Pokémon Episode Guide

Mewtwo Strikes Back

Synopsis: Mewtwo, a genetically engineered Pokémon, escapes from Giovanni. He creates his own Pokémon clones with the aim of destroying all other life on Earth. It is up to Ash and his companions to save the day, when the mysterious Mew shows up and fights Mewtwo on his own. A shocking twist to the tale changes Mewtwo's perception of the world.

The first Pokémon movie was surprisingly good, with a compelling opening act, a powerful foe who was ultimately thwarted by an unexpected twist, and a convincingly and movingly presented message. It expanded the storyline in the original game and borrowed themes from Mary Shelley's Frankenstein and Spielberg's Jurassic Park.

Mew, "the rarest of Pokémon", was only available to game players through special promotional events (until the "Mew cheat" was revealed), for which reason it really was the rarest Pokémon at the time.

The dialogue between Meowth and its clone reminded us of the message that our differences are nothing compared to what we share in common. That and Pikachu's example of not giving in to the tempation join a worthless fight, even at great personal cost, drove me to tears. The climax, which in my mind symbolized what can be achieved by all people working together, in spite of outward differences, was a powerful message that all should take to heart.

The violence in the film was surprising given its rating. While the only death on-screen is that of Ash, who is then brought back to life, it is understood that the scientists on New Island perished when Mewtwo rampaged. It is also left open whether the trainers who braved the storm but did not reach the island managed to return safely to the mainland or whether they drowned on the way.

One of my criticisms of the film is that I found Mewtwo's change of heart difficult to follow. It seems to me that the reason is that Mewtwo sees what could be achieved by originals and clones working together, namely, restoring Ash to life, while working against each other brought nothing but harm even to his clones. Metwo therefore concludes that originals and clones are not really different. The fact that he had a different mode of creation made him see himself as different from other life on Earth, other life which apparently cared nothing for him and which therefore called for revenge. Seeing now that the difference in how one comes into being means nothing at all, he realizes that he was wrong.

While Metwo tells us what he will do, namely, find a new home for himself and his clone Pokémon, we find nothing about what happens to Mew. It seems to disappear just as enigmatically as it appeared, remaining as mysterious as ever.

Pokémon 2000: The Power of One

Synopsis: In order to entice Lugia, an eccentric Pokémon collector captures Articuno, Zapdos and Moltres. His actions end up endangering the world, but a prophecy speaks of one who would save the world.

The first time I saw this movie, I found the plot predictable, the characters flat and the 3D graphics stuck out like a sore thumb. The second time I saw it, several years later, I found myself enjoying every moment, savouring the suspense, loving the characters and I didn't find the 3D graphics too bad. I guess tastes change.

Pokémon 3: Spell of the Unown

Synopsis: An archaeologist discovers ancient relics that hide Unown, mysterious Pokémon that capture him. His daughter Molly, left alone, gets caught up in a fantasy world brought into existence by the Unown. They create the legendary Entei that captures Delia. Ash with his friends and Pokémon invade this world and have to fight Molly, Entei and the Unown to rescue both Delia and Molly from her fantasies and desires.

This was an exciting tale but one that I found sombre, with Molly apparently orphaned, Delia captured against her will and Molly's predicament feeding the Unown and thereby making the situation worse.

Ash's mother, Delia, plays a serious role in this film, making a pleasant change and helping to fill out her character. We learn a little more about her background, that she was a student of Professor Oak and that she had some experience at Pokémon training.

Pokémon 4 Ever

Synopsis: Celebi uses its ability to travel through time to escape a hunter, inadvertently taking the boy Sammy with him. While Sammy comes to terms with his situation, Celebi finds itself facing an even more sinister foe. Ash and his friends befriend Sammy and come to Celebi's aid, only it appears that they are powerless to save its life.

While Celebi only plays a very minor role in the second generation Pokémon games, this movie brought it to life, portraying its gentle character, astounding 3D motion and awesome power to travel through time. I found many aspects of the movie entertaining (mind you I'm a great fan of time travel stories and movies). However, I can't put my finger on why I didn't find it as convincing or as compelling as many of the other Pokémon films.

