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:''Mewtwo Strikes Back redirects here. For the novel, see [[Mewtwo Strikes Back (book)]]. For the manga, see [[Mewtwo Strikes Back! (manga)]]. For the TCG card, see [[Mewtwo Strikes Back (CoroCoro promo)]].''
:''Pokémon: The First Movie redirects here. For other uses, see [[Pokémon: The First Movie (disambiguation)]].''
:''M1 redirects here. For the prop in Pokéstar Studios, see [[Pokéstar Studios opponents#MT|Pokéstar Studios opponents → MT]].''
----
{{EpicodePrevNext|
prevcode=None|
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nexttitle=The Power of One |
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series=Pokémon movies}}
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|poster=Movie 1 poster.png
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|jpprem=July 18, 1998
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|usprem=November 10, 1999
|usprem=November 12, 1999
|jpvid=
|jpvid=February 12, 1999
|usvid=March 21, 2000
|usvid=March 21, 2000
|enop=[[Pokémon Theme]]
|ened=[[We're a Miracle]]<br>[[(Hey You) Free Up Your Mind]]<br>[[If Only Tears Could Bring You Back]]<br>[[Don't Say You Love Me]]
|jaop=[[Aim to Be a Pokémon Master|めざせポケモンマスター'98]]
|jaed=[[Together With the Wind|風といっしょに]]
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'''Pokémon the First Movie - Mewtwo Strikes Back''' (Japanese: '''ミュウツーの{{tt|逆襲|ぎゃくしゅう}}''' ''Mewtwo's Counterattack'', officially ''Mewtwo Strikes Back!'' in Japan) is the first Pokémon movie. It debuted in Japanese theaters on July 18, 1998, and then made its way to North American theaters on November 10, 1999.
'''Pokémon: The First Movie - Mewtwo Strikes Back''' (Japanese: '''{{tt|劇場版|げきじょうばん}}ポケットモンスター　ミュウツーの{{tt|逆襲|ぎゃくしゅう}}''' ''Pocket Monsters the Movie: Mewtwo's Counterattack'', officially known as '''Pocket Monsters the Movie: Mewtwo Strikes Back!''' in Japan), also known simply as '''Pokémon: The First Movie''', is the first [[Pokémon movie]]. It debuted in Japanese theaters on July 18, 1998, and then made its way to North American theaters on November 12, 1999.


''Mewtwo Strikes Back'' was shown with the [[Pikachu Shorts|Pikachu Short]] movie ''[[PK01|Pikachu's Vacation]]''.
''Mewtwo Strikes Back'' was shown with the [[Pikachu short]] ''[[PK01|Pikachu's Vacation]]''.
 
The first anime special, ''[[Mewtwo Returns]]'', is a sequel to this movie.
 
A 3D-animated remake, ''[[M22|Mewtwo Strikes Back—Evolution]]'', was released in 2019.


==Other posters and logos==
==Other posters and logos==
<gallery perrow=3>
<gallery>
File:Pikachu the Movie 1 poster.png|''Pikachu the Movie'' poster
File:Pikachu the Movie 1 poster.png|''Pikachu the Movie'' poster
File:M01Japanese.png‎|Final ''Mewtwo's Counterattack'' movie poster
File:M01Japanese.png|Final ''Mewtwo's Counterattack'' movie poster
File:Pokemon the first movie.jpg|English theatrical poster
File:Pokemon the first movie.jpg|English theatrical poster
File:M01Mewtwo Mew.png|Poster featuring Mewtwo and Mew
File:M01Mewtwo Mew.png|Japanese poster featuring Mewtwo and Mew
File:Pokémon The First Movie Region 4 DVD.png|Australian Beyond DVD cover
File:Mewtwo Strikes Back DVD Region 1 reprint.png|Digital release poster and VIZ DVD cover
File:Japanese M01 Logo.png|''Mewtwo's Counterattack'' logo
File:Japanese M01 Logo.png|''Mewtwo's Counterattack'' logo
File:M01 Logo.png|''Pokémon the First Movie'' logo
File:M01 Logo.png|''Pokémon the First Movie'' logo
File:M01 Title screen.png|Title screen
</gallery>
</gallery>


==Synopsis==
{{spoilers}}
{{spoilers}}  
{{an|Giovanni}}, the leader of [[Team Rocket]], has managed to create an enhanced clone of {{p|Mew}}. In this, he has created {{an|Mewtwo}}. As the story begins, a confused Mewtwo asks himself who he is, what he is, and where he came from. Just then, Mewtwo wakes up in a stasis tube in one of Team Rocket's laboratories, where the scientists study him. Mewtwo breaks out of his test tube, as the head scientist, [[Dr. Fuji]], tells Mewtwo that he was made by humans and is a clone. Mewtwo is angry that the scientists see him more as an end result to their project and less of a sentient being so he destroys the lab and kills all the scientists. Dr. Fuji says to himself that he regrets playing God before dying at the hands of Mewtwo. Then, Giovanni arrives in his private helicopter and offers to help give some value to Mewtwo's life. Mewtwo takes up the offer, and is put in a suit of armor to prevent him from rebelling against Team Rocket.


Over the next few weeks, Mewtwo does most of Team Rocket's dirty work, capturing wild Pokémon and beating any {{pkmn|Trainer}}s that come into the Gym in [[Viridian City]], including [[Gary Oak]]. Mewtwo has had enough and blasts off out of Team Rocket HQ and back to the island where he was born.
==Blurb==
<!--http://www.pokemon.com/us/pokemon-movies/movie-pokemon-the-first-movie-1999/-->
<i>Giovanni, the leader of Team Rocket, had ambitious plans to take over the world, involving his latest experiment, a powerful clone of Mew—Mewtwo. Mewtwo is very powerful, and also very smart—smart enough to not want to be controlled by Giovanni. It escaped from the lab, and now Mewtwo begins to concoct its own scheme, clandestinely inviting a number of Pokémon Trainers to the ultimate test. Of course, if it's an event for talented Trainers, Ash Ketchum will be right in the front row!


Upon returning to the island where he was born, Mewtwo vows to get revenge on those who created and tried to enslave him, and more importantly, to prove his worth as a living being by finding and beating his original, Mew.
Ash's excitement turns to fear and anger when Mewtwo reveals its plan for domination, creating powerful clones of all of the kids' Pokémon so it can even the "imbalance" between Pokémon and their Trainers. Despite Ash's protests, Mewtwo refuses to believe that Pokémon and people can be friends. But faced with the determination of a young Trainer and the love of his Pokémon, Mewtwo just might have to reconsider, especially when pitted against the power of the mysterious Mew!</i>


Meanwhile, {{Ash}}, {{an|Misty}}, and {{an|Brock}} are preparing for lunch until a Pokémon Trainer known as [[Raymond]] shows up and challenges Ash, who is happy to oblige, since he enjoys one or two battles before lunch. With Pikachu jumping into battle, Ash easily beats the Pokémon Trainer. What he doesn't know is that he's being watched, not only by Team Rocket, but by a mysterious third party. [[Jessie]], [[James]], and {{MTR}}, who were also watching the battle, don't have any food. Suddenly, a Dragonite flies in with a letter for Ash and friends. It projects a hologram of a mysterious woman who tells the Trainers to head to a pier in order to get to an island fortress called [[New Island]].
==Plot==
{{an|Dr. Fuji}}, wanting to find a way to restore life by cloning, leads an expedition to [[Guyana]] after finding evidence of a shrine dedicated to {{p|Mew}}, the world's most powerful—but now said to be extinct—Pokémon. {{an|Giovanni}}, the leader of [[Team Rocket]], funds Fuji's research in return for an enhanced, living replica of Mew. Finding a fossil of Mew, Fuji and his team create {{OBP|Mewtwo|M01}}. Upon gaining consciousness, a confused Mewtwo asks itself who it is, what it is, and where it came from. Just then, Mewtwo fully wakes up in a stasis tube in one of Fuji's laboratories, where the scientists study it. Mewtwo breaks out of its test tube; Dr. Fuji tells Mewtwo that it was made by [[human]]s and is a clone of, but much more powerful than Mew. Mewtwo is angry that the scientists see it more as a result of their project and less of a sentient being, so it destroys the lab and kills all of the scientists. Dr. Fuji says to himself that he succeeded in creating the world's most powerful Pokémon before dying at the hands of Mewtwo. Then, Giovanni arrives in his private helicopter and offers to help Mewtwo focus its powers. Mewtwo takes up the offer and is put in a suit of armor.


Later, the gang arrive at the [[Pokémon Center]] and discover that the [[Nurse Joy]] who works there has been missing for quite a while. {{mov|Miranda}}, the pier master tells them that she has lived on the pier all her life and that the storm is the fiercest she's ever seen. She then tells a story to everyone present about how some people died in a storm many years ago, however legend has it that the tears of the Pokémon restored the people to life.
Over the next few weeks, Mewtwo does most of Team Rocket's dirty work, capturing [[wild Pokémon]] and beating any {{pkmn|Trainer}} that challenges the [[Viridian Gym]], including [[Gary Oak]]. When Giovanni tells Mewtwo his own twisted way of controlling Pokémon, Mewtwo angrily blasts away, destroying its armor and the {{an|Team Rocket HQ}}, and vows from atop the island it was created on to begin its reign on Earth.


Soon, most of the other Pokémon Trainers take off for a place called New Island. Team Rocket give Ash and friends a boat ride, but the storm proves too much for them, so they have to use Ash and Misty's Water Pokémon to get all the way to New Island.
[[File:Messenger Dragonite.png|thumb|left|250px|A Dragonite shows up to deliver an invitation]]
Meanwhile, {{Ash}} and {{ashfr}} are preparing for lunch until a Trainer named [[Raymond]] shows up and challenges Ash. With his {{AP|Bulbasaur}}, {{AP|Squirtle}}, and Pikachu, Ash easily beats Raymond. What Ash doesn't realize is that he's being watched, not only by Team Rocket, but by a mysterious third party. Team Rocket watch hungrily as the [[twerp]]s eat {{an|Brock}}'s cooking. Suddenly, a {{p|Dragonite}} flies in with a letter for Ash and his friends. It projects a hologram of a mysterious woman who tells the Trainers to head to [[Old Shore Wharf]] to get to an island fortress called [[New Island]].


As the heroes barely arrive at New Island, the mystery woman from the hologram letter greets them and takes them to the dining room to meet the other Trainers who arrived safely.
Later, as a storm brews, Ash and his friends arrives at the [[Pokémon Center]], whose [[Nurse Joy]] has been missing for quite a while. [[Officer Jenny]] informs the Trainers gathered that the ferry to New Island has been canceled. {{OBP|Miranda|M01}}, the piermaster, tells them that she has lived on the pier all her life and that the current storm is the fiercest she's ever seen. She tells a story to everyone present about how some people died in a storm many years ago; however, legend has it that the tears of a Pokémon restored the people to life.


Meanwhile, as Team Rocket try to get inside the fortress, Mew can be seen flying around without a care in the world.
Soon, most of the other Pokémon Trainers—ignoring Jenny and Miranda's warnings—take off for New Island. Ash and his friends are eager to follow, but none of their Pokémon are strong enough to handle the giant waves. Team Rocket, under disguise, gives Ash and friends a boat ride. Later, Team Rocket's disguise was uncovered. However, the storm proves too much for them, and as the strong wind and waves hit against the boat, it capsizes and everyone is sent into the ocean. Ash and his friends save themselves by using Ash's Squirtle and {{an|Misty}}'s {{TP|Misty|Staryu}} to get to New Island.


As they arrive in the dining room, Ash and friends meet three Pokémon Trainers named [[Neesha]], [[Fergus]], and [[Corey]]. Just then, the mystery woman introduces everybody in the room to her master, who is revealed to be none other than Mewtwo! Then, the woman faints, Brock quickly catches her, and it is revealed that the mystery woman is the missing Nurse Joy. Mewtwo tells the Trainers that humans are weak and cruel, and the world will fall into ruin because it is controlled by them. He also says that Pokémon are no better off, since they choose to associate with humans.
As the heroes barely arrive at New Island, the mystery woman from the hologram letter greets them and takes them to the dining room to meet the other Trainers who arrived safely. Brock says that she looked familiar, however, the woman denies it and shows them to the castle.


As Team Rocket get into the fortress and make their way into a laboratory, they come across a weird-looking machine, a computer, and Pokémon sleeping in giant pods. Jessie accidentally sits on the computer controls which play back a recorded message from Dr. Fuji about the fossilized eyelash of Mew that was created to form Mewtwo. Suddenly, the machine takes a piece of hair from Meowth to create a clone of him.
Meanwhile, as Team Rocket tries to get inside the fortress, the [[Mythical Pokémon]] {{OBP|Mew|M01}} senses something troubling and arrives at New Island, and follows closely behind Team Rocket.


Mewtwo leads Ash and the other Trainers into the stadium part of the fortress and suggests that they should battle Pokémon to see who is the strongest, the clones versus the originals. Ash's {{AP|Charizard}}, Corey's {{p|Venusaur}}, and Neesha's {{p|Blastoise}} are no match for Mewtwo's clones, and he claims the originals with his own specialized [[Poké Ball]]s. Mewtwo then announces that the other Pokémon will be taken to be cloned. The clones will remain safe on the island while Mewtwo's storms destroy the planet. He then sends the Balls after the Pokémon.
[[File:Mewtwo M01.png|thumb|250px|Mewtwo greets Trainers to New Island]]
As they arrive in the dining room, Ash and his friends meet three Pokémon Trainers named [[Neesha]], [[Fergus]], and [[Corey]]. Just then, the mystery woman introduces everybody in the room to her master, who is revealed to be none other than Mewtwo. Fergus insults Mewtwo, who sends him flying. Fergus has his {{p|Gyarados}} attack with {{m|Hyper Beam}}, but Mewtwo easily reflects it. Mewtwo releases the woman from its control. When Brock quickly catches her, it is revealed that the mystery woman is the missing Nurse Joy, whom Mewtwo had taken under its control due to her knowledge of Pokémon physiology. Mewtwo tells the Trainers that humans are weak and cruel, and have made all Pokémon their slaves. It also says that Pokémon are no better off since they choose to associate with humans.


Immediately all the Trainers are on the run. Some Pokémon are captured before they realize what's happening, some attempt to outrun the Clone Balls and some attempt to use their attacks to defend themselves. However it's no use and the Pokémon are all being captured one by one. Ash gets an idea and, reasoning that Mewtwo can't capture his Pokémon if they're already inside their Poké Balls, recalls {{AP|Bulbasaur}} and {{AP|Squirtle}}. However it turns out to be no use, as the Clone Balls instead capture the Poké Balls with Bulbasaur and Squirtle still inside! Brock suggests carrying the Pokémon away, but while Misty successfully hides {{TP|Misty|Togepi}} inside her bag, {{TP|Misty|Psyduck}} and {{TP|Brock|Vulpix}} aren't so lucky and are also captured.
As Team Rocket gets into the fortress and make their way into a laboratory, they come across a weird-looking machine, a computer, and several Pokémon sleeping in giant pods. [[Jessie]] accidentally sits on the computer controls, which plays back a recorded message from Dr. Fuji about the fossilized eyelash of Mew that was used to create Mewtwo. Suddenly, the machine takes a piece of hair from Meowth to create a clone of him. Summoned by Mewtwo, the cloned Pokémon awaken and exit to their master.


Now {{AP|Pikachu}} is the only Pokémon still uncaptured, and as it's now the only target, the Poké Balls have little trouble focusing on it. It is nearly captured at one point, however Ash uses his body to block, giving Pikachu a chance to run. Pikachu heads towards a nearby suspended staircase and uses {{m|ThunderShock}} to take out a few of the Clone Balls. Ash is desperate to save Pikachu and follows it up the staircase. Pikachu is forced to use its ThunderShock every few seconds, which in combination with constantly being on the run, leaves it exhausted. As a result, Pikachu is forced off the staircase while dodging the Balls, falling a long way. Ash jumps off after Pikachu to protect it, but before he can grab his friend, a Clone Ball finally manages to capture Pikachu. Ash grabs the ball before he falls into the pool of water at the base of the staircase, and loses his grip on it underwater. Ash follows it up, out of the pool, and towards the entrance to the laboratory where Team Rocket is.
Mewtwo leads Ash and the other Trainers into the stadium part of the fortress and suggests that they should battle Pokémon to see who is the strongest, the clones versus the originals. [[Ash's Charizard]], Corey's {{p|Venusaur}}, and Neesha's {{p|Blastoise}} are no match for Mewtwo's clones. With the Pokémon defeated, Mewtwo summons its own specialized [[Poké Ball]]s, the Mewtwo Balls, and uses them to capture Charizard, Venusaur, and Blastoise, claiming them as its prize. Mewtwo announces that the other Pokémon will be taken to be cloned. The clones will remain safe on the island while Mewtwo's storms destroy the planet. Mewtwo sends the Balls after the Pokémon.


