Squirtle Squad
Episode 12 of the original Pokémon anime has a claim to being the most culturally impactful episode of the entire series. It's called "Here Comes the Squirtle Squad" — and if you're reading a site called Squirtle Squad, you already know why it matters. But let's break down exactly what made this episode work, why it resonated so deeply with fans, and why the Squirtle Squad aesthetic has maintained cultural relevance for nearly 30 years.
The Setup: Delinquent Squirtles
The premise is immediately compelling. Ash, Misty, and Brock arrive in a town that's being terrorized by a group of abandoned Squirtles — the Squirtle Squad. These Squirtles were left behind by their trainers and banded together, filling their days with harmless (mostly) pranks and general Squirtle mischief.
The genius of the setup is what it tells us about these Squirtles: they're not villains. They're abandoned animals who formed a found family and are acting out because they have nothing better to do. The sunglasses — which became the defining visual element of the Squad — were just their aesthetic choice, a badge of their solidarity and coolness.
The Sunglasses
It's worth pausing on the sunglasses because this is where the episode became legendary.
The decision to put sunglasses on the Squirtle Squad Squirtles was the kind of character design choice that looks simple in retrospect but was genuinely inspired. The sunglasses communicate several things simultaneously:
1. Cool, not threatening. These aren't violent Pokémon — they're Pokémon who are trying to look impressive.
2. Unity. The whole Squad wears them, making them instantly identifiable as a group.
3. Visual comedy. Tiny turtles in sunglasses is objectively hilarious.
4. Depth. The Squirtle who eventually becomes Ash's partner keeps wearing sunglasses — they're not just a gag, they're identity.
When Ash's Squirtle eventually joins the team and continues wearing its sunglasses throughout the series, it became one of the most consistent and beloved character traits in the anime.
The Fire Scene
The episode escalates when a fire breaks out in the town — started (inadvertently) by Team Rocket's Arbok. The Squirtle Squad, previously dismissed as nuisances, steps up. They use their water attacks to fight the fire and save the town.
This redemption arc — from abandoned delinquents to town heroes — gives the episode genuine emotional weight. It's not just a fun episode; it's a story about abandoned animals finding purpose, about how community and found family can give directionless individuals something to fight for.
For kids watching in 1998 and 1999, this resonated. For adults watching now, it resonates differently — the Squirtle Squad's story maps onto experiences of people who felt abandoned and found their people.
Squirtle Joins Ash's Team
The episode ends with Ash catching the Squad's leader. But unlike most of Ash's catches — which often happen after defeating a Pokémon in battle — this Squirtle chooses to join. It was the leader of the Squad. It could have stayed. It decided to leave.
This adds a dimension to Ash's Squirtle that most of his Pokémon don't have: it's a character who made an active, adult choice to join the journey. The Squirtle Squad members who stayed behind are left in charge of the town's fire prevention team — a genuinely satisfying resolution that lets the supporting Squad members have a win too.
The Legacy
The Squirtle Squad episode's cultural legacy is hard to overstate. Here's what it produced:
The sunglasses meme. For decades, whenever Pokémon fans want to communicate "cool" or "effortlessly confident," they reach for Squirtle with sunglasses. This image has appeared in countless memes, merchandise items, fan art pieces, and cultural references.
Squirtle as the "cool" starter. Before this episode, the three starters were roughly equal in cultural status. After it, Squirtle had an edge that the others didn't: a backstory, a crew, and an aesthetic. Bulbasaur is earnest; Charmander is fierce; Squirtle is cool.
The merchandise category. The Squirtle Squad sunglasses have been a consistent merchandise theme for nearly 30 years. Enamel pins, t-shirts, posters, phone cases, novelty sunglasses — the aesthetic sustains an entire product category.
Fan site names. Including this one. When fans want to create something Squirtle-related that communicates community and belonging, they reach for "Squirtle Squad."
Why It Still Works in 2026
The Squirtle Squad episode has aged remarkably well. The animation holds up better than some early Pokémon episodes. The story is tight and emotionally coherent. The character design choices remain inspired.
But more than technical qualities, the episode works because its themes are universal. Found family. Redemption. Choosing to be part of something larger than yourself. The cool kid who turns out to have heart. These aren't dated concepts — they're human constants.
Every generation of Pokémon fans discovers this episode and feels the same thing kids felt in 1998: this is special. This is why Squirtle.
The Squad's been around for nearly 30 years. It's not going anywhere.
Join the Squad. Stay cool. 🐢