The press reading for the 15th Pocket Monsters movie Kyurem VS the Sacred Swordsman Keldeo (キュレムVS聖剣士ケルディオ) and the 15th short Meloetta's Sparkling Recital (メロエッタのキラキラリサイタル) took place on June 4th, 2012 in Tokyo, Japan. In attendance was Katsumi Takahashi (高橋克実), Shoko Nakagawa (しょこたん), Koichi Yamadera (山寺宏一), Kunihiko Yuyama (湯山邦彦), Natsuna Watanabe (渡辺夏菜) and Rola (ローラ). This is the 15th Pocket Monsters movie Koichi Yamadera has been a part of and the 6th Pocket Monsters movie for Shoko-tan.


Though most of their parts were previously announced, it was confirmed that Katsumi Takahashi is the voice of Kyurem, Shoko-tan is the voice of Keldeo, Natsuna Watanabe is the narrator for the 15th movie short, Rola sings the theme song "Memories" and voices a cheerful and innocent girl named Malin (マリン) while Koichi Yamadera is the voice of Cobalon. Images from the event have been added to our imageboard thread.


The official movie website also updated with a brief overview of the press reading with pictures and a reveal of Rola's character Malin.


Source: http://www.oricon.co.jp/news/movie/2012493/ and http://www.pokemon-movie.jp/topics/afreco_report.php

As previously reported, Pokémon Season 14 Black & White Collection 2 was recently announced for release in Australia. Magna Home Entertainment kindly provided PocketMonsters.Net with a review copy of the release.

This collection covers the second half of the Pokémon Black & White series, featuring episodes 25-48 over three discs. All three discs are housed in one slim case the same as a single DVD, which is great for those collecting the entire series as it saves on shelf space and files nicely alongside other DVDs (unlike the old “super wallet” releases which were harder to store with other DVDs due to their unusual size and shape).

Despite eight episodes being packed onto each disc, the video quality is good with no noticeable compression issues. The episodes retain their 16:9 aspect ratio, so they are well-suited to modern TVs and monitors. But the best part about the quality is that it is consistent across both still scenes and action sequences. Some older releases (particularly the Orange Islands arc) suffered a big loss of quality in fast-paced scenes such as pokémon battles, but these new discs maintain a crisp look throughout, making them much more enjoyable to watch.



The DVD menu is simple and easy to navigate. The episode selection screen is quite nicely done, with small clips from each episode playing simultaneously to make them easy to identify. However, this screen is also strangely silent, with no background music. Of course that’s not a huge problem since you’ll want to be getting to the episodes rather than spending too much time on the menu, but some music still would have been a nice inclusion.



In terms of the content, this section of the series is unfortunately lacking in gym battles, but there are still some great episodes included, with more than half of them receiving an impressive rating of 8-10 by PocketMonsters.Net’s users in our Episode Guide. Some of the important events covered in the episodes include the captures of Palpitoad, Stunfisk and Roggenrola, Excadrill learning to trust Iris, the battle tournament in Nimbasa Town, and Meowth’s stint of joining Ash and friends. Also of note is that the “Who’s that Pokémon?” eyecatches are included, which for some reason were removed from some of the previous Australian DVD collections. Although this is only a minor feature, it’s still a nice improvement over older releases.



With 24 episodes and 8.5 hours’ run time, Pokémon Season 14 Black & White Collection 2 is excellent value for its RRP of $24.95 (especially with some retailers such as JB Hi-Fi offering it for lower than RRP). The collection is set for release this Wednesday, 6 June 2012 and is currently available for pre-order at most online DVD stores.

Pokémon Smash 87 - Nyarth's ABCs / A Special Feature on Pokéwood! / Maria and Group Member Akiyama Predict the Content of Satoshi and Friends' Movie and Film a Preview / Experiencing Pokéwood in 'B2W2'! (ニャースのあいうえお / ポケウッド大特集！ / マリア＆秋山隊員がサトシたちの映画の内容を予想して予告編を撮影 / 「B2W2」を使ってポケウッドを体験！) aired in Japan on June 3rd, 2012.

During the first commercial break for the show, a new trailer for the upcoming games Pokémon Black 2 White 2 was shown. It included CGI effects of Black Kyurem and White Kyurem and a few in-game screenshots showing the return of Ghetsis, N, Reshiram, Zekrom and Kyurem are shown in the trailer. Screenshots from the trailer have been posted on the imageboard thread.

