Pokémon is a media franchise created by video game designer Satoshi Tajiri that centers on fictional creatures called Pokémon., there have been 23 animated films and 1 live action film. The first 19 animated films are based on the anime television series of the same name, with the original film being remade into the 22nd. The 20th, 21st and 23rd animated films are set in an alternate continuity to the anime. The films are produced by the animation studios OLM, Production I.G, Xebec, and Wit Studio, and distributed in Japan by Toho, with various studios distributing the films in North America. They were directed by Kunihiko Yuyama and Tetsuo Yajima, and written by Takeshi Shudo, Hideki Sonoda, Atsuhiro Tomioka, Shōji Yonemura, Eiji Umehara, and Aya Takaha. The first Pokémon animated film, , was released in Japan in 1998, which was remade into . A live-action film, Pokémon Detective Pikachu, was produced by American studio Legendary Entertainment, directed by Rob Letterman, and written by Letterman and Nicole Perlman.[1] It is distributed in Japan by Toho, and outside of Japan and China by Warner Bros.[2] It was released on May 10, 2019.[3]
The films star the Pokémon Trainer Ash Ketchum and his electric mouse partner Pikachu. Detective Pikachu film is based on the 2016 video game Detective Pikachu and stars Ryan Reynolds as the motion capture role of Detective Pikachu,[4] with Justice Smith and Kathryn Newton as the lead human roles.[5]
There are also 2 animated television specials that were broadcast on TV Tokyo featuring Ash and Ash's Pikachu and 10 short animated films. Warner Bros. licensed the first 3 animated films in North America, and Miramax Films licensed the following 4 films. From the 8th film onwards, licensing has been handled by The Pokémon Company International themselves, with various distributors handling the releases, such as Viz Media in North America.
The 23rd and most recent animated film, , was originally set for release in Japanese theaters on July 10, 2020, but delayed to December 25, 2020, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, it was released on October 8, 2021, in the United States.[6] [7]
| English title | Japanese title | Japanese release date | North American release date | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | - Mewtwo Strikes Back | July 18, 1998 | November 12, 1999 | ||
| Ash, Misty, Brock and several other Pokémon trainers travel to an island, under the pretence that they will be battling a superior Pokémon Trainer, only to discover the genetically engineered Pokémon Mewtwo, created by a scientist for Giovanni of Team Rocket, is there and is planning to conquer the world with other cloned Pokémon. | |||||
| 2 | - The Power of One | July 17, 1999 | July 21, 2000 | ||
| Ash, Misty, and Tracey visit Shamouti Island where Ash is roped into a festival honoring Articuno, Zapdos, and Moltres, all of whom are being captured by Lawrence III, a Pokémon Collector who also wants to capture the legendary Pokémon Lugia. | |||||
| 3 | - Spell of the Unown | July 8, 2000 | April 6, 2001 | ||
| Ash, Misty, and Brock try to retrieve Ash's mother from Molly Hale, a lonely little girl whose father has disappeared and is being taken care of by the Pokémon Unown who have created an illusion of the Legendary Pokémon Entei. | |||||
| 4 | Pokémon 4Ever Celebi - Voice of the Forest | July 7, 2001 | October 11, 2002 | ||
| Ash, Misty, and Brock meet up with Sammy, a boy from 40 years in the past, and the Mythical Pokémon Celebi, who is being hunted down by the evil Iron-Masked Marauder of Team Rocket. | |||||
| 5 | Pokémon Heroes Latios and Latias | July 13, 2002 | May 16, 2003 | ||
| Ash, Misty, and Brock's trip to the city of Alto Mare is interrupted when two thieves of Team Rocket called Annie and Oakley try to steal the Soul Dew, a crystal that holds the essence of the Legendary Pokémon Latios and Latias, which is also required to keep the city safe. | |||||
| 6 | Jirachi, Wish Maker | July 19, 2003 | June 1, 2004 | ||
