bickering. Episodes focused on their history together show how the three became a team and formed a close-knit unit, and Nyarth's loyalty to them is repeatedly demonstrated, including occasions where he chooses to remain with them rather than pursue personal glory or comfort. His relationship with Giovanni is defined by admiration and a desire for approval, yet he has been replaced in Giovanni's favor by a Persian, a Pokémon he harbors a strong dislike for and views as a rival for their boss's attention. His relationship with Pikachu is complex, somewhere between rivalry and friendship. Although he constantly tries to capture Pikachu, the two are often forced to cooperate when separated from their respective groups, and on these occasions they form a genuine bond. Nyarth himself has noted that, under different circumstances, he and Pikachu would likely be good friends. He also has a history of showing compassion toward outcast and vulnerable Pokémon, such as comforting a troubled Chimchar and showing affection for the egg that later hatched into Misty's Togepi.
Nyarth undergoes notable development over the course of the anime. His backstory, revealed in a dedicated origin episode, explains how his early abandonment and unrequited love shaped his decision to become a talking Pokémon and eventually a member of Team Rocket. Later stories expand on his past and his time training with Jessie and James, deepening the sense that the trio genuinely care for one another. Although he remains a scheming villain throughout much of the series, his character is consistently humanized through moments of vulnerability, kindness, and selflessness. These moments include encouraging a struggling fellow Pokémon, siding with the heroes during crises that threaten the world, and choosing friendship and loyalty over personal gain.
In terms of abilities, Nyarth is the only non-legendary Pokémon in the anime who can speak human language, and he can also read and understand written language. He frequently acts as a translator and liaison between humans and Pokémon, using his speech to communicate with both sides, gather information, and devise plans. He taught himself to walk on two legs in addition to speaking, making him physically distinct from other Meowth. However, his ability to speak came at a cost, as he gave up the ability to use the move Payday in exchange for learning human speech, which is why he is never seen using that attack. He is also notably fast and agile, able to dodge quick attacks and react swiftly in dangerous situations, and he uses his sharp claws in battle when the need arises. His intelligence, resourcefulness, and quick thinking are his greatest strengths, allowing him to escape tight situations and outwit opponents despite his frequent failures in capturing Pikachu.