The same machine that cloned Meowth earlier is now processing all of the Clone Balls, and Ash grabs the one Pikachu is in just as the machine does as well. Fighting against the machine's many arms, Ash eventually manages to get the Clone Ball away, destroying the machine in the process. Pikachu is released from the Clone Ball and shakes itself off, hating being confined to the space. Happily, it reunites with Ash, but the clones are now freed from their stasis tubes, prepared to join Mewtwo. The remaining Clone Balls are released from the machine in an explosion, and all open to free the Pokémon inside, including Ash's Squirtle and Bulbasaur's Poké Balls.
[[File:Neesha Vileplume.png|thumb|left|250px|Neesha attempts to protect her Pokémon]]
Immediately, all the Trainers are on the run. Some Pokémon are captured before they realize what's happening, some attempt to outrun the Mewtwo Balls, and some attempt to use their attacks to defend themselves. However, it proves to be useless as nearly all the Pokémon end up being captured one by one. Ash deduces that Pokémon inside their Poké Balls should be safe from capture and [[recall]]s {{AP|Bulbasaur}} and {{AP|Squirtle}}. However, it turns out to be no use, as the Mewtwo Balls instead capture the {{i|Poké Ball}}s whole with Bulbasaur and Squirtle still inside. Brock suggests carrying the Pokémon away, but while Misty successfully hides {{TP|Misty|Togepi}} inside her [[bag|backpack]], {{TP|Misty|Psyduck}} and {{TP|Brock|Vulpix}} aren't so lucky and are also caught.


Mewtwo demands to know what happened in the explosion, and Ash emerges from the smoke with his and every Trainer's Pokémon. Ash tries to punch Mewtwo, but Mewtwo's forcefield sends him flying. Just then, after hearing all the commotion, Mew flies down and creates a giant bubble, which Ash lands on, breaking his fall. Mew encounters his clone and tells him that the originals will never be defeated by their copies when they fight without special powers. Thus, Mew and Mewtwo have a big battle that follows, which is about Pokémon fighting for the meaning of their lives, since (as Mewtwo sees it) clones have no value, and whoever wins will be the "real" Pokémon, not the worthless clone.
{{AP|Pikachu}} is the only Pokémon still uncaptured, and as a result, he's now the only target of the Mewtwo Balls. Ash uses his body to block them, giving Pikachu a chance to run. Pikachu heads towards a nearby suspended staircase and uses {{m|Thunder Shock}} to take out a few of the Mewtwo Balls. Ash follows him up the staircase. Pikachu is forced to use his Thunder Shock every few seconds, which in combination with constantly being on the run, leaves him exhausted. As a result, Pikachu is forced off the staircase while dodging the Balls, falling a long way. Ash jumps off after Pikachu to protect him, but before he can grab his friend, a Mewtwo Ball finally manages to capture Pikachu. Ash grabs the Ball before he falls into the pool of water at the base of the staircase, and loses his grip on it underwater. Ash follows it, out of the pool, and towards the entrance to the laboratory where Team Rocket is.


Ash is horrified to see all the Pokémon fighting their clones, especially Pikachu getting slapped endlessly by his clone. He eventually falls back down to the stadium floor, causing Misty and Brock to come to his aid. They and Nurse Joy talk about how Mewtwo and all the clones are living beings with value, as well as how when one animal invades the territory of another animal, it doesn't give up until it's driven the trespasser away. And then everyone expresses fear that the originals and clones will never give up, resulting in their deaths.
The same machine that cloned Meowth earlier is now processing all of the Mewtwo Balls, and Ash grabs the one Pikachu is in just as the machine does as well. Fighting against the machine's many arms, Ash eventually manages to get the Mewtwo Ball away, destroying the machine in the process. Pikachu is released from the Mewtwo Ball and shakes himself off. Happily, he reunites with Ash, but the clones are now freed from their stasis tubes, prepared to join Mewtwo. The remaining Mewtwo Balls are released from the machine in an explosion, and all open to free the Pokémon inside, including Squirtle, Bulbasaur, and their Poké Balls.


As Team Rocket also look on in horror, Meowth talks with his clone about philosophy and the moon, and how tasteful it is to be talking about the moon at a time like this.
Mewtwo releases the other humans and is soon joined by its clone army. Ash emerges from the smoke with his and every Trainer's Pokémon and proclaims that they won't let Mewtwo's plan succeed. He tries to punch Mewtwo, but Mewtwo's force field knocks him down. Ash goes in for another punch, but this time Mewtwo sends him flying at a high point of the castle. Ash is saved from the blow by a large, pink bubble. Then Mew comes onto the scene, having created the bubble that protected Ash. The playful Pokémon is soon targeted by a {{m|Shadow Ball}} from its clone, Mewtwo, who says that clones are far more powerful than the originals. Mew communicates with Mewtwo that a Pokémon's real strength comes from the heart, which is translated by Meowth. Disgusted, Mewtwo throws another Shadow Ball at Mew, who dodges it, but the blast hits Ash. With Mewtwo blocking all the Pokémon's special moves, a widespread melee begins between the Pokémon and their clones.


Just as Mew and Mewtwo are about to finish each other off with huge energy blasts, Ash, angered by the continuous fighting, runs between them, demanding them to stop. The two blasts of energy come in contact with him together, and being so powerful, it turned him into stone.
[[File:Mewtwo and Mew.png|thumb|250px|Mewtwo and Mew]]
Ash survives the blast but is horrified to see all the Pokémon fighting their clones, especially Pikachu getting slapped endlessly by his [[Pikachutwo|clone]]. He eventually falls back down to the stadium floor, prompting Misty, Brock, and Nurse Joy to come to his aid. They see now how horrible this kind of fighting is, and that the originals and clones will never give up, resulting in their deaths. Ash realizes someone has to take a stand and refuse to fight like Pikachu is.


The stadium becomes silent, save for Pikachu, who runs to Ash's side. After trying to wake him up, Pikachu uses Thunderbolt in vain, as Ash stays unmoving. Pikachu begins to cry at losing its friend, as do the rest of those present in the stadium due to {{wp|suicide|Ash's sacrifice}}. The tears of all the Pokémon come together and magically revive Ash, bringing him back to life just like in the story Miranda told earlier.
As Team Rocket also look on in horror, Meowth is approached by his clone. Although the two briefly get ready to fight, they realize the pointlessness of it and instead talk about how, no matter how different people are, they all share a lot in common on this planet.


After witnessing all of this, Mewtwo states that it does not matter who is more powerful, that the clones and originals both have value, and nothing else about the matter. He also says that it would be best if no one knew about what happened. When Mewtwo flies off, he tells Ash that he will find a place where he and the clones can live in peace. As a result, all the memories of this event are erased from the Trainers' minds.
Just as Mew and Mewtwo are emanating large auras of psychic energy in preparation for their most powerful energy blasts, Ash, frightened and angered by the continuous fighting, runs between them, demanding them to stop their futile battle. The two blasts of energy strike with Ash in the crossfire, and due to the magnitude of concentrated power, Ash is turned to stone. Mewtwo, shocked by Ash's recklessness, calls him a fool.


Ash, Misty, and Brock instantly find themselves back at the pier with no memory of their adventure on New Island. Ash sees a Mew in the clouds as the storm ends, but Misty and Brock do not, thinking it only to be a mirage.
The stadium becomes silent, save for Pikachu, who runs to Ash's side. After trying to wake him up, Pikachu uses his Thunderbolt in vain, as Ash stays unmoving and has no sign of life. Pikachu begins to cry at losing his best friend, as do the rest of the Pokémon in the stadium due to Ash's noble and brave sacrifice in the name of their salvation. The tears of all the Pokémon come together and magically revive Ash, bringing him back to life just like in the story Miranda told earlier.


Meanwhile, Team Rocket lie dormant on the empty New Island as the credits begin to roll.
After witnessing all of this, Mewtwo states that it does not matter who is more powerful, that the clones and originals both have value, and that the circumstances of one's birth are irrelevant: it is what one does with life that determines one's destiny. Mewtwo also says that it would be best if no one knew about what happened. When Mewtwo flies off, it tells Ash that it will find a place where it and the clones can live in peace. As a result, all of the memories of this event are erased from the Trainers' minds.
 
Ash, Misty, Brock, and everyone else instantly find themselves back at the Pokémon Center with no memory of their adventure on New Island. Nurse Joy is also back, offering shelter from the storm. Going out to the pier, Ash sees Mew in the clouds as the storm ends and tells Misty and Brock that [[EP001|when his journey began]], he saw a {{an|Ho-Oh|mysterious Pokémon}}, and now he believes he just saw another. Misty thinks that Ash was just imagining it, but Brock points out that maybe he wasn't. With that, the three friends prepare to continue their journey.
 
Meanwhile, Team Rocket, on the now-empty and green New Island and with no clue how they got here, decide to take a vacation as the credits begin to roll.


==Major events==
==Major events==
* [[Ash's Squirtle]] is revealed to know {{m|Bubble Beam}}.
* {{Ash}}, {{an|Misty}}, and {{an|Brock}} meet {{OBP|Mewtwo|M01}} and {{OBP|Mew|M01}}, but Mewtwo later makes them forget about the encounter.
* Ash sees Mew again, but does not recognize it since his memory has been erased.
{{animeevents}}
===Debuts===
===Debuts===
* {{p|Mewtwo}}
* {{p|Mewtwo}} ({{OBP|Mewtwo|M01|M01}})
* {{p|Mew}}
* {{p|Mew}} ({{OBP|Mew|M01|M01}})
* {{p|Alakazam}}
* {{p|Alakazam}}
* {{p|Donphan}}
* {{p|Donphan}}
* {{p|Machamp}}
* {{p|Nidoqueen}}
* {{p|Nidoqueen}}
* {{p|Seadra}}
* {{p|Seadra}}
* {{p|Golduck}}
* {{p|Golduck}}
* {{p|Wigglytuff}}
* [[Pikachutwo]]


==Characters==
==Characters==
===Humans===
===Humans===
[[File:Fergus.png|thumb|250px|Fergus]]
* {{Ash}}
* {{Ash}}
* {{an|Misty}}
* {{an|Misty}}
Line 99: Line 138:
* [[Gary Oak]] (cameo)
* [[Gary Oak]] (cameo)
* {{an|Giovanni}}
* {{an|Giovanni}}
* [[Dr. Fuji]]
* [[Nurse Joy]]
* [[Nurse Joy]]
* [[Officer Jenny]]
* [[Officer Jenny]]
* {{an|Dr. Fuji}}
* [[Neesha]]
* [[Neesha]]
* [[Fergus]]
* [[Fergus]]
* [[Corey]]
* [[Corey]]
* {{mov|Miranda}}
* {{OBP|Miranda|M01}}
* [[Raymond]]
* [[Raymond]]
* {{an|Amber}} ([[#Kanzenban version|''Kanzenban'' version only]])
* {{tc|Team Rocket Grunt}}s
* Announcer
* Announcer
* {{tc|Team Rocket Grunt}}s
* {{pkmn|Trainer}}s
* Other [[Pokémon Trainer]]s
* {{tc|Scientist}}s
* {{an|Amber}}
** In the opening sequence, removed in dub version.


===Pokémon===
===Pokémon===
* {{p|Pikachu}} ({{OP|Ash|Pikachu}}, clone)
[[File:Corey Pidgeot.png|thumb|250px|Corey riding his Pidgeot to New Island]]
* {{p|Meowth}} ({{TRM}}, clone)
[[File:Mewtwo Clones.png|thumb|250px|Mewtwo standing with the Pokémon it cloned]]
* {{p|Pikachu}} ({{OP|Ash|Pikachu}})
* {{p|Meowth}} ({{TRM}})
* {{p|Togepi}} ({{OP|Misty|Togepi}})
* {{p|Togepi}} ({{OP|Misty|Togepi}})
* {{p|Bulbasaur}} ({{OP|Ash|Bulbasaur}}, clone)
* {{p|Bulbasaur}} ({{OP|Ash|Bulbasaur}})
* {{p|Charizard}} ({{OP|Ash|Charizard}}, clone)
* {{p|Charizard}} ({{OP|Ash|Charizard}})
* {{p|Squirtle}} ({{OP|Ash|Squirtle}}, clone)
* {{p|Squirtle}} ({{OP|Ash|Squirtle}})
* {{p|Staryu}} ({{OP|Misty|Staryu}})
* {{p|Staryu}} ({{OP|Misty|Staryu}})
* {{p|Psyduck}} ({{OP|Misty|Psyduck}}, clone)
* {{p|Psyduck}} ({{OP|Misty|Psyduck}})
* {{p|Vulpix}} ({{OP|Brock|Vulpix}}, clone)
* {{p|Vulpix}} ({{OP|Brock|Vulpix}})
* {{p|Weezing}} ({{OP|James|Weezing}})
* {{p|Weezing}} ({{OP|James|Weezing}})
* {{p|Nidoking}} ({{Gary}}'s)
* {{p|Nidoking}} ({{Gary}}'s)
* {{p|Arcanine}} ({{OP|Gary|Arcanine}})
* {{p|Arcanine}} ({{OP|Gary|Arcanine}})
* {{p|Persian}} ({{OP|Giovanni|Persian}})
* {{p|Persian}} ({{OP|Giovanni|Persian}})
* {{p|Mewtwo}} ({{an|Mewtwo|anime}})
* {{p|Donphan}} ([[Raymond]]'s)
* {{p|Mew}} ([[Mew (movie 1)|anime]])
* {{p|Machamp}} ([[Raymond]]'s)
* {{p|Nidoqueen}} ([[Fergus]]'s, clone)
* {{p|Golduck}} (Fergus's, clone)
* {{p|Tentacruel}} (Fergus's, clone)
* {{p|Seadra}} (Fergus's, clone)
* {{p|Gyarados}} (Fergus's, clone)
* {{p|Vaporeon}} (Fergus's, clone)
* {{p|Venusaur}} ([[Corey]]'s, clone, named バーナード ''Bernard'' in Japanese, ''Bruteroot'' in English)
* {{p|Pidgeot}} (Corey's, clone)
* {{p|Sandslash}} (Corey's, clone)
* {{p|Hitmonlee}} (Corey's, clone)
* {{p|Rhyhorn}} (Corey's, clone)
* {{p|Scyther}} (Corey's, clone)
* {{p|Blastoise}} ([[Neesha]]'s, clone, named くすくす ''Kusukusu'' in Japanese, ''Shellshocker'' in English)
* {{p|Wigglytuff}} (Neesha's, clone)
* {{p|Ninetales}} (Neesha's, clone)
* {{p|Vileplume}} (Neesha's, clone)
* {{p|Rapidash}} (Neesha's, clone)
* {{p|Dewgong}} (Neesha's, clone)
* {{p|Golem}} ([[Raymond]]'s)
* {{p|Golem}} ([[Raymond]]'s)
* {{p|Machamp}} (Raymond's)
* {{p|Venomoth}} ([[Raymond]]'s)
* {{p|Venomoth}} (Raymond's)
* {{p|Pinsir}} ([[Raymond]]'s)
* {{p|Pinsir}} (Raymond's)
* {{p|Gyarados}} ([[Fergus]]'s)
* {{p|Donphan}} (Raymond's)
* {{p|Seadra}} ([[Fergus]]'s)
* {{p|Raticate}}
* {{p|Nidoqueen}} ([[Fergus]]'s)
* {{p|Fearow}}
* {{p|Golduck}} ([[Fergus]]'s)
* {{p|Onix}}
* {{p|Tentacruel}} ([[Fergus]]'s)
* {{p|Alakazam}}
* {{p|Vaporeon}} ([[Fergus]]'s)
* {{p|Magneton}}
* {{p|Pidgeot}} ([[Corey]]'s)
* {{p|Tauros}} ({{tc|Team Rocket Grunt}}s'; new, multiple)
* {{p|Scyther}} ([[Corey]]'s)
* {{p|Dragonite}}
* {{p|Hitmonlee}} ([[Corey]]'s)
* {{p|Venonat}}
* {{p|Venusaur}} ([[Corey]]'s; Bruteroot)
* {{p|Caterpie}}
* {{p|Sandslash}} ([[Corey]]'s)
* {{p|Ekans}}
* {{p|Rhyhorn}} ([[Corey]]'s)
* {{p|Drowzee}}
* {{p|Dewgong}} ([[Neesha]]'s)
* {{p|Nidorino}}
* {{p|Wigglytuff}} ([[Neesha]]'s)
* {{p|Growlithe}}
* {{p|Blastoise}} ([[Neesha]]'s; Shellshocker)
* {{p|Bellsprout}}
* {{p|Vileplume}} ([[Neesha]]'s)
* {{p|Electabuzz}}
* {{p|Ninetales}} ([[Neesha]]'s)
* {{p|Weedle}}
* {{p|Rapidash}} ([[Neesha]]'s)
* {{p|Kingler}}
* {{p|Bulbasaur}} ({{an|Dr. Fuji}}'s; Bulbasaurtwo; [[#Kanzenban version|''Kanzenban'' version only]])
* {{p|Poliwhirl}}
* {{p|Charmander}} ({{an|Dr. Fuji}}'s; Charmandertwo; [[#Kanzenban version|''Kanzenban'' version only]])
* {{p|Sandshrew}}
* {{p|Squirtle}} ({{an|Dr. Fuji}}'s; Squirtletwo; [[#Kanzenban version|''Kanzenban'' version only]])
* {{p|Spearow}}
* {{p|Tauros}} ({{tc|Team Rocket Grunt}}s'; new; multiple)
* {{p|Raichu}}
* {{p|Mewtwo}} ({{OBP|Mewtwo|M01|M01}})
 
