Pokémon: The First Movie
Encyclopedia
Pokémon: The First Movie, originally released as , is a 1998 Japanese animated
Anime
is the Japanese abbreviated pronunciation of "animation". The definition sometimes changes depending on the context. In English-speaking countries, the term most commonly refers to Japanese animated cartoons....

 film directed by Kunihiko Yuyama
Kunihiko Yuyama
' is a Japanese director of anime films, television, and video series. His best-known work involves Pokémon productions. Other anime he has directed include Kimagure Orange Road: Summer's Beginning, Plawres Sanshiro, Wedding Peach, and the adult-oriented Weather Report Girl.Developing an interest...

, the chief director of the Pokémon
Pokémon (anime)
, abbreviated from , is a children's TV anime series, which has since been adapted for the North and South American, Australian and European television markets...

television series. It is the first theatrical release in the Pokémon
Pokémon
is a media franchise published and owned by the video game company Nintendo and created by Satoshi Tajiri in 1996. Originally released as a pair of interlinkable Game Boy role-playing video games developed by Game Freak, Pokémon has since become the second most successful and lucrative video...

franchise. The title can also be interpreted as Mewtwo's Counterattack.

As Pokémon was extremely popular when the film was released, it was a box office success worldwide. It primarily consists of three segments: Pikachu's Vacation, a 21 minute feature focusing on the most popular Pokémon character Pikachu
Pikachu
is one of the species of Pokémon creatures from the Pokémon media franchise—a collection of video games, anime, manga, books, trading cards, and other media created by Satoshi Tajiri. As do all Pokémon, Pikachu fight other Pokémon in battles central to the anime, manga, and games of the series...

; Origin of Mewtwo, a 10 minute featurette that functions as a prologue to the main feature; and Mewtwo Strikes Back, the main 75 minute film feature. However, the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...

 dub version by 4Kids Entertainment
4Kids Entertainment
4Kids Entertainment is an American film and television production company in bankruptcy since April 2011. It is known for English-dubbing Japanese anime and specializing in the acquisition, production and licensing of children's entertainment around the United States...

 omitted "Origin of Mewtwo" from the package before its U.S. theatrical run due to its dark nature, as the target MPAA rating
MPAA film rating system
The Motion Picture Association of America's film-rating system is used in the U.S. and its territories to rate a film's thematic and content suitability for certain audiences. The MPAA system applies only to motion pictures that are submitted for rating. Other media may be rated by other entities...

 was G; it was partially restored in the film's release on VHS and DVD. The featurette was eventually dubbed and restored as a special feature in the U.S. release of the direct-to-video follow-up film sequel Pokémon: Mewtwo Returns
Pokémon: Mewtwo Returns
Pokémon: Mewtwo Returns, released in Japan as , is an animated film based on the Pokémon anime, and is the direct follow-up to Pokémon: The First Movie. It originated as a feature-length TV special in Japan on December 30, 2000 and was released on VHS and DVD in Japan on March 21, 2001...

.

Pikachu's Vacation

is a 21-minute short film that is shown before Mewtwo Strikes Back in both the theatrical and the DVD version of the main film. It is the first of the "Pikachu shorts" in what would be a traditional process of hosting a 20+ minute mini-movie before the main Pokémon feature that would last up until the sixth that would follow, focuses primarily on an action-packed affair involving solely the Pokémon seen from the anime as they take part in a scenario that eventually illustrates a moral.

In Pokémon fan communities, Pikachu's Vacation was noted for introducing the never-before-seen Pokémon character Snubbull, as well as the first primary anime appearance of Marill. This became a tradition for all Pikachu shorts, as they were used to introduce new Pokémon from the upcoming "generations" of Pokémon games, cards, and anime material.

When Ash and his friends stumble upon a Pokémon-only vacation resort, they decide to let their Pokémon have a day of fun and relaxation and let all their Pokémon out as the trainers go relaxing on their own. Pikachu and the Pokémon (Bulbasaur
Bulbasaur
Bulbasaur, known as in Japan, is a Pokémon species in Nintendo and Game Freak's Pokémon franchise. Designed by Ken Sugimori, their name is a combination of the words "bulb" and "dinosaur." First appearing in Pokémon Red and Blue as a Starter Pokémon, they later appeared in subsequent sequels,...

, Charizard
Charizard
Charizard, known in Japan as , is a Pokémon species in Nintendo and Game Freak's Pokémon franchise. Created by Ken Sugimori, Charizard first appeared in the video games Pokémon Red and Blue and subsequent sequels. They have later appeared in various merchandise, spinoff titles and animated and...

, Squirtle
Squirtle
Squirtle, known as in Japan, is a Pokémon species in Nintendo and Game Freak's Pokémon franchise. It was originally conceived by Game Freak's character development team and finalized by Ken Sugimori...

, Pidgeotto, Geodude, Onix
Onix (Pokémon)
Onix, known in Japan as , is a Pokémon species in Nintendo and Game Freak's Pokémon franchise. Created by Ken Sugimori, Onix first appeared in the video games Pokémon Red and Blue and in subsequent sequels, later appearing in various merchandise, spinoff titles and animated and printed adaptations...

, Vulpix
Vulpix
Vulpix, known in Japan as is a Pokémon species in Nintendo and Game Freak's Pokémon franchise. Vulpix evolves into Ninetales when exposed to a special item. Created by Ken Sugimori, they first appeared in the video games Pokémon Red and Blue and later appear in subsequent sequels, various...

