Pokémon: The First Movie Pikachu’s Vacation Pokémon seen: Pikachu, Togepi, Bulbasaur, Squirtle, Pidgeotto, Staryu, Goldeen, Vulpix, Geodude, Psyduck, Onix, Zubat, Charizard, Bellsprout, Cubone, Raichu, Snubbull, Marill, Horsea, Tentacool, Seaking, Wartortle, Poliwrath, Kingler, Dewgong, Slowbro, Shellder, Golduck, Blastoise, Seadra, Poliwag, Tentacruel, Krabby, Slowpoke, Vaporeon, Starmie, Poliwhirl, Magikarp, Cloyster, Seel, Primeape, Chansey, Jigglypuff, Farfetch’d, Omastar, Abra, Oddish, Magnemite, Beedrill, Vileplume, Koffing, Drowsee, Lapras, Lickitung, Butterfree, Clefairy, Paras, Charmander, Venonat, Gloom, Nidoqueen, Nidoran Female, Pidgeot, Clefable, Weepinbell, Doduo, Eevee, Electrode, Charmeleon, Kangaskhan, Nidorina, Victreebel, Ponyta, Arbok, Snorlax, Exeggutor, Growlithe, Ninetales, Pinsir, Parasect, Hitmonchan, Nidoran Male, Tangela, Ekans, Sandslash, Voltorb, Hitmonlee, Mr Mime, Diglett, Dugtrio, Weezing, Meowth, Mankey, Raticate Story: Pikachu and the Pokémon visit a park for Pokémon only, and Pikachu’s to look after Togepi. Pikachu and Ash’s Pokémon get into a rivalry against another group of Pokémon, and compete in various events. Pikachu and Raichu get together and charge through the park, hurting Team Rocket’s Pokémon, and enraging Charizard, who aims to cause trouble back, but gets its head stuck in a playground pipe. Pikachu leads the party in pulling him out, but their number is too low, and Pikachu must plead to their rivals for help, they agree (although the Cubone takes a while to decide since it’s stubborn), and together, they manage to free Charizard. The Pokémon work together to fix what was broken and enjoy the remainder of their time in the park together. My favourite Event: Pikachu and Raichu running together, and ploughing down everything and every Pokémon in their path. Things I’d like to point out: There’s a possible error in that when all the Pokémon rush past Pikachu, Psyduck steps over it and its voice is heard as if far away and with the others in the distance, but then Psyduck is standing behind Pikachu with the others and Togepi, unless it was stupid enough to run in a circle I’m pretty sure this is an animator’s error. When the Electrode rolls in at the start of the swimming match, the Primeape in the background has slight colour errors; it has the features of a Primeape, but the colouring of its similar looking pre-evolution Mankey. When Electrode is about to explode, Koffing looks bigger than it was a moment ago, as big as the huge Electrode, it looks doubtful that it was meant to have risen and therefore was closer to the bird’s eye view of the camera. The Pokémon seen in the background during the race are one step down from a looping background, they’re arranged differently and not in a repeating order but each different kind of Pokémon looks the same as the next, from the Weepinbell with big eyes to the open armed Snorlax to the surprised looking Electrode. The second and third time the hot-air balloon is shown, a closer look at the Jigglypuff inside shows that it appears to be holding a pen, making it the Jigglypuff from the series rather than a trainers’ one (unless other Jigglypuff in general are in the habit of carrying around marker pens). I’m not sure if it’s the same one that gets stomped on by Pikachu and Raichu a little later but I wouldn’t mind if it was. What do you know? Jigglypuff can sing a different tune, in the in-between scene, there’s a sole Jigglypuff among the others with closed happy eyes; could it be the one from the series? In the second swimming race background are added Koffing which not only look strange in their large size, but their expression is that of a Weezing. 94 Pokémon in the equivalent of a normal Pokémon episode, it was hard work noting them all down so I hope someone appreciates it. Mewtwo Strikes Back Pokémon seen: Mankey, Mew, Butterfree, Mewtwo, Persian, Onix, Tauros, Alakazam, Magneton, Nidoking, Arcanine, Pikachu, Togepi, Bulbasaur, Donphan, Machamp, Squirtle, Pinsir, Venomoth, Golem, Meowth, Fearow, Dragonite, Raticate, Kingler, Venonat, Electabuzz, Caterpie, Poliwhirl, Nidorino, Sandshrew, Growlithe, Weedle, Spearow, Oddish, Vileplume, Bellsprout, Ekans, Raichu, Slowpoke, Drowzee, Horsea, Pidgeot, Gyarados, Dewgong, Staryu, Weezing, Wigglytuff, Vulpix, Psyduck, Scyther, Hitmonlee, Venusaur, Sandslash, Rhyhorn, Nidoqueen, Golduck, Tentacruel, Vaporeon, Seadra, Blastoise, Ninetales, Rapidash Story: A Mew Fossil is discovered in ancient ruins by scientists (in the field of cloning) funded by Giovanni, who is only interested in the creation of an enhanced replica of Mew. The result is Mewtwo, the most powerful Pokémon in the world, who upon learning that he is no more than an experiment, destroys the