The fans on the Pokemon franchise have been patiently waiting for a live-action adaptation of their favorite game for two decades, and it looks like the Hollywood is finally ready to embrace the Japanese weirdness. Yes, you heard it right, Pokemon, the #1 most profitable franchise in the world, is about to enter a whole new weight category – cinema.
Let’s talk a bit about what first ever live-action Pokémon movie is about and what you should expect to see there. The trailer showed us a young trainer Tim, whose father went missing, and his new friend – a talking Pikachu (who sounds a lot like Deadpool, for some reason) – trying to get to the bottom of mysterious Pokemon disappearances all over Ryme City.
Judging from the footage and some behind-the-scenes pictures, the people responsible for this movie know exactly what they’re doing, and what the fans want, because, most likely, they are Pokemon nerds themselves. This is why (after the initial shock) I wholeheartedly believe this will be a smash hit, and the inevitable sequels and spin-offs will follow like the Pokemon follow you in the new Let’s Go! Games.
You know, when they first announced a live action Pokemon movie, I personally thought it would be more like “Who Framed Roger Rabbit?” with classic 2D Pokemon, like that 90’s commercial. But nope, the designers went all in with the fur, scales, and goop. You may not even recognize some of your favorite mons on your first viewing!
While we all now know who the good guys are, we still have no idea who’s behind the Pokemon disappearances. Could it be one of the evil teams like Team Rocket of Team Plasma? No idea, but I hope it’s just Jigglypuff letting his psycho tendencies loose.
Speaking of Jigglypuff, have you notices he’s holding something in his tiny hand? Looks a lot like that marker from the anime. I sense shenanigans! As to the other Easter eggs, we see tons of Pokemon throughout the trailer, including Psyduck, Greninja, Charizard, Bulbasaur, Charmander, Squirtle, and loads more. They make this world look lived-in and almost real. Well, as real as any world with fire-breathing and water-spewing monsters can be.
Either way, from what I’ve seen so far, it’s going to be a real Hoot-Hoot (pardon my Pokepun) and since its release date is scheduled to May 10, 2019, just a week after Avengers 4, it should do well in theaters. Although I’d shift it to 2 weeks after the Avengers. But hey, that’s none of my business.
