This was a Hell of a way for the series to end. After Iwane did all of the key animation for #187-188 and action cuts for #189 to see him turn out perhaps his most impressive action cuts for a throwaway fight in the last episode was a real charm. Head Writer Tomioka Atsuhiro, Episode Director Asada Yuuji (who was also credited as one of two series directors for Episodes #171-191), and Animation Supervisor and sole Key Animator Iwane Masa'aki really were the golden trio that made Pocket Monster: Diamond & Pearl the best incarnation of the franchise yet.

Another cool factoid: Asada Yuuji directed and storyboarded five of the last twenty last episodes of the series. What a guy.