, Zubat, Staryu, Goldeen
Goldeen
Goldeen, known in Japan as , is a Pokémon species in Nintendo and Game Freak's Pokémon franchise. Created by Ken Sugimori, Goldeen first appeared in the video games Pokémon Red and Blue and subsequent sequels, later appearing in various merchandise, spinoff titles and animated and printed...

, Psyduck
Psyduck
Psyduck, known as in Japan, is a Pokémon species in Nintendo and Game Freak's Pokémon franchise. Created by Ken Sugimori, Psyduck first appeared in the video games Pokémon Red and Blue and later in subsequent sequels. They have later appeared in various merchandise, spinoff titles and animated and...

, and Togepi
Togepi
is a Pokémon species in Nintendo and Game Freak's Pokémon franchise. Created by Ken Sugimori, Togepi first appeared in the Pokémon anime. It then appeared in the video games Pokémon Gold and Silver and subsequent sequels, later appearing in various merchandise, spinoff titles, and animated and...

) go off into the resort and immediately contend with an unhappy Togepi, which they succeed in doing. Soon, a group of border-ruffian Pokémon — a Raichu
Raichu
is a Pokémon species in Nintendo and Game Freak's Pokémon franchise. Raichu is the evolution to Pikachu, the mascot of the series. It was originally conceived by Game Freak's character development team and finalized by Ken Sugimori. Its name comes from the Japanese kanji "rai," meaning thunder,...

, Cubone, Snubbull, and Marill — come along and immediately cause trouble for Pikachu's group. The ensuing standoff soon becomes a series of competitions such as a swimming race. Their increasingly passionate rivalry soon comes to a standstill when Pikachu's companion Charizard
Charizard
Charizard, known in Japan as , is a Pokémon species in Nintendo and Game Freak's Pokémon franchise. Created by Ken Sugimori, Charizard first appeared in the video games Pokémon Red and Blue and subsequent sequels. They have later appeared in various merchandise, spinoff titles and animated and...

 finds its head stuck. Putting aside their squabble, Pikachu and Raichu's groups join together to release Charizard, and they soon find themselves as friends for the rest of the day. At the end of the day, Pikachu and his fellow Pokémon leave the resort with fond memories and new friends and rejoin their trainers.

Mewtwo Strikes Back

The Pokémon Mewtwo
Mewtwo
is a fictional creature in Nintendo and Game Freak's Pokémon media franchise. Created by Ken Sugimori, it first appeared in the video games Pokémon Red and Blue and their sequels, and later appeared in various merchandise, spinoff titles, as well as animation adaptations of the franchise...

 was created in an island laboratory from the DNA
DNA
Deoxyribonucleic acid is a nucleic acid that contains the genetic instructions used in the development and functioning of all known living organisms . The DNA segments that carry this genetic information are called genes, but other DNA sequences have structural purposes, or are involved in...

 of Mew, a rare Pokémon believed to be extinct, recovered from fossilized remains. Displeased with the concept of being nothing more than a mere lab experiment, Mewtwo destroys the laboratory. Shortly afterward, he meets Giovanni, the head of Team Rocket, who proposes a partnership with the Pokémon in exchange of helping it control its powers. Mewtwo is "trained" over the next few months, being pitted against challengers in Giovanni's gym and restraining Pokémon for Team Rocket to capture. Mewtwo eventually realizes that Giovanni is merely using him as a tool and destroys his headquarters. Mewtwo flies back to the island where it was created and begins plotting revenge against humanity (Multiple episodes of the Pokemon anime foreshadow these events).

Meanwhile, Ash Ketchum and his friends Misty, Brock, Pikachu, and all their Pokémon companions receive an invitation to a party hosted by the world's "greatest Pokémon Master" on New Island. Ash and his friends are excited and rush to the docks in an attempt to catch a boat to New Island, but a storm is mysteriously formed and all boat rides to the island are canceled. Undeterred, several trainers make their way out to the island by riding their Pokémon, though neither Ash nor his friends have any Pokémon of their own that can help them safely navigate the stormy sea. In their latest plot to steal rare Pokémon, Team Rocket offers the trio a lift to the island, disguised as a pair of Viking
Viking
The term Viking is customarily used to refer to the Norse explorers, warriors, merchants, and pirates who raided, traded, explored and settled in wide areas of Europe, Asia and the North Atlantic islands from the late 8th to the mid-11th century.These Norsemen used their famed longships to...

s, but their small wooden boat is destroyed by a wave. Ash and his friends manage to reach the island with their aquatic Pokémon, and are escorted inside the palace on the island.

Mewtwo reveals itself to Ash, his friends, and three other trainers who braved the storm battle as the "World's Greatest Pokémon Master," and that it had created the storm with its powers to test the trainers' wills. After being berated by Mewtwo for the relationships they share with their Pokémon, Ash and some of the other trainers challenge Mewtwo after witnessing Mewtwo's confession of having kidnapped Nurse Joy for his own personal purposes, the trainers pits their Pokémon against clones of Venusaur
Venusaur
Venusaur, known in Japan as , is a Pokémon species in Nintendo and Game Freak's Pokémon franchise. Created by Ken Sugimori, Venusaur first appeared in the video games Pokémon Red and Blue and subsequent sequels, later appearing in various merchandise, spinoff titles and animated and printed...

