Pokémon: The Movie 2000
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| Pokémon: The Power of One Pokémon: The Movie 2000 |
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|---|---|
 The promotional image used for the poster and DVD cover |
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| Directed by | Michael Haigney Kunihiko Yuyama |
| Produced by | Kubo Masakazu Kawaguchi Takashi |
| Written by | Takeshi Shudo |
| Starring | Veronica Taylor Rachael Lillis Ted Lewis Ikue Ootani Addie Blaustein Stan Hart Kayzie Rogers Dan Green |
| Distributed by | Kids WB!, Nintendo, Toho, Shogakukan, Oriental Light and Magic |
| Release date(s) | Japanese: July 17, 1999 Domestic: July 21, 2000 |
| Running time | 102 min |
| Language | English |
| Preceded by | Pokémon: The First Movie |
| Followed by | Pokémon 3: The Movie |
| All Movie Guide profile | |
| IMDb profile | |
Pokémon: The Movie 2000 (劇場版ポケットモンスター 幻のポケモン ルギア爆誕 Gekijōban Poketto Monsutā Maboroshi no Pokemon Rugia Bakutan?, Pocket Monsters Revelation Lugia) is the second Pokémon feature-length film, complementing the Orange Islands saga of the series.
It was released in movie theatres by North America on July 21, 2000, and was produced by Kids WB!, Nintendo, and 4Kids Entertainment. The movie featured two new Pokémon, Lugia and Slowking, and was the ending of the second season of the Pokémon anime.
The movie earned less at the box office than its predecessor, Pokémon: The First Movie, despite increased promotion and better critical reception.
Contents |
[edit] Plot
Pokémon: The Movie 2000 has two parts: The feature presentation and the 20 min. short.
[edit] Pikachu's Rescue Adventure
| Legendary Pokémon: None |
| New Pokémon: Elekid, Ledyba, Hoothoot, Bellossom |
| Region: Orange Islands |
Like the previous movie, the animated short focused more on Pokémon dialogue and little human interaction. As with before, the faces of the main human characters are unseen. When Togepi falls down a dark hole, Pikachu, Bulbasaur, Squirtle, Marill, Venonat and Psyduck give chase and find themselves in a giant tree that once was Pikachu's old home. With help from Pikachu's friend, Elekid, the Pokémon find Togepi but she has been mistaken for an Exeggcute. The Pokémon head off into the depths of the tree to find the missing Exeggcute to get Togepi back, meeting a trio of dancing Bellossom along the way. A deadly storm hits the area and Pikachu and his friends try to protect the Exeggcute and Togepi from being blown away. The tree Pokémon lend a hand and Snorlax saves everyone with his great strength. The storm passes and a Chansey appears, revealing she had the missing Exeggcute all along. The Exeggcute are reunited and it suddenly evolve into an Exeggutor using a Leaf Stone. Pikachu and his friends say farewell to Elekid and the others and head back to their trainer. Meanwhile, Meowth tries to find his way to a campsite but ends up getting caught in Pikachu's mishaps and gives up.
[edit] The Power of One
| Legendary Pokémon: Lugia,Moltres,Zapdos,Articuno |
| New Pokémon: Slowking |
| Region: Orange Islands and Kanto |
It is said by a legend that there is a balance between the forces of fire, ice, and lightning, represented by the three Titan Pokémon: Moltres, Zapdos, and Articuno. However, if the balance were to be disrupted, a power struggle would ensue, and the great Guardian Lugia would be summoned in an attempt to quell the fighting. However, in the end, Lugia would be unsuccessful, and the world will "turn to ash".
It is the ambition of a collector of Pokémon items, whose name is not mentioned in the movie (although the name "Lawrence III" is given in pre-release sources and the junior novelisation. The movie's closed-captioning claims the name is "Geraldan" - the original Japanese had the name "Jirarudan"), to add Lugia to his collection. To do so, he uses his airship to fire huge ice-blasts and manages to successfully capture Moltres, and inadvertently causes the power struggle to begin.
Meanwhile, Ash Ketchum and company are traveling throughout the Orange Islands when a storm takes them off course to Shamouti Island. There, they take part in a festival where Ash, being the festival's "Chosen One", would have to retrieve three orbs from the three nearby islands and return them to the shrine - a task that becomes prophetic in nature as the story moves on. In Pallet Town, Delia and Professor Oak sense the impending danger, and they, along with Professor Ivy, set forth for the Orange Islands.