| Ash, May, Max, and Brock meet the Mythical Pokémon Jirachi, who wakes up one week every thousand years to grant a wish, and must save it from former Team Magma member Butler. | |||||
| 7 | Destiny Deoxys | July 17, 2004 | January 22, 2005 | ||
| Ash, May, Max, and Brock visit a city, only to find it under attack from the extraterrestrial Pokémon Deoxys and the Legendary Pokémon Rayquaza, all centered around a young boy named Tori. | |||||
| 8 | Lucario and the Mystery of Mew | July 16, 2005 | September 19, 2006 | ||
| Ash, May, Max, and Brock help an ancient Lucario discover the events that led up to his abandonment by a man revered as a hero while saving Pikachu, Meowth, and the Mythical Pokémon Mew from the dying Tree of World's Beginning. | |||||
| 9 | Pokémon Ranger and the Temple of the Sea | July 15, 2006 | March 23, 2007 | ||
| A Pokémon Ranger entrusts May with the egg of the Mythical Pokémon Manaphy and with Ash, Brock, and Max keep him safe from the evil pirate Phantom to ensure that Manaphy's homeland is not destroyed. | |||||
| 10 | The Rise of Darkrai | July 14, 2007 | February 24, 2008 | ||
| Ash, Dawn, and Brock must figure out a way to save Alamos Town from the space and time warping powers of the two Legendary Pokémon Dialga and Palkia, and clear the name of a Darkrai whose foreboding nature has led the townspeople to believe it is involved in the destruction of the town. | |||||
| 11 | Giratina & the Sky Warrior | July 19, 2008 | February 13, 2009 | ||
| Ash, Dawn, and Brock help the Mythical Pokémon Shaymin return to the Gracidea Flower garden to participate in a flower bearing ceremony, all while Giratina and Dialga battle in the Pokémon world and in Giratina's Reverse World realm. | |||||
| 12 | Arceus and the Jewel of Life | July 18, 2009 | November 20, 2009 | ||
| Ash, Dawn, and Brock travel to Michina Town, where they discover the Mythical Pokémon Arceus is upset over the town betraying it years ago. When Dialga, Palkia, and Giratina cannot hold it back, the heroes are sent back in time to change the past and present. | |||||
| 13 | Zoroark—Master of Illusions | July 10, 2010 | February 5, 2011 | ||
| Ash, Dawn, and Brock arrive in Crown City for the Pokémon Baccer World Cup, but instead discover that a Zoroark under the control of a villain is causing havoc disguised as the Legendary Pokémon Entei, Raikou and Suicune. Zoroark's child Zorua asks for their help to save his mother from the evil Kodai and his Shuppet who seeks out Celebi and its ability to travel through time. | |||||
| 14 | Black — Victini and Reshiram | July 16, 2011 | December 10, 2011 | ||
| White — Victini and Zekrom | December 3, 2011 | ||||
| Ash, Iris, and Cilan travel to Eindoak Town to participate in a tournament, meeting the Mythical Pokémon Victini on the way. However, they instead discover they must stop Damon, a descendant of Eindoak's ancient People of the Vale, from using the Legendary Pokémon Zekrom or Reshiram to use the Dragon Force to restore the former glory of the Kingdom of Vale, only to realize it is out of control and could destroy the world. | |||||
| 15 | Kyurem vs. the Sword of Justice | July 14, 2012 | December 8, 2012 | ||
| Ash, Iris, and Cilan help the Mythical Pokémon Keldeo escape from the Legendary Pokémon Kyurem, who seeks to battle it after freezing its compatriates the Sacred Swordsmen Cobalion, Terrakion, and Virizion. | |||||
| 16 | Genesect and the Legend Awakened | July 13, 2013 | October 19, 2013 | ||
| Ash, Iris, and Cilan visit New Tork City to enjoy its Pokémon Hills park, only to come under attack from a group of Genesect angry over losing their home. Ash, Iris, and Cilan are saved by Mewtwo, who wants to help the Genesect but also prevent them from destroying the city. | |||||
| 17 | Diancie and the Cocoon of Destruction | July 19, 2014 | November 8, 2014 | ||
