The English edition is entitled Mewtwo Returns and was released on December fourth, 2001. Our English-Language Review is also available. Below is a summary written while viewing the raw Japanese edition.
The balloon tips as Satoshi and friends climb up, trying to get into the basket as well. They all stare at Domino, who lowers her head and laughs. She cocks her hat at them, and with a shout, tears off her coat to reveal a Rocket first-class elite uniform. She looks much older in her uniform than in her jacket and kahkis. She lands with one foot balanced on the edge of the balloon. Her travelling companion, the dark haired man is outraged that this seemingly innocent girl has tricked him. She laughs and holds up a black flower (It’s either a rosebud or a tulip). Musashi and Kojiro rejoice that their boss has sent them backup, but quickly realise Domino ihas not come to work with them. Traitorous Domino lets herself fall backwards out of the basket, hanging acrobatically by her ankles, she throws the back tulip upwards, piercing the balloon, anddrops into the air. She releases a parasail from her backpack and laughs as the Rocket-gang and Team Twerp are blown backwards. She swoops away as they fall from the balloon into the lake below.
Domino lands on the wing of Sakaki’s helicopter, her parasail folding up back into a small parcel. She quickly jumps inside the door to report to her boss.
Musashi grumbles to her teamates as they dangle from a small tree branch. Kojiro perks up saying at least they still have Pikachu, but finds that the rope has been chewed through. Below them, an angry electric rat glares up. They realise they are about to be shocked, but another bolt of electricity intercepts the blast! On top of a nearby rock formation is Pikachutwo, glaring angrily at Pikachu. It scolds Pikachu for invading its territory. Musashi, Kojiro and Meowth wonder why it is so angry and why it has aved them. The second Pikachu angrily tells the first that it wants another fight, but Pikachu is confused what it means by ‘another’. Meowth translates what it is saying, and realises it claims to be a clone of Pikachu! Pikachu doesn’t believe it. Pikatwo leaps down the rocks at Pikachu, shooting sparks. Mewtwo gently lands on the rock Pikatwo has just vacated, and reprimands it for bothering this Pikachu. The clone rat looks scornfully at its creator and attacks anyway. Just as it is about to tackle and bite the confused original, the Pikachu is surrounded by Mewtwo’s psychic grasp and yanked backwards. Surprised, it is carefully set back onto the ground by Mewtwo, who scolds it. The other clones have gathered behind him.
Musashi stands up, saying that if these are clones, how can they be cloned from the Twerp's Pikachu? Mewtwo notices the two humans and recognises them. He darkly informs them that their boss is on his way, and a fight between himself and the Rocket-gang may be inevitable. Meowth looks at the clones pocket monsters, saying they seem familiar. The angry Pikachu clone shouts something at him telling him of course they do, for they have met before. Meowth jumps back in surprise, asking if he too has been cloned. He doesn’t notice the cat clone sitting behind him washing its face cheerfully. Once he does, it smiles at him and asks what he thinks of the philosophical moon tonight. (Pun-like reference to their conversation in ‘Myutsuu no Gyakushu’) Meowth and Mewtwo agree it is lovely. Mewtwo says he wishes the fight could be avoided, as it is very beautiful here. Meowth agrees, but the angry Pikachu screams that a fight will happen, because this is the only way to settle the dispute between originals and clones, and between clones and Rocketto dan. Tearfully, it looks out over the water, memories of walking through grassy fields, sunshine in the leaves of a tree, waterfalls, the crash of the ocean against the rocky shore and the sun rising, flash through its mind. The earth itself, then the moon. Angry it shouts at Pikachu, asking if these lovely memories it has belong not to it, but to Pikachu. Pikachu agrees this must be so. The clone begins screaming at it in anger, saying how unfair this is. Musashi says it’s a pity this small one feels so upset. Kojiro and Musashi launch into a variation on their motto. Mewtwo interrupts, telling them it does not intend to harm them, but this place, this paradise, will be lost if Giovanni has his way.
Elsewhere, Satoshi, Takeshi and Kasumi wade ashore. Satoshi is sad, for he has lost Pikachu again. The two naturalists point to the mountain they must reach, and then at a dead log. Satoshi has his Pokemon carve it into a canoe in matter of seconds. Kasumi looks up and asks what those airships could be doing on the mountain, and isn’t this area preserved?
Down in the main hall, Mewtwo is also watching the airships on the iridescent screen. He wonders if he will have to face his creator alone once more.
