Wikipedia

Pokémon the Movie 2000

Pokémon the Movie 2000[a] is a 1999 Japanese animated fantasy adventure film directed by Kunihiko Yuyama. It is the second theatrical release in the Pokémon franchise.[1]

Pokémon the Movie 2000
Theatrical release poster
Japanese name
Kanji劇場版ポケットモンスター 幻のポケモン ルギア爆誕
Literal meaningPocket Monsters the Movie: The Phantom Pokémon – Lugia's Explosive Birth[1]
Transcriptions
Revised HepburnGekijōban Poketto Monsutā: Maboroshi no Pokémon Rugia Bakutan
Directed byKunihiko Yuyama[1]
Screenplay byTakeshi Shudo
Based onPokémon
by Satoshi Tajiri
Produced by
  • Choji Yoshikawa
  • Yukako Matsusako
  • Takemoto Mori
StarringSee below
CinematographyHisao Shirai
Edited by
  • Toshio Henmi
  • Yutaka Ito
Music byShinji Miyazaki[1]
Production
company
Distributed byToho[1]
Release date
  • July 17, 1999 (1999-07-17) (Japan)
Running time
82 minutes[1]
CountryJapan
LanguageJapanese
Budget$30 million[2]
Box office$133.9 million[2]

The events of the film take place during the second season of Pokémon: Adventures in the Orange Islands, where Ash, Misty and Tracey enter Shamouti Island. While there, they discover the three legendary bird Pokémon, Articuno, Zapdos, and Moltres. Meanwhile, a collector named Lawrence III attempts to steal the three Pokémon to awaken Lugia, which proves dangerous for the legendary Pokémon, Lugia, and Ash himself.

Pokémon the Movie 2000 was released in Japanese theaters on July 17, 1999, by Toho. The English-language adaptation was released in the United States on July 21, 2000, by Warner Bros. The film earned less at the box office than its predecessor, Pokémon: The First Movie, but was still a financial success and received better (albeit still negative) reviews upon release.

Plot

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Lawrence III, a Pokémon collector, strives to make a legendary prophecy occur. His plan to capture the legendary birds, Articuno, Zapdos, and Moltres, will ultimately lead to the capture of the "Beast of the Sea" Lugia. Lawrence sets out in his flying hovercraft to the heart of the Orange Islands to capture the three legendary birds, referred to as the Titans of Fire, Ice, and Lightning. He successfully captures Moltres, but this upsets the balance of power the birds have over the world's climate. Weather across the world begins to go haywire, alerting countless Pokémon to the change. Meanwhile, Ash Ketchum and his companions, Misty and Tracey Sketchit, get caught in a freak storm, and are washed ashore on Shamouti, set in the center of the Orange Islands. Learning that the island festival celebrating the legend is about to begin, Ash is selected as the festival's "Chosen One" and kissed by a girl named Melody, the festival maiden.

At the festival's banquet, Melody explains to Ash he must retrieve three crystal balls from each of the legendary birds' islands and take them to Shamouti's shrine, guarded by a talking Slowking, where Melody will end his task by playing the festival's song, actually the song of Lugia. Ash immediately sets out, led by the troubled Pikachu. Taken to Fire Island by sea captain Maren, Ash and Pikachu find Moltres' treasure, but are interrupted by Team Rocket. Misty, Tracey, and Melody arrive via Melody's multi-purpose boat, followed by Zapdos who has come to claim the island; Pikachu and Zapdos communicate with each other with electric shocks, with Meowth serving as the translator. Lawrence appears overhead, attacking and capturing Zapdos as well as Ash and Co. accidentally. Meanwhile, Professor Samuel Oak, Professor Felina Ivy, and Ash's mother Delia Ketchum fly to the islands, but their helicopter crashes on Shamouti. Having no use for them, Lawrence frees Ash and the others and attempts to capture Articuno, accidentally awakening Lugia in the process. Trying to foil Lawrence's plans, Ash and the others free Moltres and Zapdos, who escape and bring down Lawrence's hovercraft.