Commercials

Pocket Monsters Best Wishes Season 2 Trailer

A trailer for the upcoming series Pocket Monsters Best Wishes Season 2 (ポケットモンスター ベストウイッシュ シーズン2) was also shown during the second commercial break. The clip informs viewers that the new series starts on June 21st, 2012 and shows Hikari and Shirona returning as well as Meloetta. Screenshots from the trailer have been posted on the imageboard thread.

Pokéwood

Shoko-tan and Misaki showed off screens from Pokéwood and then Golgo then tried it out by playing it. After selecting a few options to setup his movie in the green screen room, he then premiered his movie for viewers to watch.

As a tie-in to the upcoming TV series Pocket Monsters Best Wishes: Season 2, a twitter account has been opened under the name "The Rocket Gang Secret Empire" (ロケット団ひみつ帝国). The account is allegedly run by Sakaki himself. The twitter account description is as follows:

McDonald's has announced that their Happy Meal toys in both the United States and Australia will feature Pokémon figures and a Pokémon TCG card starting in June of 2012. In Australia, Pikachu, Servine, Dewott and Pignite will be distributed and each toy comes with 1 of 12 random TCG cards.


In the United States, Dewott, Servine, Pignite, Pikachu, Woobat and Axew will be distributed and a random TCG card will also be distributed.


Sources: http://www.happymeal.com/en_US/index.html#/Toys and http://www.happymeal.com.au/en_AU/index.html#/Toys

Press Release

al Pokémon Black and White-themed Happy Meals arrive in participating McDonald's(R) restaurants across North America beginning June 15, 2012, as one of the world's most popular entertainment properties kicks off its second annual Happy Meal promotion with the leading foodservice provider. Pokémon fans visiting North American McDonald's locations June 15--July 5 can purchase a Happy Meal featuring one of twelve al Pokémon Trading Card Game cards, each featuring a special McDonald's "M" foil stamp on the card. The Happy Meal will also include one of six Pokémon figures, including Pikachu and five Unova region Pokémon: Axew, Dewott, Pignite, Servine, and Woobat.(1) The Pokémon Company International continues its McDonald's Pokémon Black and White Happy Meal promotion in major markets around the world later in 2012.

"Last year's Pokémon Happy Meal promotion was a huge hit, and we're certain Pokémon fans will love what's in store this summer," said J.C. Smith, director of Consumer Marketing for The Pokémon Company International. "It's been fun partnering with McDonald's to once again provide something special to our fans."

The Pokémon Black and White Happy Meal promotion will be supported by McDonald's through a fully integrated marketing campaign that includes television advertising, in-store POP, and online activities at McWorld.com and HappyMeal.com.

Four new CDs have been announced and will be released in Japan over the next couple months. Become a Pointer! (やじるしになって!) is the new opening theme for Pocket Monsters Best Wishes Season 2 (ポケットモンスター ベストウイッシュ シーズン2) which debuts on June 21st, 2012. The song is sung by Rica Matsumoto (松本梨香), the CD catalog number is ZMCP-6093 and it will be released on July 18th, 2012 for 1365yen. The CD contains 5 tracks including the 3rd unique ending theme from Best Wishes Seven-colored Arch (七色アーチ) but also the final ending theme from Diamond and Pearl In Your Heart (君の胸にＬａＬａＬａ) which had yet to be released on CD until now.

Also announced was the Nintendo DS Pokémon Black 2 White 2 Super Music Complete (ニンテンドーDS　ポケモンブラック２・ホワイト２　スーパーミュージックコンプリート) CD. The CD will contain game background music from the newest games as well as unreleased tracks from from Black and White, Emerald and Platinum. The 4 disc set will contain 174 tracks and will be released in Japan on July 25th, 2012 for 2,625yen.

The Theatrical Edition Pocket Monsters Best Wishes Feature 'Kyurem VS the Sacred Swordsman Keldeo' and Short 'Meloetta's Sparkling Recital' Music Collection (劇場版ポケットモンスター ベストウイッシュ 長編「 キュレムVS聖剣士 ケルディオ 」&短編「 メロエッタのキラキラリサイタル 」 ミュージックコレクション) CD was also announced and will feature instrumental music from this years anime movie. Once again Shinji Miyazaki (宮崎慎二) and Akifumi Tada (多田彰文) have composed the music for the movie. Not much information has been released about the CD's as that is normal to reduce movie spoilers. The CD's catalog number is ZMCP-6094 and it will be released on August 3rd, 2012 for 2,940yen.

