The nostalgia was a trap. Back in 2017, when The Pokémon Company announced Pokemon I Choose You The Movie, fans of the original 1997 series basically lost their minds. It promised a return to the Kanto region. It featured the iconic Ho-Oh. It looked like the high-definition reboot we’d been begging for since we were kids sitting cross-legged in front of CRT televisions. But then people actually watched it.
Honestly, the reaction was a mess.
You had half the audience weeping in the theater because of the updated animation and that crushing sense of childhood wonder. The other half? They were genuinely furious. Why? Because Brock and Misty were gone. Just... deleted. In their place sat two new characters, Souji and Makoto (Verity and Sorrel in the English dub), who felt like they’d wandered in from a completely different generation. It’s a weird film. It tries to be a love letter and a total rewrite at the exact same time, which is probably why it remains one of the most debated entries in the entire franchise history.
The Bold Move of Erasing Brock and Misty
Imagine rewriting Star Wars and replacing Han Solo with a guy named Dave who really likes space-maps. That’s what happened here. By the time Pokemon I Choose You The Movie hit screens, the "Original Trio" was sacred. People didn't just want Ash and Pikachu; they wanted the group dynamic.
The decision to swap them out wasn't just a random whim by director Kunihiko Yuyama. The goal was to create a "parallel world" story. This isn't the Ash Ketchum from the 1,200+ episodes of the TV show. This is an alternate Ash. By removing the baggage of the original series, the writers could focus entirely on the bond between Ash and Pikachu without having to stop for Brock’s cooking segments or Misty’s frequent arguments about bikes.
It’s a controversial creative choice that actually makes sense if you look at the film's pacing. The movie covers roughly the first arc of the original journey—getting Pikachu, meeting Ho-Oh, battling through Kanto—but it moves at a breakneck speed. Adding two new companions allowed the writers to insert specific backstories that tied directly into the legendary Pokémon themes of the movie. Sorrel, for instance, provides a heavy emotional beat regarding his Lucario and the concept of Pokémon death, something the original series rarely touched with such directness.
That Talking Pikachu Scene: What Really Happened?
If you were on the internet when the movie premiered, you probably saw the viral video of a theater audience screaming "No!" and "What?!" during the climax.
Pikachu talks.
Well, sorta. In a moment of extreme emotional distress during the final battle against Marshadow’s influenced Pokémon, Ash asks Pikachu why he won't get into his Poké Ball. Pikachu looks him in the eye and speaks a full sentence in human English (or Japanese, depending on your version).
"It’s because... it’s because I always want to be with you."
The backlash was instant. People felt it broke the fundamental rule of the franchise: Pokémon say their names, and that's it. However, the nuance here is often missed in the memes. If you watch the scene closely, it’s heavily implied that Ash isn't actually hearing Pikachu speak out loud. It’s a telepathic or spiritual connection—a moment of pure understanding between two souls at the brink of death. It’s stylized. It’s metaphorical. But for a lot of fans, it was just too weird. It pushed the "I Choose You" sentiment a bit too far into the uncanny valley.
Marshadow and the Corruption of the Rainbow Hero
One thing Pokemon I Choose You The Movie does exceptionally well is the lore of the Rainbow Wing. In the original 1997 pilot, Ash sees Ho-Oh and that's basically the end of it for about 200 episodes. Here, that sighting is the catalyst for the entire plot.
The movie introduces Marshadow, a Gloomdweller Pokémon that acts as a sort of shadow-enforcer. Its job is to ensure that the "Rainbow Hero" (Ash) stays pure of heart. If the Wing turns dark, Marshadow is supposed to basically reset the situation. This adds a layer of tension that the original series never had.
We see a version of Ash that is actually... kind of a jerk?
At one point, after a losing streak, Ash gets frustrated and wishes he’d started with a Charmander or Squirtle instead. The Rainbow Wing turns gray. He enters a literal nightmare sequence where Pokémon don't exist and he’s just a normal kid in a gray, boring school. It’s surprisingly dark for a Pokémon movie. It acknowledges that Ash isn't a perfect paragon of virtue; he’s a kid who gets tired and angry. The movie explores the idea that his bond with Pikachu isn't just a given—it's something he has to actively choose and protect every day.
How the Animation Changed the Game
Visually, this film is a powerhouse. OLM (the animation studio) pulled out all the stops for the 20th-anniversary celebration. The battle between Ash’s Charizard and Cross’s Incineroar is a masterclass in dynamic lighting and 3D camera movement.
- The Palette: Everything is saturated and glowing. The Kanto woods look lush, not like the flat backgrounds of the 90s.
- The Scale: When Ho-Oh finally appears for the battle, the sheer size difference between the legendary bird and the trainers is felt.
- The Nostalgia Beats: The scene where Ash rescues Charmander in the rain is shot-for-shot identical to the original episode, but with modern cinematic flair that makes it feel much more desperate.
The movie isn't just a nostalgia trip; it’s a technical showcase of what Pokémon can look like when it isn't bound by a weekly television budget. The fluidity of the movement during the final showdown on Mount Tensei is still some of the best the franchise has ever produced.
Why You Should (or Shouldn't) Watch It Today
So, does it hold up?
If you are a die-hard purist who can’t stand the idea of an "alternate timeline," you will probably hate it. You’ll spend the whole time wondering where Team Rocket’s actual threat went (they are basically cameos in this movie) or why Butterfree’s departure feels so rushed.
But if you view it as a standalone myth—a "reimagining" of the legend—it’s actually quite beautiful. It focuses on the core philosophy of the series: the relationship between humans and the natural world. It moves away from the "collect 'em all" aspect and focuses on the "grow together" aspect.
Actionable Takeaways for Fans
If you're planning to dive back into Pokemon I Choose You The Movie, keep these things in mind to get the most out of the experience:
- Watch for the Cameos: During the end credits, keep your eyes peeled. The movie pays homage to the original companions in a way that feels like a quiet apology for leaving them out of the main plot.
- Context Matters: Remember this was released alongside Pokémon Sun and Moon on TV. The inclusion of Alolan Pokémon like Incineroar and Lycanroc was a way to bridge the gap between the Kanto nostalgia and the then-current generation.
- The Emotional Core: Focus on the Rainbow Wing. It acts as a physical manifestation of Ash's mental state. When he's selfish, it fades. When he's selfless, it glows. It’s a great visual storytelling device for younger viewers.
- Skip the Logic: Don't try to fit this into the main anime timeline. It doesn't fit. It wasn't meant to. Treat it like a high-budget "What If?" story.
The movie ends not with a victory in a league, but with a promise. Ash and Pikachu head off toward the next horizon, forever chasing the rainbow. It’s a sentiment that captures why the franchise has lasted for decades. Despite the weird talking scenes and the missing friends, the heart of the story remains untouched: a kid, a mouse, and the open road.
If you want to understand the modern direction of Pokémon films—which moved toward more standalone, experimental stories like The Power of Us and Secrets of the Jungle—you have to start here. This was the moment the franchise decided it didn't have to be a slave to its own 1997 continuity. It was a risk, and while it didn't land perfectly for everyone, it breathed new life into a world that was starting to feel a bit too familiar.