Musashi and Kojiro stand outside. Venusaurtwo holds them in its long vines so that they don’t escape and cause trouble. Pikachutwo seems to be trying to convince the clones that Mewtwo is wrong to want to avoid the fight. Meowth becomes mad as the rodent cries to its fellows. the Pikachu wants to have Musashi and Kojiro out of the way so they can see what this fight will be about. Somewhere in the mountain, Team Rocket finds themselves locked into a cage-like cell. Meowth, on the other hand, is free to go with the clones, should it please. (Meowth and its clone get along very well, actually) Pikachu is also allowed to go with them. It looks back at Musashi and Kojiro reluctantly before following the poké-clones and Meowth.
Pikatwo leads the group, perched on the head of the clone gyradous. About half of the clones seem to support Pikachu's views, whilst the other half still wait with Mewtwo, who seems sad that pikatwo is following the path he once tread. He speaks to Pikachutwo, though it is too far away to hear him.
Meanwhile, Satoshi-tachi sail into a cavern where the river seems to flow from. They end up in a small underground lake, next to a long winding set of stairs that lead to Mewtwo’s home (unbeknownst to them, of course). They run up the staircase towards the light and find themselves in the valley where the waterfalls all begin, at a large spring-fed lake, surrounded by lush foliage in a beautiful valley. The man tests the lake water and finds it to be the same as his sample. He explains this is why the grass and wild flowers are so beautiful here, and why it is the perfect home for Pokemon. Right as he says this, a large group of tiny baby nidoqueen and rhyhorn come trundling out of the bushes to drink at the water edge. Everyone exclaims how cute and unafraid of humans the babies are. (There are nine altogether, and they are sickeningly cute.) Kasumi wonders where they came from, and the green-haired woman points to a cliff across the water exclaiming she sees their parents now. The Nidoqueen and her mate, Rhyhorn (Pokemon crossbreeding *shudder*) watch their children at the lake, keeping an eye on the humans. They are the clones from Mewtwo Strikes Back.
Meowth sighs loudly. He is sitting with the group of cloned Pokémon who left Musashi and Kojiro locked up. Suddenly, Sakaki’s helicopter bursts through the trees! The pokémon panic. From the chopper, a large purple ray-gun appears. It hits the clones with red energy bursts, which seem to paralyse them. They scream in pain. Black pokéballs marked with a red letter ‘R’ then drop from the accompanying airships to capture the weakened clones. As the ball drops down towards Pikatwo, a thundershock knocks it away. Pikachu has not been hit with the energy bindings, and is protecting its clone. A thundershock, which hits the Pikachutwo, disperses the energy net, and frees it. Meanwhile, Meowth sees the red nets have struck its own clone. He runs over and vigorously scratches at the other cats face, crying for it to get up and run. Meowth-two looks up at Meowth, who grabs it by the paw and runs along with the two pikachu. They find themselves between a stone wall and a fleet of Team Rocket airships, lead by the boss’ own helicopter. As the red energy net flies towards the cowering four, a ball of black-and-blue sparking energy strikes it and both disappate. The escapees look up, and a few feet away from Sakaki’s helicopter is Mewtwo, still holding an energy ball it it's hand. Mewtwo commences to free the clones from their rocket-ball prisons. The helicopter drops low, eye level with Mewtwo, who regards it with cold impassivity. Sakaki and Domino come out onto the roof of the chopper. Mewtwo glares apprehensively as he recognises Sakaki.
The Boss tells Mewtwo to return with him at once, and be his greatest Pokémon once more. Mewtwo refuses. Sakaki says he will hurt the clones, but Mewtwo does not believe Sakaki can, at this point. Two strange devices, which seem to emit reverse magnetic fields, and some sort of electric energy hover nearby. They jerk to life and deliver an electric shock to Mewtwo, who is thrown to the ground below. The cats and pikas gasp. Angry, Mewtwo stands up to face his one-time master. The two machines float in a circle around him. Sakaki orders Domino, who is at their control pad, to set them to higher level. They tear the ground around the psycat apart as he resists. With a strained burst of psychic effort, Mewtwo slams the machines into the rock face. Sakaki says he has not beaten them yet--not nearly. He wants Mewtwo to come back with him. When Mewtwo again says no, Sakaki points to the pair of Rocket airships, which approach the island haven where the remaining Pokémon clones reside. Many black-clad dan’in on parasails flank the dirigible Mewtwo is furious.
Satoshi-tachi run as fast as they can down the stone steps they followed to get to the spring. Out of the blackness behind, bindings fly and catch them, holding their arms to their sides and making them fall. It is Domino and some black-clad Rocketeers. The blonde girl laughs. Satoshi, very angry, shouts at her.
