M01
- M1 redirects here. For the prop in Pokéstar Studios, see Pokéstar Studios opponents → MT.
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| Mewtwo Strikes Back ミュウツーの逆襲 Mewtwo's Counterattack
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Premiere
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Home video
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English themes
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Japanese themes
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Ratings
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Pokémon the First Movie - Mewtwo Strikes Back (Japanese: ミュウツーの逆襲 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.
Mewtwo Strikes Back was shown with the Pikachu short movie Pikachu's Vacation.
The first anime special, Mewtwo Returns, is a sequel to this movie.
Other posters and logos
Pikachu the Movie poster
Final Mewtwo's Counterattack movie poster
English theatrical poster
Poster featuring Mewtwo and Mew
Mewtwo's Counterattack logo
Pokémon the First Movie logo
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. A confused Mewtwo asks itself who it is, what it is, and where it came from. Just then, Mewtwo 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 an end result to 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 vows from atop the island it was created on to begin its reign on Earth.
Meanwhile, Ash, Misty, and Brock are preparing for lunch until a Pokémon Trainer shows up and challenges Ash, who is happy to oblige. With his Bulbasaur, Squirtle, and Pikachu, 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 Meowth, who were also watching the battle, don't have any food and watch hungrily as the gang eats 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 in order to get to an island fortress called New Island.
Later, as a storm brews, the gang arrive 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 cancelled. Miranda, the pier master 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 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 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 the gang are eager to follow, but none of their Pokémon are strong enough to handle the giant waves. Team Rocket, under disguise, give Ash and the gang 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 capsized and everyone was sent into the ocean. The gang saved themselves by using Ash's Squirtle and Misty's Staryu to get all the way 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 try to get inside the fortress, the legendary Mew senses something troubling and arrives at New Island, and follows closely behind Team Rocket.
As they arrive in the dining room, Ash and the gang 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. Then, Mewtwo releases the woman from its power, 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 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 get 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 play 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. Mewtwo then summons its own specialized Poké Balls, the Clone Balls, and uses them to capture Charizard, Venusaur and Blastoise, claiming them as its prize. 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. Mewtwo then sends the Balls after the Pokémon.
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 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 Clone 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 Clone Balls. Ash uses his body to block them, giving Pikachu a chance to run. Pikachu heads towards a nearby suspended staircase and uses ThunderShock to take out a few of the Clone Balls. Ash follows him up the staircase. Pikachu is forced to use his ThunderShock 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 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, 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 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 himself off. Happily, he 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 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. The legendary Pokémon 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.
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 talks with his clone 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, angered by the continuous fighting, runs between them, demanding them to stop. The two blasts of energy strike with Ash in the crossfire, and due to the magnitude of concentrated power, Ash is turned to stone.
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. Pikachu begins to cry at losing his friend, as do the rest of the Pokémon in the stadium due to 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.
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 is 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.
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Spoilers end here. |
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Major events
- Ash, Misty, and Brock meet Mewtwo, but Mewtwo later makes them forget about the encounter.
- Ash's Squirtle is revealed to know Bubble Beam.
