Pokémon movie
To date there have been eight full-length Pokémon movies, and there is one in production.
Pokémon movies are generally coupled with a short Pikachu cartoon at the start of it. 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
1998
- Main article: Mewtwo Strikes Back
Pokémon the First Movie (1998 Japan, 1999 USA, 2000 UK) (Japanese: ミュウツーの逆襲 Mewtwo no Gyakushū, Mewtwo's Counterattack, subtitled Mewtwo Strikes Back)
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.
1999
- Main article: The Power of One
Pokémon the Movie 2000: The Power of One (1999 Japan, 2000 USA) (Japanese: 幻のポケモンルギア爆誕 Maboroshi no Pokémon Lugia Bakutan, Legendary Pokémon Lugia: Explosive Birth, subtitled Revelation Lugia)
Ash and friends visit Shamouti Island. While there they find out about a greedy collector who is capturing all of the legendary birds to summon their mediator, Lugia.
It features Articuno, Zapdos, Moltres and Lugia.
2000
- Main article: Spell of the Unown
Pokémon 3: The Movie: Spell of the Unown (2000 Japan, 2001 USA) (Japanese: 結晶塔の帝王 Kessho-tō no Teiō, Emperor of the Crystal Tower, subtitle Lord of the Unknown Tower)
A young girl, Molly, who finds herself alone, manages to summon the 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.
2001
- Main article: Pokémon 4Ever
Pokémon 4Ever: Celebi: Voice of the Forest (2001 Japan, 2002 USA) (Japanese: セレビィ 時を超えた遭遇 Celebi Toki o Koeta Deai, Celebi: Encounter Beyond Time, subtitled Celebi: A Timeless Encounter)
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.
2002
- Main article: Pokémon Heroes
Pokémon Heroes (2002 Japan, 2003 USA) (Japanese: 水の都の護神 ラティアスとラティオス Mizu no Miyako no Mamorigami: Latias to Latios, Guardians of the Water Capital: Latios and Latias)
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.
AG Movies
2003
- Main article: Jirachi: Wish Maker
Jirachi: Wish Maker (2003 Japan, 2004 USA) (Japanese: 七夜の願い星 ジラーチ Nanayo no Negai-boshi Jirāchi, Wishing Star of Seven Nights: Jirachi)
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.
2004
- Main article: Destiny Deoxys
Destiny Deoxys (2004 Japan, 2005 USA) (Japanese: 裂空の訪問者 デオキシス Rekkū no Hōmonsha Deoxys, Sky-Splitting Visitor: Deoxys)
A meteor bearing the dangerous Deoxys crash-lands onto Earth, terrorizing a nearby city where Ash and friends are visiting.
2005
- Main article: Lucario and the Mystery of Mew
Lucario and the Mystery of Mew (2005 Japan, 2006 USA) (Japanese: ミュウと波導の勇者 ルカリオ Mew to Hadō no Yūsha Lucario, Mew and the Wave-Guiding Hero Lucario)
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.
2006
- Main article: Pokémon Ranger and the Temple of the Sea
Pokémon Ranger and the Temple of the Sea (2006 Japan) (Japanese: ポケモンレンジャーと蒼海の王子 マナフィ Pokémon Ranger to Umi no Ōji: Manaphy)
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.
DP Movies
2007
- Main article: Dialga vs. Palkia vs. Darkrai
(2007 Japan) (Japanese: ディアルガVSパルキアVSダークライ Dialga tai Palkia tai Darkrai)
Long specials
2000
- Main article: Mewtwo Returns
(December 30, 2001 Japan) (Japanese: ミュウツー！我ハココニ在リ Mewtwo! Ware wa koko ni ari, Mewtwo! I am here, subtitled Mewtwo Lives)
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.
2001
- Main article: The Legend of Thunder!
(December 30, 2001 Japan) (Japanese: ポケットモンスタークリスタル ライコウ 雷の伝説 Pocket Monsters Crystal Raikou Ikazuchi no Densetsu, Raikou: 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.