, Blastoise
Blastoise
Blastoise, known in Japan as , is a Pokémon species in Nintendo and Game Freak's Pokémon franchise. Created by Ken Sugimori, Blastoise first appeared in the video games Pokémon Red and Blue and subsequent sequels, later appearing in various merchandise, spinoff titles and animated and printed...

, and Charizard
Charizard
Charizard, known in Japan as , is a Pokémon species in Nintendo and Game Freak's Pokémon franchise. Created by Ken Sugimori, Charizard first appeared in the video games Pokémon Red and Blue and subsequent sequels. They have later appeared in various merchandise, spinoff titles and animated and...

. The clones easily defeat the trainers' Pokémon. Mewtwo proceeds to steal everyone's Pokémon, including Ash's Pikachu, with a special set of Poké Balls; he also captures three trainers with these Poké Balls as well. Ash pursues his Pokémon as they are taken deep into a cloning facility on the island and rescues them while they are being cloned. The clones join with Mewtwo and the cloning machine explodes, releasing all the captured Pokémon. Mewtwo announces its intentions to overthrow humanity with its army of Pokémon and rule the world. Enraged, Ash lashes out at Mewtwo, who repels and blasts him away with its psychic powers. Ash is saved by Mew, the rare, playful Pokémon having appeared periodically before, who is engaged by Mewtwo. A brutal battle between the trainers' Pokémon and their clones erupts, although Pikachu refuses to fight with its own clone.

The trainers are unable to bear this senseless violence, even while the two sides grow fatigued and Mew and Mewtwo continue fighting. In an attempt to put an end to the ordeal, Mew and Mewtwo sum up all their remaining powers for one final duel. As they open fire however, Ash runs to the center of the arena in a brave but desperate attempt to stop the fight. Ash is turned into stone in the attack, and he collapses in the center of the arena. Pikachu runs to the side of its now-deceased trainer. After trying to get him off the floor, Pikachu attempts again using Thunderbolt, but in vain. In its grief, Pikachu starts crying for its fallen master, the other Pokémon in the arena doing the same. The tears reach Ash, their mystical healing powers reviving him. As everyone rejoices, Mewtwo, taken aback by Ash's act of selflessness to save all the Pokémon, has an epiphany
Epiphany (feeling)
An epiphany is the sudden realization or comprehension of the essence or meaning of something...

 over the relationship between humans and Pokémon, and realizes that the circumstances of how one is born should not be allowed to divide anyone. It leaves the island with Mew and the cloned Pokémon, erasing everyone else's memory of the horrifying incident, knowing it's for the best.

Ash and his friends find themselves back on the docks with no idea how they got there. Ash looks up to the sky and spots Mew flying past, and recounts to his friends how he saw a rare Pokémon on the first day of his journey.

Regular characters

  • Rica Matsumoto
    Rica Matsumoto
    is a Japanese voice actress and J-pop singer who was born in Yokohama, Japan. Her name is also sometimes romanized as Rika Matsumoto. She was one of the original members of the popular vocal group JAM Project. After the way of the stage, she embarked on voice acting and a singing career...

    (Veronica Taylor
    Veronica Taylor
    Veronica Taylor is an American voice actress. Taylor is best known for her dubbing work in English-language anime adaptations, in particular for voicing Ash Ketchum in the English dub of the Japanese anime, Pokémon....

    in the English adaptation) as Satoshi (Ash Ketchum in the English adaptation), the main protagonist of the film. He desires to be the world's most powerful Pokémon master and is one of the trainers summoned to New Island by Mewtwo.
  • Ikue Ōtani
    Ikue Otani
    is a Japanese actress and voice actress from Tokyo, most famous as the voice of Pikachu in the Pokémon anime series and products and the voice of Tony Tony Chopper in the manga and anime series One Piece. She is currently attached to Mausu Promotion...

    as Pikachu, Satoshi's/Ash's first and most loyal Pokémon - a yellow mouse
    Mouse
    A mouse is a small mammal belonging to the order of rodents. The best known mouse species is the common house mouse . It is also a popular pet. In some places, certain kinds of field mice are also common. This rodent is eaten by large birds such as hawks and eagles...

     capable of manipulating electricity
    Electricity
    Electricity is a general term encompassing a variety of phenomena resulting from the presence and flow of electric charge. These include many easily recognizable phenomena, such as lightning, static electricity, and the flow of electrical current in an electrical wire...

    .
  • Mayumi Iizuka
    Mayumi Iizuka
    is a Japanese voice actress and J-pop singer who was born in Tokyo and grew up in Taiwan and Yokohama. Iizuka is a member of Gekidan Wakakusa and Tokuma Japan Communications....

    (Rachael Lillis
    Rachael Lillis
    Rachael Lillis is an American actress and voice actress. She studied acting in Boston and New York City and has appeared in various theater and independent films....

    in the English adaptation) as Kasumi (Misty in the English adaptation), Satoshi's/Ash's travelling partner.
  • Yūji Ueda
    Yuji Ueda
    is a popular Japanese seiyū.He is most known for the roles of Sagara Sanosuke , Akito Tenkawa , Takeshi , Horohoro , Johannes Krauser II and Keitaro Urashima ....