Despite the advice of the festival maiden Melody (Furuura), Ash and the ship captain Maren (Michiko) depart immediately for Fire Island for the first orb. Blaming herself for what could happen to Ash, Melody (along with Misty and Tracey) takes off after him. After obtaining the first orb, the two groups meet, and along with Team Rocket, whose plan to steal Pikachu was interrupted, to learn that Zapdos is looking for Moltres. This victory was short-lived when Zapdos energy is absorbed making it weak, leaving it and along with the rest of the characters, to be captured by the collector.
Having learned of the legend from Melody, and how the collector would soon capture Articuno, the group sought to free Moltres and Zapdos from their confinement. When they are freed, however, they begin to destroy the airship that they are in. Before Lawrence III could capture Articuno, the airship is forced to crash land on Lightning Island, home of the second orb. As the three legendary Titans proceed to destroy each other and cause meaningless random destruction, the characters are saved by Lugia, who takes them to the island shrine where the three orbs are to be placed.
Once there, the Slowking that guards the shrine tells the main characters that Ash is truly the Chosen One that legends had foretold ("The world shall turn to ash" is obviously a reference to Ash the person, although it was previously misinterpreted by most. Ash, upon hearing this, jokes he wished his mother had named him Bob.) However, Ash must still obtain the third orb from Ice Island, with the three Titans standing between them and their goal. Encouraged by Charizard, Squirtle, and Bulbasaur, Ash and Pikachu, with the help of Team Rocket and Lugia, manage to obtain the third orb. As they return, however, Lugia is suddenly captured by the collector, and, in an attempt to break free from its restraints, Ash is tossed into the water between the two islands. After Ash is rescued by Misty and Tracey, Ash manages to bring the third orb to the shrine, and Melody plays Lugia's Song, restoring the world back to normal.
With the entire ordeal over, Ash and company leave Shamouti Island in his adventure to become a Pokémon Master.
[edit] Cast
| Character | Japanese voice | English voice | Spanish voice |
|---|---|---|---|
| Satoshi / Ash | Rika Matsumoto | Veronica Taylor | Gabriel Ramos |
| Kasumi / Misty | Mayumi Iizuka | Rachael Lillis | Xochtil Ugarte |
| Kenji / Tracey | Tomokazu Seki | Ted Lewis | Alfredo Leal |
| Pikachu | Ikue Ootani | Ikue Ootani | Ikue Ootani |
| Togepi | Satomi Koorogi | Satomi Koorogi | Satomi Koorogi |
| Musashi / Jessie | Megumi Hayashibara | Rachael Lillis | Diana Perez |
| Kojirou / James | Shinichiro Miki | Eric Stuart | Jose Antonio Macias |
| Nyasu / Meowth | Inuko Inuyama | Madeleine Blaustein | Gerardo Vazquez |
| Ookido-Hakase / Professor Oak | Unshou Ishizuka | Stan Hart | Jorge Roig |
| Uchikido-Hakase / Professor Ivy | Keiko Han | Kayzie Rogers | Rocío Garcel |
| Hanako / Delia | Masami Toyoshima | Veronica Taylor | Maria Fernanda Morales |
| Jirarudan / Lawrence III | Takeshi Kaga | Neil Stewart | the late Enrique Mederos |
| Lugia | Kōichi Yamadera | Dan Green | Arturo Mercado |
| Furuura / Melody | Akiko Hiramatsu | Amy Birnbaum | Patricia Acevedo |
| Michiko / Maren | Kotono Mitsuishi | Tara Jayne | Tony Rodriguez |
| Fushigidane / Bulbasaur | Megumi Hayashibara | Tara Jayne | Eduardo Garza |
| Zenigame / Squirtle | Rikako Aikawa | Eric Stuart | Gerardo Vazquez |
| Lizardon / Charizard | Shinichiro Miki | Eric Stuart | Bardo Miranda |
| Koduck / Psyduck | Rikako Aikawa | Michael Haigney | Michael Haigney |
| Mariru / Marill | Mika Kanai | Kayzie Rogers | Mónica Villaseñor |
| Elder | Chikao Otsuka | Phillip Bartlett | Daniel Abundis |
| Yadoking / Slowking | Masatoshi Hamada | Lex Lang (uncredited) | Gerardo Vazquez |
[edit] Featured Pokémon
There are many Pokémon in the movie, though most only have cameo appearances. These are the most notable:
- Articuno- the legendary ice Pokémon, Ash must go to the ice Island (which appears to be the most dangerous island) and retrieve the ice element stone. Articuno was the only legendary bird in this movie not captured or controlled by Lawrence III.