Articuno, Zapdos, and Moltres engage in all-out war, trying to destroy each other. Ash and Co. manage to escape, gaining Zapdos' treasure in the process, and are transported back to Shamouti by a mysterious water spout revealed to be Lugia. Lugia at first tries to stop the battle, but is outmatched by the birds' powers combined against it. It then telepathically explains the birds and the weather can be stopped by the legend's Chosen One, actually Ash in reality. Ash puts the two treasures he has on the shrine, and then heads off to Ice Island to retrieve the final treasure. To make it through the legendary birds' battle, Ash is assisted by Team Rocket, courtesy of a speedboat made from a dingy and the helicopter's discarded propeller, wishing to save the world to continue their villainy. The group race up to Articuno's shrine and retrieve the treasure, but before they can escape, the legendary birds appear and destroy the speedboat, just as Articuno is defeated. Lugia rescues Ash, Pikachu, and Team Rocket, but Team Rocket heroically jump into the sea upon realizing they are slowing Lugia down. Lawrence tries to catch Lugia, but Lugia uses its Aeroblast attack to destroy his airship and take out Moltres and Zapdos, before collapsing into the sea.

Misty and Tracey rescue Ash and Pikachu, who venture to Shamouti Island's shrine and place the final treasure with the others. Melody plays Lugia's song on her Ocarina, ending the storms and bringing peace to the legendary birds. Lugia rises from the sea, bringing the true Beast of the Sea with him, an underwater current that has been altering the climate. Later, after the birds return to their islands, Lugia departs after thanking Ash. Delia and the professors arrive, and having witnessed her son's actions, Delia asks him to be more careful, which he complies with. Elsewhere, Lawrence laments his decisions, deciding to start his collection again.

Team Rocket reaches the island a day later and is told by Slowking that the audience saw their heroics; the trio begin debating over whether they should change their ways or stay the same.

Cast

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Main article: List Pokémon anime characters
Main cast
Character Japanese voice actor English voice actor
Japanese name English name
Satoshi Ash Ketchum Rica Matsumoto Veronica Taylor
Pikachu Ikue Ōtani
Kasumi Misty Mayumi Iizuka Rachael Lillis
Togepi Satomi Kōrogi
Kenji Tracey Sketchit Tomokazu Seki Ted Lewis
Musashi Jessie Megumi Hayashibara Rachael Lillis
Kojirō James Shin-ichiro Miki Eric Stuart
Nyarth Meowth Inuko Inuyama Maddie Blaustein
Hanako Delia Ketchum Masami Toyoshima Veronica Taylor
Dr. Yukinari Ōkido Professor Samuel Oak Unshō Ishizuka Stuart Zagnit
Dr. Uchikido Professor Ivy Keiko Han Megan Hollingshead
Koduck Psyduck Rikako Aikawa Michael J. Haigney
Mariru Marill Mika Kanai Kayzie Rogers
Barrierd Mr. Mime Yūji Ueda
Lugia Koichi Yamadera Eric Rath
Fire Moltres Rikako Aikawa
Freezer Articuno Yumi Tōma
Thunder Zapdos Katsuyuki Konishi
Fleura Melody Akiko Hiramatsu Amy Birnbaum
Yadoking Slowking Masatoshi Hamada Nathan Price
Gelardan Lawrence III Takeshi Kaga Neil Stewart[3]
Data Computer Emi Shinohara Emily Niebo[4]
Yodel Carol Aya Hisakawa Michelle Goguen[5]
Earthia Island Elder Tobias (Shamouti Island Elder) Chikao Ohtsuka Norman Altman
Michiko Maren Kotono Mitsuishi Tara Jayne
Narrator Unshō Ishizuka Rodger Parsons
Characters exclusive to Pikachu's Rescue Adventure
Character Japanese voice actor English voice actor
Japanese name English name
Erekiddo Elekid Masako Nozawa
Narrator Tamao Satō —

Release

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Theatrical release

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The Power of One was released in Japan on July 17, 1999.[1]

On March 2, 2000, Warner Bros. announced they had acquired worldwide distribution rights to the film outside Asia from 4Kids Entertainment, following the success the two companies had with Pokémon: The First Movie.[6] The film was released under the Kids' WB label on July 21, 2000 in the United States, with a July 15, 2000 premiere at Mann’s Village Theatre.[7][1]

Home media

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Pokémon The Movie 2000 was released on VHS and DVD on November 14, 2000.[8][9]

Viz Media and Warner Bros. announced that a limited edition Blu-ray Steelbook containing the first three Pokémon films will be released on February 9, 2016, along with single releases on DVD (These are: Pokémon: The First Movie, Pokémon The Movie 2000 and Pokémon 3: The Movie). In accommodation with the 20th anniversary of the Pokémon franchise, a digitally remastered version of the film was released on iTunes, Amazon and Google Play on February 27, 2016. Blu-ray Release on December 13, 2021 in the UK.

