Kwame, the first planeteer to receive their ring, is a young man in Africa that is shown planting seedlings with a staff. He places his staff in the ground and when he brings it up, his power ring is on the end of the staff.
Gi, the second planeteer to receive their ring, is a young woman from Asia first shown swimming with/working to train a dolphin. She tosses a hula hoop into the ocean and the dolphin brings it back before disappearing beneath the waves. It resurfaces a moment later and tosses Gi her power ring.
Wheeler, the third planeteer to receive a power ring, is a young man from New York City in North America (the only planeteer that specifically says they are from an area: Brooklyn). We first see him rescuing a young man about to beaten by a street thug. Wheeler kicks the chain from his hand and he flees in fright. A nearby garbage fire flares up and his power ring flies through the air, landing in his hand.
Linka, the fourth planeteer to receive a ring, is first seen atop a mountain in the Soviet Union. She is playing a keyboard and a bird lands on it as she plays. A second bird flies in carrying a ring, which Linka reaches for with curiosity.
A small monkey in South America (Suchi) finds himself caught in vines while trying to escape a jaguar. Ma-Ti swings in on a vine, scaring the jaguar away and rescuing the monkey that then bestows Ma-Ti with his power ring.
The “First Planeteers: The World’s Greatest Hope” all put on their rings at the same time and are instantly transported to Hope Island, where Gaia explains everything to them. We then see the Planeteers each try out the new powers granted by their respective power rings.
Linka tests her power and lifts herself into the air in a whirlwind before dropping herself on the floor. Clearly, she needs more practice!
Next, Kwame tests his ring. He causes a minor earthquake and splits the floor open, claiming the ring will make it much easier for him to “plant many trees and also stop many bulldozers from destroying the forest”.
Interested in his power, Wheeler begins testing the remaining two elements, saying “water” first and then “fire”. The room spontaneously combusts, and Wheeler begins to panic. Gaia then tells Gi that her power is water and she tests her power as well, putting out the fire by pulling water from the nearby ocean.
Kwame asks Ma-Ti what he thinks his power is, and he says he already knows! His power is heart and he can sense everyone’s thoughts and feelings! Gaia tells him that his power is the greatest of all as the other powers are useless without heart to guide them. She goes on to say that Ma-Ti is the link to the others, no matter where they are.
Kwame wishes to practice with their powers, however, Gaia explains that she already has a mission for them: The planet is being threatened by the evil Hoggish Greedly and his sidekick, Rigger. They show Greedly and Rigger, who shows concern for the animals on shore. Greedly tells him there’s only one thing that matters in this world. ME!
The Planeteers are gifted with a plane (though it isn't said, we assume from Gaia), and Gi pilots their way towards Greedly’s oil rig. Along the way, Linka says that she wishes Gaia was with them. Ma-Ti says “she is” and uses his ring to cast a projection of Gaia in front of the plane. Gaia explains that she has to stay at Hope Island, but that she is with them in spirit.
Wheeler accidentally starts a fire and Gi uses her power to turn on the sprinkler system in the plane and extinguish it. Gaia reappears and tells them that they must have faith in themselves because they are fighting for the whole world. Kwame asks what they should do if they find themselves in a situation they can’t handle and Gaia answers, “Well, just put your powers together. Then you’ll really be surprised.”
The Planeteers get a firsthand look of the destruction Greedly has caused with his oil rig and realize how important their quest really is. Rigger spots the plane in the sky and asks Greedly if it’s the coast guard. Greedly says, “No. I think we’re in deeper slop than that.” Greedly shoots crude oil onto the plane, causing it to suddenly begin falling from the sky.
Thinking quickly, the Planeteers work together to save their plane from crashing into the ocean. Wheeler uses his power to melt off the door to the plane and Linka uses her wind power to lift the plane, however, she only slows down the fall. Kwame steps in and raises a small island from the ocean and the plane lowers gently to the ground.
Wheeler uses a megaphone to warn Greedly that if he tries to shoot them with oil again, he’ll personally burn it up. Greedly, not keen to surrender to a bunch of kids, turns his oil cannon to the shoreline and threatens to cover the animals with oil if the Planeteers make any move to stop them. The Planeteers discuss their predicament and realize that they have only one option: They must combine their powers!
Each of the Planeteers calls upon their power. As they join together, they begin to take form. “By your powers combined, I am Captain Planet!” The light blue “Superman” with a dark green mullet takes flight, scaring off Greedly, and lands in front of the Planeteers. Captain Planet explains that their powers are temporarily useless while he’s there. Captain Planet tells them that he will take care of Greedly and the spill and that the Planeteers should take care of the animals.
Captain Planet dives beneath the waves, swimming in a tornado that sends all of the oil slick back down the pipe it came out of. He brings a large rock from nearby to cover the opening and begins to fly above the surface before returning and saying “Whoops. Almost forgot. Mustn’t litter!” as he picks up a broken piece of Greedly’s hose that he left behind.
Captain Planet throws it in a trash can and flies after Greedly and Rigger. Rigger uses the equipment to grab Captain Planet and attempts to attack him with the drill. However, Captain Planet laughs and says it tickles. He pulls Rigger off the controls and throws him in a trash can as well. Captain Planet flies into the rig and approaches Greedly, who proceeds to shoot the hero with toxic waste - his kryptonite! He falls from the rig and the Planeteers run to help him.
Kwame discovers that the globe on Captain Planet’s chest glows under the sunlight, and they realize that they need to clean off the toxic waste in order to help him. The girls run to get water to clean off Captain Planet while the boys roll a large rock next to Captain Planet to keep Greedly’s rig from crushing him. They rinse off Captain Planet and he recharges, flying after Greedly’s rig.
Captain Planet punches the legs of the rig several times and sends it tumbling over, collapsing in defeat. Captain Planet flies into the rig and discovers that Greedly is gone. We see him running away down a pipe, promising Captain Planet that he will be back.
Captain Planet leaves and the Planeteers power is returned to them. They then get to work cleaning up the animals on shore that were affected by the oil slick. Wheeler complains that it’s not fair because they’re not getting paid for cleaning up the animals. Linka tells him they are doing it, “because we care, my sweet imperialist dog. Besides, some rewards are greater than money.” The scene comes to a close.
Captain Planet appears on screen saying, “I want you to join me and the Planeteers in saving our planet. You can fight oil spills and air pollution by encouraging your family not to waste gasoline and other fuels.” Gi tells us to turn off lights in our house when we don’t need them. Linka says, “If you can carpool, do it.” and Ma-Ti adds, “better yet, if you’re only going a short distance, walk or ride a bike.” Captain Planet flies in and lands behind the Planeteers, saying “It’s healthier for you and our planet. So, don’t be a Greedly. The power is yours!”
