🎬 Pokémon the Movie: I Choose You! (2017)
Part of Pokémon
Pokémon the Movie: I Choose You! is a 2017 Japanese animated film that serves as a reimagining of the Pokémon anime's origins, loosely adapting the series' first episode and much of the first season. Directed by Kunihiko Yuyama and written by Shoji Yonemura, the film was produced to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the Pokémon anime. It is the twentieth film in the Pokémon series and the first in an alternate continuity trilogy, followed by The Power of Us and Secrets of the Jungle.
The film retells the story of Ash Ketchum's first day as a Pokémon Trainer, but diverges significantly from the original series by introducing new characters Verity and Sorrel, who accompany Ash on his journey to meet the Legendary Pokémon Ho-Oh. Unlike the original anime, Misty and Brock are absent, and the narrative takes a different path, establishing a separate timeline. The film also features the mythical Pokémon Marshadow in a prominent role.
I Choose You! premiered at Japan Expo in France on July 6, 2017, and was released in Japanese theaters on July 15, 2017. It received a limited theatrical release internationally later that year. While the film grossed over $37 million worldwide, critical reception was mixed, with some praising its nostalgic appeal and emotional moments, while others felt it lacked the charm of the original series. The film is ultimately based on the Pokémon video game franchise, which began with Pokémon Red and Blue in 1996.
Pokémon Red Version and Pokémon Blue Version are 1996 role-playing video games developed by Game Freak and published by Nintendo for the Game Boy. They are the first installments in the Pokémon video game series. Players control a young Pokémon Trainer who embarks on a journey across the Kanto region, capturing and training creatures called Pokémon to battle against other Trainers, with the ultimate goal of becoming the Pokémon League Champion.
The games were created by Satoshi Tajiri, who drew inspiration from his childhood hobby of insect collecting. The concept of trading Pokémon between players via the Game Boy's link cable was a revolutionary social feature that contributed significantly to the franchise's massive success. Red and Blue introduced the core mechanics of catching, training, and battling that would define the entire series.
Upon release, Pokémon Red and Blue became a global phenomenon, sparking a multimedia empire that includes an immensely popular anime series, trading card game, movies, and countless merchandise. The games are credited with revitalizing the Game Boy platform and establishing one of the most recognizable and enduring franchises in entertainment history.
The Pokémon film collection is a long-running series of animated features that extends the adventures of the globally beloved Pokémon anime. Originating alongside the television series in the late 1990s, the films initially served as companion pieces to the ongoing narrative, following Ash Ketchum and his Pikachu as they encountered rare and legendary Pokémon in cinematic, self-contained stories. The early entries, beginning with 'Pokémon: The First Movie' in 1998, captured the peak of the late-90s Pokémon phenomenon and became a staple of the franchise's multimedia expansion, often distributed internationally by Warner Bros. during the anime's original broadcast run.
Over the decades, the collection evolved in tandem with the video game generations, with each film typically showcasing the mythical or legendary Pokémon introduced in the corresponding game release. This structure allowed the movies to function as both standalone adventures and promotional showcases for new creatures, while maintaining a consistent focus on themes of friendship, coexistence between humans and Pokémon, and the wonder of discovery. As the anime's continuity progressed through regions like Johto, Hoenn, Sinnoh, and beyond, the films mirrored these settings and introduced a rotating cast of supporting characters alongside the perennial heroes.
A significant shift occurred in the late 2010s when the film series began to depart from the main anime timeline. Starting with 'Pokémon the Movie: I Choose You!' in 2017, the collection embraced a reboot approach, retelling and reimagining Ash's origin story in an alternate continuity. This creative direction continued with subsequent entries, including a CGI remake of the first film, allowing the collection to explore nostalgic narratives while appealing to both new audiences and longtime fans. This period marked a transition from being direct extensions of the TV series to more experimental, standalone cinematic experiences.
The Pokémon film collection stands as a testament to the franchise's enduring cross-media legacy. With over two dozen theatrical releases spanning more than two decades, it has consistently delivered family-friendly adventures that reinforce the core values of the Pokémon world. While individual entries vary in critical reception, the collection as a whole remains a culturally significant component of one of the most successful entertainment properties in history, offering a cinematic entry point for each new generation of trainers.
The Pokémon anime series, which began in 1997, closely followed the journey of Ash Ketchum and his Pikachu through various regions over more than two decades. To commemorate the 20th anniversary of the anime, the filmmakers embarked on a new creative direction, establishing an alternate continuity separate from the long-running main series.
This new timeline revisits the origins of Ash's journey but diverges significantly, introducing new companions, different story arcs, and a fresh take on familiar events. It allowed the creators to retell the beginning of the Pokémon adventure for a new generation while offering a nostalgic yet novel experience for longtime fans.
The films in this continuity are characterized by a focus on the core themes of friendship, the bond between humans and Pokémon, and the spirit of adventure, unburdened by the extensive continuity of the main television series. They stand as a thematic trilogy, each exploring different aspects of the Pokémon world and the relationships within it.