    (Eric Stuart
    Eric Stuart
    Eric Stuart is a voice actor, voice director, singer, songwriter, and guitarist. As the lead singer of his own band, the Eric Stuart Band , he is an award-winning independent artist with a growing US and international fan base.Stuart gained acclaim as a voice actor not only because of his...

    in the English adaptation) as Takeshi (Brock in the English adaptation), a Pokémon breeder and Satoshi's/Ash's travelling partner.
  • Satomi Kōrogi as Togepi, a Pokémon owned by Kasumi/Misty.
  • Megumi Hayashibara
    Megumi Hayashibara
    is a Japanese voice actress, singer, radio personality, and lyricist from Tokyo. She is currently affiliated with Aksent. Her nicknames include: Megu-san, Megu-nee, Bara-san, Kakka, and Daijin...

    (Rachael Lillis in the English adaptation) as Musashi (Jessie in the English adaptation), a member of Team Rocket who infiltrates New Island alongside Kojirō/James and Nyarth/Meowth.
  • Shin-ichiro Miki (Eric Stuart in the English adaptation) as Kojirō (James in the English adaptation), a member of Team Rocket.
  • Inuko Inuyama (Adam Blaustein
    Maddie Blaustein
    Madeleine Joan Blaustein was an American voice actress...

    in the English adaptation) as Nyarth (Meowth in the English adaptation), a member of Team Rocket. He is a cat
    Cat
    The cat , also known as the domestic cat or housecat to distinguish it from other felids and felines, is a small, usually furry, domesticated, carnivorous mammal that is valued by humans for its companionship and for its ability to hunt vermin and household pests...

    -like Pokémon that can walk upright and speak the human language.
  • Satoshi's Pokémon:
    • Megumi Hayashibara as Fushigidane (Bulbasaur in the English adaptation)
    • Shin-ichiro Miki as Lizardon (Charizard in the English adaptation)
    • Rikako Aikawa
      Rikako Aikawa
      is a Japanese voice actress affiliated with Ōsawa Office. She was born in Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan. She was originally a child actor.She is also known as a specialist of tongue-twister in the Japanese language....

       as Zenigame (Squirtle in the English adaptation)
  • Unshō Ishizuka (Rodger Parsons in the English adaptation) as the Narrator

New human characters

  • Wataru Takagi
    Wataru Takagi
    is a Japanese seiyū and stage actor from Chiba Prefecture. He is currently affiliated with Arts Vision.He is best known for his roles in Detective Conan , After War Gundam X , Slayers Try , the Beast Wars: Transformers series , GTO , Hajime no Ippo (July 25, 1966 - ) is a Japanese seiyū and stage...

    (Jimmy Zoppi
    Jimmy Zoppi
    Jimmy Zoppi , sometimes credited as Billy Beach and James Carter Cathcart, is an American bassist, vocalist, and voice-over artist. He has been playing with bands since high school and has been a bassist and vocalist of the Carter Cathcart Band since 1981. Zoppi's first voiceover part was O.G...

    in the English adaptation) as Umio (Fergus in the English adaptation), a hot-blooded Water Pokémon trainer invited to New Island. The Pokémon he owns consist of Gyarados, Nidoqueen, Dokukurage (Tentacruel in the English adaptation), Showers (Vaporeon in the English adaptation), Golduck and Seadra.
  • Tōru Furuya
    Toru Furuya
    is a veteran narrator and seiyū born on July 31, 1953 in Yokohama, Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan. As a child, he was a member of Gekidan Himawari, a children's acting troupe...

    (Ted Lewis
    Ted Lewis (voice actor)
    Ted Lewis is an American voice actor who does work for 4kids Entertainment, Central Park Media, DuArt Film and Video, NYAV Post. Primarily, he is involved with anime dub voice work...

    in the English adaptation) as Sorao (Corey in the English adaptation), a Nature Pokémon trainer invited to New Island. The Pokémon he owns consist of Pidgeot, Fushigibana (Venusaur in the English adaptation), Strike (Scyther in the English adaptation), Sawamular (Hitmonlee in the English adaptation), Sandpan (Sandslash in the English adaptation) and Sihorn (Rhyhorn in the English adaptation).
  • Aiko Satō (Lisa Ortiz
    Lisa Ortiz
    Lisa Ortiz is an American theatre and voice actress, best known for her roles in English anime adaptations. She is perhaps best known for the roles of the high-elf Deedlit in Record of Lodoss War, Lina Inverse in Slayers, and Tony Tony Chopper in One Piece...

    in the English adaptation) as Sweet (Neesha in the English adaptation), a Sweet Pokémon trainer invited to New Island. The Pokémon she owns consist of Dewgong, Kamex (Blastoise in the English adaptation), Gallop (Rapidash in the English adaptation), Wigglytuff, Kyūkon (Ninetales in the English adaptation) and Rafflesia (Vileplume in the English adaptation).
  • Sachiko Kobayashi (Kayzie Rogers
    Kayzie Rogers
    Kayzie Rogers is an American voice actress. She is best known for her work in animated television series....

    in the English adaptation) as Voyager (Miranda in the English adaptation)
  • Raymond Johnson(Maddie Blaustein in the English adaptation) as the Pirate Trainer, a Pokémon trainer Satoshi/Ash defeats in the beginning of the film. His Pokémon include Donphan and Kairiki (Machamp in the English adaptation).

Guest Pokémon

  • Masachika Ichimura
    Masachika Ichimura
    is a Japanese voice actor and musical singer. He was born in Kawagoe, Saitama. He is married to singer Ryoko Shinohara.-Movies:*Pokémon: The First Movie *The Nightmare Before Christmas...