scientists and the laboratory. Giovanni arrives soon after and persuades Mewtwo to work with him to help control his powers. Mewtwo does several deeds for the Rockets after he is given special mechanical armour to focus his powers, he tests his strength against several of Giovanni’s Gym challengers and assists in capturing many Pokémon, but he’s not satisfied and wants to know his purpose. Giovanni claims that Mewtwo’s purpose is to serve him, but Mewtwo objects, destroys Giovanni’s base, and leaves. He returns to his birthplace and decides that he’ll find his purpose, and destroy all those that oppose him. After another Pokémon Battle, Ash receives an invitation to New Island from the world’s greatest Pokémon Trainer, but Team Rocket catches on to this. Mewtwo is this trainer, and deliberately causes a storm so that the ferry to the New Island will be cancelled, and only the best trainers will brace the storm and reach him. Ash and the others reach the port and hear of the storm, and of a legend of a similar storm that wiped out all but a few Pokémon, and that the remaining Pokémon’s tears restored the lives lost. The Pokémon Centre is closed down due to the Nurse Joy’s disappearance, so most trainers back down as there’d be nowhere to heal if their Pokémon got hurt. Some of the trainers head there anyway and brace the storm with their Pokémon, and Ash is eager to do the same. Team Rocket pose as Vikings and ferry them across, but their identities are soon revealed and everyone is sunk by a tidal wave. Ash and the others survive and reach New Island, with Team Rocket not far behind. They are greeted my Mewtwo’s servant who is recognised as Nurse Joy, but she dismisses this accusation (but is restored to herself shortly after). Only three other trainers made it to the island, and everyone is asked to release their Pokémon before Mewtwo’s arrival. The trainers are outraged that the so-called Master Trainer is a Pokémon, one attacks, the other attempts to catch Mewtwo, but they both fail. Meanwhile, Team Rocket stumbles across the cloning room, and learn a little about Mewtwo. Ash challenges Mewtwo, and he awakens his three cloned evolved starter Pokémon to fight. Between Ash and the three trainers, they have a Venusaur, Blastoise and Charizard to try and beat Mewtwo’s copies, but the copies are enhanced, Bruteroot loses to Mewtwo’s Venusaur, and Shellshocker to Blastoise, finally, Ash’s Charizard takes a fall, and Mewtwo wins. His prize is all the Pokémon and special Pokéballs swarm and steal every Pokémon available to make enhanced clones from their DNA. Ash goes after the Pokéballs after losing Pikachu, and his sheer determination beats Mewtwo’s machine and gets Pikachu back. The clones start hatching and Ash’s interference destroys the cloning machine and frees all the original Pokémon. Mewtwo is about to expel the remaining trainers into his storm that will destroy the world, when Ash arrives with the originals, it’s not enough, and Ash faces certain death... but Mew appears and saves his life. Mewtwo immediately attacks his counterpart, wanting to prove his strength against it. Mew fights back, and provokes Mewtwo into neutralising all the Pokémon’s special abilities to prove his clones are superior, and so a harsh Pokémon war begins. As Ash climbs back into the stadium, the Pokémon battle their clones and Mewtwo and Mew fight it out, Pikachu is the only one who refuses to fight. All the Pokémon tire of fighting, except the two Psychic Pokémon, and Ash runs headlong between them to stop the fight, but is caught between the two’s attacks. The result makes Ash’s body turn to stone, and nothing seems to undo it, Pikachu cries for Ash, as do many of the other Pokémon, and miraculously (like the legend suggested), their tears restore Ash to normal. Mewtwo realises his beliefs were wrong, and only when the Pokémon and clones put their differences aside did he realise that. He decides to take the clones with him far away, and erases the event from the trainers’ and Pokémon’s minds... Everyone is back to before they left for New Island, Joy is her normal self, and the storm disappears. Ash, Misty and Brock are confused why they’re here, but none-the-less, they continue their journey... My favourite Quotes: Mewtwo: “I was not born a Pokémon, I was created. And my creators have used and betrayed me, so, I stand alone!” Harbour Manager: “Some trainers have no fear; to them this is just one more challenge. They follow their hearts. That is what sets them apart and will make them Pokémon Masters.” Mewtwo: “I see now that the circumstances of one’s birth are irrelevant. It is what you do with the gift of life that determines who you are.” Ash: “Mewtwo, where are you going?” Mewtwo: “Where my heart