Reception

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Box office

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As of 2015, the film is the 88th highest-grossing film in Japan, with ¥6.4 billion.[10] The film made $133,949,270 worldwide at the end of its box office run.[2]

The film was financially successful in the United States. It earned $9,250,000 on opening day,[11] which was only less than $1 million behind the opening day of its predecessor.[12] It reached third place for its opening weekend, grossing $19,575,608. On its second weekend it declined 68.3% to $6.2 million and descended to sixth place.[13] It made $43,758,684 at the U.S. box office,[2] barely over half of the first film's U.S. total.[14]

Critical reception

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On Rotten Tomatoes, the North American adaptation of the film has an approval rating of 19% based on 69 reviews, with the website's critical consensus reading: "Despite being somewhat more exciting than the previous film, this kiddy flick still lacks any real adventure or excitement. What it does contain is choppy animation and poor voice acting. Doesn't match up to virtually anything out there."[15] On Metacritic the film has a weighted average score of 28 out of 100, based on 20 critics, indicating "generally unfavorable reviews".[16] Audiences polled by CinemaScore gave the film an average grade of "A−" on an A+ to F scale.[17]

Plugged In (publication) said that "the plot is as tiresome as it was in the first movie. But the violence is tamed somewhat, so the positive messages shine a bit more brightly".[18]

A more positive review was given by Gene Seymour of the Los Angeles Times. Seymour believed that the film "charms without talking down to its audience". He also compared it favorably to the first movie, stating, "...unlike its predecessor, 'Pokémon 2000' doesn't assume that everyone who sees it will know how to tell Togepi from Bulbasaur or Squirtle from Pikachu. Sure, I know now, but I'm not telling because I don't have to".[19]

At the 2000 Stinkers Bad Movie Awards, the film was nominated for "Worst Achievement in Animation" and "The Remake or Sequel Nobody Was Clamoring For". However, it lost "Worst Achievement in Animation" to Digimon: The Movie.[20]

Soundtracks

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In Japan, J-pop artist Namie Amuro sang the ending song "toi et moi".[citation needed] A soundtrack containing Shinji Miyazaki's original score for the film was released on September 9, 1999 along with two original songs sung by Rica Matsumoto and Akiko Hiramatsu.[citation needed]

Pokémon 2000: The Power Of One (Music From And Inspired By The Motion Picture)

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Pokémon 2000: The Power Of One (Music From And Inspired By The Motion Picture)
 
Soundtrack album by
Various artists
ReleasedJuly 18, 2000
GenrePop
LabelAtlantic
ProducerVarious
Various artists chronology
Pokémon: The First Movie Original Motion Picture Score
(2000) 		Pokémon 2000: The Power Of One (Music From And Inspired By The Motion Picture)
(2000) 		Pokémon the Movie 2000 Original Motion Picture Score
(2000)

The North American soundtrack was released alongside the film in 2000 by WB's then-sister company Atlantic Records on compact disc and compact cassette and includes many songs by popular artists, many of which do not appear in the film. In the English dub, Donna Summer sings the closing song in the film, "The Power of One". The melody of has been noted as having a close resemblance to Rick Wakeman's theme for the film The Burning, with the two opening bars being identical.[21] The song was released as a single and was remixed by Jonathan Peters and Tommy Musto. The song drew new attention in 2011 due to Republican candidate Herman Cain quoting the lyrics as part of his campaign for President of the United States.[22]

"Weird Al" Yankovic provided an original song, "Polkamon", which is played during the ending credits. The last song played during the credits was "Flying Without Wings" by Westlife. Italian singer Laura Pausini sings the ballad "The Extra Mile", written, among others, by Australian singer Tina Arena. The B-52's also recorded the song "The Chosen One" for the movie.[23]

