That was good…for a Pokemon Movie.
This kind of statement always hits me as harsh…
as if Pokemon can’t stand and fight on its own two feet
against the biggest hitters of the year
and instead sits in its own category
next to the 52nd Doraemon movie
and whatever property Toei has blindly picked to join its cinematic roster.
Yet, for all it is harsh there is more than a grain of truth to it
when was the last time you saw a good Pokémon movie?
For me it was back in 2000 when we met the Guardian of the Sea for the first time
and 18 years on it feels strangely fitting
that one of Pokémon’s greatest movie would include Lugia once again.
My name is Isla and this is my review of Pokemon: Minna no Monogatari…
[Loud sigh]
Your gonna make me say it aren't you
cause I watched this film in the English dub so there's no way i can get away from it
[Loud Sigh]
My name is Isla and this is my review of Pokemon:
Moving swiftly past its cringy name, a throwback to the aforementioned last good pokemon movie
the second cinematic outing from director Tesuo Yajima is indeed one of the best one yet.
Set in Fula City days away from celebrating the Wind Festival
an event held every year to receive the blessings of Lugia
we follow not just Ash but 6 other characters…
and it’s while telling everyone’s story that Pokemon Minna no Monogatari
finds its greatest strength and its greatest weakness.
Aya Takaha and Eiji Umehara drift the scripts focus between each of these characters
and they seamlessly stitch their stories together
in a way that feels natural not designed.
Of course when you have a cast that large and less than two hour runtime it is impossible
to give each person the attention they deserve
this leads to clumsy conclusions formed in the later half of the film
and many of their stories feeling…unfinished.
Yet it’s the beginning that drew me in…
Right from the moment I saw Fula City.
It has sprawling streets lined in huge houses
that you can traverse in trams
with people and pokemon living side by side
they created a city that feels alive in every single frame
This is where I want the next generation of Pokemon games to go
to a place that can capture the majesty that this franchise deserves.
To a place as beautiful as this.
I was interested in the moment the 21st film was announced
because WIT studio would be handling the animation
with the help of the veteran team OLM
and they did not disappoint.
The gorgeous background art is reminiscent
of the gentle work found The Ancient Magus Bride and After the Rain
whereas their dynamic use of cameras
and close up action feels like it was lifted from Attack on Titan.
Both animation houses play on their strengths
and borrow from each other
although the 3D imagery across the city and in the fights never seem to blend into the surrounding scene
so on some occasions you can play the good old modern game of - ‘spot the bad CG’
Yet, if you’re watching the dub you won’t miss one note
as the original soundtrack by Shinji Miyazaki is kept in tact
from the Japanese
and while he’s an old hand at composing for Pokemon
they brought on fresh blood like Shizue Kaneko
whose vibrant character designs make everyone’s stories stand out maybe even more than the script itself.
This reboot of the Pokemon franchise starting from last years I Choose You
has given it the chance to evolve making Minna no Monogatari so good
for a Pokemon Movie.
Therein lies the truth to this harsh statement
it’s still a Pokemon film
so there isn’t much for the non fan here.
It has over hamed lessons for kids spread across the script
and a classic oh so Ash Ketchum motivational speech in the middle
that made a grown adult cringe into her seat.
By the time we get to that point I didn't care about the legendary Pokemon Zeraora
and spent the last half of the film waiting for a blink and you'll miss it scene with Lugia
So I’d say Pokemon is in its middle evolution stage
with so many strengths in its revitalised form that I’m excited to take it into battle
but we’re not quite ready to take on the Penguin Highways
the Mirais
or the I want to eat your pancreases of this world
yet one day I hope we can chip away at their HP
because this franchise is special
and encompasses everyone's story
from the kids in the front row watching it now
to the adults in the back who have been watching
all this time.