It’s easy to forget that for a brief moment in the early 2000s, the Pokemon anime tried to survive without Ash Ketchum. Most fans treat the original series like a sacred, unbreakable bond between a boy and his yellow rat, but Pokemon Movie The Legend of Thunder—actually a three-part special titled Raikou: Legend of Thunder in Japan—dared to do something different. It’s weird. It’s fast-paced. Honestly, it’s probably better than half the actual theatrical movies from the Johto era.
If you grew up watching Kids' WB, you might remember this as the "Pokemon Chronicles" premiere. But let's be real: calling it a "movie" is a bit of a stretch in the West, even if it has the production value of one. It centers on Jimmy, Marina, and Jackson, characters based on the protagonists of the Pokemon Gold, Silver, and Crystal games. No Ash. No Brock. Just a bunch of Johto kids trying to stop Team Rocket from literally torturing a legendary beast with a giant tuning fork.
The Team Rocket You Don't Know
Forget Jessie and James. While we love their bumbling antics, they never felt like a world-ending threat. In Pokemon Movie The Legend of Thunder, we get introduced to Attila and Hun. They’re cold. They’re professional. They use a device called the "Miracle Crystal" to painfully attract electric Pokemon. It’s actually kind of dark for a show usually about the power of friendship.
The stakes feel different here because the protagonists aren’t "chosen ones" in the traditional sense. Jimmy is just a kid from New Bark Town who really likes his Typhlosion. There’s a groundedness to the battle choreography that the main series often lacked during the Johto Journeys. Instead of just shouting "dodge it," the characters actually use the terrain. When Raikou shows up, it doesn't feel like a cuddly mascot. It feels like a force of nature that's genuinely pissed off at humanity.
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Why Jimmy is a Better Lead Than Johto-Era Ash
People might fight me on this, but Jimmy (Kenta in Japan) had a focused energy that Ash lacked during the meandering 150+ episodes of the Johto league. He’s got this "Go-Get-Em" attitude that feels less like a script requirement and more like a personality trait. Plus, his relationship with Marina adds a layer of "shipping" that the show usually only teased with Misty. Marina is obsessed with "showy" battles, basically a precursor to the Pokemon Contests we’d see later in Hoenn.
- The Typhlosion Factor: Seeing a fully evolved starter as the main partner was a breath of fresh air.
- The Rivalry: Jackson (Vincent) provides a comedic but capable foil that actually feels like someone you’d meet at a local tournament.
- Tactics: The use of the "Crystal System" to deflect electric attacks required the heroes to use actual logic rather than just "willpower."
The Raikou Problem
Raikou has always been the middle child of the Legendary Beasts. Entei got a massive theatrical film with Spell of the Unown. Suicune was the mascot of Pokemon Crystal and a major player in the Celebi movie. Raikou? Raikou got a TV special. But in many ways, Pokemon Movie The Legend of Thunder treats the Pokemon with more respect than the theatrical films treated their stars.
The "Miracle Crystal" is a brutal piece of technology. It absorbs electricity and reflects it back, causing Raikou immense physical pain. This isn't just a "capture the Pokemon" plot; it’s a rescue mission. Watching Raikou struggle against its own power makes the eventual payoff—where it finally trusts Jimmy—feel earned. It’s not just a Master Ball throw. It’s a moment of mutual understanding between a wild god and a kid who just wants to help.
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A Technical Mess or a Masterpiece?
Let’s talk about the dub for a second. If you watched the version that aired as part of Pokemon Chronicles, you might have noticed some... choices. The names were changed. The music was replaced. Some of the dialogue felt like it was translated through three different languages before hitting English. Yet, the animation holds up remarkably well.
The battle between Jimmy’s Typhlosion and Hun’s Steelix is visceral. You can feel the weight of the Iron Tail hitting the ground. Most of this is thanks to the direction of Masamitsu Hidaka, who knew how to frame these creatures as literal monsters rather than pets. The scale is massive. When the "Crystal System" reaches full power, the clouds swirl in a way that feels genuinely apocalyptic for a Tuesday afternoon special.
Real Talk: Why It Ranks Low on Some Lists
Usually, fans rank this lower than Mewtwo Strikes Back or Lucario and the Mystery of Mew simply because of its format. It’s technically an OVA (Original Video Animation) split into episodes. Because of that, it doesn't have that "big screen" pacing. It’s breakneck. It moves from one action set piece to the next without letting the characters breathe.
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Also, the voice acting in the English dub is... polarizing. Taking legendary characters from the games and giving them somewhat generic "tough guy" or "shoppy girl" voices rubbed some purists the wrong way. But if you can get past the 2000s cheese, the core story about the dangers of weaponizing nature is classic Pokemon at its best.
What Most People Get Wrong About the Lore
A common misconception is that this special takes place in a different timeline. It doesn't. While Ash is off fighting Claire in Blackthorn City, this is happening elsewhere in Johto. It’s a big world. The fact that Team Rocket has different "cells" like the Silver Rock Isle branch or the Attila/Hun duo makes the organization feel more like a global mafia and less like a three-person comedy troupe.
Another detail often missed? This special actually features the first appearance of several Gen 2 moves that hadn't been animated yet. It was a testing ground. It was the show's way of saying, "Look, we can do more than just Pikachu."
Actionable Steps for the Modern Fan
If you want to experience Pokemon Movie The Legend of Thunder today, don't just go in expecting a standard Ash Ketchum adventure. You have to treat it like a historical artifact of a time when the franchise was experimenting with its own identity.
- Watch the Japanese Version if Possible: Known as Pocket Monsters Crystal: Raikou Toki no Densetsu, it features a more serious score and better vocal performances that highlight the tension.
- Look for the "Chronicles" Connection: If you're using streaming services, it’s often buried under the Pokemon Chronicles umbrella rather than the movies section.
- Pay Attention to the Backgrounds: The depiction of the Johto wilderness in this special is arguably the most beautiful the region has ever looked in 2D animation.
- Compare it to "The Origin": If you liked Pokemon Origins or Pokemon Generations, you’ll likely appreciate this more than the main anime. It shares that "game-accurate" DNA.
The legacy of this special isn't just about a lightning cat. It’s about the realization that the Pokemon world is vast enough to sustain stories where the main hero isn't even present. It paved the way for every side-story and spin-off we have now. Whether it’s a "movie" or a "special" doesn't really matter—it’s 90 minutes of high-octane Johto nostalgia that actually treats its audience like they can handle a bit of grit.