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XY078

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← XY077 : A Relay in the Sky!
XY series
XY079 : A Frenzied Factory Fiasco! →
Lights! Camera! Pika!
XY078.png
XY078   EP877
ピカチュウはスター！？ 映画デビュー！！
How to ピカチュウ・ザ・ムービー！よーい！アクション！！
迅雷のヒーロー！スーパーピカチュウ！！
ピカチュウのドキドキNG大賞
Pikachu Becomes a Star!? Its Movie Debut!!
How to Pikachu The Movie! OK! Action!!
The Lightning-fast Hero! Super Pikachu!!
Pikachu's Shocking Bloopers
First broadcast
Japan June 18, 2015
United States November 21, 2015
English themes
Opening Be a Hero
Ending
Japanese themes
Opening ゲッタバンバン
Ending ガオガオ・オールスター
Credits
Animation Team Kato
Screenplay 園田英樹 Hideki Sonoda
Storyboard 尼野浩正 Hiromasa Amano
Assistant director 前園文夫 Fumio Maezono
Animation directors 篠原隆 Takashi Shinohara
内田裕 Yū Uchida
斉藤圭太 Keita Saitō
中村路之将 Michinosuke Nakamura
No additional credits are available at this time.

Lights! Camera! Pika! / How to Make a Pikachu Movie: Ready...Action! / Lightning Fast! Brave and Strong! Super-Pikachu! / The Very Best of Super-Pikachu's Back-Slapping Bloopers! (Japanese: ピカチュウはスター！？ 映画デビュー！！・How to ピカチュウ・ザ・ムービー！よーい！アクション！！・迅雷のヒーロー！スーパーピカチュウ！！・ピカチュウのドキドキNG大賞 Pikachu Becomes a Star!? Its Movie Debut!! / How to Pikachu The Movie! OK! Action!! / The Lightning-fast Hero! Super Pikachu!! / Pikachu's Shocking Bloopers) is the 78th episode of the XY series, and the 877th episode of the Pokémon anime. It first aired in Japan on June 18, 2015 as a one-hour special alongside XY077, in Canada on November 14, 2015 alongside Hoopa — The Mischief Pokémon and Hoopa and the Clash of Ages, and in the United States on November 21, 2015.

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

Blurb

During their journey across the Kalos region, our heroes are surprised to come across the largest group of Pikachu they’ve ever seen! It turns out that these Pikachu live on the sprawling estate of Frank, a film director who adores Pikachu.

Frank has long dreamed of making a blockbuster movie about a group of Pikachu living in Pikachuland, who must defend their town against the evil Pikachu Libre! Super Pikachu will save the day, and Frank wants Ash’s Pikachu to play the part of the beloved superhero.

Our heroes want to take part in the production, too, so they participate in every aspect of making the film: script writing, voice acting, even costumes and makeup. When everything is finished, it’s clear that the action-packed movie—complete with a blooper reel and a behind-the-scenes documentary filmed by Serena—is a resounding success!

Plot

Pikachu Libre and its gang have captured Pikachu Belle and Pikachu Pop Star. Ash's Pikachu, dressed up as a superhero, is facing the gang. Ash, out of screen, then shouts to Pikachu to not give up. Serena quickly hushes Ash to stay quiet, but it is already too late, and the voice of another man cuts the scene.

The episode then cuts back in time with Ash and his friends walking through a forest, observing a town full of Pikachu dancing in a circle. Ash, Pikachu and the rest decide to check out what it is all about. Ash's Pikachu races towards the site and runs up a tower, greeting the other Pikachu from up there. Frank, seeing Pikachu, marvels at Pikachu's star power. Frank then approaches Ash, and asks Ash to allow his Pikachu to star in his next Pikachu movie.

