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:

Welcome to the stadium.

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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

Gross USA:

$85,744,662

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:

1.66 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The Japanese version's Mewtwo is shown in a more favorable light, feeling that it has no place in the world and so wants to "earn" its place. The English dub opts to make Mewtwo an emotionless tyrant who wants to destroy the world, a decision that both fans and critics criticize. In hindsight, the producers felt they made the wrong decision.

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Goofs

After the real Charizard, Venusaur and Blastoise have battle cloned versions of other Charizard, Venusaur and Blastoise. Mewtwo "claims his prize" by capturing most of the pokemon (not his own, and some of the trainer pokemon are missed such as Misty's Togepi) so he can clone them which would result in 2 clones of Charizard, Venusaur and Blastoise (original and new) yet we only ever see the original clones.

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Quotes

Mewtwo: Your Charizard is poorly trained.

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Crazy Credits

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

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Alternate Versions

When shown theatrically and on the original DVD release, Mewtwo's voice while thinking was projected through the center dialogue channel, but when speaking to others psychically, it was projected at a larger volume through all the speakers to overwhelm the audience. The VHS, 2016 DVD rerelease and Blu-ray use a separate mix that does not have this effect on it.

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Connections

Followed by Pokémon Ranger and the Temple of the Sea (2006)

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Soundtracks

If Only Tears Could Bring You Back
Written by Marjorie Maye (as Marjorie Maye Pulice) and Ross Desalvo
Performed by Midnight Sons
Published by Mewtwo Music (ASCAP)
Produced by Jimmy Bralower, Kai Robole, Kenneth Lewis
Midnight Sons appears courtesy of Lava/Atlantic Records

User Reviews

This Movie rocks you gata see it if you love Pokemon!

This movie is "da bomb"! If you love pokemon you will obviously love the movie Quote the tagline "Prepare for the gratest match ever!" so I recommend you see it. And yes James of Team Rocket does rock. But if you want to know the movies plot too bad you will have to see the movie! BYE P.S. this site and every member rock!!!