Which villainous group is led by Giovanni in the original Pokémon games?

Team Rocket is the villainous group led by Giovanni in the original Pokémon games.

In Pokémon Red, Green, Blue, and Yellow, Team Rocket is a criminal organization that seeks to exploit Pokémon for profit and power. Its activities include stealing Pokémon, running illegal operations, and attempting to revive the fossilized Pokémon Aerodactyl.

Giovanni serves as Team Rocket’s boss and also appears as the Gym Leader of Viridian City. This dual role creates one of the original games’ major story reveals. Players eventually battle him and help bring Team Rocket’s activities to an end.

The animated series uses Team Rocket differently. Jessie, James, and Meowth are recurring comic antagonists, but they are not the organization’s leaders. Giovanni remains their boss, while the trio’s repeated attempts to capture Pikachu became one of the franchise’s most recognizable running jokes.