| When the Mythical Pokémon Diancie cannot figure out how to make a new Heart Diamond to save her kingdom of Carbink subjects, she seeks out the Legendary Life Pokémon Xerneas for help, meeting Ash, Serena, Clemont, and Bonnie on the way, as they help her escape a group of jewel thieves and the unintentional awakening of the Legendary Destruction Pokémon Yveltal. | |||||
| 18 | Hoopa and the Clash of Ages | July 18, 2015 | December 19, 2015 | ||
| When Ash, Pikachu, and their friends visit a desert city by the sea, they meet the Mythical Pokémon Hoopa, who has the ability to summon things—including people and Pokémon—through its magic rings. After a scary incident, they learn a story about a brave hero who stopped the rampage of a Pokémon long ago. Now, the threat that has been bottled up for years is in danger of breaking loose again | Can Ash help his new friend overcome the darkness within...or will a dangerous secret erupt into a clash of legends? | ||||
| 19 | Volcanion and the Mechanical Marvel | July 16, 2016 | December 5, 2016 | ||
| Ash and his friends encounter the Mythical Pokémon Volcanion after a blast of steam from the sky, and Ash becomes bonded to it by an unknown force. Volcanion, who hates humans, is forced to bring Ash along as it heads to the Azoth Kingdom. Volcanion is in pursuit of the artificial Mythical Pokémon Magearna, hoping to rescue it from a corrupt minister who has stolen it with the intent of using Magearna's mysterious power to conquer the kingdom of machinery. Ash and Volcanion are forced to work together to rescue Magearna. | |||||
| 20 | I Choose You! | July 15, 2017 | November 25, 2017 | ||
| Ash Ketchum from Pallet Town is 10 years old. This means he is now old enough to become a Pokémon Trainer. Ash dreams big about the adventures he will experience after receiving his first Pokémon from Professor Oak. | |||||
| 21 | The Power of Us[8] | July 13, 2018 | December 8, 2018 | ||
| A young athlete whose running days might be behind her, a compulsive liar, a shy researcher, a bitter old woman, and a little girl with a big secret—the only thing they have in common is the annual Wind Festival in Fula City. The festival celebrates the Legendary Pokémon Lugia, who brings the wind that powers this seaside city. When a series of threats endangers not just the festival, but all the people and Pokémon of Fula City, it'll take more than just Ash and Pikachu to save the day | Can everyone put aside their differences and work together—or will it all end in destruction? | ||||
| 22 | Mewtwo Strikes Back: Evolution | July 12, 2019 | February 27, 2020 (Netflix) | ||
| Animated remake of The First Movie: Mewtwo Strikes Back.[9] | |||||
| 23 | December 25, 2020[10] | October 8, 2021[11] | |||
| Ash and Pikachu encounter Koko, a young man who was raised as a Pokémon by Zarude and thus believes himself to be one. They help him begin to uncover his true identity and past, which leads to the revelation of a plot at the Biotope Company that threatens to destroy Zarude's home in the Forest of Okoya.[12] | |||||
The launch of the mobile game Pokémon Go in 2016 reignited mainstream interest back into the Pokémon franchise in the Western market since its initial peak in the early 2000s; various Hollywood film companies approached The Pokémon Company to gain film rights. Eventually, Warner Bros. Pictures and Legendary Entertainment struck a deal to produce a live-action adaptation of the 2016 video game Detective Pikachu called Pokémon Detective Pikachu, the first official live-action Pokémon film. In January 2019, ahead of film's release, Legendary has begun development on a sequel to Pokémon Detective Pikachu.[13]
| English title | Japanese title | North American release date | Japanese release date | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Detective Pikachu | May 10, 2019 | May 3, 2019 | |
| A young man partners up with a talking Detective Pikachu to solve the mystery of his missing father. | ||||
Pikachu shorts are animated short films that are commonly shown at the start of animated theatrical films based on Pokémon, but have also been expanded to fulfill other purposes. There are 27 Pikachu short movies.