- Zapdos- the legendary electric Pokémon, Ash must go to the thunder island to retrieve the Thunder element stone. In the movie, Pikachu talks to Zapdos through Thundershock attacks.
- Moltres- the legendary fire Pokémon, Ash must go to the fire Island to retrieve the fire element stone. Moltres' first apparence was in the Pokémon animated TV series.
- Lugia- the legendary Pokémon that awakens because the three legendary bird Pokémon go into a rage and attempt to destroy one-another. Like most Pokémon, Lugia cannot speak, but he can, like Mewtwo, speak telepathically with the humans. In the movie, Lugia helps Ash retrieve the three element stones.
- Slowking- the evolved form of Slowpoke. He is one of the few Pokémon that can speak English. In the movie he constantly warns not to harm the elements of fire, ice and lightning.
- Elekid- the pre-evolved form of Electabuzz that helps Pikachu and his pals find Togepi. He is only in the Pikachu's Rescue Adventure animated short.
- Ledyba- A swarm of Ledyba are seen carrying Pikachu and the other Pokémon at the beginning of the animated short.
- Hoothoot- seen in a hollow tree during the animated short.
- Mew- Lawrence III mentions he began his collection with a Mew card. At the end of the film, he finds his card among the weckage of his fortress, and silently vows to begin again. The Mew card he holds is, ironically, an "Ancient Mew" Pokémon TCG card, the same released to viewers when the movie was in theatres.
[edit] Release
When Pokémon 2000 was released, select movie theaters would dispense exclusive cards. The first week, the card was a replica of the Ancient Mew card that featured in the movie. The consecutive weeks were random between the legendary birds.
During the Japanese release, the first run of Ancient Mew had 'Nintendo' spelled as 'Nintedo'. This was corrected for future runs (and the US release) of the card.
[edit] Toys from Burger King
The following Pokémon promoted Pokémon: The Movie 2000 through toys at Burger King, regardless of whether or not they were in the movie.
- Bulbasaur
- Charmander
- Squirtle
- Butterfree
- Pidgeot
- Pikachu
- Clefairy
- Zubat
- Diglett
- Meowth
- Psyduck
- Poliwhirl
- Moltres
- Articuno
- Zapdos
- Togepi
- Elekid
- Marill
- Lugia
[edit] Ratings
- USA:G
- Canada:G
- Japan:U
- UK:PG
- Australia:G
[edit] Trivia
- Brock makes an approximately 5-second cameo appearance in Professor Ivy's transmission to Professor Oak, running back and forth - most likely due to the hectic situation at the time, as hinted by Professor Ivy. He also appears in the credits when Professor Oak calls her again; this time, Brock is trying to gain attention.
- Donna Summers sang the ending song of the movie, “The Power of One”. "Weird Al" Yankovic also provided an original song, "Polkamon", which played during the ending credits. The last song played during the credits was "Flying Without Wings" by Westlife.
- Melody learned Misty's name despite not being introduced.
- Lawrence III's first Pokémon item was an ancient Mew Card.
- When Team Rocket are holding on to Lugia's leg and realize they are slowing it down, James says, "We should try Weight Watchers!" referring to an exercise program which, as the name suggests, helps people lose weight. Jessie replies with "It's too late for that!" to which Meowth replies "It's never too late if you stick to the program!" which is one of the slogans for Weight Watchers.
- After Melody jokes about Ash and Misty getting married (shortly before Zapdos arrives), Jessie comments: "When you get involved with the opposite sex, you're only asking for trouble," to which James replies "Yes, and that's the kind of trouble I stay out of." Meowth then jokes that "You two don't need the opposite sex 'cause you got each other." Meowth is poking fun at Jessie and James's tendency to cross-dress as a part of their schemes.
- This marks the first time the word 'sex' is uttered in the Pokémon series, although it refers to gender. The second time is when Brock uses the term "Battle of the Sexes" in the season seven episode, "The Bicker The Better!".
- This movie has broken the fourth wall at least two times. When Team Rocket does their motto, Jessie says, "Prepare for more trouble than you've ever seen!" James says, "Make it double - we're on the big screen!" Ash says, "I'm gonna have to catch this on video!" At the end of the movie, Team Rocket is upset that they did something good and no one saw, but Slowking says a lot of people out there were watching.
