ThePokémonfranchise put out a movie almost every year for 20 years straight, going back to 1998, meaningthere have been quite a lot ofPokémonmovies over the years. With so many movies, though, how can one pick which ones to watch? The quality ofPokémonmovies has been a rather mixed bag, to say the least, but there are still some incredible movies in there that just about any anime fan will be able to enjoy.
Of course, that just makes it all the more important to sift out the best movies from those that are a little lackluster. While critics are often very negative towardsPokémonmovies, they’re often missing crucial context (if not the entire point of the film) due to the critic’s lack of familiarity withPokémonin general.Here are 15 of the bestPokémonmovies released to date, ranked with a baseline knowledge ofPokémonin mind.
Pokémon the Movie: Genesect and the Legend Awakened
Cast
Pokémon the Movie: Genesect and the Legend Awakened, directed by Kunihiko Yuyama, features Ash, Pikachu, and friends confronting a group of Genesect threatening the city’s power supply. The legendary Pokémon Mewtwo intervenes to challenge the powerful Red Genesect leader, prompting an epic showdown.
Genesect and the Legend Awakened, the 16thPokémonfilm, focuses on a group of Genesect, led by their leader, the Red Genesect, who return to their ancestral home after being revived, only to be shocked at what they find: a city has been built in its place. The Genesect begin terrorizing the city, while Ash and his friends just happen to be there. Ash is saved from their rampage bya Mewtwo, but not the one from the first movie.
10 Best Pokémon Anime Episodes Featuring Legendary Pokémon
Legendary Pokémon are relatively rare in the anime, but encounters with them tend to be major events. Here are the best episodes with Legendaries.
The movie focuses on the conflict between Mewtwo and the Red Genesect, as both are artificially created Pokémon that have no proper home to return to.Mewtwo actually Mega Evolves in this movie, putting one of the most powerful Pokémon of all time on display in animated form.With such overwhelming power at its disposal, will Mewtwo be able to broker peace, or is their conflict bound to end in violence?
Pokémon the Movie: Hoopa and the Clash of Ages
Pokémon the Movie: Hoopa and the Clash of Ages, directed by Kunihiko Yuyama, follows Ash, Pikachu, and their friends as they encounter the Mythical Pokémon Hoopa in a desert city. Hoopa’s ability to summon via magic rings unleashes past threats, echoing a legendary tale of a hero’s battle.
Hoopa and the Clash of Agesis aPokémonmovie that is all about the spectacle. In the past, a Hoopa threatened destruction by summoning Legendary Pokémon using its rings, but it was sealed away, removing its power. However, when its sealed power is unleashed in the present day, that threat reemerges, as Hoopa’s resentful power begins calling uponall manner of Legendary Pokémon. Can Ash and his friends put an end to a battle between Legendary Pokémon before the area is destroyed?
This movie is one that’s really for the most dedicatedPokémonfans.It features over a dozen different Legendary Pokémon, the most of any movie, and sees them battling it out in a way that fans have longed to see for years. Ash and friends get up to all manner of crazy antics, riding Legendary Pokémon into battle, all to work together to save the city.
Pokémon the Movie 2000
Pokémon the Movie 2000, directed by Kunihiko Yuyama, follows Ash Ketchum and his friends as they embark on a mission to restore nature’s balance. When the Legendary Pokémon Lugia is targeted by Lawrence III’s capture scheme, their quest becomes crucial to saving the world from impending chaos.
The Power of Oneis the secondPokémonfilm to be released, andgave fans an early glimpse at a number of second-generation Pokémon, including Lugia, the mascot forSilverversion.While traveling the Orange Islands, Ash encounters a celebration dedicated to Lugia and the three Legendary Birds. The ceremony is founded on an old legend, stating that a chosen one will appear when Lugia can no longer quell the fighting between the birds. As it turns out, this chosen one may well be Ash Ketchum!
The secondPokémonmovie is an excellent adventure, with Ash facing down with several Legendary Pokémon.
The secondPokémonmovie is an excellent adventure, with Ash facing down with several Legendary Pokémon. Battles between Legendaries are always exciting, and even Team Rocket gets to play the heroes at one point. The movie’s villain is also memorable for his Ancient Mew card, which is an iconic element of the early days of the Pokémon fandom.
Pokemon: Arceus and the Jewel of Life
Pokémon: Arceus and the Jewel of Life, directed by Kunihiko Yuyama, follows Ash and his friends as they travel back in time to avert Arceus’ judgment upon humanity, stemming from the ancient theft of the legendary Jewel of Life.
Arceusand the Jewel of Lifeis the 12thPokémonfilm overall, andthe third in the Sinnoh-era trilogy. The movie focuses onArceus, known as the God of all Pokémon, and its early interactions with humans. In the film, Arceus emerges before Ash and friends, and is furious at humanity, vowing vengeance upon them for mistreatment by a new character Sheena’s ancestors. Ash and co. Are sent back in time, and are given the chance to change the offense made to Arceus, but the machinations of evil humans may yet win out…
Dealing once with Giratina, Palkia, and Dialga, who appeared in the previous two films, is a treat, andthe time travel element provides a glimpse at the past of thePokémonworld, before humans and Pokémon were as close as they are today.
Pokémon: Giratina and the Sky Warrior
Pokémon: Giratina and the Sky Warrior, directed by Kunihiko Yuyama, follows Ash and his friends as they encounter Giratina, a Pokémon capable of creating parallel dimensions. They must thwart the plans of a mysterious stranger who seeks to exploit Giratina’s powers for nefarious purposes.
