Pokémon movie

To date there have been eleven full-length Pokémon movies.

Pokémon movies are generally coupled with a short Pikachu cartoon, shown before the movie. The hallmark of a Pokémon movie is animation by Team Koitabashi of OLM (with the exception of Mewtwo Returns, which was done by Team Wasaki), and at least one hour of footage. Movies always feature a legendary Pokémon that is being pursued by someone or is causing a disaster. In many movies, Ash or his companions will befriend a Pokémon and experience a dramatic moment at the end of the movie were they must leave their new friend. Movie locations are generally based on locations in the real world and may explore topics deeper than those dealt with in the anime. As of late, Pokémon movies have drastically increased in quality, both in terms of animation and plot. When they open, they usually earn a large amount of money and rank first at the box office for that weekend; a recent movie drew in a significant crowd, despite being released on the same weekend as a Studio Ghibli film.

Movies

Original series

Movie	Japanese poster	Japanese title	American title	Release date	Summary	Pikachu logo
1	File:Pokemon1998poster.jpg	ミュウツーの逆襲 (Mewtwo's Counterattack) Mewtwo Strikes Back!	Pokémon the First Movie - Mewtwo Strikes Back	1998 Japan 1999 USA	Ash Ketchum and friends are tricked into visiting New Island, an island ruled by Mewtwo. There, they find out about Mewtwo's plans to clone Pokémon, and a massive battle ensues. It features Mewtwo and Mew.	File:Pikachuthemovie1998.JPG
2	File:Pokemon1999poster.jpg	幻のポケモンルギア爆誕 (The Mirage Pokémon: Lugia's Explosive Birth) Revelation Lugia	Pokémon the Movie 2000: The Power of One	1999 Japan 2000 USA	Ash and friends visit Shamouti Island. While there, they find out about a greedy collector who is trying to capture all of the legendary birds to summon their mediator, Lugia. It features Articuno, Zapdos, Moltres and Lugia.	File:Pikachuthemovie1999.JPG
3	File:Pokemon2000poster.jpg	結晶塔の帝王 ENTEI (Emperor of the Crystal Tower: ENTEI) Lord of the "Unknown" Tower	Pokémon 3: The Movie: Spell of the Unown	2000 Japan 2001 USA	A young girl, Molly, who finds herself alone, manages to summon the power of Unown. Unbeknownst to herself, she sends the powerful Unown out of control. Ash and friends attempt to save Molly, and Ash's mother, who has been kidnapped. It features Unown and Entei.	File:Pikachuthemovie2000.JPG
4	File:Pokemon2001poster.jpg	セレビィ 時を超えた遭遇 (Celebi: A Time-Crossing Encounter) Celebi A Timeless Encounter	Pokémon 4Ever: Celebi: Voice of the Forest	2001 Japan 2002 USA	Forty years in the past, a young trainer finds Celebi, a mythical Pokémon, that is fleeing from a poacher. Celebi transports itself and the trainer to the future in an attempt to escape. There they meet Ash and friends and they try to protect Celebi from a far more dangerous foe. It features Celebi, Suicune and Tyranitar.	File:Pikachuthemovie2001.JPG
5		水の都の護神　ラティアスとラティオス (Guardian Gods of the City of Water: Latias and Latios) The Guardians of Altomare	Pokémon Heroes	2002 Japan 2003 USA	When two thieves steal the Soul Dew from the two legendary Pokémon of Alto Mare - Latios and Latias, it is up to Ash and friends to try and recover it to save the city. It features Latios and Latias.	File:Pikachuthemovie2002.JPG

Advanced Generation

Movie	Japanese poster	Japanese title	American title	Release date	Summary	Pikachu logo
6	File:Pokemon2003poster.jpg	七夜の願い星　ジラーチ (Wishing Star of the Seven Nights: Jirachi) Wishing Star of the Seven Nights	Jirachi: Wish Maker	2003 Japan 2004 USA	A mysterious comet that passes by every thousand years allows Jirachi to awaken. Ash and friends run into Jirachi and attempt to protect it from the magician Butler who wishes to use its power to summon the legendary Groudon. It features Jirachi, Absol, Flygon, Salamence.	File:Pikachuthemovie2003-2006.JPG
7	File:Pokemon2004poster.jpg	裂空の訪問者　デオキシス (Sky-Splitting Visitor: Deoxys) Deoxys the Visitor	Destiny Deoxys	2004 Japan 2005 USA	A meteor bearing the dangerous Deoxys crash-lands onto Earth, terrorizing a nearby city where Ash and friends are visiting. It features Deoxys, Rayquaza.	File:Pikachuthemovie2003-2006.JPG
8		ミュウと波導の勇者　ルカリオ (Mew and the Wave-Guiding Hero: Lucario) Mew and the Wave Hero	Lucario and the Mystery of Mew	2005 Japan 2006 USA	When Pikachu is taken to the Tree of the World's Beginning by Mew, Ash must team up with the Aura Pokémon Lucario in order to rescue his friend. It features Mew, Lucario, Regice, Regirock, Registeel.	File:Pikachuthemovie2003-2006.JPG
9		ポケモンレンジャーと蒼海の王子　マナフィ (The Pokémon Ranger and the Prince of the Sea: Manaphy) The Pokémon Ranger and the Prince of the Sea	Pokémon Ranger and the Temple of the Sea	2006 Japan 2007 USA	Ash and friends team up with Pokémon Ranger Jack Walker in order to protect Manaphy, a Pokémon with ties to a long lost water-based civilization, from Phantom the pirate. It features Manaphy, Kyogre.	File:Pikachuthemovie2003-2006.JPG

