Pokemon 26 - Friends & Rivals (1999) Rating: Starring: Rica Matsumoto, Ikue Ootani, Mayumi Iizuka, Yuko Kobayashi, Yuji Ueda Director: Michael Haigney, Jim Malone Category: Animation Studio: Pioneer Studios Subtitles: [None] Length: 70 mins     Pokemon League Finals! Can Richie, the nice guy with the Pikachu named Sparky, be an even greater rival than Gary? Ash makes it all the way to the sweet-sixteen round in the Indigo Leagues, only to find that his opponent is Richie! Will this competition tear Ash and Richie's new friendship apart? Plus, Team Rocket has finally dug a hole in the road that catches Ash and Pikachu! But can they steal Pikachu when both Ash and Richie are combined against them? Contains TV Episodes: A Friend In Deed Friend And Foe Alike Friends To The End