* {{p|Fearow}} ({{OBP|Mewtwo|M01}}'s)
* {{p|Dragonite}} ({{OBP|Mewtwo|M01}}'s)
* {{p|Mew}} ({{mov|Mew|M01|1}})
* {{p|Gengar}} (Trainer's; [[#Kanzenban version|''Kanzenban'' version only]])
* {{p|Onix}} (Trainers'; ×2; one exclusive to the [[#Kanzenban version|''Kanzenban'' version]])
* {{p|Alakazam}} (Trainer's)
* {{p|Magneton}} (Trainer's)
* {{p|Caterpie}} (Trainer's)
* {{p|Weedle}} (Trainer's)
* {{p|Raticate}} (Trainer's)
* {{p|Spearow}} (Trainer's)
* {{p|Ekans}} (Trainer's)
* {{p|Raichu}} (Trainer's)
* {{p|Sandshrew}} (Trainer's)
* {{p|Nidorino}} (Trainer's)
* {{p|Oddish}} (Trainer's)
* {{p|Vileplume}} (Trainer's)
* {{p|Venonat}} (Trainer's)
* {{p|Growlithe}} (Trainer's)
* {{p|Poliwhirl}} (Trainer's)
* {{p|Bellsprout}} (Trainer's)
* {{p|Slowpoke}} (Trainer's)
* {{p|Drowzee}} (Trainer's)
* {{p|Kingler}} (Trainer's)
* {{p|Electabuzz}} (Trainer's)
* {{p|Fearow}} (Trainer's)
* {{p|Pikachu}} ([[cloning|cloned]]; [[Pikachutwo]])
* {{p|Venusaur}} ([[cloning|cloned]])
* {{p|Charizard}} ([[cloning|cloned]])
* {{p|Blastoise}} ([[cloning|cloned]])
* {{p|Bulbasaur}} ([[cloning|cloned]])
* {{p|Squirtle}} ([[cloning|cloned]])
* {{p|Psyduck}} ([[cloning|cloned]])
* {{p|Vulpix}} ([[cloning|cloned]])
* {{p|Meowth}} ([[cloning|cloned]])
* {{p|Gyarados}} ([[cloning|cloned]])
* {{p|Seadra}} ([[cloning|cloned]])
* {{p|Nidoqueen}} ([[cloning|cloned]])
* {{p|Golduck}} ([[cloning|cloned]])
* {{p|Tentacruel}} ([[cloning|cloned]])
* {{p|Vaporeon}} ([[cloning|cloned]])
* {{p|Pidgeot}} ([[cloning|cloned]])
* {{p|Scyther}} ([[cloning|cloned]])
* {{p|Hitmonlee}} ([[cloning|cloned]])
* {{p|Sandslash}} ([[cloning|cloned]])
* {{p|Rhyhorn}} ([[cloning|cloned]])
* {{p|Dewgong}} ([[cloning|cloned]])
* {{p|Wigglytuff}} ([[cloning|cloned]])
* {{p|Vileplume}} ([[cloning|cloned]])
* {{p|Ninetales}} ([[cloning|cloned]])
* {{p|Rapidash}} ([[cloning|cloned]])


==Cast==
==Cast==
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{{cast|Kanto|Ash's Pikachu|disp=Pikachu|Ikue Ohtani|Pikachu|Ikue Ohtani|ピカチュウ|大谷育江}}
{{cast|Kanto|Ash's Pikachu|disp=Pikachu|Ikue Ohtani|Pikachu|Ikue Ohtani|ピカチュウ|大谷育江}}
{{cast|Kanto|Misty (anime)|disp=Misty|Rachael Lillis|Kasumi|Mayumi Iizuka|カスミ|飯塚雅弓}}
{{cast|Kanto|Misty (anime)|disp=Misty|Rachael Lillis|Kasumi|Mayumi Iizuka|カスミ|飯塚雅弓}}
{{cast|Kanto|Misty's Togepi|disp=Togepi|Satomi Kōrogi|Togepi|Satomi Kōrogi|トゲピー|こおろぎさとみ}}
{{cast|Kanto|Misty's Togepi|disp=Togepi|Satomi Koorogi|Togepi|Satomi Koorogi|トゲピー|こおろぎさとみ}}
{{cast|Kanto|Brock (anime)|disp=Brock|Eric Stuart|Takeshi|Yuji Ueda|タケシ|うえだ　ゆうじ}}
{{cast|Kanto|Brock (anime)|disp=Brock|Eric Stuart|Takeshi|Yūji Ueda|タケシ|うえだ　ゆうじ}}
{{cast|Kanto|Jessie|Rachael Lillis|Musashi|Megumi Hayashibara|ムサシ|林原めぐみ}}
{{cast|Kanto|Jessie|Rachael Lillis|Musashi|Megumi Hayashibara|ムサシ|林原めぐみ}}
{{cast|Kanto|James|Eric Stuart|Kojirō|Shin'ichirō Miki|コジロウ|三木眞一郎}}
{{cast|Kanto|James|Eric Stuart|Kojirō|Shin-ichiro Miki|コジロウ|三木眞一郎}}
{{cast|Kanto|Meowth (Team Rocket)|disp=Meowth|Maddie Blaustein|Nyarth|Inuko Inuyama|ニャース|犬山イヌコ}}
{{cast|Kanto|Meowth (Team Rocket)|disp=Meowth|Maddie Blaustein{{!}}Addie Blaustein|Nyarth|Inuko Inuyama|ニャース|犬山イヌコ}}
{{cast|Kanto|Mewtwo (anime)|disp=Mewtwo|Phillip Bartlett|Mewtwo|Masachika Ichimura|ミュウツー|市村正親}}
{{cast|Kanto|Mew (movie 1)|disp=Mew|Kōichi Yamadera|Mew|Kōichi Yamadera|ミュウ|山寺宏一}}
{{cast|Kanto|Corey|Ted Lewis|Sorao|Tōru Furuya|ソラオ|古谷徹}}
{{cast|Kanto|Neesha|Lisa Ortiz|Sweet|Aiko Satō|スイート|佐藤藍子}}
{{cast|Kanto|Fergus|Jimmy Zoppi|Umio|Wataru Takagi|ウミオ|高木渉}}
{{cast|Kanto|Nurse Joy|Megan Hollingshead|Joy|Ayako Shiraishi|ジョーイ|白石文子}}
{{cast|Kanto|Nurse Joy|Megan Hollingshead|Joy|Ayako Shiraishi|ジョーイ|白石文子}}
{{cast|Kanto|Officer Jenny|Megan Hollingshead|Junsar|Chinami Nishimura|ジュンサー|西村ちなみ}}
{{cast|Kanto|Officer Jenny|Lee Quick|Junsar|Chinami Nishimura|ジュンサー|西村ちなみ}}
{{cast|Kanto|Miranda (movie)|disp=Miranda|Kayzie Rogers|Voyager|Sachiko Kobayashi|ボイジャー|小林幸子}}
{{cast|Kanto|Giovanni (anime)|disp=Giovanni|Ted Lewis{{!}}Ed Paul|Sakaki|Hirotaka Suzuoki|サカキ|鈴置洋孝}}
{{cast|Kanto|Giovanni (anime)|disp=Giovanni|Ted Lewis|Sakaki|Hirotaka Suzuoki|サカキ|鈴置洋孝}}
{{cast|Kanto|Narrator|disp=Narration|Rodger Parsons{{!}}Ken Gates|Narration|Unshō Ishizuka|ナレーション|石塚運昇|bottom=yes}}
{{cast|Kanto|Narrator|disp=Narration|Rodger Parsons|Narration|Unshō Ishizuka|ナレーション|石塚運昇|bottom=yes}}
! colspan=6 | Special appearances by
|-
{{cast|Kanto|Mewtwo (M01)|disp=Mewtwo|List of English voice actors{{!}}Philip Bartlett|Mewtwo|List of Japanese voice actors{{!}}Masachika Ichimura|ミュウツー|市村正親|top=yes}}
{{cast|Kanto|Mew (M01)|disp=Mew|Kōichi Yamadera|Mew|Kōichi Yamadera|ミュウ|山寺宏一}}
{{cast|Kanto|Corey|Ted Lewis{{!}}Ed Paul|Sorao|Tōru Furuya|ソラオ|古谷徹}}
{{cast|Kanto|Neesha|Amy Birnbaum|Sweet|List of Japanese voice actors{{!}}Aiko Satō|スイート|佐藤藍子}}
{{cast|Kanto|Fergus|Carter Cathcart{{!}}Jimmy Zoppi|Umio|Wataru Takagi|ウミオ|高木渉}}
{{cast|Kanto|Raymond|Maddie Blaustein{{!}}Addie Blaustein|Raymond|Raymond Johnson|レイモンド|レイモンドジョンソン}}
{{cast|Kanto|Miranda (M01)|disp=Miranda|Lisa Ortiz|Voyager|Sachiko Kobayashi|ボイジャー|小林幸子}}
{{cast|Kanto|Dr. Fuji (anime)|disp=Dr. Fuji|List of English voice actors{{!}}Philip Bartlett|Dr. Fuji|Yosuke Akimoto|フジ博士|秋元羊介|bottom=yes}}
|}
|}


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{{main|Pokémon the First Movie (soundtrack)}}
{{main|Pokémon the First Movie (soundtrack)}}


==Trivia==
==Manga adaptation==
* Originally, this movie was supposed to be the series finale of Pokémon; however, the anime was so successful that it was renewed for another season.
{{main|Mewtwo Strikes Back! (manga)}}
* The events of this movie happen after ''[[EP067|The Pi-Kahuna]]'' and before ''[[EP068|Make Room for Gloom]]'', though it premiered in Japan between ''[[EP054|The Case of the K-9 Caper]]'' and ''[[EP055|Pokémon Paparazzi]]''. Were it not for the four-month hiatus caused by [[EP038]], this movie would have debuted shortly after [[EP065|Showdown at the Poké-Corral]], Mewtwo's final cameo appearance in the TV Series.
 
* There are two versions of this movie:
==Scenes in episodes==
** The first version was the version released in Japanese theaters and was the first Japanese DVD release.
[[File:Mewtwo in armor.png|thumb|220px|Giovanni controlled Mewtwo with a special suit of armor]]
** The second version was a re-released DVD, containing re-done animation, cleaned up effects and new computer generated animation. This version was later used for the English dub.
The episodes ''[[EP063|The Battle of the Badge]]'', ''[[EP064|It's Mr. Mime Time]]'', and ''[[EP065|Showdown at the Po-ké Corral]]'' feature {{OBP|Mewtwo|M01}} in scenes that prelude this movie. These episodes were supposed to air before the movie premiere, but due to the anime's four-month hiatus after the seizures caused by the [[Banned episodes|banned episode]] [[EP038]], the episodes ended up airing on September 17, 24, and October 8, 1998, respectively, whereas the movie premiered on July 18.
* ''[[Mewtwo Returns]]'' is a sequel to this movie.
 
* Several [[moves]] were used by Pokémon in this movie that were not yet available in the games. {{an|Mewtwo}} used {{m|Shadow Ball}}, the clone {{p|Blastoise}} used {{m|Rapid Spin}}, and Raymond's {{p|Donphan}}, itself a Pokémon not available yet, used {{m|Rollout}}.
The scene in which Nidoking and Arcanine battle Mewtwo is adapted from Gary's battle against Giovanni in ''The Battle of the Badge'', but there are several differences between the two versions. The movie has a different perspective and animation, mostly evident in Mewtwo's appearance, which is more cartoony in the episode as opposed to the elaborate design of its armor in the movie. Mewtwo's whole body glows when it uses Psychic against Nidoking and Arcanine in the episode, but only its eyes glow in the movie. Mewtwo's chin is covered by its armor in the movie, but it is exposed in the episode. It is unknown whether this is an error or design change, since what looks like the chin could have been part of the armor if colored differently. Giovanni's position also differs: he stands up and walks forward before sending out Mewtwo in the episode, but stays seated in the movie.
* Misty's {{TP|Misty|Togepi}} and {{TP|Misty|Staryu}}, and Corey's Fearow were the only Pokémon that weren't captured and cloned by Mewtwo. Misty hid her {{p|Togepi}} in her bag, while Staryu and Fearow were not released from their Poké Balls.
 
* Some of the Pokémon on the poster didn't appear in the actual movie itself.
In ''It's Mr. Mime Time'', Mewtwo makes a cameo when the Rocket Trio go to {{an|Team Rocket HQ}}, apologize to Giovanni, and have a brief video chat with him. The upward-panning shot of Mewtwo uses the same animation of when Mewtwo is first shown in its armor, though this scene chronologically took place after the scene in the movie.
* This is the only movie which does not feature Ash on the English cover. However, Pikachu does appear.
 
* The movie was re-released on DVD in Japan and contained the Japanese and English audio tracks along with the complete 'Origin of Mewtwo' short.
The scene of Mewtwo blasting out of Team Rocket HQ in ''Showdown at the Po-ké Corral'' is also shown in the movie's prologue. The explosion in the episode has a different perspective and animation, but both shots of Mewtwo flying away use the same animation. The shot of Giovanni's helicopter taking off in this episode uses the same animation (played in reverse) of the same helicopter landing on New Island in the movie.
* The home video release of the film had a trailer of [[M02|the second movie]] and came with [[Mewtwo (Wizards Promo 14)|a free trading card]].
* ''[[PK01|Pikachu's Vacation]]'' is the first appearance of the {{cat|Generation II Pokémon}} {{p|Snubbull}} and {{p|Marill}}, and the feature film is the first appearance of {{p|Donphan}}.
* This was the first film confirmed as [[canon]] to the anime; during [[EP063]]-[[EP065]], scenes of Mewtwo breaking out of the lab and battling at Giovanni's Gym can be seen. Furthermore, the film used footage of [[Gary Oak]] battling Mewtwo. The director's commentary jokes that they had to get a 'stand-in' for Gary because his agent was asking for too much.
* This movie marks the only time in the anime that [[Ash's Pikachu]] is shown going ''into'' a [[Poké Ball]], and only the second time it has come out of one (the other being in ''[[EP001|Pokémon - I Choose You!]]'').
* This is the second time Ash dies and then comes back to life, the first being in ''[[EP023|The Tower of Terror]]''.
* This movie and ''[[M12|Arceus and the Jewel of Life]]'' are the only Pokémon movies to feature all of their generation's [[version mascot]]s. {{p|Charizard}}, {{p|Blastoise}}, {{p|Pikachu}}, and {{p|Venusaur}} are all present in this movie, while {{p|Dialga}}, {{p|Palkia}}, and {{p|Giratina}} are present in the twelfth movie.  
* The English title is a reference to {{wp|Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back}}. The Japanese title comes from ''The Empire Strikes Back'''s Japanese title, ''Teikoku no Gyakushuu''. This movie's special episode sequel, ''[[Mewtwo Returns]]'', is a reference to {{wp|Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi}}.
** The film's title also resembles the Japanese title of the {{wp|Super Nintendo Entertainment System|SNES}} RPG ''{{wp|EarthBound}}'', which in Japanese is called ''MOTHER 2: Gyiyg Strikes Back'' (MOTHER2ギーグの逆襲).  Gyiyg, who's name is "Giygas" in the English version, is an alien with psychic powers who intended on conquering the world as revenge for a perceived betrayal.  It should be noted that ''EarthBound'' was developed by the company now known as [[Creatures, Inc.]], and that Mewtwo itself bears some physical resemblance to Giygas as he appeared in ''EarthBound'''s predecessor, ''{{wp|Mother (video game)|MOTHER}}''.