Meanwhile, Musashi and Kojiro lean on their cage wall moaning about their sad fate. They do not seem to support what their Boss is doing here. They turn to look out between the bars and exclaim
“YANA KANJII!” (BAD FEELING!)
Sakaki’s computer gives him information on Mewtwo’s status. He tells Mewtwo to be reasonable. He says he has the advantage, and that he will destroy the island and the clone Pokémon if Mewtwo will not comply with his wishes. The pocket monsters cry out: they do not want Mewtwo to listen to what Sakaki says. Meowth and his clone agree to fight against Sakaki together. Pikachu and its clone also agree to this, making peace with each other at last. Mewtwo angrily says it will not face Sakaki, and using its psychic powers lifts the pokémon and itself into the sky. Mewtwo zips off quickly, telling the others to follow. Sakai reports this turn of events to Domino via their radio system. Domino confirms this only seconds later, as Mewtwo and the others land only meters away! Domino is unafraid of Mewtwo. In fact, flippantly, she turns to him and asks if he, too, thinks that she is holding a very cute Nidoqueen.
the great black helicopter appears behind them. Sakaki calls out Mewtwo’s name. Mewtwo says he does not wish to be a slave again. Sakaki grimaces and says that Mewtwo must take him seriously, for he WILL destroy the clones if Mewtwo will not comply. The pokémon turn to look at their creator, and two more charged machines drop from the chopper. They land in the dirt and spin to face each other, creating an energy ball. Sakaki tells Mewtwo to step into the energy field, and the clones will be spared. A smiling Domino squeezes her captive baby Nidoqueen, and flips her black tulip, telling Mewtwo what she plans to do if he tries anything outside of Sakaki's instructions. The tulip sparks and knocks over Pikatwo. When the original Pikachu springs to help it, she smashes the two of them into the dirt. Mewtwo tells her to stop. He says he will do as he is told. He walks slowly and painfully towards the energy field generated by the machines. (this is my favourite part ..so cute….) The pair of Pikachu look up from the dirt and shout. All of the pokémon do, in fact, but Mewtwo, head down, solemn and downcast, paces slowly towards the bright orb. Meowth says that Mewtwo is braver than he will ever be.
As Mewtwo enters the blue electric field, it raises him into the air. Sakaki says he is glad to own such a pokémon once again. Mewtwo says he may be a captive, but his spirit cannot belong to anyone. Sakaki grins evilly, and ups the power level on the shockers. Surprised by the sudden pain, Mewtwo goes limp for a moment, but strains against the shielding, teeth gritted in effort. Sakai tells him to stay there a while and see if he changes his mind. He then goes into a long-winded speech. Mewtwo drops his head, more in shame than pain.
Domino leads her new captives into the cave where Satoshi-tachi are held. The pair of Pikachu are still tired after her attack. They collapse behind the othes. Satoshi cries and runs over to them. He is unable to tell which is the original, and thus picks both of them up. They weakly whisper his name --Pikapi. The male biologist administers his water sample to the two. After a moment they both look up, happy, and spring from Satoshi’s arms to cry out ‘Pikachu!’ in unison. Domino tells them to knock it off, she’s busy, and she locks everyone up in the cage.
The many airships are joined by more, carrying construction supplies. Large metal stands and pillars are built into Mewtwo’s mountain. It looks as if Team Rocket plans to build a new base or cover company on the island. Everything is built carefully around the spot where Mewtwo is hung in the energy field, still held by mind-numbing pain. Even more insulting, Sakaki has set up his office right in Mewtwo’s study! Sakaki watches the goings on of his workers through the green-screen. He has brought his own chair and computers as well. He shouts over the phone at Domino, who wanders the corridors on another level. Onscreen, Mewtwo is displayed. Sakai watches the look of pain on the creature’s face. He crushes the radio in his hand. Domino winces as she hears it break on her end.
Domino calls to Musashi and Kojiro, whom she has working as janitorial staff. They grumble angrily as they mop away at the floor, with handkerchiefs on their heads to protect their hair.
The base being built is producing pollution in the pure springs already. Thick and dirty green sludge pours from pipe mouths into the water below. A large flock out Rediba fly over, joined by many Butterfree and Spear. The pokémon being held in the underground cave all begin to howl. Satoshi says something terrible is happening. In Mewtwo’s old study, Sakaki’s Persian stands up, looking worried. Sakaki soothes the animal, asking what is wrong. The cat hangs its head and meows pathetically with a sheepish look on its face. From the stone windows of the original castle, the huge group of giant Spear fly in, and begin attacking the builders! Sleep powder knocks out some of the welders, and one drops his torch into the furnace area! It explodes, destroying most of the completed part of the base. The blast also destroys the bars on the cage holding Satoshi and co.
