The First To Bridge The Gap?…

Ever since the initial recognition of Japanese animation in the West within the era of the 1980’s, the anime and video-game medium have, in many ways, coalesced with one another to create a globalised outlook that has permeated our own understandings of known Japanese terms. Indeed, from the way in which Hayao Miyazaki’s Laputa: Castle in the Sky subtly references the many story-aspects that make-up the plethora of Final Fantasy game-titles to the aforementioned known video-game franchise enriching its steadily global-recognition by also making fully-fledged CG-centric features of their own with Advent Children and Kingsglaive, it’s evident to perceive the amalgamation of anime and video-games and how they’ve served as a partnership that has served to reinforce the predisposition and iconography of Japanese culture. However, if there’s one concept which still adoringly harmonises its beloved animated-series with the addictive surplus of games it releases year-after-year, it’s that of Satoshi Tajiri’s Pokémon franchise. Originated as an idea that saw the younger generation collecting, training and battling the monsters they found on their Game Boy devices, Pokémon naturally grew into a phenomena that broke boundaries in becoming not only a staple RPG for all demographics to be captivated by, but also an anime series that has consistently developed and enthused different generations throughout its twenty year longevity. For all its long-lasting appeal, Pokémon advocates a charming distinction that many have tried to emulate and if we were to look at precisely where this famed-series originally reached the world-wide recognition that it received, Pokémon: The First Movie would be the first place to look. It stands today as an animated by-product that showcased the loveable characters of Ash, Brock, Misty and Pikachu in a much grander scale and cleverly referenced one of the original video-games hi-jinks of Mewtwo in a manner that appeased fans, such as myself.

Set along the main series of the Pokémon: Indigo League animated series, this filmic counterpart see’s our story begin with a group of scientists who are offered funding into genetic research and the chance to clone one the rarest and greatest Pokémon, Mew. While the scientists find success in the cloning process, in creating the psychic Mewtwo, much of their findings turn to despair when Mewtwo realises that all he was created for was to serve humans; nothing more. Upon learning his purpose, Mewtwo kills his masters and plots revenge against humanity and Pokémon by opening a challenge to the strongest trainers of the world to battle him and his cloned 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.

It’s been exactly 20 years to the day since the original release of Pokémon: The First Movie in the U.K. and despite their being a vast assortment of other Pokémon films that have each been respectively adapted to many different generations that comprise the said franchise, the inception of the first motion-picture remains to be just as imperative and meaningful as the rest, since it highlighted the popularity of the franchise at the time of its release. As much as it was disappointing for myself that I couldn’t exactly play the original Pokémon games of Red, Blue and Yellow at the time of the films release, since I was the youngest of four brothers who was rather envious of the fact that I didn’t have the means or the know-how to play the aforesaid games, there was always a place for me to appreciate the world of Pokémon through the anime series and how it made its way onto the big-screen. For sure, there were a number of different shows, films and other like-minded things that culminated my own upbringing in the 90’s, but one of the more profound reasons why Pokémon: The First Movie instilled excitement in me , and why it’s something that I naturally go back to from time-to-time, was because it was the very first film I went to see at the cinemas. I’ll never forget the moment when my family and I walked into a special screening of the film and received exclusive Pokémon trading cards that me and my brothers still have to this day; with two of us attaining either Pikachu or Mewtwo cards. However, it was more than just the experience alone that made this specific occasion so memorable, because the film in discussion proved to be an animated film that resonated with me and other like-minded audiences who were similar age to me. As mentioned before, not only was Pokémon: The First Movie a one-off feature that placed the characters of the anime series in a much grander scale, it proved to be a spin-off that highlighted a specific occurrence of the original games; that of Mewtwo. Although much isn’t explained of the said Pokémon’s existence within Red and Blue, the detail of his origin is thoroughly explored within the animated-feature and was a significant thing to behold at the time. In paying homage to the horrific principles of Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, Pokémon: The First Movie depicts its tale in a similarly estranged way, whereby we see the legendary Mewtwo being created from a cloning experiment which used the DNA of an ancient Pokémon that results in the man-made creation becoming anguished and confused as to why humans created him in the first place. What’s interesting to perceive of the films different versions, namely between the Japanese and English versions, is how different they carry their respective messages across to the audience; something which anime dubbing is notorious for. The plot of the film is actually quite different from the original Japanese version, with Mewtwo’s motivations being changed quite drastically in the English dub. In the original, we see Mewtwo trying to earn his place in the world, as he felt he did not have one due to his clone origins. In the western version however, he is altered into a much more antagonistic figure, one that has almost villainous aims and predictably realises his own mortality by the end. Whilst this change upset some, fans at the time found it to be very entertaining, and thanks to the first part of the film being dedicated to showing Mewtwo’s origins it felt like a believable motivation. You get to see him born in a lab, made by scientists who don’t care about his thoughts or feelings, even after learning that he’s a sentient being capable of complex thought and feelings. After this, he’s used by the leader of Team Rocket and made into a weapon used against their enemies, or to further their criminal goals. This part of the film even expanded upon some small scenes that featured in episodes of the animated series, where Mewtwo had be teased to build up excitement for the film.

