Pokémon: Johto League Champions is the fourth season of Pokémon and the second season of Pokémon the Series: Gold and Silver, known in Japan as Pocket Monsters: Gold and Silver (ポケットモンスター絹と銀, Poketto Monsutā Kin to Gin). It originally aired in Japan from August 3, 2000 to August 2, 2001 on TV Tokyo, and in the United States from August 18, 2001 to September 7, 2002 on The WB (Kids' WB). The season follows the adventures of the ten-year-old Pokémon trainer Ash Ketchum and his electric mouse partner Pikachu as they collect Gym Badges in the fictional Johto region so they can compete in the Johto League competition. The episodes were directed by Masamitsu Hidaka and produced by the animation studio OLM. The Japanese opening songs are "OK!" by Rika Matsumoto for 34 episodes, and "Aim to be a Pokémon Master" (めざせポケモンマスター 2001, Mezase Pokémon Masutā 2001) by Whiteberry.[1] The ending songs are "Takeshi's Paradise" (タケシのパラダイス, Takeshi no Paradaisu) by Yūji Ueda for 5 episodes, "Exciting Pokémon Relay" (ポケモンはらはらリレー, Pokémon Hara Hara Rirē) by Rikako Aikawa for 10 episodes, "To My Best Friend" (ぼくのベストフレンドへ, Boku no Besuto Furendo e) by Hiromi Iwasaki for 19 episodes, and "Face Forward Team Rocket!" (前向きロケット団!, Maemuki Roketto-Dan!) by Jessie, James, & Meowth for 18 episodes. The English opening song is "Born to Be a Winner" by David Rolfe. Its short version did serve as the end credit song.