Sammy's archaic Poké ball was a nice touch of realism. Even in the anime world, 40 years makes a big difference in technology.

Are the multitude of Celebi all different Celebi, or are they the exact same one, each coming to visit from different times to Ash's time?

Pokémon Heroes

Mewtwo Returns

This movie was accompanied by a short, The Uncut Story of Mewtwo's Origin, which (according to Wikipedia) was footage originally from Mewtwo Strikes Back but cut from the English version of that film.

Jirachi Wish Maker

Synopsis: Jirachi awakens for one week each thousand years with the appearance of a comet from which it draws its energy. Butler, a former scientist for Team Magma, tries to harness Jirachi's power for his own ambitions. Max bonds with Jirachi and tries to rescue it, only to find that Butler is ahead of them, succeeds in exploiting Jirachi, and gets more than he bargained for.

Destiny Deoxys

Synopsis: The interwined tale of a pair of Deoxys that have landed on Earth from outer space, and Tory, a young boy who becomes scared of Pokémon and has wound up a loner. Ash and his friends visit Larousse City where Tory lives and whom they try to befriend. They end up trapped in the city when Deoxys comes looking for its partner. A suspenseful story ensues in which Tory and Ash save the day.

Deoxys' alien nature is effectively portrayed in this animation by his expressionless face. His feelings and thoughts cannot be read, only surmised, as they are other-worldly, not something we can easily relate to. Deoxys apparently does not have a sense of sight as we know it, but he can direcly sense electric fields, something we cannot do.

I was impressed how well the two threads, the stories of the Deoxys pair and Tory, were intertwined. To be honest, that sort of complication was a big step up from earlier movies. Tory's fear of Pokémon was caused indirectly by Deoxys' appearance. The only friend Tory had made was the other Deoxys, still in an unregenerated form, and the trouble caused by Deoxys ultimately forced Tory to face his fears and protect the two Pokémon he came to love.

Lucario and the Mystery of Mew

Synopsis: After being imprisoned by Sir Aaron in his staff, Lucario awakens hundreds of years later and mistakes Ash for Sur Aaron, Lucario's master. At the same time, a playful Mew teleports Pikachu and Meowth to its home in a giant tree-like rock formation known as the Tree of Beginning. An amazing journey ensues as Ash and his friends, and Jesse and James seek to rescue Pikachu with Lucario's help, and in which Lucario gradually tries to solve the mystery of why his master seemingly abandoned and imprisoned him at his nation's time of greatest need.

I find it difficult to desribe the emotions that were stirred in me by this film. Lucario, loyal and faithful, felt betrayed and abandoned by the one human being whom he trusted the most. Upon awakening in the present day, he finds himself dumbstruck, confused and unable to trust others. My heart was trully touched by this noble soul.

The Mew that appears in this movie is as playful and mischievous as its counterpart in the first movie, although this one has a different voice and is apparently well-known by the locals. It uses its transform ability without shame even to the point of turning into Ho-oh!

While Sir Aaron is held in esteem as a great hero in the present, Lucario's last memories of him were as a traitor. As the story progresses, the answer to this mystery gradually unfolds, concluding in a moving climax in which the truth of that fateful day is finally revealed.

An interesting aspect about the plot is that there is no villain. Even Team Rocket aren't up to anything nasty. The struggle is about Ash rescuing Pikachu and Lucario coming to terms with his past. Kidd Summers at first appears like she could be a sinister element, but soon proves to be a thrillseeker. She ends up instrumental in setting off the chain of events leading to Lucario returning to the Tree of Beginning and solving the mystery of his past.

The use of an aura-sensing flower to reveal the past at critical moments was artificial, but still very effective.

This was the last movie dubbed by 4Kids and starring the original American voice actors.

Pokémon Ranger and the Temple of the Sea

The Rise of Darkrai