| English title | Japanese title | Japanese release date | North American release date | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pikachu's Vacation | July 18, 1998 | November 12, 1999 | ||
| When Ash Ketchum and his friends stumble upon a Pokémon-only vacation resort, they decide to let their Pokémon have a day of fun and relaxation and let all their Pokémon out as the trainers go relax on their own. | |||||
| 2 | Christmas Night | December 22, 1998 | November 25, 2006 | ||
| Pikachu, Togepi, and more of Ash, Misty, and Brock's Pokémon cause havoc on Christmas Eve. | |||||
| 3 | Kanga Games | December 22, 1998 | November 25, 2006 | ||
| The Pokémon explore a mountain. | |||||
| 4 | Pikachu's Rescue Adventure | July 17, 1999 | July 21, 2000 | ||
| Ash, Misty, and Tracey's Pokémon sneak away on vacation and find an area with a waterfall and a large tree. Suddenly, a storm kicks up. | |||||
| 5 | Winter Games | December 22, 1999 | November 23, 2004 | ||
| Pikachu and his friends join their first winter games. | |||||
| 6 | Stantler's Little Helpers | December 22, 1999 | November 23, 2004 | ||
| Pikachu and his friends help Stantler be on a Sleigh team. | |||||
| 7 | Pikachu & Pichu | July 8, 2000 | April 6, 2001 | ||
| While in a city, Pikachu wanders off and meets a pair of mischievous Pichu brothers. | |||||
| 8 | Delibird's Dilemma | December 22, 2000 | June 17, 2006 | ||
| Ash, Misty, and Brock's Pokémon must find Santa's missing presents before midnight. | |||||
| 9 | Snorlax Snowman | December 22, 2000 | June 17, 2006 | ||
| A retelling of Frosty the Snowman, starring the same Pokémon and featuring a Snorlax-shaped snowman. | |||||
| 10 | Pikachu's PikaBoo | July 7, 2001 | March 18, 2003 | ||
| Pikachu and Ash and Misty's other Pokémon play hide-and-seek in a mansion and its gardens. | |||||
| 11 | Camp Pikachu | July 13, 2002 | January 20, 2004 | ||
| Pikachu reunites with the Pichu brothers, and they all have a campout with Ash and Misty's other Pokémon. | |||||
| 12 | Gotta Dance! | July 19, 2003 | June 1, 2004 | ||
| Pikachu and Ash, May, and Brock's other Pokémon have a dance with Meowth. | |||||
| 13 | Pikachu's Summer Festival | August 1, 2004 | Unaired | ||
| Pikachu and his friends enjoy a summer festival. | |||||
| 14 | Pokémon 3D Adventure: Find Mew! | March 18, 2005 | Unaired | ||
| Pikachu and his friends find Mew. | |||||
| 15 | Pikachu's Ghost Carnival | August 1, 2005 | Unaired | ||
| Pikachu and his friends enjoy the Ghost Festival. | |||||
| 16 | Pokémon 4D: Pikachu's Ocean Adventure | May 20, 2006 | July 1, 2008 | ||
| Pikachu and his friends go on an ocean adventure. | |||||
| 17 | Pikachu's Island Adventure | August 1, 2006 | April 1, 2007 | ||
| Pikachu and his friends are go on an island adventure. | |||||
| 18 | Pikachu's Exploration Club | August 1, 2007 | Unaired | ||
| Pikachu and his friends join the exploration club. | |||||
| 19 | Pikachu's Ice Adventure | August 1, 2008 | Unaired | ||
| Pikachu and his friends go on an ice adventure. | |||||
| 20 | Pikachu's Sparkle Search! | August 1, 2009 | Unaired | ||
| Pikachu and his friends search for something during an adventure. | |||||
| 21 | Pikachu's Strange Wonder Adventure | August 1, 2010 | Unaired | ||
| Pikachu and his friends go on a wonderful strange adventure. | |||||
| 22 | Pikachu's Summer Bridge Story | August 1, 2011 | Unaired | ||