In the United States, the soundtrack had sold 150,000 copies by April 2001.[24]

Track listing

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No.TitleWriter(s)Performed byLength
1."The Power of One"Mark Chait, John Loeffler, Ralph Schuckett, Mervyn WarrenDonna Summer3:49
2."Dreams"LaShawn Daniels, Fred Jerkins III, Lee Jerkins, Rodney Jerkins, Mischke, Robert SmithAlysha4:04
3."They Don't Understand (Pokemon Version)[b]"Cole Diamond, Steve Diamond, Robbie Nevil, Rex RideoutDream Street2:58
4."Wonderland"Matt Rowe, Pamela SheyneAngela Vía3:52
5."With All Your Heart"Kasia Livingston, Phil SillasPlus One3:40
6."The Extra Mile"Tina Arena, Andrew Frampton, Pamela SheyneLaura Pausini4:05
7."Flying Without Wings"Wayne Hector, Steve MacWestlife3:35
8."Pokémon World (Movie Version)"John Loeffler, John SieglerYoungstown featuring Nobody's Angel3:48
9."Blah, Blah, Blah"Jörgen Elofsson, Steve MacDevotion 2 Music2:34
10."Polkamon""Weird Al" Yankovic"Weird Al" Yankovic2:03
11."The Chosen One"Norman J. Grossfeld, Michael Haigney, John Loeffler, John PetersenThe B-52's3:24
12."One Heart"Wayne Hector, Steve MacO-Town3:59
13."One"Matt Rowe, Pamela SheyneDenisse Lara4:13
14."Comin' to the Rescue"Louis Cortelezzi, Norman J. Grossfeld, John Loeffler, John SieglerO-Town1:45
15."Pikachu's Rescue Adventure: Dance of the Bellossom"John Lissauer, John LoefflerVarious1:05
16."The Power of One: The Legend Comes to Life"John Loeffler, Ralph SchuckettVarious4:16

Chart performance

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Chart (2000–2001) Peak position
Austrian Albums (Ö3 Austria)[27] 51
Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade)[28] 89
US Billboard 200[29] 85

Pokémon the Movie 2000 Original Motion Picture Score

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Pokémon the Movie 2000 Original Motion Picture Score is the orchestral soundtrack to the movie. The CD was originally released in some European countries in 2000. In 2004, it became available for download worldwide on iTunes.

Pokémon the Movie 2000 Original Motion Picture Score
Film score by
Ralph Schuckett
ReleasedJuly 18, 2000
GenreOrchestral
ProducerRalph Schuckett
Ralph Schuckett chronology
Pokémon the Movie 2000 Soundtrack
(2000) 		Pokémon the Movie 2000 Original Motion Picture Score
(2000) 		Totally Pokémon
(2001)

Track listing

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All music is composed by Ralph Schuckett

No.TitleLength
1."Harmony Disturbed" 
2."The Beast of the Sea Stirs" 
3."To the Rescue" 
4."Breakout Mayhem" 
5."If Only They Could Help" 
6."The World Turns to Ash" 
7."To the Third Treasure" 
8."Return to the Shrine" 
9."The Guardian's Song" 
10."Goodbye Lugia" 
11."The Adventure Begins" 
12."Windy" 
13."Teamwork" 
14."Pokémon World" 