    (Phillip Bartlett
    Phillip Bartlett
    Phillip Bartlett was an American voice actor best known as the voice of Mewtwo in Pokémon: The First Movie. He was commonly misidentified as Rodger Parsons, although they are two separate people with the same name....

    in the English adaptation) as Mewtwo
    Mewtwo
    is a fictional creature in Nintendo and Game Freak's Pokémon media franchise. Created by Ken Sugimori, it first appeared in the video games Pokémon Red and Blue and their sequels, and later appeared in various merchandise, spinoff titles, as well as animation adaptations of the franchise...

    , the main antagonist of the film. He is a genetically-engineered Pokémon who questions the meaning of his life due to the circumstances of his birth and strikes back against humanity to prove his own worth. Possessing great psychic power, he is able to manipulate the weather, control the minds of others and verbally communicate telepathically. During his younger years, he is voiced by Fujiko Takimoto
    Fujiko Takimoto
    is a Japanese voice actress born in Osaka, Japan who is famous for her part in voicing child Link from The Legend of Zelda series. She is currently affiliated with Arts Vision.-Anime:*Captain Tsubasa *Mahoujin Guru Guru...

    in a drama CD covering his backstory and by Showtaro Morikubo
    Showtaro Morikubo
    is a Japanese voice actor, and singer who has voiced characters in anime, drama CDs and video games. According to the Anime News Network and as of July 8, 2006, Morikubo has about 55 voice role credits under his name. He was formerly affiliated with I'm Enterprise.He was born in Hachiōji, Tokyo....

    in the animated adaptation of the drama CD.
  • Kōichi Yamadera
    Koichi Yamadera
    is a Japanese voice actor, actor, tarento, narrator, master of ceremonies and impressionist from Shiogama, Miyagi Prefecture. He graduated from Tohoku Gakuin University's economics school, and is currently affiliated with Across Entertainment. Before that, he was affiliated with the Tokyo Actor's...

    as Mew
    Mew (Pokémon)
    is one of the fictional species of Pokémon creatures from Nintendo's and Game Freak's multi-billion-dollar Pokémon media franchise—a collection of video games, anime, manga, books, trading cards, and other media created by Satoshi Tajiri...

    , an extremely rare Pokémon who faces off against Mewtwo in the New Island castle.
  • Tesshō Genda
    Tessho Genda
    is a Japanese voice actor. He is employed by the talent management firm 81 Produce. When he debuted, he used his real name, . as artist name. Because he had experience with ballet, he was known by the nickname "Pirouette Genda."...

    as Kusukusu (Shellshocker in the English adaptation), a Kamex (Blastoise in the English adaptation) owned by Sweet.
  • Ryūzaburō Ōtomo
    Ryuzaburo Otomo
    is a Japanese voice actor, actor and narrator from Tokyo. He is currently affiliated with Aoni Production as of December 2006, and was formerly affiliated with 81 Produce and the Tokyo Actor's Consumer's Cooperative Society....

    as Bernard (Bruteroot in the English adaptation), a Fushigibana (Venusaur in the English adaptation) owned by Sorao.
  • Mitsuru Ogata
    Mitsuru Ogata
    is a Japanese voice actor from Aomori Prefecture affiliated with Mausu Promotion.-Television animation:*Agatha Christie's Great Detectives Poirot and Marple *Astro Boy *Azuki-chan...

    as Kairyū (Dragonite in the English adaptation), a Pokémon that delivers Satoshi's invitation to New Island to him.

Other characters

  • Hirotaka Suzuoki
    Hirotaka Suzuoki
    was a Japanese voice actor and actor from Nagoya, Aichi Prefecture who graduated from Tokyo Keizai University.His best known roles include Mobile Suit Gundam , Captain Tsubasa , Saint Seiya , Dragon Ball Z , The Transformers , Ranma ½ , Rurouni Kenshin , Pokémon...

    (Ted Lewis in the English adaptation) as Sakaki (Giovanni in the English adaptation), the boss of Team Rocket. He takes in Mewtwo and teaches him to harness his psychic powers in hopes of using him in his plot for global domination, but fails as Mewtwo abandons him.
  • Chinami Nishimura
    Chinami Nishimura
    is a Japanese voice actress who has voiced characters in both the Japanese and English-dubbed versions of Pokémon. Nishimura was born in Chiba Prefecture...

    (Megan Hollingshead
    Megan Hollingshead
    Megan T.D. Hollingshead is an American theatre and voice actress. She also sometimes goes by the name of Karen Thompson...

    in the English adaptation) as Junsa (Jenny in the English adaptation), a policewoman who suspends the service of the ferryboats in lieu of the recent storm.
  • Ayako Shiraishi
    Ayako Shiraishi
    is a Japanese voice actress. She retired in 2002.-Original Video Animation:*Gunbuster *Pocket Monsters: Mewtwo Strikes Back! -Television:*Alice SOS*Mobile Suit Victory Gundam...

    (Megan Hollingshead in the English adaptation) as Joi (Joy in the English adaptation), a female doctor who goes missing from the Pokémon Center.
  • Yōsuke Akimoto
    Yosuke Akimoto
    is a Japanese actor and voice actor from Tokyo. He is currently attached to Mausu Promotion. He is a graduate of the Hosei University business school.-Television animation:*Agatha Christie's Great Detectives Poirot and Marple *Angel Heart...

