Pokémon: The First Movie (1999)

User Rating:

3.9/10   

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:

In Japan, the main character (Ash) is known as Satoshi, while his main rival (Gary) is known as Shigeru. These Japanese names were taken from two game designers :- Satoshi Tajiri (original creator of Pokemon) and Shigeru Miyamoto (one of the head game designers at Nintendo Co. Ltd) who are in reality good friends. it was Miyamoto who pushed Tajiri's ideas to Nintendo CEOs and got the Pokemon game franchise started.

Goofs:

Errors made by characters (possibly deliberate errors by the filmmakers): When Team Rocket sees the Pokemon on the screen that Mewtwo stole, they say 'Alakazam!' but it was actually a Syther. Also, Meowth says 'Sandshrew' but it was a Sandslash.

Quotes:

Mewtwo: So, this is my power... but what is my purpose?

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back (2001)

Soundtrack:

If Only Tears Could Bring You Back

It proves why Pokemon should not be rated "G"

This is it, the one we've all been waiting for. Everyone shook with anticipation to see the first Pokemon movie, and here is what I thought: Really good. I really liked it. And definitely worthy of a PG rating. I grew up with Pokemon, so it was natural for me to love the movie (though I can point out when one is bad). One thing that may mislead you is the fact that it was giving a G rating. Unlike the show (most of the time), this movie deals with the topic of death in many ways. Confirmed that scientists in the one of the early scenes were killed, this proves that Pokemon is not for little kids. It's got morals, action, and everything you could want. Seeing as Pokemon has a number of haters, I recommend watching the movie yourself and make that descision. I, being as big of a Pokemon fan as I am, would show this movie to anyone ready for a good anime.