Pokémon: The First Movie - Mewtwo Strikes Back (1998)

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

Directors:

Kunihiko Yuyama, Michael Haigney

Writers:

Satoshi Tajiri (creator), Takeshi Shudo

Stars:

Veronica Taylor, Rachael Lillis, Eric Stuart

3 wins & 6 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Veronica Taylor	...	Ash Ketchum / Female Scientist / Computer / Fuji's Wife (voice)
Jay Goede	...	Mewtwo / Dr. Fuji (voice) (as Philip Bartlett)
Rachael Lillis	...	Misty / Jessie / Wigglytuff (voice)
Eric Stuart	...	Brock / James / Squirtle / Weezing / Scyther / Hitmonlee / Magneton / Male Scientist / Squirtletwo (voice)
Madeleine Blaustein	...	Raymond / Meowth / Alakazam (voice) (as Addie Blaustein)
Ikue Ôtani	...	Pikachu (voice) (as Ikue Otani)
Ted Lewis	...	Giovanni / Corey / Male Scientist (voice) (as Ed Paul)
James Carter Cathcart	...	Fergus (voice) (as Jimmy Zoppi)
Michael Haigney	...	Psyduck / Venusaur / Nidoqueen / Blastoise / Dewgong / Venusaurtwo / Blastoisetwo / Raticate / Spearow / Charmandertwo (voice)
Kayzie Rogers	...	Miranda / Vaporeon / Vileplume / Ninetales (voice)
Rodger Parsons	...	Narrator (voice) (as Ken Gates)
Hirotaka Suzuoki	...	Sakaki (voice)
Lee Quick	...	Officer Jenny (voice)
Ayako Shiraishi	...	Joi (voice)
Chinami Nishimura	...	Junsar (voice)

Storyline

When a group of scientists are offered funding into genetic research if they agree to try and clone the greatest ever Pokémon, Mew, the end result is success and Mewtwo is born. However Mewtwo is bitter about his purpose in life and kills his masters. In order to become the greatest he throws open a challenge to the world to battle him and his Pokémon. Ash and his friends are one of the few groups of trainers who pass the first test and prepare for battle. However they soon find out about further cloning and Mewtwo's ultimate plan for the earth.

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Plot Keywords:

clone | pokemon | scientist | battle | cloning | 

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Taglines:

Who am I? Where am I?

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Genres:

Animation | Action | Adventure | Family | Fantasy | Sci-Fi | Sport

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Certificate:

G

Details

Official Sites:

Official site

Country:

Japan

Language:

Japanese

Release Date:

10 November 1999 (USA)

Also Known As:

Pokémon: Mewtwo Strikes Back

Filming Locations:

Setagaya, Tokyo, Japan

Box Office

Budget:

$30,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$31,036,678, 14 November 1999, Wide Release

Gross USA:

$85,744,662, 27 February 2000

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$163,644,662

Company Credits

Production Co:

Oriental Light and Magic (OLM), Shogakukan Production, Tomy

Technical Specs

Runtime:

96 min 85 min (Extended Cut)

Sound Mix:

DTS Dolby Digital SDDS

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

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.

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Goofs

Fergus states that all his Pokemon are water types, however he has a Nidoqueen, which is actually Ground and Poison.

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Quotes

Misty: [after Ash has been challenged to a Pokemon match] Ash, you just said you were too weak to work.
Ash Ketchum: That's right, I am too weak to work. But a Pokemon battle isn't work.
Brock: That's progress. At least his mouth is working.
[Japanese version]
Kasumi: I thought you weren't be able to move a millimeter.
Satoshi: I can do one or two Pokémon battles before breakfast.
Takeshi: This is lunch, by the way. So it'd before your afternoon meal.

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Crazy Credits

After the credits, we see Mew fly away into the sky.

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Alternate Versions

The VHS/DVD includes a cut scene which better explains the existance of Mewtwo, including a reference to Jurassic Park. This scene is played before the actual movie. (And makes the opening of the movie much more understandable). In the following "straight to video" DVD, "Pokemon : Mewtwo Returns" which was a direct sequel to this film, there is a longer version of this introduction introducing a young girl who appears to be the scientists daughter, who teaches Mewtwo a little bit about life. However, the little girl passes away when Mewtwo was still a little baby Pokemon, making his brainwaves violent, forcing the Scientists to rid his mind of his knowledge of the little girl, explaining his grainy memory.

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Connections

Followed by Pokémon the Movie: Destiny Deoxys (2004)

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Soundtracks

We're a Miracle
Written by Todd Chapman, David Zippel, Christina Aguilera
Performed by Christina Aguilera
Published by Todski Music Publishing (BMI)
Your Ear Music administered by Warner Chappell Music (ASCAP), Christina Aguilera Music (ASCAP)
Produced and Arranged by Todd Chapman
Christina Aguilera appears courtesy of The RCA Records Label

User Reviews

Pikachu taught me about pacifism...

I learned more about pacifism from the scene where Pikachu is being slapped around by his evil clone than from Martin Luthor King and Ghandi combined. That scene alone makes this film a classic and well worth seeing. You'll laugh, you'll cry, you'll learn, you'll love.