    (Alexander Davis in the English adaptation) as Doctor Fuji, a scientist who performs genetic experiments in an attempt to revive his beloved daughter, creating Mewtwo in the process.
  • Kyōko Hikami
    Kyoko Hikami
    is a Japanese voice actress who was born in Kobe. She is part of the voice actress trio Furil which also consists of Wedding Peach voice castmates Yūko Miyamura and Yukana Nogami.-Notable voice roles:*Sudou in Atashinchi...

    as Aitsū (Amber in the English adaption), the deceased daughter of Doctor Fuji. She makes contact with Mewtwo when she is a child and teaches him about the ways of the world before her physical body deteriorates.
  • Shinobu Adachi
    Shinobu Adachi
    is a female Japanese voice actor.- Television :* The Wonderful Adventures of Nils , Gacho* Maicching Machiko-sensei , Hiromi* Urusei Yatsura * Yume no Hoshi no Button Nose , Prince Flower...

    as the Wife, Doctor Fuji's wife and Aitsū's mother.
  • Katsuyuki Konishi
    Katsuyuki Konishi
    is a Japanese voice actor from Wakayama, Wakayama Prefecture. He is currently affiliated with Ken Production. His debut role was Volfogg/Big Volfogg in GaoGaiGar....

     and Chiyako Shibahara
    Chiyako Shibahara
    is a Japanese voice actress she affiliated with 81 Produce.-Anime:*Akuei to Gacchinpo *Bakkyuu HIT! Crash Bedaman *Bakusou Kyoudai Let's & Go WGP *Cardcaptor Sakura: The Movie...

     as scientists
  • Yūji Ueda as Hitokage 2 (Charmander 2 in the English adaptation)
  • Satomi Kōrogi as Zenigame 2 (Squirtle 2 in the English adaptation)
  • Etsuko Kozakura
    Etsuko Kozakura
    , better known by her stage name , is a Japanese voice actress from Mizuho and works at Ohsawa Jimusho. She is married to fellow voice actor Jin Domon.Etsuko also voices Tuffy in the Tom and Jerry series.- Notable voice roles :* Atashinchi - Yuri Ishida...

     as Fushigidane 2 (Bulbasaur 2 in the English adaptation)
  • Shinpachi Tsuji
    Shinpachi Tsuji
    is a Japanese voice actor.-Anime:*Arc the Lad *Berserk *Brain Powered *Code Geass *Digimon Tamers *Fairy Tail *Fantastic Children...

     and Tomohisa Asō
    Tomohisa Aso
    is a male Japanese voice actor from Kanagawa Prefecture affiliated with Aoni Production. His real name is . He is best known for his role of Peppy Hare in the Star Fox series.- Anime :* BECK: Mongolian Chop Squad...

     as investigators
  • Hidenari Ugaki
    Hidenari Ugaki
    is a Japanese seiyū from Tokyo. He is currently attached to 81 Produce. He is best known for his roles in Mobile Fighter G Gundam , the TV Tokyo edition of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and the 2005 Doraemon series .-Television animation:*Class of 3000 *Digimon Adventure...

    , Takuma Suzuki and Akio Suyama
    Akio Suyama
    is a Japanese voice actor.-Notable anime and video game voice roles:* Perio/Pete in Dōbutsu no Mori , the film adaptation of the Animal Crossing video game series.* Ichiro Ogami in Sakura Wars* Hokuto's Lackey in Cromartie High School...

     as researchers
  • Tomokazu Seki
    Tomokazu Seki
    is a Japanese voice actor. He formerly worked for Haikyou and is now the head of Atomic Monkey.-About:Some of his most notable roles include Shinichi Chiaki from Nodame Cantabile, Gilgamesh from Fate/stay night, Rob Lucci from One Piece, Gundam characters Domon Kasshu and Yzak Joule, from G Gundam...

     as Menokurage (Tentacool in the English adaptation)

Production

Kunihiko Yuyama directed the original Japanese version of the film, while Choji Yoshikawa served as that version's producer and Takeshi Shudo served as the writer. Norman J. Grossfeld then the president of 4Kids, served as the English-language film's producer. Grossfeld, Michael Haigney and John Touhey wrote the English adaptation, and Michael Haigney served as the English version's voice director. The English version editors translated various Japanese texts, including text on signs and on buildings, into English. Shogakukan
Shogakukan
is a Japanese publisher of dictionaries, literature, manga, non-fiction, DVDs, and other media in Japan.Shogakukan founded Shueisha which founded Hakusensha. These are three separate companies, but are together called the Hitotsubashi Group, one of the largest publishing groups in Japan...

 digitally altered the backgrounds for the U.S. English version. In the English dub, three Pokémon are referred to by the wrong name. Pidgeot was called Pidgeotto, Scyther was called Alakazam, and Sandslash was called Sandshrew. In the audio commentary, 4Kids stated that they decided to leave the Alakazam error when they noticed it as something for the children watching to notice and because they felt it was plausible in context that Team Rocket could make a mistake.

Grossfeld said that the English-language producers rescored the music since the new music "would better reflect what American kids would respond to." John Loeffler of Rave Music produced the English-language music and composed the music with Ralph Schuckett. Loeffler collaborated with John Lissauer and Manny Corallo to produce the English-language "Pikachu's Vacation" score. Grossfeld said that the English version of the film "combines the visual sense of the best Japanese animation with the musical sensibility of Western pop culture."

Box office

For the film's theatrical release, select theaters would give away exclusive Pokémon trading cards
Pokémon Trading Card Game
The Pokémon Trading Card Game is a collectible card game based on the Pokémon video game series, first introduced in Japan in October 1996, then North America in December 1998...

