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:

The VHS release of the film had a trailer to Pokémon 2000 and came with a free trading card. The DVD release came with a Mewtwo promotional card.

Goofs:

Errors made by characters (possibly deliberate errors by the filmmakers): Meowth calls a Sandslash a Sandshrew.

Quotes:

Ash Ketchum: The world's greatest Pokémon master is waiting for me. Let's use our Pokémon to get to that island.
Misty: Ash, our Pokémon aren't strong enough. They can't handle giant waves like this.
Ash Ketchum: [upset] Guess you're right...
Jesse: [Team Rocket arrive in a boat, dressed as Vikings] You vant to cross maybe? Ve take you, ya? Ve Vikings are used to big vaves. Ve get you to New lsland faster than you can say fahrvergnügen.
Jesse: [cuts to them rowing] Stroke! Stroke! Stroke! Stroke! Stroke! Oh, I think I'm gonna have one!
Brock: I didn't know Vikings still existed.
Ash Ketchum: They mostly live in Minnesota.
Misty: Something's not right. Are you sure this boat's safe?
Jesse: Don't vorry. This ship von't let you down. Ve alvays sail in da rough veather. Don't get upset.
Meowth: Tell my stomach.
[...]

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Saturday Night Live: Jennifer Aniston/Sting (#25.6)" (1999)

Soundtrack:

Gotta Catch 'Em All

Short yet long

This movie is really has you may have heard a feature length episode of the cartoon series and got to get a cinema release. The thing is with this movie is that it is pretty good. It has now become one of my favorite animated movies along with Mulan and Perfect Blue. Its really about Mewtwo who wants to destroy all Pokemon and humans so he and clone Pokemon can rule the earth. Its dialogue isn't bad and the movie could have used a bit more effort than rushing through the movie and giving no detail but all in the end I'm going to be nice and give it a nice **** 4stars.