===Errors===
==Alternate versions==
* Early in the film, Ash engages in a battle with another Trainer. The opponent's Golem, a dual-type Rock/Ground Pokémon, was defeated by Ash's Pikachu's Electric attack. In the games, {{type2|Ground}}s are immune to Electric attacks.
===''Kanzenban'' version===
* In the English dub, three Pokémon are referred to by the wrong name. {{p|Pidgeot}} was called {{p|Pidgeotto}}, {{p|Scyther}} was called {{p|Alakazam}}, and {{p|Sandslash}} was called {{p|Sandshrew}}.  In the audio commentary, [[4Kids Entertainment|4Kids]] stated that they decided to leave the Alakazam error when they noticed it as something for the children watching to notice and because they felt it was plausible in context that Team Rocket could make a mistake.
In Japan, the theatrical version had only two home video releases (VHS, February 12, 1999; LaserDisc, July 17, 1999) and was never shown on TV. A new version of the movie, known as the ''kanzenban'' (Japanese: 完全版 ''full version''), has been shown in all television airings in Japan (the first one being on July 8, 1999) and in the Japanese home video releases from the third one (VHS, November 12, 1999) onward: this version contains additional scenes and CGI edits.
* When the three other Pokémon Trainers are taking off, Corey is seen doing it twice, the second time on a Fearow. However, when the trainers show off their parties later, Corey does not appear to have a Fearow on his team.
* In the beginning of the English dub of the feature film, Raymond's Machamp is shown coming out of the Poké Ball twice.
* When Fergus releases his Gyarados into the water to ride on its back, its lips are blue instead of the normal yellow.
* Mewtwo is mistakenly colored a light blue instead of a light purple on the VHS and DVD cases.
* When Fergus runs over to his injured Gyarados, his {{p|Nidoqueen}} has the color scheme of a {{p|Nidoking}}.
* During the scene where Ash confronts Mewtwo, {{p|Rapidash}} was seen without flames.
* During the scene where Ash is looking at Fergus's Pokémon, his Japanese voice can be heard over the voice of the Pokémon.
* On the DVD scene selection, {{p|Togepi}} is listed as Pokémon {{p|Chikorita|#152}}.
* About 28:45 (DVD release) into the movie, Ash's pupils are entirely brown instead of black with brown near the bottom part of the eye.
* Nurse Joy states that she'd rather be in Mewtwo's storm, than watch the Pokémon fighting. She shouldn't remember the storm though, because Mewtwo erased her memory.
* Fergus states that all of his Pokémon are Water-types however, he has a Nidoqueen which clearly is not a Water-type (though his other Pokémon are).


===Dub edits===
====Additional scenes====
* The plot in the dubbed English version contains a "fighting is wrong" moral and portrays Mewtwo as a cold, heartless villain who just wants to take over Earth. It also contains anti-racism material. Meowth, agreeing with his clone, says, "Maybe if we started looking at what's the same instead of always looking at what's different, well, who knows?" The Japanese version instead portrays Mewtwo as a confused being who cannot place himself among other living beings, so his stress of not being able to figure any of that out leads to his destruction of the laboratory on New Island and Team Rocket's new base, and eventually, his plan to get revenge on the world to prove he should be alive.
{{main|The Uncut Story of Mewtwo's Origin}}
* During the battle between the Pokémon and their clones, the music that plays in the background is different in both versions: the Japanese version plays instrumental music very softly, while the English version plays ''[[Brother My Brother]]''.
A ten-minute short known as (Japanese: '''{{tt|ミュウツーの誕生|Mewtwo no Tanjō}}''' ''The Birth of Mewtwo'') was added at the beginning of the movie in the "kanzenban" version: this short details the history of Mewtwo's creation (based on the radio drama ''[[The Birth of Mewtwo]]''), increasing the movie's length from 75 to 85 minutes and the prologue's length from 10 to 20 minutes. Although the ''kanzenban'' was created to be later used in the United States, the North American theatrical version (November 12, 1999) removed the short while still using the footage from the ''kanzenban'' for the rest of the movie instead of the footage from the Japanese theatrical version. On March 21, 2000, ''Mewtwo Strikes Back'' was released in home video in the United States, and both the VHS and the DVD included the first two minutes of the short dubbed in English as '''The Story of Mewtwo's Origin''': in the VHS these scenes were added to the beginning of the movie while in the DVD they were included as an extra. On June 23, 2000, a Japanese DVD of the movie was released with both a Japanese and an English audio track, and this marked the first time the full English dubbed version of the short was available; it was later included under the title '''The Uncut Story of Mewtwo's Origin''' in the Special Features of the international DVD of ''[[Mewtwo Returns]]'', released on August 17, 2001, in Australia and on December 4, 2001, in the United States.
* When Pikachu is repeatedly shocking Ash to try and bring him back to life, Misty says "Pikachu..." in the Japanese version, and "Please, no..." in the English version. A commentary revealed that the dubbers had many alternatives for this piece of dialog, one of them being, "My [[Bicycle#Trivia|bike]]..."
* The first scene (the only one that was included on the American VHS/DVD release of the movie) centered around a group of explorers who found an ancient engraving of Mew and a fossil of its eyelash.
* In the {{pmin|France|French}} dub of the movie, Misty's Staryu does not make a sound when it is released from its Poké Ball. In all other versions of the film, Staryu's "voice" can be heard twice.
* The second detailed {{an|Dr. Fuji}}'s attempts to clone {{an|Amber|his daughter}}, who had died as a child, Mew, and the Kanto starters.
* Three scenes detailing the history of Mewtwo's creation, a full twelve-minute sequence, were removed from the English dub. However, those three scenes were featured in other dubs. The first scene centered around a group of explorers who found an ancient engraving of Mew, and then finding Mew's eyelash. The second detailed the history of [[Dr. Fuji]] and his attempts to clone Mew, as well as {{an|Amber|his daughter}}, who had died as a child. The final scene detailed a young Mewtwo's interaction with clones of the [[Kanto]] starters as well as Amber Fuji. The latter two scenes were later dubbed and made into a short released with the DVD of ''[[Mewtwo Returns]]'', known as ''[[The Birth of Mewtwo]]''.
* The final scene detailed a young Mewtwo's telepathic interaction with clones of the [[Kanto]] starters and Amber Fuji.
* Giovanni denies that Mewtwo's armor is meant to suppress its powers in the dub, stating that it is rather meant to "focus" them. It is stated outright in the original Japanese that the armor is meant to suppress the bulk of its powers.
<gallery>
* Miranda's story about the water of the tears that can revive people exists in the English version only, and is not in the Japanese version.
File:Movie 1 Deleted Scene 1.png
* In the Latin American dub, Corey was referred to as [[Gary Oak]].  
File:Movie 1 Deleted Scene 2.png
* When Team Rocket is disguised as two Vikings, Brock comments that he wasn't aware that they existed anymore. Ash replies that they mostly live in Minnesota, which is an obvious reference to the {{wp|National Football League|NFL}} team, the {{wp|Minnesota Vikings}}.
File:Movie 1 Deleted Scene 3.png
* In the Danish version Brock says '''{{tt|Jeg vidste ikke vikingerne stadig fantes.|I didn't know that the vikings still existed.}}''', and Ash replies '''{{tt|Jo, men de turnere mest i Sverige.|Yes, but they are mostly touring in Sweden.}}''' This is probably because at the time the Vikings existed, the Danes were also Vikings.
File:Movie 1 Deleted Scene 4.png
** In the Danish subtitled version Ash says '''{{tt|Vikingerne er et band.|The Vikings is a band.}}'''
File:Movie 1 Deleted Scene 5.png
File:Movie 1 Deleted Scene 6.png
File:Movie 1 Deleted Scene 7.png
File:Movie 1 Deleted Scene 8.png
</gallery>


===Japanese edits from original theatrical release===
====CGI edits====
* In the wide shot of Mewtwo facing Dr. Fuji, who is explaining to him how he was created, two large test tubes were shown positioned on either side of the screen in front of the characters with a magnified image of each of them. These were pushed off to the edge of the screen in the newer version of the film.
All the following edits were made for the "kanzenban" and then used in international releases of the movie:
* When Mewtwo is being suited up into Giovanni's armor, Giovanni is shown to be covered in shadow (much like his first appearances in the anime). In the newer version the scene was changed so he could be seen better, probably because his identity in the anime had already been revealed in ''[[EP063|Battle of the Badge]]''.
* In the wide shot of Mewtwo facing Dr. Fuji, who is explaining to it how it was created, two large test tubes were shown positioned on either side of the screen in front of the characters and magnifying them. These were pushed off to the edge of the screen in the newer version of the film.
* A CGI panning effect was added to the Gym floor when Giovanni has Mewtwo battle a trainer's {{p|Onix}}.
* When Mewtwo is being suited up with armor, Giovanni is covered in shadow (much like his first appearances in the anime). In the newer version the scene was changed so he could be seen better, probably because his identity in the anime had already been revealed in ''[[EP063|The Battle of the Badge]]''.
* When Mewtwo first summons the storm, the shadow color on his hand is changed from purple to pinkish-red.
* A CGI panning effect was added to the Gym floor when Mewtwo battles a Trainer's {{p|Onix}}.
* When Mewtwo first summons the storm, the shadow color on its hand is changed from purple to pinkish-red.
* Mew floating up to the surface of the water in a bubble was completely re-animated.
* Mew floating up to the surface of the water in a bubble was completely re-animated.
* Throughout the film, the original hand-drawn clouds of Mewtwo's storm are replaced with more realistic looking CGI clouds. The water in the storm is also altered to have different shades of blue.
* Throughout the film, the original hand-drawn clouds of Mewtwo's storm are replaced with more realistic-looking CGI clouds. The water in the storm is also altered to have different shades of blue.
* Mewtwo's castle is changed from hand-drawn to CGI.
* Mewtwo's castle is changed from hand-drawn to CGI.
* The shot of the big doors opening was replaced with CGI doors. When the door closes in front of Ash, the scene now pans all the way back to Team Rocket facing the door when it was originally a {{wp|Dissolve (filmmaking)|dissolve}}.
* The shot of the big doors opening was replaced with CGI doors. When the door closes in front of Ash, the scene now pans all the way back to Team Rocket facing the door when it was originally a {{wp|Dissolve (filmmaking)|dissolve}}.
* Another CGI panning effect was added for the shot when Rhyhorn is charging towards Mewtwo.
* Another CGI panning effect was added for the shot of Rhyhorn charging toward Mewtwo.
* The big reveal of Mewtwo's stadium was rendered into CGI.
* The big reveal of Mewtwo's stadium was rendered with CGI.
* The scene with Ash walking forward with all the rescued Pokémon was altered to have them fade into visual sight. In the original, they were drawn as black silhouettes slowly walking outward through the smoke and their bodies interacted with it more. This was also seen in the US trailer of ''Pokémon the First Movie''.
* The scene of Ash walking forward with all the rescued Pokémon was altered to have them fade into sight. In the original, they were drawn as black silhouettes slowly walking outward through the smoke and their bodies interacted with it more. This was also seen in the US trailer of ''Pokémon the First Movie''.
* When Ash is looking down at the Pokémon fighting their clones, they were all originally drawn as silhouettes.
* When Ash is looking down at the Pokémon fighting their clones, they were all originally drawn as silhouettes.
* The tears of life from the Pokémon were changed to CGI.
* The tears of life from the Pokémon were changed to CGI.
 
* Animation of water rippling is added to what was mostly a still shot in the original version.
====Scenes removed from dub====
* The sky during the fire sequence was recolored.
* More bubbles were added to the opening sequence.
* There are three different versions of Mew flying across the sky and in front of the moon; a trailer where the moon is yellow, the original version has it gray, and the final version has a GCI moon.
<gallery>
<gallery>
File:Movie 1 Deleted Scene 1.jpg
File:M01 comparison 1.png|Large test tubes moved
File:Movie 1 Deleted Scene 2.jpg
File:M01 comparison 2.png|Reanimation Mew in the bubble
File:Movie 1 Deleted Scene 3.jpg
File:M01 comparison 3.png|Big doors replaced with CGI doors
File:Movie 1 Deleted Scene 4.jpg
File:M01 comparison 4.png|Hand-drawn clouds replaced with CGI clouds
File:Movie 1 Deleted Scene 5.jpg
File:Movie 1 Deleted Scene 6.jpg
File:Movie 1 Deleted Scene 7.jpg
File:Movie 1 Deleted Scene 8.jpg
</gallery>
</gallery>


====Scenes edited from original release====
===Digitally remastered version===
Similar to ''[[EP001|Pokémon - I Choose You!]]'' and ''[[Holiday Hi-Jynx]]'', the ''Kanzenban'' version of this movie was digitally remastered to HD, complete with slight color correction. An error is also corrected where [[Raymond]]'s {{p|Machamp}} now comes out of its [[Poké Ball]] only once. It was released on Blu-Ray in Japan on November 28, 2012 with a boxset containing all the movies up to [[M13]], and aired on May 3, 2013 on [[TV Tokyo]]. The dub (which retains the [[4Kids Entertainment|4Kids]] audio) aired on Cartoon Network January 4, 2014, and was re-released on [[Pokémon TV]] June 6, 2015. In addition to all of the changes in the Japanese version, [[The Uncut Story of Mewtwo's Origin]] is once again cut out, along with the Alakazam error in the Cartoon Network version. The opening{{tt|*|Cartoon Network version only, they are removed from the Pokémon TV version}} and ending{{tt|*|Pokémon TV re-release only}} credits are retyped in a [[The Pokémon Company International|TPCi]] font instead of {{wp|Comic Sans}}, and the copyright year 2014 (2015 for the re-release) was added to the end of the credits. The Warner Bros. distribution screen at the end was removed.
 
===Remake===
{{main|M22|Pokémon: Mewtwo Strikes Back—Evolution}}
The movie was remade as a 3D-animated film titled ''Mewtwo Strikes Back—Evolution''. It debuted in Japanese in July 2019 and in English in February 2020.
 
==Trivia==
[[File:Fourth Trainer.png|thumb|200px|The fourth Trainer seen on the far right before leaving]]
[[File:Female Trainer M01 Fearow.png|thumb|200px|The female Trainer leaving for New Island on a Fearow]]
* This {{pkmn|movie}} was released between [[EP054]] and [[EP055]] in Japan. However, it chronologically takes place sometime after [[EP065]], where Mewtwo is seen escaping from {{an|Team Rocket HQ}}. This mismatch was caused by the [[EP038|Pokémon Shock incident]] causing the {{pkmn|anime}} to be put on hiatus for several months.
** Had the hiatus not occurred, this movie would have likely premiered between [[EP067]] and [[EP068]].
* At ten minutes, this movie has the longest prologue. The prologue was further extended to 20 minutes in the Japanese extended version and twelve minutes in the international extended version.
** According to [[Takeshi Shudō]], the prologue was only added after it was clear that the hiatus would make it impossible to have {{p|Mewtwo}} appear in the TV series before the movie's premiere.<ref>http://www.style.fm/as/05_column/shudo167.shtml</ref> Originally, Mewtwo would first appear onscreen when it revealed itself to the Trainers on [[New Island]], explaining why Mewtwo is only partially shown in-between the opening credits and its entrance on New Island.
* According to Takeshi Shudo's notes on the movie, {{Ash}} was petrified but not killed when Mewtwo and Mew's {{m|Psychic}} blasts collided with him, and the tears simply restored him.
* Some of the {{OBP|Pokémon|species}} on the poster did not appear in the movie.<!--which ones?-->
* Several [[move]]s were used by Pokémon in this movie that were not yet available in the {{pkmn|games}}. {{OBP|Mewtwo|M01}} used {{m|Shadow Ball}}, {{DL|Mewtwo (M01)|Blastoisetwo}} used {{m|Rapid Spin}}, and [[Raymond]]'s {{p|Donphan}} (itself a Pokémon not yet available) used {{m|Rollout}}.
* Other than [[Corey]], [[Fergus]], and [[Neesha]], a female fourth {{pkmn|Trainer}} takes off from the pier on the back of a Fearow. She is seen flying Fearow while Fergus and Neesha ride their {{p|Gyarados}} and {{p|Dewgong}}. She likely never made it to [[New Island]], unlike the others.
** She is the only character who leaves for New Island but never appears again. Mewtwo wipes the memories of everyone on New Island and transports them back to the mainland (except for Team Rocket), but this Trainer completely disappears.
* Of the Pokémon seen at the gathering, only [[Misty's Togepi]] was not captured and cloned by Mewtwo due to {{an|Misty}} hiding it in her [[bag]].
* Though Mewtwo owned a cloned {{p|Venusaur}}, {{p|Charizard}}, and {{p|Blastoise}}, they were not cloned from the Trainers' Pokémon. They were supposedly cloned from Pokémon Mewtwo had previously acquired itself. Despite this, all three of the Trainers' Pokémon were captured by Mewtwo anyway.
** These three Pokémon happen to be the fully evolved forms of {{DL|Mewtwo (M01)|Befriended|Mewtwo's childhood friends}}, who died when Mewtwo was young.
* In the English dub, [[Jessie]] makes a reference to ''{{wp|Frankenstein}}''.
* In Japan, this movie (paired with the ''Pikachu's Vacation'' short) was released on {{wp|LaserDisc}}, being the only Pokémon media to be released on this medium.
* The North American VHS release features an introduction to the tape's contents by {{an|Professor Oak}}, utilizing footage from [[Professor Oak's Pokémon Lecture|his lecture]] on Alakazam from [[EP066]].
* Despite the English [[dub]] using the ''kanzenban'' footage, the opening of the original North American DVD release uses a hand-drawn shot of the big doors opening.
* The title of this movie is also used in [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P-zJOntZRHo Mewtwo's trailer] for [[Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS/Wii U]].
* The [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Ea76Trt1Ro movie's first trailer] showed several prominent scenes that never appear in the movie. They were promotional scenes made before the movie script was finished.<ref>[https://dogasu.bulbagarden.net/movies/1998_pm_mewtwo_strikes_back/pm_mewtwo_strikes_back_the_first_trailer.html Mewtwo Strikes Back The First Trailer - Dogasu's Backpack]</ref> Most notable were scenes of Ash fleeing an explosion, a woman who looks like Misty accompanying {{OBP|Miranda|M01}} and a younger character, and {{TRT}} standing on a warship.
* On the 23rd anniversary of the movie's release, [[Masahiro Sakurai]] posted an image to Twitter homaging the scene of Pikachutwo slapping Pikachu and mentioning the scene always made him cry. <ref>https://twitter.com/Sora_Sakurai/status/1416593567519154178</ref>
* Some of Mew's lines from this movie can be heard in the first four [[Super Smash Bros. series|Super Smash Bros.]] games and {{g|Snap}}.
* The movie's title in Japanese is most likely based on either the Japanese title of ''{{wp|The Empire Strikes Back}}'' (帝国の逆襲 ''Teikoku no Gyakushū'') or the 1988 mecha film ''{{wp|Mobile Suit Gundam: Char's Counterattack}}'' (機動戦士ガンダム 逆襲のシャア ''Kidō Senshi Gandamu: Gyakushū no Char'')
 