Ash and the group are then invited to Pikachu Manor, Frank's estate, which is filled with Pikachu decorations. There, Frank introduces himself as a Pikachu-lover, and Jean, his granddaughter, also introduces herself as Frank's assistant. Frank thanks the group for allowing Pikachu to star in his movie, and Ash and the group ask Frank whether they could also help with the movie, which Frank accepts. Frank then introduces his five cosplay Pikachu to the group, and also shows them the movie's script. Clemont, looking at the script, finds that it is unfinished, but Frank comments that he has already planned out the plot for the movie. Clemont then decides to get his 'Clemontic brain' on to complete the script with Frank.

At night, Jean explains Frank's love for Pikachu beginning from his childhood, having had a Pikachu by his side from long ago.

The next day, the scene is being set with the help of Gurdurr holding the microphone, Heliolisk, Magnemite, and Swirlix providing light, Braixen and Torkoal providing fire and smoke, Weezing providing the mist for the movie, and the other Pikachu prodviding electricity for the movie. The production begins with Pikachu Libre's gang having captured Pikachu Belle and Pikachu Pop Star, and Ash's Pikachu dressed up as a superhero. Meanwhile, Serena begins filming the behind-the-scene shots. Filming Ash, Ash explains to her that the next scene could be a bit dangerous for Pikachu. Therefore, Hawlucha would instead take the place as a stunt double while wearing a Pikachu costume. This scene begins with the disguised Hawlucha jumping down from a ledge. Pikachu, hiding behind a rock takes over and runs forward. Frank then cuts the scene commenting that it was perfect.

During lunch, everyone is having a break. Serena films and interviews Frank, who mentions his times with Pikachu, and his desire to share these emotions with children around the world through his movies.

In the afternoon, the filming finishes with Pikachu flying off into the sunset with the help of a wire. Post-production then begins into the night, including scene editing and sound addition. While Clemont helps with editing, Ash, Serena, and Bonnie help by lending their voices to the movie. Sometime later, the movie is complete and the group along with all the Pokémon sit and enjoy to watch the movie preview.

The movie opens with many Pikachu dancing around in the town. The scene is interrupted by Pikachu Libre and its gang, and despite Pikachu Rock Star and Pikachu, Ph. D's attempts to stop them, they are thwarted by Pikachu Libre. Super Pikachu (Ash's Pikachu) then enters and defeats the gang. However, the gang are still able to capture Pikachu Belle and Pikachu Pop Star before challenging Super Pikachu to come to the nearby mountain by itself. Despite being injured, Super Pikachu flies off to chase the gang. At the mountain, Super Pikachu begins to fight Pikachu Libre's gang. Super Pikachu becomes severely injured and Pikachu Libre and its gang begin to finish off Super Pikachu. However, their attacks are blocked by Pikachu who have arrived from the town. The Pikachu then gather forces to attack Pikachu Libre's gang who then blast off.

As the movie finishes, everyone claps and rejoices over the movie. The episode then ends with bloopers and behind-the-scene shots of the movie.

Major events

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

Debuts

Pokémon debuts

Characters

Humans

Pokémon

Trivia

The MGM parody
The Ikue Ohtani and Yūki Kaji lookalikes
  • The stylized title cards of this episode in the Japanese version

    The stylized title cards of this episode in the Japanese version

  • The stylized title cards of this episode in the English version

    The stylized title cards of this episode in the English version

Errors

  • When watching the episode on Pokémon TV, the episode abruptly ends at 15 minutes and 3 seconds. The reason for this is unknown.
  • During several scenes in the episode, some female Pikachu do not have the heart-shaped black spot at the end of their tails.
  • When Frank states "It's a wrap!", Ash and his friends are shown to his left and Jean behind the camera on his right, though a moment later as it shows an overhead shot of the area, Ash and his friends are no longer there.

Dub edits

In other languages



← XY077 : A Relay in the Sky!
XY series
XY079 : A Frenzied Factory Fiasco! →
Project Anime logo.png This episode article is part of Project Anime, a Bulbapedia project that covers all aspects of Pokémon animation.
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