Debuts
Characters
Humans
- Ash
- Misty
- Brock
- Jessie
- James
- Gary Oak (cameo)
- Giovanni
- Dr. Fuji
- Nurse Joy
- Officer Jenny
- Neesha
- Fergus
- Corey
- Miranda
- Raymond
- Announcer
- Team Rocket Grunts
- Other Pokémon Trainers
- Amber (Kanzenban version only)
Pokémon
- Pikachu (Ash's)
- Meowth (Team Rocket)
- Togepi (Misty's)
- Bulbasaur (Ash's)
- Charizard (Ash's)
- Squirtle (Ash's)
- Staryu (Misty's)
- Psyduck (Misty's)
- Vulpix (Brock's)
- Weezing (James's)
- Nidoking (Gary's)
- Arcanine (Gary's)
- Persian (Giovanni's)
- Donphan (Raymond's)
- Machamp (Raymond's)
- Golem (Raymond's)
- Venomoth (Raymond's)
- Pinsir (Raymond's)
- Gyarados (Fergus's)
- Seadra (Fergus's)
- Nidoqueen (Fergus's)
- Golduck (Fergus's)
- Tentacruel (Fergus's)
- Vaporeon (Fergus's)
- Pidgeot (Corey's)
- Scyther (Corey's)
- Hitmonlee (Corey's)
- Venusaur (Corey's; Bruteroot)
- Sandslash (Corey's)
- Rhyhorn (Corey's)
- Dewgong (Neesha's)
- Wigglytuff (Neesha's)
- Blastoise (Neesha's; Shellshocker)
- Vileplume (Neesha's)
- Ninetales (Neesha's)
- Rapidash (Neesha's)
- Fearow (Mewtwo's)
- Dragonite (Mewtwo's)
- Tauros (Team Rocket Grunts'; new; multiple)
- Onix (unnamed Trainer's)
- Alakazam (unnamed Trainer's)
- Magneton (unnamed Trainer's)
- Bulbasaur (Dr. Fuji's, Bulbasaurtwo; Kanzenban version only)
- Charmander (Dr. Fuji's, Charmandertwo; Kanzenban version only)
- Squirtle (Dr. Fuji's, Squirtletwo; Kanzenban version only)
- Mewtwo (original series)
- Mew (M01)
Pokémon seen with Trainers waiting for the ferry to New Island
- Caterpie
- Weedle
- Raticate
- Spearow
- Ekans
- Raichu
- Sandshrew
- Nidorino
- Vileplume
- Venonat
- Growlithe
- Poliwhirl
- Bellsprout
- Slowpoke
- Drowzee
- Kingler
- Electabuzz
Mewtwo's cloned Pokémon
- Venusaur
- Charizard
- Blastoise
- Pikachu (Pikachutwo)
- Bulbasaur
- Squirtle
- Psyduck
- Vulpix
- Meowth
- Gyarados
- Seadra
- Nidoqueen
- Golduck
- Tentacruel
- Vaporeon
- Pidgeot
- Scyther
- Hitmonlee
- Sandslash
- Rhyhorn
- Dewgong
- Wigglytuff
- Vileplume
- Ninetales
- Rapidash
Cast
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, know 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 10, 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.
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 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.
Large test tubes moved
Reanimation Mew in the bubble
Big doors replaced with CGI doors
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 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 MS, and the copyright year 2014 (2015 for the re-release) was added to the end of the credits.
Trivia
- 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 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.
- At 10 minutes, this movie has the longest prologue. The prologue was further extended to 20 minutes in the Japanese extended version and 12 minutes in the international extended version.
- According to Takeshi Shudō, the movie was not originally supposed to have a prologue, but it was decided to add one after it was clear that the hiatus would have caused the tie-in episodes to air after the movie premiere[1].
- Some of the Pokémon on the poster did not appear in the movie.
- Pikachu's Vacation has the first appearances of the Generation II Pokémon Snubbull and Marill, and the feature film is the first appearance of Donphan.
- 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 available yet, 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.
- This Trainer and her Fearow are often mistaken as a continuity error involving Corey and his Pidgeot.
- 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.
- Despite numerous mentions that Charizard and its pre-evolved forms will die if the flame on their tail goes out, both the Charizard clone and Charizardtwo were submerged in liquid with no visible flame while in their incubation chambers.
- This movie marks the only time in the anime that Pikachu is shown going into a Poké Ball, and only the second time he has come out of one (the other being in Pokémon - I Choose You!).
- Of the Pokémon seen in the movie, only Misty's Togepi, Staryu, Jessie's Arbok, and James's Weezing were not captured and cloned by Mewtwo. Misty hid Togepi in her backpack, and Staryu, Arbok, and Weezing were not released from their Poké Balls during the gathering.
- 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.
- This may have been done in order to prevent the three from interfering with the capture of the other Pokémon.
- Mewtwo indicated its wish to populate the new world with its clones, so the three may have simply been acquired for genetic stock purposes. Having genetic material from multiple unrelated sources would help prevent genetic defects and result in a more successful breeding program.
- These three Pokémon are the fully-evolved forms of Mewtwo's childhood friends, who died before the events of this movie. It is most likely a coincidence since Mewtwo's memory of their deaths was erased by the scientists.
