Pokemon the First Movie: Mewtwo Strikes Back [G]

Whilst taking a break from their Pokémon journey Ash, Misty and Brock get invited to a mysterious get-together of Pokémon trainers to meet the world’s greatest Pokémon trainer on a remote island. Determined to accept the honour, the three brave a dangerous storm with three other trainers to get there, but when they finally arrive they are shocked to discover that the world’s greatest Pokémon trainer is in fact the world’s most powerful Pokémon: a genetically enhanced clone of the ancient Pokémon Mew, named Mewtwo. Furious about the origins of his birth, Mewtwo vows to destroy humans and the Pokémon that serve them with his own army of genetically modified clones. As the battle for the world begins, for the first time ever Ash is determined not to fight but to take a stand and prove that fighting doesn’t prove power; what’s in a Pokémon’s heart does. 

I remember seeing this at the cinemas and I cried then. Rewatching it now in my mid-twenties, it still has the ability to make me bawl. You know what it is? It’s the shining and animated Pokémon eyes. There is something seriously sad about Pokémon crying so whenever that animated light quivers, the irises shake, and the clear tears begin to well up at the edges, audiences immediately go out in sympathy and the lump in the throat appears, the eyes become sore and hot, salty tears start to flow. 

Running a mere hour long, Pokémon the First Movie is really just two Pokémon episodes blended together into one feature-length yarn of fascinating creatures, multiple morals, and animated heroics. 

Whilst there isn’t really an awful lot in terms of story, the film deals with a very poignant theme and sends a powerful message about identity and equality. By pitting Pokémon clones against their genetic originals, this movie very nicely makes the theme of equality accessible to a younger audience and Ash’s character development, which at this point would have been somewhere at the beginning of Johto League (I think), is quite apparent: there is still something of the immature and smartarse 11 year-old in him, but many of his actions display a wisdom and an understanding of the world, and definitely a bravery, beyond his age. 

The animation is anime-crisp and great to watch, particular during the more climactic battle sequences and heartbreaking moments. 

Featuring the voice talents of Veronica Taylor, Phillip Bartlett, Rachael Lillis, Eric Stuart, Ikue Otani, Addie Blaustein, Ed Paul, Jimmy Zoppi, Michael Haigney, Kayzie Rogers, Ken Gates, Lee Quick, Lisa Ortiz, Amy Birbaum, Megan Hollingshead, Eric Crossfeld, and Tara Jayne, Pokémon the First Movie: Mewtwo Strikes Back is a nostalgic movie for me and still stands as an entertaining and morally powerful first feature film of a TV show. Filled with action, drama, sadness, and comedy, I feel that it still has some power as an animated moral movie today and it does stand up.