See also

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Notes

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  1. ^ Known in Japan as Pocket Monsters the Movie: The Phantom Pokémon - Lugia's Explosive Birth (Japanese: 劇場版ポケットモンスター 幻のポケモン ルギア爆誕, Hepburn: Gekijōban Poketto Monsutā Maboroshi no Pokemon Rugia Bakutan)
  2. ^ The song was later reworked for their self-titled debut album entitled, "Dream Street" which was released on July 10, 2001 and was simply called "They Don't Understand" with lyrical changes.[25][26]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g h Galbraith IV 2008, p. 407.
  2. ^ a b c d "Pokemon: The Movie 2000 Box Office Mojo". Box Office Mojo. Archived from the original on September 16, 2016. Retrieved May 30, 2012.
  3. ^ "Neil Stewart, Actor". Mandy Actors. Retrieved June 23, 2014.
  4. ^ "Emily Rees, voice actor - resume". TheEmilyRees.com. Archived from the original on March 7, 2022. Retrieved March 7, 2022.
  5. ^ "Resume". MichelleGoguenVoiceover.com. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved October 9, 2015.
  6. ^ "Ash, Pikachu and the Entire Pokemon Universe Return for a Spectacular, All-new Adventure in Kids WB! Presents Pokemon the Movie 2000, Opening July 21". Business Wire. Berkshire Hathaway. March 2, 2000. Archived from the original on June 16, 2000. Retrieved June 8, 2019 – via Yahoo.com.
  7. ^ "Pokemon The Movie 2000 Premiere". Yahoo. Yahoo Movies. July 15, 2000. Archived from the original on April 13, 2023. Retrieved April 12, 2023.
  8. ^ "Pokemon: The Movie 2000". Amazon. November 14, 2000.
  9. ^ "Billboard". September 30, 2000.
  10. ^ "歴代興収ベスト100". KogyoTsushin.com (in Japanese). Kogyo Tsushinsha. January 5, 2015. Archived from the original on February 9, 2015. Retrieved January 8, 2015.
  11. ^ "Pokemon: The Movie 2000 Box Office Mojo Daily". Box Office Mojo. Archived from the original on September 16, 2016. Retrieved May 30, 2012.
  12. ^ "Pokemon: The First Movie Box Office Mojo Daily". Box Office Mojo. Archived from the original on July 7, 2013. Retrieved May 30, 2012.
  13. ^ "Pokemon: The Movie 2000 Box Office Mojo Weekend". Box Office Mojo. Archived from the original on July 19, 2020. Retrieved May 30, 2012.
  14. ^ "Pokemon: The First Movie Box Office Mojo". Box Office Mojo. Archived from the original on May 24, 2012. Retrieved May 30, 2012.
  15. ^ "Pokémon the Movie 2000 Reviews". Rotten Tomatoes. Flixster. Archived from the original on April 21, 2019. Retrieved November 13, 2018.
  16. ^ "Pokemon: The Movie 2000 reviews". Metacritic. CBS Interactive. Archived from the original on July 13, 2016. Retrieved January 22, 2016.
  17. ^ "Find CinemaScore". CinemaScore. Archived from the original on December 20, 2018. Retrieved November 13, 2018.
  18. ^ "Pokémon the Movie 2000 | Plugged In Online Video Reviews". Archived from the original on April 3, 2011.
  19. ^ Seymour, Gene (July 21, 2000). "As Pokemon Mania Wanes, Charming Movie Sequel Arrives". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on July 17, 2020. Retrieved July 17, 2020.
  20. ^ "2000 23rd Hastings Bad Cinema Society Stinkers Awards". Stinkers Bad Movie Awards. Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on October 17, 2006. Retrieved July 8, 2013.
  21. ^ "Pokemon Stole Music from a Slasher Movie". February 4, 2018. Archived from the original on February 22, 2022. Retrieved February 22, 2022.
  22. ^ David A. Graham (December 3, 2011). "Cain Quotes 'Pokémon' Movie in Final Speech". thedailybeast.com. Archived from the original on December 9, 2011. Retrieved December 9, 2011.
  23. ^ Allmusic Guide Entry for "The Chosen One"
  24. ^ McCormick, Moira (April 21, 2001). "Pokemon Enjoys Lavish Campaign from Koch Kids". Billboard. Vol. 113, no. 16. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. p. 63. ISSN 0006-2510.
  25. ^ "Dream Street by Dream Street". Apple Music. United States. Archived from the original on July 21, 2020. Retrieved June 12, 2020.
  26. ^ "They Don't Understand (Pokemon Version) - Single". music.apple.com. Archived from the original on March 17, 2023. Retrieved March 19, 2023.
  27. ^ "Austriancharts.at – Soundtrack – Pokémon 2 - The Power of One" (in German). Hung Medien. Retrieved August 9, 2013.
  28. ^ "Swisscharts.com – Soundtrack – Pokémon 2 - The Power of One". Hung Medien. Retrieved August 9, 2013.
  29. ^ "Pokemon 2000: The Power of One - Original Soundtrack". Billboard. Retrieved November 8, 2011.

Bibliography

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