Domino finds herself in the only still-standing part of the base, faced by a very large number of Rediba. She throws her tulips at them, but a Scyther knocks them away. She extends a blossom into a cane to fend the bug off, but it breaks. She grabs another, making the stem into a vaulting pole, and she shoots herself over the Rediba. Too bad she told Musashi and Kojiro to wax the floor too, she can’t land properly and slips, ending up with her face in a bucket of sudsy water and her rear in the air. Musashi and Kojiro laugh to each other happily. They lean in and tell Domino that they’re done with the floors
Outside, the man tests the water again. Even with pollution pouring in, it is still pure. He passes a sample to the woman. Satoshi and his companions have meanwhile found poor Mewtwo.
note: I’m unsure, but at this point I thought I heard Ai’s voice calling Mewtwo. I may be mistaken, as my copy is a very low quality VHS rip and hard to hear, but it sounded like her.
The large feline recognises them from the past year’s events and is surprised. Pikachu calls up, asking how they can help him. Mewtwo swallows his pride and whispers that they have to dislodge the two rotating machines in order to disrupt the energy field. Satoshi seems to remember Mewtwo somewhat as well, although he is puzzled. Kasumi looks about the black machine, as Takeshi and Satoshi, typical males, slam themselves against the red one to knock it down. Instead of doing any good, they knock it to a higher setting, doubling the pain level. Mewtwo begins to scream. The kids also cry out in terror. The pikachu pair thundershock the red machine until it explodes. Mewtwo is dropped to the ground, where he lies motionless. The children and pokémon run over, asking if he is OK. Mewtwo responds he doesn’t think he can move at all: he may die here. The pair of Pikachu both leap forward at once shaking their heads no. they each grab a paw and pull. The two Meowth also say he has to try. Takeshi and Satoshi lean over to lift the scorched cat to its paws. Just then, Sakaki steps forward. Domino stands at his side, and he is backed by hundreds of team Rocket black-coats. He tells the children to leave his pokémon where it is. Kasumi and Takeshi jump up, pokéballs in hand, prepared to do battle.
Musashi and Kojiro peer out of the cave. They cannot support the Twerps openly in front of their boss, or he’ll surely have them killed. But what he is doing is wrong. What can they do? Meowth tells them to do what’s right, and they run.
Takeshi turns to Satoshi, who supports Mewtwo on his shoulder. From behind Sakaki and Domino, the clones of Dewgong and Gyradous come out of the water. It seems to be a standoff. Inside the mountain, Satoshi, Bulbasaur and Chikorita help Mewtwo up the long set of stairs.
“Come on. Another step. Come on.” Satoshi encourages the weakened Mewtwo, who doesn’t have the strength to walk on its own, much less climb stairs. Mewtwo speaks quietly as they walk, wondering why Satoshi would ever want to help him. Satoshi says he simply likes to help people, and it is no problem to him. They come out into the sunlight, where the green-haired biologist and her dark-haired companion are still testing water samples. They gasp in surprise when they see the boy helping Mewtwo walk to the waters edge. Satoshi informs them that Mewtwo is hurt. He wants to know if the water can help the big cat like it did his Pikachu. The man is unsure, and says he cant see how to accomplish anything short of pitching Mewtwo into the lake. Satoshi states that he’ll do whatever it takes, and then (get this…) Hurls the cat over his shoulder into the lake!
Ash must be one strong kid! Mewtwo is six-foot-seven and weighs over two hundred pounds! (Actually, that would be light for his size) YOU try throwing that over YOUR shoulder!
Mewtwo hits the water with a splash, but he’s been hurt very badly, and starts to sink. As he drifts towards the bottom of the lake, he whispers sadly to himself
“Who am I? Why am I here? I can remember another time like this…”
He then blacks out, and an old dream resurfaces.
Bubbles dance in clear waters. This is the place Mew was born. This is the place Mewtwo dreamt of after Ai’s death. Pushing past the seaweed, Mewtwo weakly calls out
“Wait”
As he approaches the sunlight above, streaming through the water, mew skims across looking down at him curiously. She looks away and skims on.
“Mew?” Mewtwo asks aloud. Then the dream fades away.