===Errors===
* When New Island is reflected in {{an|Giovanni}}'s helicopter, the reflection is not reversed.
* When Giovanni tells Mewtwo to use its powers, Mewtwo's arm is missing.
* In Ash and {{ashfr}}' first appearance, the stripes on Ash's bag are colored green instead of cream and orange.
* {{p|Machamp}} being sent out by Raymond is shown twice.
* Early in the movie, Pikachu defeats Raymond's {{p|Golem}} with {{m|Thunderbolt}}, which should have had no effect because Golem is a {{type|Ground}}.
* Mewtwo is colored pink as it begins creating the storm. In a later shot of Mewtwo intensifying the storm, its color is corrected.
* When Ash and his friends enter the terminal, the inside of a {{p|Raichu}}'s ear is colored brown like the rest of the ear instead of yellow.
* When Misty takes the white card, the marks on Ash's cheeks are missing. This also happens when Ash asks Mewtwo where it is going.
* In two very similar shots at the beginning and end of the movie, as [[Officer Jenny]] warns the Trainers about the storm, the backpacks of [[Corey]] and [[Fergus]] drastically shrink in size.
* When Fergus releases his Gyarados into the water to ride on its back, its lips are blue instead of yellow.
* When Jenny's hat flies off, the loops of Miranda's earrings are colored in.
* In the scene right before explaining how he got to New Island, Corey's jacket stamp disappears.
* In the shot after Corey shows his Pokémon to Ash and his friends, Ash's pupils are entirely brown instead of mostly black with some brown.
* When Fergus runs over to his injured Gyarados, his Nidoqueen has the color scheme of a {{p|Nidoking}}.
* Right before Ash charges at Mewtwo, one frame shows {{p|Rapidash}} without its flames. This was fixed in later releases.
* When the clones enter with an explosion and emerge from the smoke, [[Pikachutwo]]'s black-tipped ears are the same as a normal {{p|Pikachu}}'s and Golduck is greenish teal instead of blue.
* After Ash's Bulbasaur is released from Mewtwo's Poké Ball, Ash's mouth moves but no audio comes out, whereas he addresses Pikachu and Squirtle by name once released.
* On the DVD scene selection, {{p|Togepi}} is listed as Pokémon {{p|Chikorita|#152}}. However, prior to the release of {{game|Gold and Silver|s}}, Togepi had been given #152 in other media as well.
* In the English dub:
** Three Pokémon are referred to by the wrong name. {{p|Pidgeot}} is called {{p|Pidgeotto}}, {{p|Scyther}} is called {{p|Alakazam}}, and {{p|Sandslash}} is called {{p|Sandshrew}}. In the audio commentary, [[4Kids Entertainment|4Kids]] stated that they decided to leave the Alakazam error as something for the children watching to notice and because they felt it was plausible that Team Rocket could make a mistake. This was cut out for the dub of the remastered version when it was aired on Cartoon Network, but restored when it was re-released on Pokémon TV.
*** In addition, the closed captioning for the re-release and on Pokémon TV have Corey correctly referring to his Pokémon as a Pidgeot.
** Fergus states that all of his Pokémon are {{t|Water}} types, but he also has a {{p|Nidoqueen}}, a {{2t|Poison|Ground}}-type Pokémon.
** While Ash is looking at Fergus's Pokémon, his Japanese voice can be faintly heard over the voice of the Pokémon.
** Pikachutwo's cheek pouches surge with electricity even though Mewtwo blocked the Pokémon's special abilities. The original version says nothing about the Pokémon's abilities being blocked, and they simply clash physically out of pure hatred.
** The retyped ending credits of the remastered version [[List of typos|misspell]] [[Don't Say You Love Me]] as Don't Say '''Your''' Love Me and accidentally list '''Bolly Crawford''' instead of Billy Crawford as the singer of the opening song.
* In {{pmin|South Asia|India}}, Hungama TV used the original Japanese version of this movie as a source for the Hindi dub, instead of using the English dub as is done for the episodes of the anime, resulting in several dubbing errors:
** In ''[[The Uncut Story of Mewtwo's Origin]]'', {{p|Charmander}}'s Japanese voice can be heard.
** In one scene, a Trainer calls his {{p|Kingler}} with an unknown name.
** In another scene, Neesha calls her {{p|Blastoise}} by its Japanese name, ''Kamex''.
** In the cloning scene, {{MTR}} says "{{p|Chikorita}}" when speaking about {{p|Vaporeon}}.
** When Meowth talks with the clone Meowth, one line in human language was said by the clone Meowth despite the fact that the clone Meowth can't speak the human language.
* In the Swedish dub, when Jessie comments on Meowth's hair being cloned, her voice is computerized like the machine that speaks afterwards.
 
<gallery>
<gallery>
File:M01_comparison_1.png‎|Large test tubes moved
Old Shore Wharf crowd comparison.png|thumb|200px|Fergus and Corey's backpacks shrink
File:M01 comparison 2.png|Reanimation Mew in the bubble
Flameless Rapidash.png|thumb|200px|Flameless Rapidash
File:M01_comparison_3.png|Big doors replaced with CGI doors
M01 Bluray credits error.png|thumb|200px|Typo listing Billy Crawford as "Bolly Crawford" in the HD remastered version
File:M01_comparison_4.png|Hand-drawn clouds replaced with CGI clouds
</gallery>
</gallery>


== In other languages ==
===Dub edits===
{{Epilang|color=AAFFAA|bordercolor=FFAAAA
* The message and themes of the movie were changed in the English dub. The Japanese version explores ethical themes of existensialism, whereas the English dub replaces it with an anti-violence message. This was explained by Takeshi Shudo in his blog.<ref>http://www.style.fm/as/05_column/shudo183.shtml</ref>
|zh_cmn={{tt|超夢的逆襲|Mewtwo's Counterattack}}
* Mewtwo's personality and goal are different between the original version and the English dub. In the English dub, Mewtwo is more boastful about its powers and certain about superiority to Mew and wants to destroy the world with a hurricane it created to get revenge on humanity. In the original version, Mewtwo is instead portrayed as a confused being who questions its worth as a clone and wished to have a more direct confrontation with humanity.
* Giovanni was never mentioned by the scientists in the laboratory in the original version, and all the references to him were added in the English dub.
* There was no alarm sounding during Mewtwo's awakening in the Japanese version.
* The dialogue in the scene where {{an|Dr. Fuji}} tells Mewtwo about its origins was altered in the English dub. In the original version, Mewtwo asks if Mew is its mother or father, and when Dr. Fuji tells that neither "yes" or "no" would be a wrong answer, it asks if it was created by {{wp|God in Christianity|God}}. To this, Dr. Fuji replies that in this world, the only ones capable of creating life are God and humans, and Mewtwo was created through human science.
** In addition, the Japanese version had the scientists shortly before Mewtwo's rampage merely congratulating themselves on a job well done with Mewtwo's creation. The English dub had added references to creating a new tank and implying that they'll stuff Mewtwo in a cage until the tank's ready, presumably to make the scientists less sympathetic before they were killed by their creation.
* While Giovanni tells Mewtwo about seeing it as a valuable partner in the English dub, in the Japanese version, he tells it that there is something even stronger than it in this world, to which Mewtwo replies, "Humans?" receiving a nod of approval from Giovanni.
* Giovanni denies that Mewtwo's armor is meant to suppress its powers in the English dub, stating that it is rather meant to "focus" them. In the original Japanese, Giovanni says that Mewtwo's job is to fight for Team Rocket.
* In the scene of Mewtwo alone in Giovanni's headquarters, no dialogue was originally heard. In the English dub, Mewtwo thinks about its purpose.
* In the original release for the movie, Raymond's Machamp is shown coming out of its {{i|Poké Ball}} twice. It is unknown whether this was mistakenly repeated or intentionally done for dynamic effect, but it would seem to be a mistake as this was corrected when the digitally remastered version came out.
* When Meowth complains about his hunger, Jessie takes out a frying pan and states that she could cook something, to which Meowth replies "Thanks, but the last time you cooked, you took out eight of my nine lives." In the Japanese version, Jessie simply points out that she has a frying pan, to which Meowth replies that without meat and vegetables, it is nothing more than an iron pan.
* Miranda's story about the power of Pokémon tears to revive people only exists in the English version. Originally, she only says that the storm is the greatest she has ever seen.
* During the opening song after {{AP|Bulbasaur}} defeats Raymond's Donphan, Ash's mouth moves. He says nothing in the Japanese version, while in the English dub, there is a dialogue.
* In the original Japanese version, Ash and {{an|Brock}} comment that they are fortunate that a boat appeared. In various dubs, this was changed to a reference to vikings:
** In the English dub, when Team Rocket are disguised as Vikings, Brock says he was not aware that they existed anymore. Ash replies that they mostly live in {{wp|Minnesota}}, a reference to the {{wp|Minnesota Vikings}} {{wp|National Football League|NFL}} team.
** In the {{pmin|Denmark|Danish version}}, Brock says "''Jeg vidste ikke at vikingerne stadig fandtes.''" ("I didn't know that the Vikings still existed."), and Ash replies "''Jo, men de turnerer mest i Sverige.''" ("Yes, but they are mostly touring in Sweden.") This is probably a reference to the fact that at the time {{wp|Vikings}} existed, the Danes were also Vikings.
*** In the Danish subtitles, Ash says "''Vikingerne er et band.''" ("The Vikings is a band.") This is likely a reference to The Vikings, an old Swedish band.
** In the {{pmin|Sweden|Swedish}} dub, Brock says "''Inte visste jag att vikingarna fanns kvar.''" ("I didn't know that the Vikings still existed.") and Ash replies "''Det är för att de flesta bor i Norge.''" ("That's because most of them live in Norway"). Real Vikings existed in both Sweden and Norway.
*** Additionally, when Jessie poses as a Viking, she speaks with a fake Norwegian accent, adding the stereotypical word ''akkurat'', meaning "correct" in Norwegian, at the end of her sentence.
** In the {{pmin|Poland|Polish}} dub, Ash replies that the Vikings mostly live in {{wp|Scandinavia}}.
* In the {{pmin|France|French}} dub, [[Misty's Staryu]] makes no sound when it is released from its Poké Ball. In all other versions of the movie, Staryu's voice can be heard twice.
* In the {{pmin|Latin America}}n dub, Corey is referred to as [[Gary Oak]].
* When Mewtwo first speaks to the gathered Trainers via its caretaker, the Japanese version has Misty remarking on its voice in shock, with Brock directly stating that its using telepathy to communicate. The English dub merely has Misty directly asking how Mewtwo is able to speak, with Brock merely stating that it is "psychic" without directly confirming its use of telepathy.
* In the English dub, the Pokémon Replication System switches between a female computer voice and the recorded voice of Dr. Fuji. In the original version, Dr. Fuji's is the only voice.
** In the English dub, Dr. Fuji's message was made to sound like it was being recorded while Mewtwo was destroying the laboratory, with the sounds of explosions and screaming occasionally heard at the background. This is not the case in the Japanese version.
* During the match between [[Ash's Charizard]] and the clone {{p|Charizard}}, in the Japanese version, Mewtwo tells the clone to use {{m|Seismic Toss}}, while in the English dub, it just tells the clone to "finish it" without specifying a [[move]].
* Shortly before the clones appear in the arena, Mewtwo originally offers to let the Trainers go, on the condition that they can get through its storm. In the English dub, Mewtwo only tells them it'll spare their lives for the moment, leaving the reason why it then opens the doors out of the arena more unclear.
* When the clones emerge into the arena, Mewtwo was originally confused by their sudden appearance. In the English dub, Mewtwo proudly presents its clones, appearing to have somewhat expected their arrival.
* In the English dub, specifically during the speech Mew gives to Mewtwo, Mew says that shows of force prove nothing, and real strength comes from the heart; in the original Japanese version, Mew is much more bellicose, saying that only the original Pokémon are real, and no matter how much they fight, the real ones will never lose to copies.
* During the battle between the original and clone Pokémon, in the Japanese version the background music is a variation of ''[[Pocket Monsters Original Soundtrack Best#Tracklist 2|Colossal Battle]]'' (listed as 1997-1998＿M14) followed by soft instrumental music. In the English version, ''[[Brother My Brother]]'' plays, a song promoting peace.
* The English script contains an anti-racism moral. Meowth, agreeing with his clone, says, "Maybe if we started looking at what's the same instead of always looking at what's different, well, who knows?" In the original version, Meowthtwo refuses to fight because it is pointless and harmful, opting instead to marvel at the full moon, which Meowth calls poetic.
* When Pikachu is repeatedly shocking Ash to try to bring him back to life, Misty says "Pikachu..." in the Japanese version, and "Please, no..." in the English version. A commentary revealed that the dubbers had many alternatives for this piece of dialogue, one example being the facetious "My [[Bicycle#Trivia|bike]]..."
* Mewtwo says much less at the end of the original version, telling Mew that these events are best forgotten, and only saying to Ash that the clones will live somewhere in the {{pkmn|world}}.
* In the English dub, after being returned back to the port, Brock admires how beautiful [[Nurse Joy]] and [[Officer Jenny]] are. In the original Japanese version of the movie, Brock is admiring Miranda as well.
* [[James]] and Meowth originally said nothing just before the credits rolled.
* {{pmin|South Asia|Hungama TV}}'s Hindi dub used the original Japanese version of the movie. As such, characters that had not appeared in the main series, such as {{an|Amber}}, kept their Japanese names.
* In the {{pmin|Russia}}n dub, the English ending themes are replaced with instrumental music from the American soundtrack.
 
