Pokémon: The First Movie (1999)

Directors:

Michael Haigney
Kunihiko Yuyama

Writer:

Takeshi Shudo (writer)

Release Date:

10 November 1999 (USA)

Genre:

Animation | Action | Adventure | Family | Sci-Fi

Tagline:

MewTwo vs Mew

Plot:

Scientists genetically create a new Pokémon, Mewtwo, but the results are horrific and disastrous.

Plot Keywords:

Clone | Scientist | Battle | Purpose | Island

Awards:

2 wins & 4 nominations

Cast

Veronica Taylor	...	Ash Ketchum / Additional Voices (voice: English version)
Philip Bartlett	...	Mewtwo (voice: English version)
Rachael Lillis	...	Misty / Jessie / Wigglytuff / Additional Voices (voice: English version)
Eric Stuart	...	Brock / James / Squirtle / Additional Voices (voice: English version)
Madeleine Blaustein	...	Meowth / Head scientist / Pirate trainer / Additional Voices (voice) (as Addie Blaustein)
Ikue Ootani	...	Pikachu (voice)
Ted Lewis	...	Giovanni / Corey - male trainer / Additional Voices (voice) (as Ed Paul)
Michael Haigney	...	Psyduck / Venusaur / Blastoise / Dewgong / Additional Voices (voice: English version)
Jimmy Zoppi	...	Fergus - water trainer / Additional Voices (voice: English version)
Kayzie Rogers	...	Vaporeon / Vileplume / Additional Voices (voice: English version)
Ken Gates	...	Narrator (voice: English version)
Lee Quick	...	Additional Voices (voice: English version)
Amy Birnbaum	...	Additional Voices (voice: English version)
Eric Grossfeld	...	Additional Voices (voice: English version)
Tara Jayne	...	Bulbasaur / Vulpix / Ninetales / Additional Voices (voice: English version)

Also Known As:

Pocket Monsters: Mewtwo Strikes Back! (USA)

Runtime:

75 min | Germany:95 min

Country:

USA | Japan

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS | Dolby Digital | SDDS

Certification:

Iceland:L | Portugal:M/6 | Ireland:PG | South Korea:All | Argentina:Atp | Australia:PG | Chile:TE | Finland:K-8/5 | France:U | Germany:6 (w) | Netherlands:AL | New Zealand:G | Norway:7 | Sweden:7 | UK:PG | USA:G | Canada:PG | Australia:G (DVD rating) | Brazil:Livre

Company:

4 Kids Entertainment

Trivia:

Producers and the director, Michael Haigney stated that there was a lot of trouble having to match the animated lip movements. The script was written twice to try and make sure that all the dialog matched up. They also said that they were very happy that Mewtwo was a psychic Pokémon, because he would converse using his ability and so there were not many times where his mouth was moving, so they did not have to work around making the dialog match his mouth movements.

Goofs:

Continuity: When Fergus goes to Gyarados after Mewtwo reflects its Hyper Beam, you can see the back of a Nidoking, but Fergus has a Nidoqueen.

Quotes:

Narrator, Mewtwo: Today, Ash, Brock and Misty are taking a break from their Pokémon adventures. As always, Ash is determined to become a Pokémon master. And, as always, he's ready to endure any hardship, bear any burden... with strength, stamina and a will of steel.
Ash Ketchum: Hungry. Need food.
Misty: Oh, Ash! You haven't done a thing all day!
Ash Ketchum: I'm too weak to work, Misty. I haven't eaten since breakfast.
Brock: This lunch is going to be just perfect for you, Ash. It's my lazy-boy 'no-chew' stew.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Shark Tale (2004)

Soundtrack:

Gotta Catch 'Em All

People This Movie is for Little Kids

I took my kids to see Pokemon with their friends and they all loved it. Every child in the theater seemed to enjoy the movie, as did some of the adults. I think this movie is much more appropriate for children than a lot of the schlock that is put out for kids. This movie is for children. And it worked well on that level.