, to capitalize on the success of the trading card game. The cards featured likenesses of Electabuzz, Pikachu, Mewtwo, and Dragonite, and were dispensed in random order for each week it was in that particular theater. The subsequent releases of Pokémon: The Movie 2000 and Pokémon 3: The Movie featured a similar marketing campaign. For the 2000 VHS/DVD release of The First Movie, a limited edition Mewtwo card (different from that used for the theatrical release) was packaged with the video.

The film was a box office hit, making $10,096,848 on its Wednesday opening day, a tally of $31,036,678 over the Friday-to-Sunday span, and a total of $50,754,104 since its Wednesday launch, in 3,043 theaters, averaging to about $10,199 per venue over the three day span, and ranking as the number one film at the box office for that weekend, however collapsed 59.72% in its second weekend to $12,502,869, but bringing the 12-day cume to $67,372,092. It closed on February 27, 2000 making $85,744,662 in North America, and $77,900,000 in other territories. All together, the film made $163,644,662, making it the highest-grossing anime film in the United States and the third highest-grossing animated film based on a television show worldwide. It was also the highest-grossing film based on a video game at the time, until Lara Croft: Tomb Raider
Lara Croft: Tomb Raider
Lara Croft: Tomb Raider is a 2001 adventure thriller film adapted from the Tomb Raider video game series. Directed by Simon West and starring Angelina Jolie as Lara Croft, it was released in U.S. theaters on June 15, 2001. The film was a commercial success...

in 2001.

Critical response

The film received negative reviews from critics. On Rotten Tomatoes
Rotten Tomatoes
Rotten Tomatoes is a website devoted to reviews, information, and news of films—widely known as a film review aggregator. Its name derives from the cliché of audiences throwing tomatoes and other vegetables at a poor stage performance...

, the film has a 14% "Rotten" approval rating, the best for the pokémon movie series tied with "Pokémon 2000", based on the reviews of 77 critics, although the consensus being, "Audiences other than children will find very little to entertain them. The film reviews from the audience also received a 62% "Rotten" approval rating. On Metacritic
Metacritic
Metacritic.com is a website that collates reviews of music albums, games, movies, TV shows and DVDs. For each product, a numerical score from each review is obtained and the total is averaged. An excerpt of each review is provided along with a hyperlink to the source. Three colour codes of Green,...

, the film has a weighted average
Weighted mean
The weighted mean is similar to an arithmetic mean , where instead of each of the data points contributing equally to the final average, some data points contribute more than others...

 score of 55 out of 100 based on 25 reviews, meaning "generally unfavorable reviews".

Pikachu's Summer Vacation received generally negative reviews. Anime News Network
Anime News Network
Anime News Network is an anime industry news website that reports on the status of anime, manga, Japanese popular music and other otaku-related culture within North America, Australia and Japan. Additionally, it sometimes features similar happenings throughout the Anglosphere and elsewhere in the...

's review of Pokémon: The First Movie called it "contradictory", saying that "the anti-violent message that is pretty much crammed down our throats works directly against the entire point of the franchise" and criticized Pikachu's Summer Vacation for being "incoherent, pointless and fluffy". Although it should be noted that this message only exists in the American dubbed version of the film while the Japanese version conveys a completely different message involving God
God
God is the English name given to a singular being in theistic and deistic religions who is either the sole deity in monotheism, or a single deity in polytheism....

. Patrick Butters, of The Washington Times
The Washington Times
The Washington Times is a daily broadsheet newspaper published in Washington, D.C., the capital of the United States. It was founded in 1982 by Unification Church founder Sun Myung Moon, and until 2010 was owned by News World Communications, an international media conglomerate associated with the...

, accused Pokémon: The First Movie of taking ideas from other films such as Star Wars
Star Wars
Star Wars is an American epic space opera film series created by George Lucas. The first film in the series was originally released on May 25, 1977, under the title Star Wars, by 20th Century Fox, and became a worldwide pop culture phenomenon, followed by two sequels, released at three-year...

and being "just another cog in the mighty Nintendo machine". Michael Wood, of England's Coventry Evening Telegraph said that Pikachu's Summer Vacation "can only be described as a mind-numbingly tedious piece, with no discernible storyline and lots of trippy images and silly voices". Wood did note that Pokémon: The First Movie had a "mildly intriguing premise", but said that the rest of the film "was like a martial arts movie without the thrills".

Manga

Toshihiro Ono
Toshihiro Ono
is a Japanese manga artist and graphic novelist. He was born in Aichi, Japan.He is best known for the Pokémon manga based on the animation series: "The Electric Tale of Pikachu" published by Viz Media...

, author of Pokémon: The Electric Tale of Pikachu, created a manga version of the film. Ono received the scripts and continuity in April 1998. The manga was released in May of that year. Ono's editors asked him to draw Mewtwo's birth, which was not included in the film. At a later point the anime staff wrote the Origin of Mewtwo special, which does not match Ono's story. Ono said that "there's not much connection between the manga and the movie."

Track listing

Soundtrack
  1. "Pokémon Theme" - Billy Crawford
    Billy Crawford
    Billy Joe Crawford is a Filipino-American recording artist, singer-songwriter and philanthropist.Crawford is a Bilingual Filipino Singer. His second language is English and he is conversational in French. Crawford not only lived in New York City, USA, but also in Paris for five years and for one...

