Film Overview
- Japanese Title: 劇場版ポケットモンスター ベストウイッシュ 神速のゲノセクト ミュウツー覚醒 (Gekijōban Poketto Monsutā Besuto Uisshu: Shinsoku no Genosekuto – Myūtsū Kakusei)
- Director: Kunihiko Yuyama
- Screenplay: Hideki Sonoda
- Music: Shinji Miyazaki
- Studio: OLM, Inc.
- Distributor: Toho
- Runtime: 72 minutes
- Release Dates:
- Japan: July 13, 2013
- United States: October 19, 2013 (Cartoon Network)
- Language: Japanese (original), English (dubbed)
- Box Office: Approximately ¥3.17 billion (Japan), totaling around $32.3 million worldwide
Plot Summary
In this 16th installment of the Pokémon film series, Ash Ketchum, along with his friends Iris and Cilan, visit Pokémon Hills, a nature park nestled within a bustling city. Their visit coincides with the arrival of five Genesect—ancient Pokémon resurrected from fossils and enhanced with advanced weaponry. Seeking a new home reminiscent of their era, the Genesect attempt to transform Pokémon Hills into their nesting ground, inadvertently threatening the city’s power supply and displacing native Pokémon.
The situation escalates when Mewtwo, another genetically engineered Pokémon, intervenes to prevent the Genesect from causing further harm. Mewtwo empathizes with the Genesect’s plight but is determined to protect the city’s inhabitants. A fierce battle ensues between Mewtwo and the leader of the Genesect, known as the Red Genesect. Through a series of events, including a high-speed chase and a confrontation in space, understanding is eventually reached, leading to the Genesect finding a new, suitable habitat.
Main Characters and Voice Cast
- Ash Ketchum: Rica Matsumoto (Japanese), Sarah Natochenny (English)
- Iris: Aoi Yūki (Japanese), Eileen Stevens (English)
- Cilan: Mamoru Miyano (Japanese), Jason Griffith (English)
- Mewtwo: Reiko Takashima (Japanese), Miriam Pultro (English)
- Red Genesect: Masachika Ichimura (Japanese), Dan Green (English)
Music
The film’s score, composed by Shinji Miyazaki, underscores the emotional and action-packed sequences throughout the narrative. The ending theme, “Smiling Face,” is performed by the J-pop group Ikimono-gakari. Wikipedia
Reception
Upon its release, Genesect and the Legend Awakened debuted at #2 in the Japanese box office, earning approximately $4.9 million in its opening weekend. The film went on to gross around ¥3.17 billion in Japan and approximately $32.3 million worldwide. It was the 10th highest-grossing film in Japan for 2013. Wikipedia
Critics noted the film’s darker tone compared to previous entries in the franchise. Rebecca Silverman of Anime News Network described it as “a very dark film in such a kid-friendly franchise,” praising its animation and thematic depth. Wikipedia
Home Media and Availability
Genesect and the Legend Awakened was released on DVD and Blu-ray in various regions following its theatrical run. The film is also available for streaming on platforms such as Apple TV.
This film stands out in the Pokémon series for its exploration of themes like displacement, identity, and the consequences of human intervention in nature. The dynamic between Mewtwo and the Genesect offers a compelling narrative that resonates with audiences of all ages