- This is the only movie that does not feature Ash on the English cover.
- The home video release of the film had a trailer of the second movie and came with a free trading card.
- This movie is the only Pokémon material to be released on LaserDisc. It was packaged with the Pikachu's Vacation short.
- As noted above, Mewtwo was not originally supposed to appear on-screen until the scene of it appearing before the trainers on New Island. The montage depicting its creation, servitude under Team Rocket, and rebellion against Giovanni were added later due to the three-month hiatus caused by the events of airing Electric Soldier Porygon.
- According to Takeshi Shudo's notes on the movie, Ash was not killed when Mewtwo and Mew's psychic blasts collided with him, nor did the tears actually bring him back to life. Instead, the blasts caused him to become petrified, and the tears restored him.
Errors
- Early in the film, Ash's Pikachu defeats Raymond's Golem with Thunderbolt, which should have had no effect.
- Mewtwo is colored pink as it begins creating the storm. In a later shot of Mewtwo intensifying the storm, its color is corrected.
- In two very similar shots at the beginning and end of the film, 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 completely colored in.
- In the dub, three Pokémon are referred to by the wrong name. Pidgeot was called Pidgeotto, Scyther was called Alakazam, and Sandslash was called Sandshrew,Vaporeon was called Chikorita. 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.
- Fergus states that all of his Pokémon are Water types in the dub, but he also has a Nidoqueen, a Poison/Ground-type Pokémon.
- While Ash is looking at Fergus's Pokémon in the dub, his Japanese voice can be faintly heard over the voice of the Pokémon.
- 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 flames. This was fixed in later releases.
- 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 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.
- Pikachutwo's cheek pouches surge with electricity even though Mewtwo blocked the Pokémon's special abilities.
- However, the Japanese dialogue says nothing about the Pokémon's abilities being blocked, and they simply clash physically out of pure hatred.
- The retyped ending credits for the dub of the remastered version misspell Don't Say You Love Me as Don't Say Your Love Me.
- 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 Hindi dub Venusaur and Blastoise were not called Bruteroot and Shellshocker.
Dub edits
- Mewtwo's personality and goal are different between the original and dub. In the 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, Mewtwo is instead portrayed as a confused being and, while its motive is still to get revenge on humanity, it is not the destruction of the world by means of the storm, but the actual confrontation between Mewtwo and the trainers that is its goal, with the storm used as a test that the trainers had to get through.
- Giovanni was never mentioned by the scientists in the laboratory in the original version, and all the references to him were added in the 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 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.
- While Giovanni tells Mewtwo about seeing it as a valuable partner in the 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 acceptance from Giovanni.
- Giovanni denies that Mewtwo's armor is meant to suppress its powers in the 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 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.
- 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., and Ash replies Jo, men de turnere mest i Sverige. This is probably because at the time Vikings existed, the Danes were also Vikings.
- In the Danish subtitles, Ash says Vikingerne er et band. The Vikings are an old Swedish band, which is probably what Ash and Brock are referring to.
- In the Swedish dub, Brock says Jag visste inte att vikingar fortfarande existerade., and Ash replies Jo, men de hänger mest i Norge.. Real Vikings existed in both Sweden and Norway.
- In the Danish version, Brock says Jeg vidste ikke at vikingerne stadig fandtes., and Ash replies Jo, men de turnere mest i Sverige. This is probably because at the time Vikings existed, the Danes were also Vikings.
- In the French dub, Misty's Staryu makes no sound when it is released from its Poké Ball. In all other versions of the film, Staryu's voice can be heard twice.
- In the Latin American dub, Corey is referred to as Gary Oak.
- In the dub, the Pokémon Replication System switches between a female computer voice and the recorded voice of Dr. Fuji. In the Japanese, Dr. Fuji's is the only voice.
- In the 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.
- When the clones emerge into the arena, Mewtwo was originally confused by their sudden appearance. In the dub, Mewtwo proudly presents its clones, appearing to have somewhat expected their arrival.