Giratina and the Sky Warrior,the 11th film in the series, is part two of a three-part trilogy of Sinnoh-era movies, which each build upon the last. Following on fromRise of Darkrai, Giratina becomes agitated by Dialga and Palkia’s battle in that film, and draws Dialga into the Reverse World, a strange dimension which exists alongside the Pokémon world in which only Giratina lives. Dialga and Giratina battle it out, while a Shaymin caught in the crossfire manages to flee, asking Ash and his friends for help.
Meanwhile, a villain has his sights set upon Giratina, and hopes to obtain the Legendary Pokémon’s power for himself–even if that causes the destruction of reality.The movie features some very cool fights between Legendary Pokémon, and it’s exciting to see continuity from movie-to-movie, which is relatively rare for thePokémonfilms.
Destiny Deoxyswas the 7th Pokémon film to be released, and revolves around the Pokémon Deoxys, who arrives from space only to bedefeated by Rayquaza, forcing it into a recovery mode. However, this was only temporary, and soon Deoxys begins laying waste to the surrounding area. Just why is Deoxys so set on destruction, and can anything be done to stop it?
Destiny Deoxysfeatures two beloved (and rare) Pokémon, pitting them against one another for the entertainment of the audience. The movie emphasizes that even something scary and powerful like Deoxys can have understandable motivations, making it not so alien after all.This movie is mostly known for its battle scenes between Rayquaza and Deoxys, but also featured the first appearance of a fourth generation Pokémon in the form of Munchlax.
Pokémon 4Everis, as the title suggests, the fourth film to be released, and centers on the mythical Celebi, a creature with the power to travel through time. When an evil poacher sets his sights on capturing Celebi in the past,Celebi travels through timeto the present day, bringing along a kid named Sammy. AsAsh and friends attempt to help Sammyreturn to his own time, they find a new poacher, this one working for Team Rocket, has locked onto Celebi, and he just might have the tools needed to finish the job this time.
The movie is very interesting for establishedPokémonfans, as it dives into the backstory of Professor Oak, a figure who isn’t explored much in the anime proper.It manages to make use of time travel without falling into the kind of convoluted plot holes that time travel usually creates.Pokémon 4Everalso does a good job showcasing Celebi and its powers, making one understand why it has such a mythical reputation.
Pokemon the Movie: The Power of Us
Pokémon the Movie: The Power of Us, directed by Tetsuo Yajima, follows diverse characters as they converge in Fula City for the annual Wind Festival celebrating Lugia. When threats arise, this unlikely group must unite to save the festival and the city from disaster.
The Power of Usis the 21stPokémonmovie, and oneset in a different continuity from most of the others, belonging to the “I Choose You!” film continuity.The movie stars the Pokémon Lugiaand Zeraora, with the former acting as something of a callback to the second movie, known asThe Power of One. A festival celebrating Lugia is going on in Fula City as Ash arrives, but trouble is already brewing in the celebratory city thanks to Team Rocket.
Due to being set in the new continuity,The Power of Usis far more accessible than mostPokémonmovies for those who aren’t already fans of the franchise. The plot is easy enough to understand, and the movie has a surprisingly strong cast of supporting characters, considering Ash has no recurring companions to rely upon here.
Pokémon: The Rise of Darkrai
In Pokémon: The Rise of Darkrai, Ash, accompanied by newcomer Dawn, visits an idyllic village en route to a Pokémon contest. Chaos ensues with a prophecy involving the Pokémon Gods, Dialga and Palkia, and the emergence of Darkrai, a mysterious Pokémon capable of distorting space and time.
The 10thPokémonmovie,The Rise of Darkrai, is a bit unusual amongPokémonmovies in thatit takes more of a horror bent.When a small town is suddenly separated from the rest of the world, the locals blame the recently arrived Pokémon, Darkrai, for the situation. However, is this actually Darkrai’s fault, or is there something else going on? Ash and friends must reach the bottom of this mystery, or the town may be lost forever.
Every Pokémon Movie In Order (And The Best Way To Watch Them)
There are many animated Pokémon movies which have been released over the franchise’s 25 year run. Here’s the proper order to watch them.
This movie is actually the first part of a trilogy focusing on Sinnoh’s Legendary Pokémon, followed up byGiratina and the Sky WarriorandArceus and the Jewel of Life. It has some pretty crazy visuals relating to the battle between the master of time, Dialga, and the master of Space, Palkia, and Darkrai is used in an interesting way that goes counter to its menacing appearance.
Pokémon: Jirachi - Wish Maker
Pokémon: Jirachi - Wish Maker follows Ash, May, Max, and Brock as they encounter the mythical Pokémon Jirachi. During the Millennium Comet Festival, Jirachi awakens to grant wishes, amid attempts by a former Team Magma member to exploit its powers. The film explores themes of friendship, adventure, and the importance of wishes.
Jirachi: Wishmakeris the sixthPokémonmovie to be released, and includes Ash’s Hoenn-era companions.The film revolves around the arrival of a comet that appears every 1,000 years, and with it, the awakening of Jirachi, a Pokémon capable of granting almost any wish. However, that kind of power doesn’t go unnoticed, and a former member of Team Magma aims to seize Jirachi’s power to achieve their dream.
Creating a horrible monster with Jirachi’s power, can Ash and friends stop this before the countryside is destroyed?Jirachi: Wishmakerfeaturessome excellent character moments for May’s little brother, Max, as he bonds with Jirachi over the course of their adventure. The movie is also known for its climactic battle againstthe monstrous “Meta” Groudon, which is one of the most dangerous threats seen in aPokémonmovie.
