Pokémon: The First Movie (1999)

Directors:

Michael Haigney
Kunihiko Yuyama

Writer:

Takeshi Shudo (writer)

Release Date:

10 November 1999 (USA)

Genre:

Animation | Action | Adventure | Family | Sci-Fi

Tagline:

MewTwo vs Mew

Plot:

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

Plot Keywords:

Clone | Scientist | Battle | Island | Purpose

Awards:

2 wins & 4 nominations

Cast

Veronica Taylor	...	Ash Ketchum / Additional Voices (voice: English version)
Philip Bartlett	...	Mewtwo (voice: English version)
Rachael Lillis	...	Misty / Jessie / Wigglytuff / Additional Voices (voice: English version)
Eric Stuart	...	Brock / James / Squirtle / Additional Voices (voice: English version)
Madeleine Blaustein	...	Meowth / Head scientist / Pirate trainer / Additional Voices (voice) (as Addie Blaustein)
Ikue Ootani	...	Pikachu (voice)
Ted Lewis	...	Giovanni / Corey - male trainer / Additional Voices (voice) (as Ed Paul)
Michael Haigney	...	Psyduck / Venusaur / Blastoise / Dewgong / Additional Voices (voice: English version)
Jimmy Zoppi	...	Fergus - water trainer / Additional Voices (voice: English version)
Kayzie Rogers	...	Vaporeon / Vileplume / Additional Voices (voice: English version)
Ken Gates	...	Narrator (voice: English version)
Lee Quick	...	Additional Voices (voice: English version)
Amy Birnbaum	...	Additional Voices (voice: English version)
Eric Grossfeld	...	Additional Voices (voice: English version)
Tara Jayne	...	Bulbasaur / Vulpix / Ninetales / Additional Voices (voice: English version)

Also Known As:

Pocket Monsters: Mewtwo Strikes Back! (USA)

Runtime:

75 min | Germany:95 min

Country:

USA | Japan

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS | Dolby Digital | SDDS

Certification:

Iceland:L | Portugal:M/6 | Ireland:PG | South Korea:All | Argentina:Atp | Australia:PG | Chile:TE | Finland:K-8/5 | France:U | Germany:6 (w) | Netherlands:AL | New Zealand:G | Norway:7 | Sweden:7 | UK:PG | USA:G | Canada:PG | Australia:G (DVD rating) | Brazil:Livre

Company:

4 Kids Entertainment

Trivia:

Michael Haigney said that the opening segment was inspired by a bath that he took.

Goofs:

Errors made by characters (possibly deliberate errors by the filmmakers): Meowth calls a Sandslash a Sandshrew.

Quotes:

Mewtwo: That cannot be. You said we were partners. We stood as equals.
Giovanni: You were created by humans to obey humans. You could never be our equal.
Mewtwo: Humans may have created me, but they will never enslave me! This cannot be my destiny!
Giovanni: [as Mewtwo begins destroying the lab] Stop this now!
Mewtwo: I wasn't born a Pokémon, I was created; and my creators have used and betrayed me! So, I stand alone!
[Mewtwo blows up the laboratory]

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back (2001)

Soundtrack:

Vacation

For the love of God, people! It's a good movie!

I admit that I came into the theater completely biased against Pokémon, and I still hate nearly everything about it... with the exception of this film (and the opening theme for Johto League Champions.) Admittedly, the movie was probably pumped out of the studio in order to rake in more and more cash (and it worked) but somehow, the writer managed to keep a stong, albeit thinly veiled anti-violence sentiment. There were also some acts of cheesy heroism I found downright heartwarming. Also notable is the incredible magnitude of the backgrounds. The flying palace was absolutely stunning. I liked it. But, you probably won't. Don't watch it.