Mewtwo awakes, still drifting under the water. He realises that no one will be able to stop Sakaki if he gives up now and dies. He realises the maybe his life is worth something after all. He knows who he is.
Sakaki’s helicopter appears behind Satoshi and the biologists. Sakaki shouts Mewtwo’s name. He knows Mewtwo is here somewhere, and he wants to know where. He and the dark haired biologist shout at each other, but Sakaki brushes him off. Suddenly, out of the lake, in a pillar of water, Mewtwo appears, fully healed and very angry. He says he will not forgive Sakaki for what he has done. Mewtwo pulls himself into a ball, then releases an awesome blast, spreading white-hot light through the entire valley. His eyes glowing blue in fury, a pillar of light shoots out of the mountain centre accompanied by Mewtwo’s shouts...
The moon hangs clear in the sky. A few remaining Team Rocket men and ships stand in a desolated crater. Sakaki pulls himself to his feet at the edge of his destroyed helicopter. His Persian meows up at him. Domino stands, too. The angry mob boss curses Mewtwo’s name. Also in the wreckage, the male biologist helps the woman biologist. He asks if they have any of their samples left at all. She produces one. With this, there is still hope. The green-haired woman looks about. She asks what happened to Satoshi.
An underground cavern, but not quite. Sunlight still streams through somehow. When the lake was destroyed, this was driven underground. A few small inlets and lakes are held close together. The clone Pokémon are alright! They are here, as are Mewtwo and Satoshi. Mewtwo says that perhaps this time, they will be able to reside in peace. Satoshi agrees this is a perfect place for them. Musashi and Kojiro peek from behind a boulder at the boy and the pocket monster. After hearing something Mewtwo says, they run out. Meowth seems angry. He doesn’t think trying to create a utopia will work at all. It didn’t work before, and it won’t work again. Kasumi and Takeshi gasp. Meowth stands next to a pair of the infant Nidoqueen/Rhyhorn. He says Mewtwo shouldn’t try to protect them by keeping them here. Meowth thinks that if their lives truly are their own, they should be allowed to leave if they wish. Clone or none, a Pokémon should make its own choices. Takeshi and Kasumi think this is a lovely idea. Mewtwo, slightly taken aback wonders if this is true. He has been trying to protect them, but has only succeeded in sheltering them from the harsh aspects of their lives. They should be free to live out their lives in the world. As he speaks, the wild Butterfree fly past the moon in a flock once morea, their brave deeds done.
Sakaki and his men are also watching as the Butterfree fly past. Sleep powder drifts from their wings onto the members of Team rocket, and the biologists. Mewtwo’s image seems to fade in. he thanks the Butterfree for this, and the others for helping him see he cannot protect his clones forever. It is bittersweet.
The black clad dan’in look about, confused. Sakaki, Persian and Domino gasp. They are back at their base of operations. What has happened? Sakaki and Domino cannot remember. Sakaki wonders what on earth he has all these airships and officers out for. Persian shrugs and begins to groom itself.
The clear full moon reflects on the waterfalls. Out of the mouth of one, the pokémon clones come, held up in the blue psychic aura Mewtwo creates. They are free to go wherever they please now. Meowth, sitting in the basket of the team Rocket balloon calls out to his clone, which is still sitting by Mewtwo’s feet. The clone calls back happily. Mewtwo smiles. He bids farewell to Musashi-tachi and Satoshi-tachi. (Satoshi-tachi have a pika-balloon now. Tacky? Yes.) Meowthtwo and Pikatwo depart with Mewtwo, as the trio reach the horizon, they each head in different directions. Each ready to start a new chapter of their lives.
The bus bumps over the rough dirt road. Waiting at the bus stop are a young couple, one with dark hair, the other with green. They smile at each other.
The sounds of the busy city echo, cars and truck rush by on the streets. Amidst the hustle and bustle of hurried people, three young teenagers and a Pikachu walk. Suddenly, Satoshi looks up. He hears a voice.
“Watashi wa…watashi wa kokoni ari.” It says. (Watashi wa kokoni ari meaning ‘here I am’)
Satoshi looks up.
“Mewtwo?” he asks, wondering where the pokémon whose voice he heard is. Kasumi asks why he has stopped; Satoshi explains he thought he heard a friend’s voice. With a smile he says
“I know who you are, Mewtwo.”
The narrator brings the story to a close, looking out at the thin crescent moon, and the shape of Mewtwo perched on the top of a pole on a building roof…smiling.
Myutsuu ware wa kokoni ari film ends
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Preview/interview with voice actors begins
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