Pokemon: The Arceus Chronicles is finally here after much anticipation from fans of
the Pokemon anime.
The hour-long film consists of four individual specials that aired in Japan at the beginning
of the year, spinning-off the main anime series, Pokemon Journeys.
Initially, it coincided with the release of Pokemon Legends: Arceus.
The specials follow Ash, Goh, Dawn, and their Pokemon as they investigate strange occurrences
surrounding a Sinnoh region festival commemorating its past.
Along the way, they encounter some old friends, as well as several Easter eggs for fans of
Pokemon Legends: Arceus.
These eight will definitely catch the eyes of those who adventured through Hisui.
After arriving in Sinnoh, Ash and Goh find themselves at a festival in Canalave City.
The city has been remodeled to appear as it did during ancient times.
However, those who played Pokemon Legends: Arceus will identify this appearance as identical
to Jubilife Village, the main hub where players spend time outside of Pokemon expeditions.
Though Ash and Goh don't get much of a chance to explore the recreated Jubilife Village
before being lured into action, fans will recognize the festival taking place in Canala
Avenue.
However, many of the shops fans may be familiar with from Pokemon Legends: Arceus are replaced
with more modern, Pokemon-themed shops for the festival.
When Dawn first appears in The Arceus Chronicles, she's sporting a traditional garb that resembles
the default player character's clothes in Pokemon Legends: Arceus.
Even her white knit cap is replaced with a headband reminiscent of the female player
character's headwear in the Hisui region.
Soon after, she convinces Ash and Goh to change as well.
While trying on new Hisui outfits, Ash and Goh re-encounter Cynthia, the Sinnoh region
Champion who Dawn stays with.
While she adopts a similar clothing to the other three, her hairstyle is even reminiscent
of Cynthia's ancestors from Legends Arceus, particularly Cogita, who sports a similar
coif of hair over her left eye like Cynthia does.
An early scene in the film finds several Team Galactic grunts, led by Saturn, encountering
a Heatran in a volcanic cave.
Heatran, like all the other Sinnoh region Pokemon, also appears in Pokemon Legends:
Arceus, though cannot be captured until after the main story is complete.
Here, Saturn seems to have gotten to the Legendary Pokemon early.
Fans of any Pokemon series game will note Saturn's strategy to catch Heatran as incredibly
effective as well.
After suffering damage from a super-effective Ground-type move, Saturn uses a Dusk Ball
to successfully capture the Pokemon.
Dusk Balls, as most fans will know, are most effective when used at night or in cavernous
locations.
During the Sinnoh festival, Cynthia leads Ash, Goh, and Dawn to a room commemorating
the history of the Sinnoh region.
The paintings on the wall make reference to many locations in Pokemon Legends: Arceus,
but one, in particular, is given specific attention.
That painting depicts several Hisuian forms that debuted in the Switch title.
Though The Arceus Chronicles doesn't cover all Hisuian forms, a few specific ones appear
in this painting: Hisuian Growlithe and Hisuian Braviary, as well as the new evolved Pokemon,
Basculegion and Wyrdeer.
Hopefully, future episodes of the Pokemon anime will pay tribute to other new Pokemon,
like Hisuian Zoroark or Ursaluna, among others.
During their look through the museum exhibit, Cynthia also introduces Ash, Goh, and Dawn
to the way Pokemon used to be captured in Hisui.
She gives each of them an ancient designed Poke Ball, resembling the same ones from Pokemon
Legends: Arceus.
To test them out, she takes them to an open field filled with Sinnoh Pokemon.
Ash, Goh, and Dawn are quick to be introduced to an Oshawott, Cyndaquil, and Rowlet, who
Cynthia describes as native to other regions but found in ancient Sinnoh.
Chasing them down, they each catch one of the starters from Pokemon Legends: Arceus.
Ash gets Rowlet, Dawn gets Oshawott, and Goh gets Cyndaquil.
The trio's fun adventures learning about ancient Sinnoh come to a halt when Team Galactic force
Heatran to exert an energy pulse, affecting all nearby Pokemon.
The protagonists' own Pokemon, Pikachu, Grookey, and Piplup, draw their attention to a disturbance
on Mt.
Coronet.
What they soon discover is a dimensional gate opening thanks to the efforts of the evil
team.
The plot movement of a dimensional gate opening on Mt.
Coronet is a direct reference to the main story of Pokemon Legends: Arceus.
After a rift in spacetime begins affecting the Noble Pokemon of each Hisuian region,
the player is called upon to temper their rages.
Like The Arceus Chronicles, this leads to a confrontation at the summit of Mount Coronet.
During the climax of The Arceus Chronicles, Arceus appears atop Mt.
Coronet to halt the raging Heatran's destruction.
After pleading with Arceus to help, Arceus reveals one of its signature plates, transforming
it into a Water-type Pokemon.
With its new abilities, Arceus creates an ocean in the sky, which it uses to temper
the Heatran's madness.
The use of Arceus' plates is a significant callback to the Pokemon games.
With the individual Plate items found by the player, Arceus' type can change accordingly.
The post-game story of Pokemon Legends: Arceus also involves finding the remaining number
of Plates prior to capturing Arceus.
Pokemon: The Arceus Chronicles features more cameos than just Dawn, Cynthia, Brock, and
the Team Galactic goons.
After thwarting Team Galactic's plans, Ash, Goh, and Dawn leave to go resume festival
activities.
However, before sending audiences to the scrolling credits, there's one last Easter egg that
shows up.
In a scene taking place in ancient Hisui, Rei appears running through the real Jubilife
Village.
Rei, as the male player character in Pokemon Legends: Arceus, marks the first appearance
of a player character in the Pokemon anime who isn't a companion of Ash since Zoroark:
Master of Illusions.
It's a sweet vignette calling back to the original game.