Pokémon Heroes

Another Pokémon movie with a decent storyline, beautiful art, and our familiar characters. Misty and Brock didn't get all that much screen time in this one since the plot revolves around Ash and his adventures with Latias and Latios. Another refreshing change was that besides our familiar Team Rocket (Jessie, James and Meowth), we had another team (Annie and Oakley), who had more style than our usual arch enemies, and they actually managed to cause some real mayhem. The plot was okay, but I felt that it lacked a little in focus and inventiveness; it seemed same things/themes were repeated, and although the ending was pretty good, themovie left me wanting for more. An okay Pokémon movie, altogether.

Bear in mind I haven't watched this since i was a child around 8 or 7. This movie was the first time I've watched anything from the Pokemon movie franchise and I still hold it dear to my heart because it was the first anime I saw. Sure the graphics weren't that good at the time but the story of latias and latios working together with ash and their strong bond was enough to get me hooked. If i re watched this movie i probably will be singing a different tune but for now this is my song. In my eyes its also a classic to mesince it is from my childhood memories. It is also a classic because it's got the basics of any great anime movie, The bad guy(s), the good guy(s) and their goal to protect something or someone. So i feel if you want to have an enjoyable time i recommend you watch this anime movie because it is worth your time.

Pokemon Heroes was one of the few Pokemon movies I never saw as a kid, as well as the first one that showcased new Pokemon from the third generation, which is wicked cool! This signaled that what you thought was only Pokemon times two, was now Pokemon times THREE. This was a very important shift for myself and many other fans, initiating the tradition of featuring the upcoming generation's legendary Pokemon in the movies of the current one. Additionally, it was the last movie to feature Ash's original hat and outfit, and Misty! It's significance is realized by it's solid, ambitious animation and formulaic fulfillment,with a fat portion of nostalgia. Pokemon movies of this era looked fantastic, and Heroes is no exception. Due in no small part to this being the last movie featuring Ash's original outfit, it resembles classic Pokemon much more strongly than modern. The key character animation is crisp, and the color palettes really pop. The CG is this movie is much more ambitious, well executed, and pervasive than its predecessors. It's used for everything from crowds, flying the camera through environments, water, and intricate objects and set pieces that wouldn't have been feasible to hand draw. Not all of the textures are so great, and a few times it looks like a GameCube game, but I'm overall very impressed at how well it was incorporated for 2003. After a quick Bulbapedia check, it appears the Pokemon movies weren't animated digitally until a few movies after this one, making the depth of CG incorporation that much more impressive. The score is excellent and evocative; even the music in the reused opening scene from the last movie instantly made me well up inside. The inclusion of the Pokemon: Master Quest theme song immediately got me pumped and into the action, because it's one of my favorite openings after the iconic first one. The dub is just great. The main cast brings out tons of nostalgia in me, and the movie characters have a similar feel to how every voice in the 4Kids dub was directed. Latios and Latias are either going to be hilarious or grating to your ears. Their near ceaseless, high pitched wailing leaves me wondering if the actor's performance was pitch shifted digitally, but I find much more amusement in imagining that someone was paid to scream through their nose for hours. You should already know what to expect for the characters. Ash, Brock, Misty, and Team Rocket have been the same for nearly two decades. As for the movie characters, I would say they're bland at best. The Team Rocket "Dirty Pair" as I call them are the type to pull off a heist and revel in their success, without much more depth. The girl and grandfather who are friends to the legendary duo aren't terribly well developed either, but have at least some sympathetic qualities. I did find myself a bit dumbfounded by the depth of Ash's stupidity in one sequence, where he helps a silent girl escape from her pursuers. She runs away from him once they're safe, so what's the only logical course of action to take the next time you see this girl? Chase after her, of course! Poor Ash, you should really just stick to battling. As always, the story revolves around Ash and company encountering the featured legendary Pokemon. I tried to recount the plot in my head afterwards, and all I could come up with is that the Dirty Pair tries to steal a magical item that keeps Venice Island... Wet? Like most Pokemon movies, it's not super important. The ending probably would have had a bigger emotional impact on me if I had seen it as a kid, but as it is, I suppose it's pretty touching. Who should watch Pokemon Heroes? I would recommend it to any Pokemon fan, unless you we're never enthused by generations two or three. It could also be worth the watch if you're intrigued by the progression and utilization of CG in anime like I am, but otherwise this is nothing more than a pretty commercial.