Team Rocket has seemingly infiltrated the official Pokemon website and Twitter account. As the original team of villains introduced in the first generation of Pokemon games, Red and Blue, Team Rocket has become something of a series staple. Team Rocket is best known from the Pokemon anime where they can be found following Ash and his companions wherever he goes, and are easily identified by the big red "R" on their uniforms. That is, when they aren't disguised.There have been many other antagonistic forces since it first appeared in 1996, but Team Rocket remains as the Pokemon franchise's most iconic gang of ne'er-do-wells. The gang was first found in the Kanto region led by Viridian City gym leader Giovanni who wanted to take over the world by gathering as many rare and powerful Pokemon as they could. Giovanni disappears after he is defeated in Pokemon Red and Blue after the player defeats him, promising to disband the group. In spite of this, some old Team Rocket members try to re-establish the group a few years later in the Johto region, going so far as to take over Goldenrod City's radio tower to broadcast a message to their missing leader.Various pieces of pro-Team Rocket media have appeared on the front page of the Pokemon website, including a supposedly unbiased opinion piece that attempts to convince readers that Team Rocket are, in fact, the true heroes of the Pokemon series. While trying to paint them as heroes is a stretch, Team Rocket did have its good moments in the Pokemon anime.
Meanwhile, the Twitter account's profile picture has been changed to the Team Rocket logo. The location on the official Pokemon Twitter has also been change to "Team Rocket Hideout." This hilarious marketing campaign is encouraging gamers to "join" Team Rocket by purchasing themed apparel from a new line of merchandise now live on the Pokemon Center website. The Team Rocket collection consists of various jackets, shirts, joggers, shorts, and hats.
The general response to the new line of Team Rocket-themed merchandise appears to be favorable. Pokemon fans seem to love Team Rocket, and have created some impressive artworks inspired by them. The new line of merchandise has some fans hoping for other teams like Team Aqua and Team Skull to be featured in the future. At least a few responses balked at the high price of some of the items, with some comparing The Pokemon Company to a real-life Team Rocket because of this.