Diamond & Pearl

Movie	Japanese poster	Japanese title	American title	Release date	Summary	Pikachu logo
10		ディアルガVSパルキアVSダークライ Dialga vs. Palkia vs. Darkrai	The Rise of Darkrai	2007 Japan 2008 USA	In the square where the Space-Time Tower stands, Darkrai makes another appearance. Using a move called Dark Void, Darkrai puts every person and Pokémon in the town to sleep. Baron Alberto has formed a force to capture Darkrai, but its counterattack was terrible and the town ended up falling into pandemonium. It features Dialga, Palkia, and Darkrai.	File:Pikachuthemovie2007.JPG
11	File:Movie11-poster.png	ギラティナと氷空の花束 シェイミ Giratina and the Sky's Bouquet: Shaymin	Giratina and the Sky Warrior	2008 Japan	Due to the events of the previous film, dark poisonous clouds appeared in the Reverse World, the place where Giratina resides. Giratina lures in Dialga wishing for revenge, and believes that Shaymin is also responsible for the area's corruption. Giratina is also in danger as a villain named Zero appears, wishing to use Giratina to gain control over the world. The film features Dialga, Giratina, Regigigas and Shaymin.	File:Pikachuthemovie2003-2006.JPG
12		超克の時空へ To the Conquering of Space-Time		2009 Japan	The 12th movie is confirmed to be in production and location scouting has already taken place in Greece. It has been hinted to follow on from the previous two movies.

Relation to the main anime

Pokémon movies are considered by some fans to be non-canon, meaning they are not considered to have actually happened. For example, May befriended Manaphy in the ninth movie, but has never mentioned Manaphy in the main series.

However, some may not count their being unmentioned in the series as evidence to being non-canon due to several events in even the most important/canon of episodes being forgotten/unmentioned as well, such as:

• Ash and co. apparently never having heard of the P1 Grand Prix, despite Ash winning that competition and giving away Primeape.
• May saying she used Skitty for the Fallarbor Contest when she actually used Beautifly in said contest.
• In Just Add Water, Misty saying that she had never battled underwater before, despite doing so in both The Misty Mermaid and The Spell of the Unown.

Because the anime is inconsistent with what is known to be canon, it is difficult to say that the movies are definitely canon or not.

However, the first movie is considered fully canon due to the fact that it had several ties with the main series around the time Ash challenged the Viridian Gym and that the movie also had a convenient plot device to maintain continuity within the show (e.g., everyone forgot about what happened).

Lucario and the Mystery of Mew was also made partially canon during Pokémon Ranger and the Kidnapped Riolu! Parts One and Two where it is confirmed that Ash can use Aura which was introduced in the movie.

Also, Destiny Deoxys is at least somewhat canon due to the events in it movie being referenced, as well as the fact that the hometown of one of May's rivals is the setting as the movie.

The second movie is at least canon in some parts due to Ash and James mentioning seeing a Lugia in the Orange Islands, however, other evidence suggests that the movie is not canon, such as Tracey claiming never to meet Professor Oak despite meeting him in the said movie (it should be noted, however, that it also contradicts The Lost Lapras since Tracey clearly saw Professor Oak when Ash and Misty talked to him over the phone and even stated his name to him).

In The Rise of Darkrai, Dawn bought a Lunar Wing. The same item appeared in DP104, referencing the fact that Dawn had been to Alamos Town and had bought the Lunar Wing.

Long specials

These special episodes, which run longer than the normal half hour and are not usually separated into more than one episode in either the original or the dub, are often considered TV Pokémon movies, not counting towards the running total. They never appear in theaters, but are instead broadcast on the same networks that the regular anime is broadcast for their premieres. Though they may air around the same time as other episodes of the anime, usually in the anime's normal timeslot, they are not assigned episode numbers.

2000

Main article: Mewtwo Returns

Mewtwo, who has been hiding out in the Johto region since last he was seen, has been located by Giovanni. Now the Rocket Boss wants to recapture the powerful Pokémon to again use him for his own purposes. It was released directly to video in the United States and elsewhere.

2001

Main article: The Legend of Thunder!

In the first anime break from Ash and friends, three trainers, Jimmy, Marina, and Vincent must stop the evil Team Rocket duo Attila and Hun from capturing Raikou. It was divided up into three parts to become the first three episodes of Pokémon Chronicles when dubbed.

2006

Main article: The Mastermind of Mirage Pokémon

Ash, May, Max, and Brock meet up with Misty and Professor Oak to investigate Dr. Yung's new Mirage Pokémon system. But when the mysterious Mirage Master appears with a Mirage Mewtwo, Ash is forced to fight him to stop his plans to dominate the world with his Mirage Pokémon.