==In other languages==
{{Epilang|color={{colorschemelight|Kanto}}|bordercolor={{colorschemedark|Kanto}}
|sq={{tt|Pokemon: Kthimi i Mjutuse|Pokémon: Mewtwo's return}}<br> {{tt|Pokemoni, Filmi - Mjudi Godet Përsëri|Pokémon the Movie - Mewtwo strikes back}}{{tt|*|Full title}}
|bg={{tt|Покемон: Първият филм|Pokémon: The first Movie}}
|zh_yue={{tt|超夢夢反擊戰|Mewtwo's Counter-war}}
|zh_yue={{tt|超夢夢反擊戰|Mewtwo's Counter-war}}
|cs={{tt|Pokémon: První film|Pokémon: The First Movie}}
|zh_cmn={{tt|超夢の逆襲|Mewtwo's Counterattack}} {{tt|*|Taiwan}}<br>{{tt|超梦的逆袭|Mewtwo's Counterattack}} {{tt|*|Mainland China, JY Animation}}<br>{{tt|超梦的反击|Mewtwo's Counterattack}} {{tt|*|Mainland China, Jilin}}
|da={{tt|Pokémon Filmen: Mewtwo Mod Mew|Pokémon The movie: Mewtwo vs Mew}}
|hr={{tt|Pokémon Prvi film|Pokémon the First Movie}}<br> {{tt|Pokemon: Povratak Mevtvoa|Pokémon: Mewtwo returns}}{{tt|*|Full title}}
|nl={{tt|Pokémon De Film: Mewtwo tegen Mew|Pokémon The Movie: Mewtwo vs Mew}}
|cs={{tt|Pokémon: První film - Mewtwo vrací úder|Pokémon The First Movie - Mewtwo Strikes Back}}
|fi={{tt|Pokémon Elokuva: Mewtwon vastaisku|Pokémon the Movie: Mewtwo's Counterattack}}
|da={{tt|Pokémon Filmen - Mewtwo mod Mew|Pokémon the Movie - Mewtwo vs. Mew}}
|fr_ca={{tt|Pokémon: Le premier film|Pokémon : The First Movie}}
|nl={{tt|Pokémon de Film: Mewtwo tegen Mew|Pokémon the Movie: Mewtwo vs. Mew}}
|fr_eu={{tt|Mew contre Mewtwo|Mew against Mewtwo}}
|fi={{tt|Pokémon elokuva: Mewtwon vastaisku|Pokémon the Movie: Mewtwo's Counterattack}}
|de={{tt|Pokémon - Der Film|Pokémon - The Movie}}
|fr_ca={{tt|Pokémon: Le premier Film|Pokémon : The First Movie}}
|el={{tt|Πόκεμον η πρώτη ταινία|Pokémon The First Movie}}
|fr_eu={{tt|Pokémon, le Film: Mewtwo contre-attaque|Pokémon, the Movie: Mewtwo counterattacks}}
|hu={{tt|Pokémon: Az első film - Mewtwo visszavág|Pokémon the First Movie - Mewtwo Strikes Back}}
|de={{tt|Pokémon - Der Film|Pokémon - The Movie}}<br> {{tt|Pokémon – Der Film: Mewtu gegen Mew|Pokémon the Movie - Mewtwo vs. Mew}}{{tt|*|Full title}}
|it={{tt|Pokémon Il Film|Pokémon the Movie}}
|el={{tt|Πόκεμον: Η Πρώτη Ταινία|Pokémon The First Movie}}
|he={{tt|פוקימון: הסרט הראשון - מיוטו מכה שנית|Pokémon: The First Movie - Mewtwo Strikes Again}} Pokémon: Ha'Seret Ha'Rishon - Mewtwo Ma'ke Shenit
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|ms={{tt|Pokémon: Filem Pertama|Pokémon: The First Movie}}
|hi=पोकेमोन थ मूवी - मिउटूं का बदला {{tt|Pokémon The Movie - Mewtwo Ka Badla|Pokémon the Movie - Mewtwo's Revenge}} {{tt|*|Hungama Dub}}
|ta=போகிமொன் தி மொவயே - மியூட்வ்வ் க பாடலை {{tt|Pokémon The Movie - Mewtwo Ka Badla|Same as Hindi}} {{tt|*|Hungama Dub}}
|te=పోకెమోన్ ది మూవీ - మెవత్వో క బండ్ల {{tt|Pokémon The Movie - Mewtwo Ka Badla|Same as Hindi}} {{tt|*|Hungama Dub}}
|is={{tt|Pokémon: Fyrsta myndin - Mewtwo á móti Mew|Pokémon: The First Film - Mewtwo against Mew}}
|it={{tt|Pokémon il Film|Pokémon the Movie}}<br>{{tt|Mewtwo colpisce ancora|Mewtwo strikes back}}{{tt|*|Title screen}}<br>{{tt|Pokémon il Film - Mewtwo contro Mew|Pokémon the Movie - Mewtwo vs. Mew}}{{tt|*|Full title}}
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|pl={{tt|Pokémon: Film pierwszy - Zemsta Mewtwo|Pokémon: The First Movie - Mewtwo's Revenge}}
|pt_br={{tt|Pokémon: O Filme - Mewtwo Contra-ataca|Pokémon: The Movie - Mewtwo Counter-attacks}}
|pt_br={{tt|Pokémon, o filme: Mewtwo contra-ataca|Pokémon, the movie: Mewtwo counterattacks}} {{tt|*|2019-present}}<br>{{tt|Pokémon O Filme: Mewtwo Contra-Ataca|Pokémon The Movie: Mewtwo Counterattacks}}
|pt_eu={{tt|Mewtwo Contra-ataca|Mewtwo Counter-attacks}}
|pt_eu={{tt|Pokémon: O Filme - Mewtwo Contra Mew|Pokémon: The Movie - Mewtwo Versus Mew}}
|ru={{tt|Покемон: Фильм Первый - Мьюту наносит ответный удар|Pokémon the First Movie - Mewtwo strikes back}}
|ru={{tt|Покемон (фильм первый): Мьюту наносит ответный удар|Pokémon (the First Movie): Mewtwo strikes back}}
|es_la={{tt|Mewtwo Contraataca|Mewtwo Strikes Back}}
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|es_eu={{tt|Pokémon, la película: Mewtwo contraataca|Pokémon, the Movie: Mewtwo Strikes Back}}
|es_la={{tt|Pokémon, la película: Mewtwo contraataca|Pokémon, the Movie: Mewtwo Strikes Back}}
|sv={{tt|Pokémon Filmen - Mewtwo Slår Tillbaka|Pokémon the Movie - Mewtwo Strikes Back}}
|es_eu={{tt|Pokémon: La película - Mewtwo vs. Mew|Pokémon, the Movie: Mewtwo vs. Mew}}
|sv={{tt|Pokémon - filmen: Mewtwo mot Mew|Pokémon - the Movie: Mewtwo vs Mew}}
|tr={{tt|Pokémon İlk Film - Mewtwo'nun İntikamı|Pokémon the First Movie - Mewtwo's revenge}}
|uk={{tt|Покемон: Перший Фiльм - М'юту завдає удару у вiдповiдь|Pokémon: The First Film - Mewtwo Strikes Back}}
}}
}}
==Related articles==
{|width=100%|
| style="vertical-align:top" width=50% |
* [[The Birth of Mewtwo]]
* [[The Uncut Story of Mewtwo's Origin]]
* [[Mewtwo Returns]]
* [[Sound Picture Box - The Birth of Mewtwo]]
* [[Together With the Wind (1998 single)]]
* [[Pokémon the First Movie (soundtrack)]]
* [[Pokémon the First Movie (score)]]
| style="vertical-align:top" width=50% |
* [[Mewtwo Strikes Back! (manga)]]
* [[Pokémon the First Movie (graphic novel)]]
* [[The Art of Pokémon The First Movie]]
* [[Mewtwo Strikes Back (book)]]
* [[Pokémon the First Movie (picture book)]]
* [[Pokémon the First Movie Trading Cards]]
|}
==References==
<references/>


==External links==
==External links==
*[http://pokemonthemovie.warnerbros.com/ Official website]
*''[http://www.amazon.com/Pokémon-First-Movie-Kunihiko-Yuyama/dp/B01AQM460G Pokémon: The First Movie - Mewtwo Strikes Back]'' on [[Prime Video]] <small>(English)</small>
*[http://webspace.webring.com/people/ds/spookymeggie/vidi.html An article about the Japanese edits]
*''[https://play.google.com/store/movies/details/Pok%C3%A9mon_The_First_Movie?id=kOf9inXy4zU Pokémon: The First Movie - Mewtwo Strikes Back]'' on [[Google Play]] <small>(English)</small>
*[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pokémon:_The_First_Movie Wikipedia article]
*''[https://itunes.apple.com/us/movie/pokemon-first-movie-dubbed/id1069567899 Pokémon: The First Movie - Mewtwo Strikes Back]'' on [[iTunes]] <small>(English)</small>
*[http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0190641/ ''Pokémon: The First Movie'' at IMDb]
*[http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0190641/ ''Pokémon: The First Movie'' at IMDb]
{{Movies}}<br>
*{{wp|Pokémon: The First Movie|''Pokémon: The First Movie'' at Wikipedia}}
*[http://www.pokemon.com/us/pokemon-episodes/pokemon-movies/pokemon-the-first-movie-1999 ''Pokémon: The First Movie - Mewtwo Strikes Back''] on Pokémon.com <small>(English)</small>
*[https://www.warnerbros.com/movies/pokemon-first-movie/ ''Pokémon: The First Movie''] at [[Warner Bros.]]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20000815065603/http://pokemonthemovie.warnerbros.com/ Archive of splash page for official website for ''Pokémon: The First Movie - Mewtwo Strikes Back''] <small>(English)</small>
*[https://www.pokemon.co.jp/tv_movie/movie/1998/ Official website for ''Pokémon: The First Movie - Mewtwo Strikes Back''] <small>(Japanese)</small>
*[http://webspace.webring.com/people/ds/spookymeggie/vidi.html An article about the Japanese edits to ''Pokémon: The First Movie - Mewtwo Strikes Back'']
*[http://www.lddb.com/laserdisc/18584/ZMLZ-102/Pocket-Monster-(Pokemon):-Mewtwo-Strikes-Back-amp;-Pikachu-'s-Summer-Vacation-(1998) ''Pokémon: The First Movie'' LaserDisc Release]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20140504153521/http://www.thefreelibrary.com/PREPARE+FOR+THE+POKEMON+INVASION%3b+JAPANESE+FILM+ONE+OF+TWO+ANIMATED...-a083620988 2014 archive of Daily News article that mentions the originally-planned release date]
 
{{-}}
{{Movies}}
{{EpicodePrevNext|
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prevtitle=None|
nextcode=M02 |
nexttitle=The Power of One |
episodelist=Pokémon movie |
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{{Project Anime notice|mov}}
{{Project Anime notice|mov}}
[[Category:Movies]]


[[de:Pokémon - Der Film]]
[[de:Pokémon – Der Film]]
[[es:Mewtwo Contraataca]]
[[es:P01]]
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[[fr:Pokémon : Le film]]
[[it:F01]]
[[ja:劇場版ポケットモンスター ミュウツーの逆襲]]
[[ja:劇場版ポケットモンスター ミュウツーの逆襲]]
[[pt:Mewtwo Strikes Back]]
[[zh:电影版 宝可梦 第1作]]

Latest revision as of 05:47, 13 September 2024

Mewtwo Strikes Back redirects here. For the novel, see Mewtwo Strikes Back (book). For the manga, see Mewtwo Strikes Back! (manga). For the TCG card, see Mewtwo Strikes Back (CoroCoro promo).
Pokémon: The First Movie redirects here. For other uses, see Pokémon: The First Movie (disambiguation).
M1 redirects here. For the prop in Pokéstar Studios, see Pokéstar Studios opponents → MT.
Pokémon movies
M02 : The Power of One →
Mewtwo Strikes Back
ミュウツーの逆襲 Mewtwo's Counterattack
Movie 1 poster.png
Premiere
Japan July 18, 1998
United States November 12, 1999
Home video
Japan February 12, 1999
United States March 21, 2000
English themes
Opening Pokémon Theme
Ending We're a Miracle
(Hey You) Free Up Your Mind
If Only Tears Could Bring You Back
Don't Say You Love Me
Japanese themes
Opening めざせポケモンマスター'98
Ending 風といっしょに
Ratings
United States G
Great Britain PG
Ireland PG
Canada PG
Quebec ?
Japan G
Germany 6
Australia G
New Zealand G

Pokémon: The First Movie - Mewtwo Strikes Back (Japanese: 劇場版ポケットモンスター　ミュウツーの逆襲 Pocket Monsters the Movie: Mewtwo's Counterattack, officially known as Pocket Monsters the Movie: Mewtwo Strikes Back! in Japan), also known simply as Pokémon: The First Movie, is the first Pokémon movie. It debuted in Japanese theaters on July 18, 1998, and then made its way to North American theaters on November 12, 1999.

Mewtwo Strikes Back was shown with the Pikachu short Pikachu's Vacation.

The first anime special, Mewtwo Returns, is a sequel to this movie.

A 3D-animated remake, Mewtwo Strikes Back—Evolution, was released in 2019.

Other posters and logos

  • Pikachu the Movie poster

    Pikachu the Movie poster

  • Final Mewtwo's Counterattack movie poster

    Final Mewtwo's Counterattack movie poster

  • English theatrical poster

    English theatrical poster

  • Japanese poster featuring Mewtwo and Mew

    Japanese poster featuring Mewtwo and Mew

  • Australian Beyond DVD cover

    Australian Beyond DVD cover

  • Digital release poster and VIZ DVD cover

    Digital release poster and VIZ DVD cover

  • Mewtwo's Counterattack logo

    Mewtwo's Counterattack logo

  • Pokémon the First Movie logo

    Pokémon the First Movie logo

  • Title screen

    Title screen

201
Spoiler warning: this article may contain major plot or ending details.
201

Blurb

Giovanni, the leader of Team Rocket, had ambitious plans to take over the world, involving his latest experiment, a powerful clone of Mew—Mewtwo. Mewtwo is very powerful, and also very smart—smart enough to not want to be controlled by Giovanni. It escaped from the lab, and now Mewtwo begins to concoct its own scheme, clandestinely inviting a number of Pokémon Trainers to the ultimate test. Of course, if it's an event for talented Trainers, Ash Ketchum will be right in the front row!

Ash's excitement turns to fear and anger when Mewtwo reveals its plan for domination, creating powerful clones of all of the kids' Pokémon so it can even the "imbalance" between Pokémon and their Trainers. Despite Ash's protests, Mewtwo refuses to believe that Pokémon and people can be friends. But faced with the determination of a young Trainer and the love of his Pokémon, Mewtwo just might have to reconsider, especially when pitted against the power of the mysterious Mew!

Plot

Dr. Fuji, wanting to find a way to restore life by cloning, leads an expedition to Guyana after finding evidence of a shrine dedicated to Mew, the world's most powerful—but now said to be extinct—Pokémon. Giovanni, the leader of Team Rocket, funds Fuji's research in return for an enhanced, living replica of Mew. Finding a fossil of Mew, Fuji and his team create Mewtwo. Upon gaining consciousness, a confused Mewtwo asks itself who it is, what it is, and where it came from. Just then, Mewtwo fully wakes up in a stasis tube in one of Fuji's laboratories, where the scientists study it. Mewtwo breaks out of its test tube; Dr. Fuji tells Mewtwo that it was made by humans and is a clone of, but much more powerful than Mew. Mewtwo is angry that the scientists see it more as a result of their project and less of a sentient being, so it destroys the lab and kills all of the scientists. Dr. Fuji says to himself that he succeeded in creating the world's most powerful Pokémon before dying at the hands of Mewtwo. Then, Giovanni arrives in his private helicopter and offers to help Mewtwo focus its powers. Mewtwo takes up the offer and is put in a suit of armor.

Over the next few weeks, Mewtwo does most of Team Rocket's dirty work, capturing wild Pokémon and beating any Trainer that challenges the Viridian Gym, including Gary Oak. When Giovanni tells Mewtwo his own twisted way of controlling Pokémon, Mewtwo angrily blasts away, destroying its armor and the Team Rocket HQ, and vows from atop the island it was created on to begin its reign on Earth.

A Dragonite shows up to deliver an invitation

Meanwhile, Ash and his friends are preparing for lunch until a Trainer named Raymond shows up and challenges Ash. With his Bulbasaur, Squirtle, and Pikachu, Ash easily beats Raymond. What Ash doesn't realize is that he's being watched, not only by Team Rocket, but by a mysterious third party. Team Rocket watch hungrily as the twerps eat Brock's cooking. Suddenly, a Dragonite flies in with a letter for Ash and his friends. It projects a hologram of a mysterious woman who tells the Trainers to head to Old Shore Wharf to get to an island fortress called New Island.

Later, as a storm brews, Ash and his friends arrives at the Pokémon Center, whose Nurse Joy has been missing for quite a while. Officer Jenny informs the Trainers gathered that the ferry to New Island has been canceled. Miranda, the piermaster, tells them that she has lived on the pier all her life and that the current storm is the fiercest she's ever seen. She tells a story to everyone present about how some people died in a storm many years ago; however, legend has it that the tears of a Pokémon restored the people to life.

Soon, most of the other Pokémon Trainers—ignoring Jenny and Miranda's warnings—take off for New Island. Ash and his friends are eager to follow, but none of their Pokémon are strong enough to handle the giant waves. Team Rocket, under disguise, gives Ash and friends a boat ride. Later, Team Rocket's disguise was uncovered. However, the storm proves too much for them, and as the strong wind and waves hit against the boat, it capsizes and everyone is sent into the ocean. Ash and his friends save themselves by using Ash's Squirtle and Misty's Staryu to get to New Island.

As the heroes barely arrive at New Island, the mystery woman from the hologram letter greets them and takes them to the dining room to meet the other Trainers who arrived safely. Brock says that she looked familiar, however, the woman denies it and shows them to the castle.

Meanwhile, as Team Rocket tries to get inside the fortress, the Mythical Pokémon Mew senses something troubling and arrives at New Island, and follows closely behind Team Rocket.