- In the dub, Mew is portrayed more as a hero to counter Mewtwo, contrasting the original where it has more anti-heroic qualities. Due to this, Mew's speech to Mewtwo is different in the Japanese version. In the English dub, Mew says that shows of force prove nothing, and real strength comes from the heart. In the original, 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.
- Contrary to popular belief, however, Mew never says in any version that the clones needed to be exterminated.
- While the original and clone Pokémon battle, the background music is different in both versions: the Japanese version plays a variation of Colossal Battle* followed by soft instrumental music, while the English version plays Brother My Brother, a song promoting peace.
- The English plot 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?" In the original, Meowthtwo refuses to fight because it is pointless and hurtful, 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 of them being "My bike…"
- Mewtwo says much less at the end of the original film, 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 version, after being returned back to the port, Brock admires how beautiful Nurse Joy and Officer Jenny are. In the original version of the film, Brock is admiring Miranda instead.
- James and Meowth originally said nothing just before the credits rolled.
In other languages
| Language | Title | |
|---|---|---|
 Bulgarian
|
Покемон: Първият филм | |
| Chinese | Cantonese | 超夢夢反擊戰 |
| Mandarin | 超夢的逆襲 | |
 Croatian
|
Pokémon Prvi film Pokemon: Povratak Mevtvoa* | |
 Czech
|
Pokémon: První film - Mewtwo vrací úder | |
 Danish
|
Pokémon Filmen | |
 Dutch
|
Pokémon de Film | |
 Finnish
|
Pokémon elokuva: Mewtwon vastaisku | |
| French |  Canada
|
Pokémon: Le premier Film |
 Europe
|
Pokémon, le Film: Mewtwo contre-attaque | |
 German
|
Pokémon - Der Film | |
 Greek
|
Πόκεμον: Η Πρώτη Ταινία | |
 Hindi
|
Pokémon The Movie - Mewtwo Ka Badla * | |
 Hungarian
|
Pokémon: Az első Film - Mewtwo visszavág | |
 Italian
|
Pokémon il Film Pokémon il Film - Mewtwo Colpisce ancora* | |
 Korean
|
포켓몬스터1탄 : 뮤츠의 역습 | |
 Norwegian
|
Pokémon Filmen - Mewtwo slår tilbake | |
 Polish
|
Pokémon: Film pierwszy - Zemsta Mewtwo | |
| Portuguese |  Brazil
|
Pokémon O Filme: Mewtwo Contra-Ataca |
 Portugal
|
Pokémon O Filme: Mewtwo Contra Mew | |
 Russian
|
Покемон: Фильм первый – Мьюту наносит ответный удар | |
 Slovak
|
Pokémon: Mewtwo protiv Mewa | |
| Spanish |  Latin America
|
Mewtwo Contraataca |
 Spain
|
Pokémon, la Película: Mewtwo contraataca | |
 Swedish
|
Pokémon Filmen - Mewtwo slår tillbaka | |
 Turkish
|
Pokémon İlk Film - Mewtwo'nun İntikamı | |
Related articles
- The Birth of Mewtwo - Radio drama
- The Uncut Story of Mewtwo's Origin - Anime adaptation of the radio drama
- Mewtwo Returns - Feature-length special
- Sound Picture Box - The Birth of Mewtwo - CD release featuring the Japanese score and the Birth of Mewtwo radio drama
- Together With the Wind (single) - CD release of the movie's Japanese ending theme
- Pokémon the First Movie (soundtrack) - English soundtrack
- Pokémon the First Movie (score) - English score
- Mewtwo Strikes Back! (manga) - Manga adaptation
- Pokémon the First Movie (graphic novel) - Ani-Manga adaptation
- The Art of Pokémon the First Movie
- Pokémon the First Movie (book) - Chapter book adaptation
- Pokémon the First Movie (picture book) - Picture book
- Pokémon the First Movie Trading Cards
References
External links
- An article about the Japanese edits
- Wikipedia article
- Pokémon: The First Movie at IMDb
- Pokémon: The First Movie LaserDisc Release
- Daily News article mentioning the originally planned release date
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This movie article is part of Project Anime, a Bulbapedia project that covers all aspects of Pokémon animation. |
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