  2. "Don't Say You Love Me" - M2M
    M2M (band)
    M2M was a pop music duo formed by two Norwegians, Marion Elise Raven and Marit Elisabeth Larsen. They released three albums under Atlantic Records and Warner Music: Shades of Purple, The Big Room, and The Day You Went Away: The Best of M2M, a greatest hits album released by their record label after...

  3. "It Was You" - Ashley Ballard
    Ashley Ballard
    Ashley Ballard is a R&B singer who was signed to Atlantic Records in the 2000s. Her debut single "Hottie" was released in 2001, and received tremendous airplay, charting on the US Billboard charts peaking at number twenty-five...

     - (With So Plush)
  4. "We're A Miracle" - Christina Aguilera
    Christina Aguilera
    Christina María Aguilera is an American recording artist and actress. Aguilera first appeared on national television in 1990 as a contestant on the Star Search program, and went on to star in Disney Channel's television series The Mickey Mouse Club from 1993–1994...

  5. "Soda Pop" - Britney Spears
    Britney Spears
    Britney Jean Spears is an American recording artist and entertainer. Born in McComb, Mississippi, and raised in Kentwood, Louisiana, Spears began performing as a child, landing acting roles in stage productions and television shows. She signed with Jive Records in 1997 and released her debut album...

  6. "Somewhere, Someday" - N'Sync
  7. "Get Happy" - B*Witched
  8. "(Hey You) Free Up Your Mind" - Emma Bunton
    Emma Bunton
    Emma Lee Bunton is an English pop singer/songwriter and TV and radio presenter. She was a member of the 1990s girl group, the Spice Girls, in which she was known as Baby Spice as she was the youngest member. In 2010, she joined the judging panel on ITV's Dancing on Ice...

  9. "Fly With Me" - 98 Degrees
    98 Degrees
    98 Degrees is an American adult contemporary boy band consisting of four vocalists: brothers Nick and Drew Lachey, Justin Jeffre, and Jeff Timmons. The group was formed by Timmons in Los Angeles, California....

  10. "Lullaby" - Mandah (Willa Ford
    Willa Ford
    Amanda Lee Modano , known professionally as Willa Ford and often as Mandy Modano, is an American singer, songwriter, dancer, model, television personality and film actress. She released her debut album, Willa Was Here, in 2001...

    )
  11. "Vacation" - Vitamin C
    Vitamin C (artist)
    Colleen Ann Fitzpatrick is an American pop music singer, songwriter, dancer, and actress better known by her stage name, Vitamin C. Her singles include "Graduation ", "As Long As You're Loving Me", "The Itch", and her most successful hit the Top 20 Gold certified "Smile"...

  12. "Makin' My Way (Any Way That I Can)" - Billie Piper
    Billie Piper
    Billie Paul Piper is an English singer and actress.She began her career in the late 1990s as a pop singer and then switched to acting. She started in acting and dancing and was talent spotted at the Sylvia Young stage school by Smash Hits magazine who wanted a "face" for their magazine...

  13. "Catch Me If You Can" - Angela Via
    Angela Via
    Angela Vía is an American singer/songwriter from Texas. Initially marketed as a pop artist, Angela's catalog contains music of a variety of genres in both English and Spanish...

  14. "Have Some Fun With The Funk" - Aaron Carter
    Aaron Carter
    Aaron Charles Carter is an American singer. He came to fame as a pop and hip hop singer in the late 1990s, establishing himself as a star among pre-teen and teenage audiences during the early-first decade of the 21st century....

  15. "If Only Tears Could Bring You Back" - Midnight Sons
    Midnight Sons
    The Midnight Sons is fictional team of supernatural superheroes in the Marvel Comics Universe. The team first appears in Ghost Rider The Midnight Sons is fictional team of supernatural superheroes in the Marvel Comics Universe. The team first appears in Ghost Rider The Midnight Sons is fictional...

  16. "Brother My Brother" - Blessid Union of Souls
    Blessid Union of Souls
    Blessid Union of Souls is an American rock band from Morrow, Ohio that was formed in 1990 by friends Jeff Pence and Eliot Sloan....



Original Motion Picture Score
  1. "The Birth of Mewtwo"
  2. "Dragonite Takes Flight"
  3. "Invitation to Danger"
  4. "Surviving the Storm"
  5. "Mewtwo's Island"
  6. "Pokémon Vs. Clone"
  7. "Tears of Life"
  8. "This Is My World Now"
  9. "Three on Three"
  10. "Mew's Theme"
  11. "Freeing Charizard"
  12. "Adventure in Paradise"
  13. "All Good Things Must End"
  14. "The Show Must Go On"


* Tracks 11 to 13 are from Pikachu's Vacation. Some versions of the CD come with a 14th bonus track, listed as the theme to the first Pokémon series, when on the CD, it is the theme to the second series. The US score was released by Koch Records..

Purchase of the soundtrack also came with a special edition Jigglypuff
Jigglypuff
Jigglypuff, known in Japan as , is a Pokémon species in Nintendo and Game Freak's Pokémon franchise. Created by Ken Sugimori, Jigglypuff first appeared in the video games Pokémon Red and Blue and subsequent sequels, later appearing in various merchandise, spinoff titles and animated and printed...

 Pokémon card
Pokémon Trading Card Game
The Pokémon Trading Card Game is a collectible card game based on the Pokémon video game series, first introduced in Japan in October 1996, then North America in December 1998...

.
The source of this article is wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.  The text of this article is licensed under the GFDL.
 
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