As buoyant as this film may appear to the younger generation, it can’t be denied either that this standalone flick doesn’t hold-back in displaying sequences and motifs that subtly mirror our own moral views on life and what it represents. There are powerful sequences within the run-time that invigorates many of the grappling contextual motifs that the anime-film is trying to portray. Maybe it’s the nostalgia of me discussing the film, but it is these powerful sequences alone, that have stuck with me ever since I’ve come to watch the feature. This is most notably evident near the conclusive moments when we see different sorts of Pokémon maliciously fighting amongst themselves into exhaustion, whilst Mewtwo and Mew fight and quarrel to the point where Ash intervenes to stop the hostilities; making himself turn to stone from the two legendary Pokémon’s psychic attacks. Touched by the central characters courage of intervening and sacrificing himself, every-single Pokémon in the room starts crying which, in turn, miraculously brings Ash back to life. As much as this can be seen as a silly convenience, which is ironic considering one of the deleted-scenes of the feature provides a context as to why a Pokémon’s tear has this regenerative power, it’s a sequence that I fully-remember weeping-over as a 4 year-old child. It functioned as a moment where I felt vulnerable and acknowledged that even a light-hearted premise that the franchise Pokémon inherently upholds, doesn’t flicker in providing moments that feel grounded and real. In many ways, it’s a specific scene that initially marked the ‘death’ of a character who brought so much optimism into my own life and inspired me to live everyday as though it was a big adventure. Twenty-odd years later, it still manages to inject a familiar melancholic sadness that no other animated feature can replicate. In a way, it takes a bold stance of sending this message that fighting is wrong (which seems to go against the entire core of the Pokémon franchise), and tries to foster a message of togetherness and peace; as highlighted from the quote above. These deeper messages are something that stuck with the kids of that generation who watched the movie when it first came out, and the film’s attempt to be something more than just a bigger and longer episode of the show is why it’s the most successful Pokémon film. There’s a reason why tt briefly held the record for highest-grossing opening for an animated film in the US, and is still the most financially successful anime of all time outside of Japan. As highlighted before, it’s arguable to perceive just how much Pokémon considerably helped to bridge the gap between Western audiences familiarising with that of Japanese animation due its meticulous nature in delving into many different areas of merchandising and entertainment. It still stands today as a rare and enticing commodity that never seems to run out of ideas and still twinkles the nostalgic hearts of those who grew-up with it; including me.

Despite the downtrodden point-of-view that a lot of other audiences have in regards to the film in discussion, no one can take away the natural feelings and affection I have for Pokémon: The First Movie. It not only remains to be a feature that marked the first time I ever came across the wide distinctive scope that is Japanese animation, but it sustains to be a twenty year old animation that still represents to be a watermark that instils familiar emotions. Yes, in the space between the multi-platform franchise being formed in the heyday of the 90’s right up-to this present day, Pokémon, from its manga and gaming routes, has transformed into a Rosetta stone for the Japanese anime industry. It’s spawned a filmography and a long-lasting T.V. series that no other concept could ever hope to achieve and still serves as a critical translation device that unlocks Western audiences to an entirely new and visceral language of entertainment.

Despite what the franchise has gone-on to achieve and fulfil, all of that success arguably wouldn’t have come to be known without the appearance of Pokémon: The First Movie as it eclipsed the phenomena that the said franchise was shown to be and emitted qualities and sequences that are melancholically yet nostalgically transfixing. The very fact that a movie such as this has me still overwhelmed with conflicting emotions of happiness and sadness whenever the film opens with the classic theme of the animated show, or displays a moment of anguish, simply clarifies how significant the Pokémon: The First Movie personally means to me and to many other people similar age to me who were also ensnared by the films raw and positive majesty. It might not be a film that will set your world on fire, and if you’re not a fan of the franchise, or it’s not something from your childhood you might even get bored watching it. But if you grew up with Pokémon, if it was a part of your youth and meant something to you then it’ll mean something to you now too…

On that note, it’s time for me to end this week’s Film Review. As always everyone, thank you for reading my latest Film Review of My Hero Academia: Two Heroes and if anyone wants to share their thoughts on the film or review itself, then you’re more than welcome to comment down below. For next week, considering that I haven’t seen any recent films at the cinema, and the fact that cinemas are closed anyway due to this predicament we’re in, I’m going to still venture and discuss an old film from my own upbringing…With that said, thank you once again for reading my latest Film Review and I hope you’re all having a nice weekend! Adieu! 😀✌💪👊💥

★★★☆☆ – Alex Rabbitte