Underplayed Gems

Pokémon Heroes (2002)

Pokémon Heroes poster
Original title
劇場版ポケットモンスター 水の都の護神 ラティアスとラティオス
Directed by
Kunihiko Yuyama
Genre
science fiction anime, adventure anime, fantasy anime, action anime, thriller anime, Action
Country
Japan
Runtime
1h 11m
Rated
G
Rating
6.7 of 10 from 397 voters
Elsewhere
IMDb
The 3D catalogue: film cases on wooden shelves, with the cat sitting at the counter next to its greeting.

The catalogue in 3D

The film shelves have a room of their own that you can walk around in. The cat behind the counter is the AI Catbot, and they pick real films from the same catalogue when you tell them what you feel like watching. Nothing is for sale, here or in there. Go in from here and this film is already out on the counter, with more like it waiting on the shelf next to it.

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How it feels

Ash, Misty and Brock travel to the canal city of Alto Mare. There they must stop two spies from using the guardian Pokémon Latias and Latios to power a dangerous weapon.

lightheartedadventurouswhimsicalfast-pacedsuspensefulfamily-friendlyaction-filledcity-based

What happens

Pokémon Heroes (also known as Pokémon Heroes: The Movie) is a 2002 Japanese animated film directed by Kunihiko Yuyama and written by Hideki Sonoda. Produced by OLM, Inc. and distributed by Toho, it is the fifth film in the Pokémon series. The film stars Rica Matsumoto, Ikue Ōtani, Mayumi Iizuka, Yūji Ueda, Satomi Kōrogi, Megumi Hayashibara, Shin-ichiro Miki, Inuko Inuyama, Kōichi Yamadera, Unshō Ishizuka, Taichirō Hirokawa, Uno Kanda, Yumiko Shaku, Yuzo Gutch, and Yūka. In Pokémon Heroes, Ash Ketchum, Misty and Brock travel to the city of Alto Mare and face off against the mysterious spies Annie and Oakley, who seek to use the guardian Pokémon Latias and Latios to power a superweapon. The film takes place during the fifth season of the Pokémon anime. Alto Mare, the main setting of the film, is based on the real-world city of Venice, Italy, with Yuyama choosing the location as a basis in order to communicate the feeling of entering a mysterious world. The film's title was revealed on January 30, 2002, in Japan. The film debuted alongside a short episode, titled "Camp Pikachu". The film's English adaptation was produced by 4Kids Entertainment and distributed by Miramax Films. The film premiered in Japan on July 13, 2002. An English adaptation produced by 4Kids Entertainment was distributed in the United States by Miramax Films on May 16, 2003. This version stars the regular television cast of Veronica Taylor, Eric Stuart, Rachael Lillis and Maddie Blaustein. The film grossed US$27 million in Japan and $756,381 in the United States, becoming the lowest-grossing film in the Pokémon franchise. The film was met with generally negative reviews, though retrospective reviews have been more positive. (from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA)

More like this

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