Mewtwo Strikes Back / Pikachu's Summer Vacation

—by Maria M. Rider

Last summer in Japan, POKÉMON fans were treated to not only one movie, but two. The first, full-length movie is called MEWTWO STRIKES BACK (MEWTWO NO GYAKUSHU) and a featurette called PIKACHU'S SUMMER VACATION (PIKACHU NO NATSUYASUMI). Both movies have now been released on video only. They uphold the fun and excitement of the television series that has become so popular over the years in Japan as well as the U.S.
"Who am I? Where am I?" Mewtwo says to himself over and over again as he ponders his life within his test tube world. Mewtwo is the most powerful Pokémon in the world and was genetically engineered by a group of scientists on Mew Island. Mewtwo is a fighting/psychic Pokémon, developed from the DNA of a rare species of Pokémon called Mew. Unfortunately, as the fate of all people who try to play God and create life, their dreams are shattered as Mewtwo refuses to be just a lab rat for them. Sakaki (Giovanni), the leader of Team Rocket, flies in after the devastation and offers Mewtwo a home in exchange for him fighting other Pokémon. "Who am I? Where am I?" continues Mewtwo over and over again as he fights Pokémon after Pokémon. Finally, Mewtwo is fed up with this life and decides he should be alone and destroys the Team Rocket base.
Enter Satoshi (Ash), Kasumi (Misty), Takeshi (Brock), and Pikachu who are enjoying a nice sunny day on top of a grassy cliff overlooking the ocean. Satoshi is impatiently waiting for Takeshi to finish off the stew he is cooking while Pikachu babysits Togepi in the background. They get a special delivery from a large Kairyu (Dragonite)—an invitation to meet the greatest Pokémon Trainer in the whole world at Mew Island. Satoshi, Kasumi and Takeshi all agree to the invitation and mark the "Yes" box. The Kairyu starts to fly back to its master when it is stopped by Team Rocket who spy the invitation that floats out of the Kairyu's fanny pack. Team Rocket decides to steal all the Pokémon from the trainers that attend this event.
Team Rocket, however, never expected what they find. After a lot of difficulties in getting to the island, they find that the greatest Pokémon Trainer is... Mewtwo? An all-out riot ensues as Pokémon fights Pokémon. Why is Mewtwo doing all this? He has his reasons, but we can稚 tell you what they are.
MEWTWO STRIKES BACK, by far, is the more action-packed and enjoyable part of the double feature. The movie has a solid story, keeps the spirit of the television show, and also has a few tender moments. It has enough action for the kids, but also has those heartfelt moments for the adults who take their kids to this movie. Older "kids" will enjoy this movie as well and it is meant for all ages. This author was very moved by the whole story and even though Mewtwo seemed "evil" at the onset, it is only because he is misunderstood, and because he had such an awful start in life. The animation is much better than the television show, but it also sometimes has a darker feel. This movie is definitely recommended for those Pokémon fans young and old as it unfolds a story of love, teamwork, and value of life.
The featurette PIKACHU'S SUMMER VACATION is a short thirty-minute story where Pikachu and the rest of Satoshi's, Kasumi's and Takeshi's Pokémon go to Pokémon Land, a place where only Pokémon can go to relax. Pikachu skips into Pokémon Land to be almost run over by the other Pokémon as they rush in.
A group of other Pokémon come into the scene, Blue, a bulldog Pokémon, Kara-Kara (Cubone), Raichu, and Merilu, a mouse Pokémon. The new group makes enough noise by chatting away to wake Togepi. Disagreement ensues between the two groups, but Pikachu has another problem. Togepi skips off onto a log that is placed over a deep gorge that contains a rambling river. Togepi thinks it is time to play as he happily rolls the log along with a stumbling Pikachu down the hill. Pikachu falls off into the river and grabs onto a rock just in time to see Togepi safe on the other side of the gorge. But it痴 not over yet
PIKACHU'S SUMMER VACATION is a very cute story, definitely aimed towards the younger audience as it shows children the value of friendship and teamwork. There is a narrator that relays parts of the story here and there, but other than that there is no actual intelligible dialog, so viewers must infer what the Pokemon are saying to each other.
Both movies are very entertaining and can be watched over and over again. While perhaps primarily made for "kids," older fans will find themselves enjoying these stories time and time again as well, even without an English translation.

Released by Shogakukan Video
VHS, 70 min & 48 min
Mewtwo Strikes Back: ZMVS-502 ¥3800
Pikachu's Summer Vacation: ZMVS-501 ¥2800
Available now in Japan
Where to buy