can learn what yours knows so well.” When this takes place: The prologue suggests that Mewtwo’s birth took place before the Viridian Gym Battle, while Mewtwo’s beating of Gary’s Pokémon occurred in “The Battle of The Badge”. Mewtwo appeared again in “It’s Mr. Mime Time”, and the destruction of Giovanni’s base happened in “Showdown at the Po-ké Corrall”. In my opinion, the remainder of the story occurs before the Pokémon League episodes and “Bad to the Bone”, since straight after the League, Pidgeotto evolves, and it has yet to do that at the time of the mini-movie, and presumably the feature movie too (they pretty much happen closely together). Things I’d like to point out: Just to clarify, I’m not including the introduction to the Pokémon world (narrated by Brock) extra that is on the DVD in this guide, solely because it’s used more than once among the Pokémon films. Just a mention that I’ve added “The Story of Mewtwo’s Origin” before going into “Mewtwo Strikes Back” since it’s really part of the story (The DVD made them two separate features but I remember that the VHS version put them together). For the first time, The Boss’s real name is revealed as Giovanni (though players of the game would know that), it’s not revealed to the good guys or Team Rocket however and not even mentioned in the series until a lot later. If this is the only Mewtwo, then the series has made mistakes in suggesting Mewtwo is a rare Pokémon or that it even exists at the times before this movie storyline took place (check “Mystery At The Lighthouse”). Apparently a technical mistake, Machamp appears from its Pokéball, and then it repeats itself by appearing straight afterwards. After that, Squirtle’s appearance feels like half of it wasn’t seen because of the Machamp stealing its screen time. This occurs on the English video and DVD, I’m not sure about America though, and quite frankly, I can’t remember if this occurred in the cinema. Pikachu’s Electric attack should NOT have worked against Golem, no matter how high a level it is, this problem could have easily been fixed by not putting a random Ground-type in simply to be beaten by Pikachu. When Team Rocket blocks Dragonite with a frying pan and look at Ash’s invitation, why doesn’t it do anything, I mean, Team Rocket peers down at the letter as if Dragonite’s not even there. If it was working for Mewtwo, surely it should have made a swift attempt to retrieve the letter it lost. Speaking of which, is Dragonite a clone Pokémon or would it have been subject to the same fate as the rest of the world even though it did a job for Mewtwo? The Joy twist was sneaky, most people assumed that Brock said the Joy on the poster looked familiar, because there are many Joys in the world, when the answer was right in our face; Mewtwo’s assistant is the missing Joy. When Gyarados appears from the water, there’s a colour error as its lips are coloured blue like the rest of its body, I’m surprised it wasn’t pointed out more when seen on a cinema screen. If you look carefully, there’s a forth unnamed trainer that aimed to go to New Island who had a Fearow. But since we don’t see her again, it’s safe to assume that she didn’t make it, and probably got herself or her Fearow hurt. I wonder if Mewtwo fixed that by wiping the whole incident from existence. Ash vaguely refers to the Minnesota Vikings football team as if they are real Vikings, though this joke is likely to only be in the English dubbing it’s another real life location mentioned in Pokémon. Surely the invitation in Ash’s jacket pocket would have either fell out in the swim through the storm, or got so wet that it wouldn’t activate. The trainer wearing red makes a mistake and calls his Pidgeot Pidgeotto. I know the names might be similar, but every child that knows anything about Pokémon will have noticed this mistake right away. A recent thought, Misty and Brock get into Mewtwo’s place by tagging along with Ash, they do this sort of thing quite a lot in the series, especially in Pokémon Gyms. Ash, Misty and Brock plainly go against Mewtwo’s orders to release all their Pokémon, Ash doesn’t bring out his Charizard or Pidgeotto, Misty only brings out Psyduck and hides Togepi, and Brock only releases Vulpix. The trainer in turquoise previously claimed that all his Pokémon were Water- types, but as we see later, he plainly owns a Nidoqueen which is a Poison/Ground-type (it’s capable of learning Water attacks but that’s not the point). After Gyarados attacks, its trainer’s Nidoqueen has changed purple, very much like the colour of a Nidoking. There’s an obvious reference from Team Rocket to the ‘Who’s That Pokémon?’ section of the TV series. Mewtwo apparently trained a Bulbasaur, Charmander and Squirtle to their final forms, and then cloned them. How much training did he do? As he’s obviously managed to evolve them excessively quickly. Also, whatever happened to the originals, did Mewtwo just discard them or their Pokéballs? I’ve heard it’s explained in full in Mewtwo’s Origin which is apparently available on one of the other movie DVDs but I have yet to see it. If Mewtwo despises humans and their Pokémon, shouldn’t he think differently about Charizard? The reason being, he claimed that Charizard was poorly trained, and we know it doesn’t really like Ash nowadays. Shouldn’t that have at least got Mewtwo thinking about sparing it, or was he that determined to wipe out all Pokémon and people without exception and only allow cloned Pokémon to live on? Luckily, it seems that Mewtwo overlooked Togepi when Misty hid it away, probably because Togepi is still a baby, and for the writers to include it in the fight would just be wrong. When Ash takes the plunge, the first thing he does is put his cap back on, then he goes after the Pokéball with Pikachu, where are his priorities?! The cap might be able to be replaced, but Pikachu sure can’t. Team Rocket don’t know their Pokémon, they think the Scyther silhouette is an Alakazam. Meowth’s even worse, a Sandslash is right in front of him, all curled up, but he thinks it’s a Sandshrew. When all the clones are created from the captured Pokéballs, another Charizard, Blastoise and Venusaur aren’t created, probably since Mewtwo already has clones of them. Does that mean Mewtwo only wants one clone of each kind of Pokémon and no doubles? If Mewtwo truly shut down the special abilities of all the Pokémon, how come Pikachu’s clone sparks electricity from its cheeks before it fights? It’s been claimed that the defensive stances in the Super Smash Bros games (which include Pikachu and Jigglypuff as selectable characters) are like the protective psychic bubbles Mewtwo and Mew use, they look similar but I’m pretty sure the other mentioned Pokémon and a host of Nintendo characters aren’t psychics. I know Ash wanted the battle to stop, but running in between two psychic blasts: Is he suicidal?! I’ve seen a great deal of animes, and the true result of an attack like that to a normal boy would be messy to say the least. All of the Pokémon cry out for Ash except Mewtwo and Mew, Mewtwo I can understand, he has a lot of hatred for the world, and probably doesn’t have it in him to cry for someone. But what about Mew, it’s half the reason Ash was trapped in the crossfire, but it just sits there without shedding a tear. During the tears sequence and in many other scenes of the movie, the English translation has a lot more music than the Japanese version ever had (some scenes including this one had no music). According to the DVD commentary, people responsible for the Japanese version who saw this version were moved to tears from a storyline that were fully aware of because of the additional music that helped convey the mood. Mewtwo may be a powerful psychic, but what he did was extraordinary: Not just the memory thing, but erasing the whole incident, the reconstruction of the island, and going back to a certain point in time. I thought the time-travelling powers were supposed to be unique to a certain rare green Pokémon. Lots of people probably thought about this (the writers too as they went on to keep this in mind). Mewtwo probably destroyed the scientists that created him, but Giovanni survived when he destroyed the base and wasn’t wiped of his memories, therefore, Giovanni would probably try to control Mewtwo again, “Mewtwo’s Return” proves just that. Cameos in Pokémon Journey: Shed loads, for one thing, the parents of the Screwloose Brothers died when Mewtwo blew up the lab, that’s what made them so full of hate, and why they joined the Rockets, in order to someday find Mewtwo and enslave him as vengeance, check out Chapter 49 for the dramatic result when Tetsubo, Emily and Abby go up against the top cat himself. Mewtwo’s wrongdoings for the Rockets probably had him do more than just beat challengers and capture a herd of Tauros. In Chapter 41, Tetsubo’s Nidoking and Emily’s Nidorina discuss their past, and although vague, Mewtwo swept through their home and the rest of their family were captured by Rockets. Mewtwo and Mew appear in “Memories Lost”, when Mewtwo punishes a certain Rhyhorn for hurting Abigail and then not even caring, by forcing it to protect her because Mewtwo can’t retrieve her memories. Giovanni refers to Mewtwo in Chapter 26 when he tries to have the president of Silph Co build a Master Ball specifically for Mewtwo. Pokémon the Movie 2000 Pokémon the Movie 3 Pokémon 4Ever Pokémon Heroes: The Movie Back to the Movie and Mini-movie Guide Episode Guide Back to the Pokézone