Mewtwo greets Trainers to New Island

As they arrive in the dining room, Ash and his friends meet three Pokémon Trainers named Neesha, Fergus, and Corey. Just then, the mystery woman introduces everybody in the room to her master, who is revealed to be none other than Mewtwo. Fergus insults Mewtwo, who sends him flying. Fergus has his Gyarados attack with Hyper Beam, but Mewtwo easily reflects it. Mewtwo releases the woman from its control. When Brock quickly catches her, it is revealed that the mystery woman is the missing Nurse Joy, whom Mewtwo had taken under its control due to her knowledge of Pokémon physiology. Mewtwo tells the Trainers that humans are weak and cruel, and have made all Pokémon their slaves. It also says that Pokémon are no better off since they choose to associate with humans.

As Team Rocket gets into the fortress and make their way into a laboratory, they come across a weird-looking machine, a computer, and several Pokémon sleeping in giant pods. Jessie accidentally sits on the computer controls, which plays back a recorded message from Dr. Fuji about the fossilized eyelash of Mew that was used to create Mewtwo. Suddenly, the machine takes a piece of hair from Meowth to create a clone of him. Summoned by Mewtwo, the cloned Pokémon awaken and exit to their master.

Mewtwo leads Ash and the other Trainers into the stadium part of the fortress and suggests that they should battle Pokémon to see who is the strongest, the clones versus the originals. Ash's Charizard, Corey's Venusaur, and Neesha's Blastoise are no match for Mewtwo's clones. With the Pokémon defeated, Mewtwo summons its own specialized Poké Balls, the Mewtwo Balls, and uses them to capture Charizard, Venusaur, and Blastoise, claiming them as its prize. Mewtwo announces that the other Pokémon will be taken to be cloned. The clones will remain safe on the island while Mewtwo's storms destroy the planet. Mewtwo sends the Balls after the Pokémon.

Neesha attempts to protect her Pokémon

Immediately, all the Trainers are on the run. Some Pokémon are captured before they realize what's happening, some attempt to outrun the Mewtwo Balls, and some attempt to use their attacks to defend themselves. However, it proves to be useless as nearly all the Pokémon end up being captured one by one. Ash deduces that Pokémon inside their Poké Balls should be safe from capture and recalls Bulbasaur and Squirtle. However, it turns out to be no use, as the Mewtwo Balls instead capture the Poké Balls whole with Bulbasaur and Squirtle still inside. Brock suggests carrying the Pokémon away, but while Misty successfully hides Togepi inside her backpack, Psyduck and Vulpix aren't so lucky and are also caught.

Pikachu is the only Pokémon still uncaptured, and as a result, he's now the only target of the Mewtwo Balls. Ash uses his body to block them, giving Pikachu a chance to run. Pikachu heads towards a nearby suspended staircase and uses Thunder Shock to take out a few of the Mewtwo Balls. Ash follows him up the staircase. Pikachu is forced to use his Thunder Shock every few seconds, which in combination with constantly being on the run, leaves him exhausted. As a result, Pikachu is forced off the staircase while dodging the Balls, falling a long way. Ash jumps off after Pikachu to protect him, but before he can grab his friend, a Mewtwo Ball finally manages to capture Pikachu. Ash grabs the Ball before he falls into the pool of water at the base of the staircase, and loses his grip on it underwater. Ash follows it, out of the pool, and towards the entrance to the laboratory where Team Rocket is.

The same machine that cloned Meowth earlier is now processing all of the Mewtwo Balls, and Ash grabs the one Pikachu is in just as the machine does as well. Fighting against the machine's many arms, Ash eventually manages to get the Mewtwo Ball away, destroying the machine in the process. Pikachu is released from the Mewtwo Ball and shakes himself off. Happily, he reunites with Ash, but the clones are now freed from their stasis tubes, prepared to join Mewtwo. The remaining Mewtwo Balls are released from the machine in an explosion, and all open to free the Pokémon inside, including Squirtle, Bulbasaur, and their Poké Balls.

Mewtwo releases the other humans and is soon joined by its clone army. Ash emerges from the smoke with his and every Trainer's Pokémon and proclaims that they won't let Mewtwo's plan succeed. He tries to punch Mewtwo, but Mewtwo's force field knocks him down. Ash goes in for another punch, but this time Mewtwo sends him flying at a high point of the castle. Ash is saved from the blow by a large, pink bubble. Then Mew comes onto the scene, having created the bubble that protected Ash. The playful Pokémon is soon targeted by a Shadow Ball from its clone, Mewtwo, who says that clones are far more powerful than the originals. Mew communicates with Mewtwo that a Pokémon's real strength comes from the heart, which is translated by Meowth. Disgusted, Mewtwo throws another Shadow Ball at Mew, who dodges it, but the blast hits Ash. With Mewtwo blocking all the Pokémon's special moves, a widespread melee begins between the Pokémon and their clones.

Mewtwo and Mew

Ash survives the blast but is horrified to see all the Pokémon fighting their clones, especially Pikachu getting slapped endlessly by his clone. He eventually falls back down to the stadium floor, prompting Misty, Brock, and Nurse Joy to come to his aid. They see now how horrible this kind of fighting is, and that the originals and clones will never give up, resulting in their deaths. Ash realizes someone has to take a stand and refuse to fight like Pikachu is.

As Team Rocket also look on in horror, Meowth is approached by his clone. Although the two briefly get ready to fight, they realize the pointlessness of it and instead talk about how, no matter how different people are, they all share a lot in common on this planet.

Just as Mew and Mewtwo are emanating large auras of psychic energy in preparation for their most powerful energy blasts, Ash, frightened and angered by the continuous fighting, runs between them, demanding them to stop their futile battle. The two blasts of energy strike with Ash in the crossfire, and due to the magnitude of concentrated power, Ash is turned to stone. Mewtwo, shocked by Ash's recklessness, calls him a fool.

The stadium becomes silent, save for Pikachu, who runs to Ash's side. After trying to wake him up, Pikachu uses his Thunderbolt in vain, as Ash stays unmoving and has no sign of life. Pikachu begins to cry at losing his best friend, as do the rest of the Pokémon in the stadium due to Ash's noble and brave sacrifice in the name of their salvation. The tears of all the Pokémon come together and magically revive Ash, bringing him back to life just like in the story Miranda told earlier.

After witnessing all of this, Mewtwo states that it does not matter who is more powerful, that the clones and originals both have value, and that the circumstances of one's birth are irrelevant: it is what one does with life that determines one's destiny. Mewtwo also says that it would be best if no one knew about what happened. When Mewtwo flies off, it tells Ash that it will find a place where it and the clones can live in peace. As a result, all of the memories of this event are erased from the Trainers' minds.

Ash, Misty, Brock, and everyone else instantly find themselves back at the Pokémon Center with no memory of their adventure on New Island. Nurse Joy is also back, offering shelter from the storm. Going out to the pier, Ash sees Mew in the clouds as the storm ends and tells Misty and Brock that when his journey began, he saw a mysterious Pokémon, and now he believes he just saw another. Misty thinks that Ash was just imagining it, but Brock points out that maybe he wasn't. With that, the three friends prepare to continue their journey.

Meanwhile, Team Rocket, on the now-empty and green New Island and with no clue how they got here, decide to take a vacation as the credits begin to roll.

Major events

For a list of all major events in the animated series, please see the history page.

Debuts

Characters

Humans

Fergus

Pokémon

Corey riding his Pidgeot to New Island
Mewtwo standing with the Pokémon it cloned

Cast

Cast
Ash Veronica Taylor Satoshi Rica Matsumoto サトシ 松本梨香
Pikachu Ikue Ohtani Pikachu Ikue Ohtani ピカチュウ 大谷育江
Misty Rachael Lillis Kasumi Mayumi Iizuka カスミ 飯塚雅弓
Togepi Satomi Koorogi Togepi Satomi Koorogi トゲピー こおろぎさとみ
Brock Eric Stuart Takeshi Yūji Ueda タケシ うえだ　ゆうじ
Jessie Rachael Lillis Musashi Megumi Hayashibara ムサシ 林原めぐみ
James Eric Stuart Kojirō Shin-ichiro Miki コジロウ 三木眞一郎
Meowth Addie Blaustein Nyarth Inuko Inuyama ニャース 犬山イヌコ
Nurse Joy Megan Hollingshead Joy Ayako Shiraishi ジョーイ 白石文子
Officer Jenny Lee Quick Junsar Chinami Nishimura ジュンサー 西村ちなみ
Giovanni Ed Paul Sakaki Hirotaka Suzuoki サカキ 鈴置洋孝
Narration Ken Gates Narration Unshō Ishizuka ナレーション 石塚運昇
Special appearances by
Mewtwo Philip Bartlett Mewtwo Masachika Ichimura ミュウツー 市村正親
Mew Kōichi Yamadera Mew Kōichi Yamadera ミュウ 山寺宏一
Corey Ed Paul Sorao Tōru Furuya ソラオ 古谷徹
Neesha Amy Birnbaum Sweet Aiko Satō スイート 佐藤藍子
Fergus Jimmy Zoppi Umio Wataru Takagi ウミオ 高木渉
Raymond Addie Blaustein Raymond Raymond Johnson レイモンド レイモンドジョンソン
Miranda Lisa Ortiz Voyager Sachiko Kobayashi ボイジャー 小林幸子
Dr. Fuji Philip Bartlett Dr. Fuji Yosuke Akimoto フジ博士 秋元羊介

Soundtrack

Main article: Pokémon the First Movie (soundtrack)

Manga adaptation

Main article: Mewtwo Strikes Back! (manga)

Scenes in episodes

Giovanni controlled Mewtwo with a special suit of armor

The episodes The Battle of the Badge, It's Mr. Mime Time, and Showdown at the Po-ké Corral feature Mewtwo in scenes that prelude this movie. These episodes were supposed to air before the movie premiere, but due to the anime's four-month hiatus after the seizures caused by the banned episode EP038, the episodes ended up airing on September 17, 24, and October 8, 1998, respectively, whereas the movie premiered on July 18.

The scene in which Nidoking and Arcanine battle Mewtwo is adapted from Gary's battle against Giovanni in The Battle of the Badge, but there are several differences between the two versions. The movie has a different perspective and animation, mostly evident in Mewtwo's appearance, which is more cartoony in the episode as opposed to the elaborate design of its armor in the movie. Mewtwo's whole body glows when it uses Psychic against Nidoking and Arcanine in the episode, but only its eyes glow in the movie. Mewtwo's chin is covered by its armor in the movie, but it is exposed in the episode. It is unknown whether this is an error or design change, since what looks like the chin could have been part of the armor if colored differently. Giovanni's position also differs: he stands up and walks forward before sending out Mewtwo in the episode, but stays seated in the movie.

In It's Mr. Mime Time, Mewtwo makes a cameo when the Rocket Trio go to Team Rocket HQ, apologize to Giovanni, and have a brief video chat with him. The upward-panning shot of Mewtwo uses the same animation of when Mewtwo is first shown in its armor, though this scene chronologically took place after the scene in the movie.

The scene of Mewtwo blasting out of Team Rocket HQ in Showdown at the Po-ké Corral is also shown in the movie's prologue. The explosion in the episode has a different perspective and animation, but both shots of Mewtwo flying away use the same animation. The shot of Giovanni's helicopter taking off in this episode uses the same animation (played in reverse) of the same helicopter landing on New Island in the movie.

Alternate versions

Kanzenban version

In Japan, the theatrical version had only two home video releases (VHS, February 12, 1999; LaserDisc, July 17, 1999) and was never shown on TV. A new version of the movie, known as the kanzenban (Japanese: 完全版 full version), has been shown in all television airings in Japan (the first one being on July 8, 1999) and in the Japanese home video releases from the third one (VHS, November 12, 1999) onward: this version contains additional scenes and CGI edits.

Additional scenes

Main article: The Uncut Story of Mewtwo's Origin

A ten-minute short known as (Japanese: ミュウツーの誕生 The Birth of Mewtwo) was added at the beginning of the movie in the "kanzenban" version: this short details the history of Mewtwo's creation (based on the radio drama The Birth of Mewtwo), increasing the movie's length from 75 to 85 minutes and the prologue's length from 10 to 20 minutes. Although the kanzenban was created to be later used in the United States, the North American theatrical version (November 12, 1999) removed the short while still using the footage from the kanzenban for the rest of the movie instead of the footage from the Japanese theatrical version. On March 21, 2000, Mewtwo Strikes Back was released in home video in the United States, and both the VHS and the DVD included the first two minutes of the short dubbed in English as The Story of Mewtwo's Origin: in the VHS these scenes were added to the beginning of the movie while in the DVD they were included as an extra. On June 23, 2000, a Japanese DVD of the movie was released with both a Japanese and an English audio track, and this marked the first time the full English dubbed version of the short was available; it was later included under the title The Uncut Story of Mewtwo's Origin in the Special Features of the international DVD of Mewtwo Returns, released on August 17, 2001, in Australia and on December 4, 2001, in the United States.

  • The first scene (the only one that was included on the American VHS/DVD release of the movie) centered around a group of explorers who found an ancient engraving of Mew and a fossil of its eyelash.
  • The second detailed Dr. Fuji's attempts to clone his daughter, who had died as a child, Mew, and the Kanto starters.
  • The final scene detailed a young Mewtwo's telepathic interaction with clones of the Kanto starters and Amber Fuji.
  • Movie 1 Deleted Scene 1.png
  • Movie 1 Deleted Scene 2.png
  • Movie 1 Deleted Scene 3.png
  • Movie 1 Deleted Scene 4.png
  • Movie 1 Deleted Scene 5.png
  • Movie 1 Deleted Scene 6.png
  • Movie 1 Deleted Scene 7.png
  • Movie 1 Deleted Scene 8.png

CGI edits

All the following edits were made for the "kanzenban" and then used in international releases of the movie:

  • In the wide shot of Mewtwo facing Dr. Fuji, who is explaining to it how it was created, two large test tubes were shown positioned on either side of the screen in front of the characters and magnifying them. These were pushed off to the edge of the screen in the newer version of the film.
  • When Mewtwo is being suited up with armor, Giovanni is covered in shadow (much like his first appearances in the anime). In the newer version the scene was changed so he could be seen better, probably because his identity in the anime had already been revealed in The Battle of the Badge.
  • A CGI panning effect was added to the Gym floor when Mewtwo battles a Trainer's Onix.
  • When Mewtwo first summons the storm, the shadow color on its hand is changed from purple to pinkish-red.
  • Mew floating up to the surface of the water in a bubble was completely re-animated.
  • Throughout the film, the original hand-drawn clouds of Mewtwo's storm are replaced with more realistic-looking CGI clouds. The water in the storm is also altered to have different shades of blue.
  • Mewtwo's castle is changed from hand-drawn to CGI.
  • The shot of the big doors opening was replaced with CGI doors. When the door closes in front of Ash, the scene now pans all the way back to Team Rocket facing the door when it was originally a dissolve.
  • Another CGI panning effect was added for the shot of Rhyhorn charging toward Mewtwo.
  • The big reveal of Mewtwo's stadium was rendered with CGI.
  • The scene of Ash walking forward with all the rescued Pokémon was altered to have them fade into sight. In the original, they were drawn as black silhouettes slowly walking outward through the smoke and their bodies interacted with it more. This was also seen in the US trailer of Pokémon the First Movie.
  • When Ash is looking down at the Pokémon fighting their clones, they were all originally drawn as silhouettes.
  • The tears of life from the Pokémon were changed to CGI.
  • Animation of water rippling is added to what was mostly a still shot in the original version.
  • The sky during the fire sequence was recolored.
  • More bubbles were added to the opening sequence.
  • There are three different versions of Mew flying across the sky and in front of the moon; a trailer where the moon is yellow, the original version has it gray, and the final version has a GCI moon.
  • Large test tubes moved

    Large test tubes moved

  • Reanimation Mew in the bubble

    Reanimation Mew in the bubble

  • Big doors replaced with CGI doors

    Big doors replaced with CGI doors

  • Hand-drawn clouds replaced with CGI clouds

    Hand-drawn clouds replaced with CGI clouds

Digitally remastered version

Similar to Pokémon - I Choose You! and Holiday Hi-Jynx, the Kanzenban version of this movie was digitally remastered to HD, complete with slight color correction. An error is also corrected where Raymond's Machamp now comes out of its Poké Ball only once. It was released on Blu-Ray in Japan on November 28, 2012 with a boxset containing all the movies up to M13, and aired on May 3, 2013 on TV Tokyo. The dub (which retains the 4Kids audio) aired on Cartoon Network January 4, 2014, and was re-released on Pokémon TV June 6, 2015. In addition to all of the changes in the Japanese version, The Uncut Story of Mewtwo's Origin is once again cut out, along with the Alakazam error in the Cartoon Network version. The opening* and ending* credits are retyped in a TPCi font instead of Comic Sans, and the copyright year 2014 (2015 for the re-release) was added to the end of the credits. The Warner Bros. distribution screen at the end was removed.

Remake

Main article: Pokémon: Mewtwo Strikes Back—Evolution

The movie was remade as a 3D-animated film titled Mewtwo Strikes Back—Evolution. It debuted in Japanese in July 2019 and in English in February 2020.

