Pokémon: The First Movie
Directed by Kunihiko Yuyama
- animation
- family
- adventure
- fantasy
- action
The story
Determined to prove its superiority, a bio-engineered Pokémon called Mewtwo lures Ash, Pikachu and others into a Pokémon match like none before.
What it’s like
Bright, saturated cel animation with the crisp, primary-colour look of late-nineties Japanese TV anime, and a sharp contrast when the palette shifts to the cold blues and sterile whites of a research laboratory. Action sequences are fast and kinetic, with energetic camera moves and flashy elemental effects, while quieter scenes linger on faces and rain-soaked streets. The score is bouncy and orchestral, sliding into dramatic strings and choral swells at emotional peaks. Vibe: earnest, colourful and a little melancholy underneath, best for a Saturday afternoon or a comfort rewatch with kids or with nostalgic adults. Pacing is brisk, with long stretches of spectacle broken up by reflective pauses about identity and what it means to be made rather than born. The tone stays warm and hopeful even when it turns dark, and the arcs follow a bitter, lonely creation working through anger toward a tentative understanding. Violence is cartoon-stylised, with battle damage and explosions but no gore; there are a few sombre, unsettling moments around the cloning and a creature's existential despair. For families, animation fans, and anyone who wants a thoughtful but gentle fantasy with dazzling set pieces.
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