| Pikachu and his friends enjoy the summer bridge story. | |||||
| 23 | Sing Meloetta: Search for the Rinka Berries | July 3, 2012 | Unaired | ||
| Pikachu, his friends, and Meloetta go to search for Rinka berries. | |||||
| 24 | Meloetta's Moonlight Serenade | July 14, 2012 | February 15, 2013 | ||
| Pikachu, Pansage, Oshawott, Snivy, their trainers' Pokémon, and the Pokémon from other regions help Meloetta retrieve a tree's special berries. | |||||
| 25 | Eevee & Friends | July 13, 2013 | December 6, 2013 | ||
| Pikachu and friends meet an Eevee and its evolved brothers and sisters, including the at the time new Pokémon Sylveon. | |||||
| 26 | Pikachu, What's This Key? | July 19, 2014 | February 2, 2015 | ||
| Pikachu and the other Pokémon of Ash and his friends meet a Klefki who has keys that open up portals to other worlds. | |||||
| 27 | Pikachu and the Pokémon Music Squad | July 18, 2015 | December 21, 2015 | ||
| Pikachu and the other Pokémon of Ash and his friends sing and dance together. | |||||
| Name | Rental Date | Sale Date | Discs | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gekijōban Pikachu no Natsuyasumi / Mewtwo no Gyakushū | June 23, 2000 | 1 | |||
| Gekijōban Pikachu Tankentai / Maboroshi no Pokémon Lugia Bakutan | November 22, 2000 | 1 | |||
| Gekijōban Pichu to Pikachu / Kesshōtō no Teiō | July 7, 2001 | 1 | |||
| Gekijōban Pikachu no Dokidoki Kakurenbo | align=center | November 23, 2001 | December 7, 2001 | 1 | |
| Gekijōban Celebi Toki o Koeta Deai | align=center | January 25, 2002 | February 8, 2002 | 1 | |
| Gekijōban Pikapika Hoshizora Camp | November 22, 2002 | 1 | |||
| Gekijōban Mizu no Miyako no Mamorigami Latias to Latios | December 20, 2002 | 1 | |||
| PIKACHU THE MOVIE BOX 1998-2002 | align=center | – | align=center | September 21, 2007 | 6 |
| Gekijōban Odoru Pokémon Himitsu Kichi | November 28, 2003 | 1 | |||
| Gekijōban Nanayo no Negaiboshi Jirachi | December 19, 2003 | 1 | |||
| Advanced Generation Rekkū no Hōmonsha Deoxys | December 21, 2004 | 1 | |||
| Advanced Generation Mew to Hadō no Yūsha Lucario | December 22, 2005 | 1 | |||
| Advanced Generation Pokémon Ranger to Umi no Ōji Manaphy | December 22, 2006 | 1 | |||
| PIKACHU THE MOVIE BOX 2003-2006 | align=center | – | align=center | September 21, 2007 | 6 |
| Diamond & Pearl Dialga VS Palkia VS Darkrai | December 21, 2007 | 1 | |||
| Diamond & Pearl Giratina to Sora no Hanataba Shaymin | December 19, 2008 | 1 | |||
| Diamond & Pearl Arceus Chōkoku no Jikū e | December 18, 2009 | 1 | |||
| Film | Rotten Tomatoes | Metacritic | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 16% (91 reviews)[14] | 35 (25 reviews)[15] | ||
| 19% (69 reviews)[16] | 28 (20 reviews)[17] | ||
| 21% (57 reviews)[18] | 22 (18 reviews)[19] | ||
| Pokémon 4Ever | 16% (38 reviews)[20] | 25 (16 reviews)[21] | |
| Pokémon Heroes | 17% (41 reviews)[22] | 27 (17 reviews)[23] | |
| N/A | N/A | ||
| N/A | N/A | ||
| N/A | N/A | ||
| Pokémon Ranger and the Temple of the Sea | N/A | N/A | |
| N/A | N/A | ||
| N/A | N/A | ||
| N/A | N/A | ||
| N/A | N/A | ||
| N/A | N/A | ||
| N/A | N/A | ||
| N/A | N/A | ||
| N/A | N/A | ||
| N/A | N/A | ||
| N/A | N/A | ||
| 33% (9 reviews)[24] | N/A | ||
| 71% (7 reviews)[25] | N/A | ||
| 44% (9 reviews)[26] | N/A | ||
| Pokémon Detective Pikachu | 68% (312 reviews)[27] | 53 (48 reviews)[28] | |
| N/A | N/A |