Trivia

The fourth Trainer seen on the far right before leaving
The female Trainer leaving for New Island on a Fearow
  • This movie was released between EP054 and EP055 in Japan. However, it chronologically takes place sometime after EP065, where Mewtwo is seen escaping from Team Rocket HQ. This mismatch was caused by the Pokémon Shock incident causing the anime to be put on hiatus for several months.
    • Had the hiatus not occurred, this movie would have likely premiered between EP067 and EP068.
  • At ten minutes, this movie has the longest prologue. The prologue was further extended to 20 minutes in the Japanese extended version and twelve minutes in the international extended version.
    • According to Takeshi Shudō, the prologue was only added after it was clear that the hiatus would make it impossible to have Mewtwo appear in the TV series before the movie's premiere.[1] Originally, Mewtwo would first appear onscreen when it revealed itself to the Trainers on New Island, explaining why Mewtwo is only partially shown in-between the opening credits and its entrance on New Island.
  • According to Takeshi Shudo's notes on the movie, Ash was petrified but not killed when Mewtwo and Mew's Psychic blasts collided with him, and the tears simply restored him.
  • Some of the Pokémon on the poster did not appear in the movie.
  • Several moves were used by Pokémon in this movie that were not yet available in the games. Mewtwo used Shadow Ball, Blastoisetwo used Rapid Spin, and Raymond's Donphan (itself a Pokémon not yet available) used Rollout.
  • Other than Corey, Fergus, and Neesha, a female fourth Trainer takes off from the pier on the back of a Fearow. She is seen flying Fearow while Fergus and Neesha ride their Gyarados and Dewgong. She likely never made it to New Island, unlike the others.
    • She is the only character who leaves for New Island but never appears again. Mewtwo wipes the memories of everyone on New Island and transports them back to the mainland (except for Team Rocket), but this Trainer completely disappears.
  • Of the Pokémon seen at the gathering, only Misty's Togepi was not captured and cloned by Mewtwo due to Misty hiding it in her bag.
  • Though Mewtwo owned a cloned Venusaur, Charizard, and Blastoise, they were not cloned from the Trainers' Pokémon. They were supposedly cloned from Pokémon Mewtwo had previously acquired itself. Despite this, all three of the Trainers' Pokémon were captured by Mewtwo anyway.
  • In the English dub, Jessie makes a reference to Frankenstein.
  • In Japan, this movie (paired with the Pikachu's Vacation short) was released on LaserDisc, being the only Pokémon media to be released on this medium.
  • The North American VHS release features an introduction to the tape's contents by Professor Oak, utilizing footage from his lecture on Alakazam from EP066.
  • Despite the English dub using the kanzenban footage, the opening of the original North American DVD release uses a hand-drawn shot of the big doors opening.
  • The title of this movie is also used in Mewtwo's trailer for Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS/Wii U.
  • The movie's first trailer showed several prominent scenes that never appear in the movie. They were promotional scenes made before the movie script was finished.[2] Most notable were scenes of Ash fleeing an explosion, a woman who looks like Misty accompanying Miranda and a younger character, and Team Rocket standing on a warship.
  • On the 23rd anniversary of the movie's release, Masahiro Sakurai posted an image to Twitter homaging the scene of Pikachutwo slapping Pikachu and mentioning the scene always made him cry. [3]
  • Some of Mew's lines from this movie can be heard in the first four Super Smash Bros. games and Pokémon Snap.
  • The movie's title in Japanese is most likely based on either the Japanese title of The Empire Strikes Back (帝国の逆襲 Teikoku no Gyakushū) or the 1988 mecha film Mobile Suit Gundam: Char's Counterattack (機動戦士ガンダム 逆襲のシャア Kidō Senshi Gandamu: Gyakushū no Char)

Errors

  • When New Island is reflected in Giovanni's helicopter, the reflection is not reversed.
  • When Giovanni tells Mewtwo to use its powers, Mewtwo's arm is missing.
  • In Ash and his friends' first appearance, the stripes on Ash's bag are colored green instead of cream and orange.
  • Machamp being sent out by Raymond is shown twice.
  • Early in the movie, Pikachu defeats Raymond's Golem with Thunderbolt, which should have had no effect because Golem is a Ground-type.
  • Mewtwo is colored pink as it begins creating the storm. In a later shot of Mewtwo intensifying the storm, its color is corrected.
  • When Ash and his friends enter the terminal, the inside of a Raichu's ear is colored brown like the rest of the ear instead of yellow.
  • When Misty takes the white card, the marks on Ash's cheeks are missing. This also happens when Ash asks Mewtwo where it is going.
  • In two very similar shots at the beginning and end of the movie, as Officer Jenny warns the Trainers about the storm, the backpacks of Corey and Fergus drastically shrink in size.
  • When Fergus releases his Gyarados into the water to ride on its back, its lips are blue instead of yellow.
  • When Jenny's hat flies off, the loops of Miranda's earrings are colored in.
  • In the scene right before explaining how he got to New Island, Corey's jacket stamp disappears.
  • In the shot after Corey shows his Pokémon to Ash and his friends, Ash's pupils are entirely brown instead of mostly black with some brown.
  • When Fergus runs over to his injured Gyarados, his Nidoqueen has the color scheme of a Nidoking.
  • Right before Ash charges at Mewtwo, one frame shows Rapidash without its flames. This was fixed in later releases.
  • When the clones enter with an explosion and emerge from the smoke, Pikachutwo's black-tipped ears are the same as a normal Pikachu's and Golduck is greenish teal instead of blue.
  • After Ash's Bulbasaur is released from Mewtwo's Poké Ball, Ash's mouth moves but no audio comes out, whereas he addresses Pikachu and Squirtle by name once released.
  • On the DVD scene selection, Togepi is listed as Pokémon #152. However, prior to the release of Pokémon Gold and Silver, Togepi had been given #152 in other media as well.
  • In the English dub:
    • Three Pokémon are referred to by the wrong name. Pidgeot is called Pidgeotto, Scyther is called Alakazam, and Sandslash is called Sandshrew. In the audio commentary, 4Kids stated that they decided to leave the Alakazam error as something for the children watching to notice and because they felt it was plausible that Team Rocket could make a mistake. This was cut out for the dub of the remastered version when it was aired on Cartoon Network, but restored when it was re-released on Pokémon TV.
      • In addition, the closed captioning for the re-release and on Pokémon TV have Corey correctly referring to his Pokémon as a Pidgeot.
    • Fergus states that all of his Pokémon are Water types, but he also has a Nidoqueen, a Poison/Ground-type Pokémon.
    • While Ash is looking at Fergus's Pokémon, his Japanese voice can be faintly heard over the voice of the Pokémon.
    • Pikachutwo's cheek pouches surge with electricity even though Mewtwo blocked the Pokémon's special abilities. The original version says nothing about the Pokémon's abilities being blocked, and they simply clash physically out of pure hatred.
    • The retyped ending credits of the remastered version misspell Don't Say You Love Me as Don't Say Your Love Me and accidentally list Bolly Crawford instead of Billy Crawford as the singer of the opening song.
  • In India, Hungama TV used the original Japanese version of this movie as a source for the Hindi dub, instead of using the English dub as is done for the episodes of the anime, resulting in several dubbing errors:
    • In The Uncut Story of Mewtwo's Origin, Charmander's Japanese voice can be heard.
    • In one scene, a Trainer calls his Kingler with an unknown name.
    • In another scene, Neesha calls her Blastoise by its Japanese name, Kamex.
    • In the cloning scene, Meowth says "Chikorita" when speaking about Vaporeon.
    • When Meowth talks with the clone Meowth, one line in human language was said by the clone Meowth despite the fact that the clone Meowth can't speak the human language.
  • In the Swedish dub, when Jessie comments on Meowth's hair being cloned, her voice is computerized like the machine that speaks afterwards.
  • Fergus and Corey's backpacks shrink

    Fergus and Corey's backpacks shrink

  • Flameless Rapidash

    Flameless Rapidash

  • Typo listing Billy Crawford as "Bolly Crawford" in the HD remastered version

    Typo listing Billy Crawford as "Bolly Crawford" in the HD remastered version

Dub edits

  • The message and themes of the movie were changed in the English dub. The Japanese version explores ethical themes of existensialism, whereas the English dub replaces it with an anti-violence message. This was explained by Takeshi Shudo in his blog.[4]
  • Mewtwo's personality and goal are different between the original version and the English dub. In the English dub, Mewtwo is more boastful about its powers and certain about superiority to Mew and wants to destroy the world with a hurricane it created to get revenge on humanity. In the original version, Mewtwo is instead portrayed as a confused being who questions its worth as a clone and wished to have a more direct confrontation with humanity.
  • Giovanni was never mentioned by the scientists in the laboratory in the original version, and all the references to him were added in the English dub.
  • There was no alarm sounding during Mewtwo's awakening in the Japanese version.
  • The dialogue in the scene where Dr. Fuji tells Mewtwo about its origins was altered in the English dub. In the original version, Mewtwo asks if Mew is its mother or father, and when Dr. Fuji tells that neither "yes" or "no" would be a wrong answer, it asks if it was created by God. To this, Dr. Fuji replies that in this world, the only ones capable of creating life are God and humans, and Mewtwo was created through human science.
    • In addition, the Japanese version had the scientists shortly before Mewtwo's rampage merely congratulating themselves on a job well done with Mewtwo's creation. The English dub had added references to creating a new tank and implying that they'll stuff Mewtwo in a cage until the tank's ready, presumably to make the scientists less sympathetic before they were killed by their creation.
  • While Giovanni tells Mewtwo about seeing it as a valuable partner in the English dub, in the Japanese version, he tells it that there is something even stronger than it in this world, to which Mewtwo replies, "Humans?" receiving a nod of approval from Giovanni.
  • Giovanni denies that Mewtwo's armor is meant to suppress its powers in the English dub, stating that it is rather meant to "focus" them. In the original Japanese, Giovanni says that Mewtwo's job is to fight for Team Rocket.
  • In the scene of Mewtwo alone in Giovanni's headquarters, no dialogue was originally heard. In the English dub, Mewtwo thinks about its purpose.
  • In the original release for the movie, Raymond's Machamp is shown coming out of its Poké Ball twice. It is unknown whether this was mistakenly repeated or intentionally done for dynamic effect, but it would seem to be a mistake as this was corrected when the digitally remastered version came out.
  • When Meowth complains about his hunger, Jessie takes out a frying pan and states that she could cook something, to which Meowth replies "Thanks, but the last time you cooked, you took out eight of my nine lives." In the Japanese version, Jessie simply points out that she has a frying pan, to which Meowth replies that without meat and vegetables, it is nothing more than an iron pan.
  • Miranda's story about the power of Pokémon tears to revive people only exists in the English version. Originally, she only says that the storm is the greatest she has ever seen.
  • During the opening song after Bulbasaur defeats Raymond's Donphan, Ash's mouth moves. He says nothing in the Japanese version, while in the English dub, there is a dialogue.
  • In the original Japanese version, Ash and Brock comment that they are fortunate that a boat appeared. In various dubs, this was changed to a reference to vikings:
    • In the English dub, when Team Rocket are disguised as Vikings, Brock says he was not aware that they existed anymore. Ash replies that they mostly live in Minnesota, a reference to the Minnesota Vikings NFL team.
    • In the Danish version, Brock says "Jeg vidste ikke at vikingerne stadig fandtes." ("I didn't know that the Vikings still existed."), and Ash replies "Jo, men de turnerer mest i Sverige." ("Yes, but they are mostly touring in Sweden.") This is probably a reference to the fact that at the time Vikings existed, the Danes were also Vikings.
      • In the Danish subtitles, Ash says "Vikingerne er et band." ("The Vikings is a band.") This is likely a reference to The Vikings, an old Swedish band.
    • In the Swedish dub, Brock says "Inte visste jag att vikingarna fanns kvar." ("I didn't know that the Vikings still existed.") and Ash replies "Det är för att de flesta bor i Norge." ("That's because most of them live in Norway"). Real Vikings existed in both Sweden and Norway.
      • Additionally, when Jessie poses as a Viking, she speaks with a fake Norwegian accent, adding the stereotypical word akkurat, meaning "correct" in Norwegian, at the end of her sentence.
    • In the Polish dub, Ash replies that the Vikings mostly live in Scandinavia.
  • In the French dub, Misty's Staryu makes no sound when it is released from its Poké Ball. In all other versions of the movie, Staryu's voice can be heard twice.
  • In the Latin American dub, Corey is referred to as Gary Oak.
  • When Mewtwo first speaks to the gathered Trainers via its caretaker, the Japanese version has Misty remarking on its voice in shock, with Brock directly stating that its using telepathy to communicate. The English dub merely has Misty directly asking how Mewtwo is able to speak, with Brock merely stating that it is "psychic" without directly confirming its use of telepathy.
  • In the English dub, the Pokémon Replication System switches between a female computer voice and the recorded voice of Dr. Fuji. In the original version, Dr. Fuji's is the only voice.
    • In the English dub, Dr. Fuji's message was made to sound like it was being recorded while Mewtwo was destroying the laboratory, with the sounds of explosions and screaming occasionally heard at the background. This is not the case in the Japanese version.
  • During the match between Ash's Charizard and the clone Charizard, in the Japanese version, Mewtwo tells the clone to use Seismic Toss, while in the English dub, it just tells the clone to "finish it" without specifying a move.
  • Shortly before the clones appear in the arena, Mewtwo originally offers to let the Trainers go, on the condition that they can get through its storm. In the English dub, Mewtwo only tells them it'll spare their lives for the moment, leaving the reason why it then opens the doors out of the arena more unclear.
  • When the clones emerge into the arena, Mewtwo was originally confused by their sudden appearance. In the English dub, Mewtwo proudly presents its clones, appearing to have somewhat expected their arrival.
  • In the English dub, specifically during the speech Mew gives to Mewtwo, Mew says that shows of force prove nothing, and real strength comes from the heart; in the original Japanese version, Mew is much more bellicose, saying that only the original Pokémon are real, and no matter how much they fight, the real ones will never lose to copies.
  • During the battle between the original and clone Pokémon, in the Japanese version the background music is a variation of Colossal Battle (listed as 1997-1998＿M14) followed by soft instrumental music. In the English version, Brother My Brother plays, a song promoting peace.
  • The English script contains an anti-racism moral. Meowth, agreeing with his clone, says, "Maybe if we started looking at what's the same instead of always looking at what's different, well, who knows?" In the original version, Meowthtwo refuses to fight because it is pointless and harmful, opting instead to marvel at the full moon, which Meowth calls poetic.
  • When Pikachu is repeatedly shocking Ash to try to bring him back to life, Misty says "Pikachu..." in the Japanese version, and "Please, no..." in the English version. A commentary revealed that the dubbers had many alternatives for this piece of dialogue, one example being the facetious "My bike..."
  • Mewtwo says much less at the end of the original version, telling Mew that these events are best forgotten, and only saying to Ash that the clones will live somewhere in the world.
  • In the English dub, after being returned back to the port, Brock admires how beautiful Nurse Joy and Officer Jenny are. In the original Japanese version of the movie, Brock is admiring Miranda as well.
  • James and Meowth originally said nothing just before the credits rolled.
  • Hungama TV's Hindi dub used the original Japanese version of the movie. As such, characters that had not appeared in the main series, such as Amber, kept their Japanese names.
  • In the Russian dub, the English ending themes are replaced with instrumental music from the American soundtrack.

In other languages


Related articles

References

  1. ↑ http://www.style.fm/as/05_column/shudo167.shtml
  2. ↑ Mewtwo Strikes Back The First Trailer - Dogasu's Backpack
  3. ↑ https://twitter.com/Sora_Sakurai/status/1416593567519154178
  4. ↑ http://www.style.fm/as/05_column/shudo183.shtml

External links


Pokémon movies
Original series
Mewtwo Strikes Back • The Power of One • Spell of the Unown: Entei • Celebi: The Voice of the Forest • Pokémon Heroes: Latios & Latias
Pokémon the Series: Ruby and Sapphire
Jirachi: Wish Maker • Destiny Deoxys • Lucario and the Mystery of Mew • Pokémon Ranger and the Temple of the Sea
Pokémon the Series: Diamond and Pearl
The Rise of Darkrai • Giratina and the Sky Warrior • Arceus and the Jewel of Life • Zoroark: Master of Illusions
Pokémon the Series: Black & White
White—Victini and Zekrom / Black—Victini and Reshiram • Kyurem VS. The Sword of Justice • Genesect and the Legend Awakened
Pokémon the Series: XY
Diancie and the Cocoon of Destruction • Hoopa and the Clash of Ages • Volcanion and the Mechanical Marvel
Pokémon the Series: Sun & Moon
I Choose You! • The Power of Us • Mewtwo Strikes Back—Evolution
Pokémon Journeys: The Series
Secrets of the Jungle
Pokémon movies
M02 : The Power of One →
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