Finally, Aki Okui (奥井亜紀) is releasing a new CD that contains the first ending theme for Pocket Monsters Best Wishes Fanfare of the Heart (NEW Arrange ver.). The CD is called OPENER, its catalog number is ZMCZ-8042, it contains 12 tracks which are mainly other anime themes she has sung, and it will be released on July 25th, 2012 for 2,940 yen.

The CDs have been added to our database and information about them will be updated as it becomes available.

Sources: http://www.pokemon.co.jp/info/2012/05/120525_gd01.html and http://www.neowing.co.jp/

New DVD box sets have been announced in both Australia and North America. The third and final Sinnoh League Victors will be released in North America by Viz but not until September 4, 2012. Pre-order's on Amazon are currently $13.98.

Having already released all the Diamond and Pearl episodes on DVD in Australia, Magna Home Entertainment has announced that the second and final box set for the Pokémon: Black & White season will be released in just a couple weeks on June 6th, 2012. A DVD set of both of the 14th Pokémon movies will also be released in Germany but no Bluray combo set was announced, like it was in France. The DVD's have been added to our database. Below are the details for the newly announced DVD's.

SLV (Box Set 3)	BW (Box Set 2)	Movies 14 German
Release Date: 2012-09-04 DVD DB Link: Click Here	Release Date: 2012-06-06 DVD DB Link: Click Here	Release Date: 2012-08-16 DVD DB Link: Click Here

Pokémon: Season 14 - Black & White: Collection 2

Get ready for battle, with new Pokémon Black & White on DVD - Fans and collectors of all things Poké, be ready on 6th June 2012 to get your own copy of POKÉMON BLACK & WHITE SEASON 14 out on DVD (RRP $24.95AUD). This DVD is the second release of the popular Black and White Season 14. With the success of the Pokémon Black & White Movies in March this year, Pokéfans can add another awesome DVD to their collection.

It’s not always black and white in the Unova region as our heroes Ash, Iris and Cilian are quickly finding out. Can the crafty Meowth be trusted or is he still secretly working for Team Rocket? Is the Litwick Mansion everything it seems or is there something deeper going on behind the scenes? Will Ash ever make it to Nimbasa City and his next gym battle…? In this Pokémon DVD release, Ash Ketchum and his friends Iris and Cilan, realise that the Unova region is a big place—but not big enough for three Pokémon Trainers and all their new rivals! Ash thought he had his hands full with his rival Trip, but Georgia the Dragon Buster wants to beat Iris, and Burgundy, a junior Connoisseur with a grudge, and considers Cilan as her number one target.

From Pokémon gyms to tournaments, there’s never a dull moment as our heroes take on their challengers and tackle new adventures, whether it’s a missing Pokémon mystery or a runaway ghost train!

Pokémon DP: Sinnoh League Victors (Box Set 3)

On their way to the Sinnoh League on Lily of the Valley Island, Ash and friends run into some familiar faces, prompting a series of friendly battles. Then they decide to take a detour when an aspiring archeologist invites them to join him on a treasure hunt. But the real prize awaits when the battles of the Sinnoh League begin! Does Ash have what it takes to make it to the finals?

American singer Donna Summer has died of cancer at the age of 63. She is best known to Pokémon fans for singing the song The Power of One which was used in the English dub movie Pokémon: The Movie 2000. Earlier this campaign year, Republican nomination candidate Herman Cain quoted lyrics from the song which garnered widespread attention as he initially misquoted where he got the lines from.

"Early this morning, we lost Donna Summer Sudano, a woman of many gifts, the greatest being her faith," the singer's family said in a statement issued Thursday, May 17th, 2012.

"While we grieve her passing, we are at peace celebrating her extraordinary life and her continued legacy. Words truly can't express how much we appreciate your prayers and love for our family at this sensitive time."

The official Japanese Pokémon YouTube site has posted the Pokémon Black 2 White 2 Special Official Introductory Movie. The video features scenes from the upcoming games in an animated form. Below is the full video.


Source: http://www.youtube.com/user/PokemonCoJp

The official Japanese Best Wishes website has been announced that Pocket Monsters Best Wishes (ポケットモンスター ベストウイッシュ) will end on June 14th, 2012 with a 1-hour special. On June 21st, 2012, Pocket Monsters Best Wishes Season 2 (ポケットモンスター ベストウイッシュ シーズン2) will debut. The new series will feature Satoshi continuing his journey in Isshu but many of his old acquaintances will also return for the Pokémon World Tournament Junior Cup.

Series Summary

After reuniting with the Champion of the Sinnoh region, Shirona, Satoshi and his friends join her and travel towards the eastern part of the Isshu region, "East Isshu". There, they encounter a lot of Pokémon not found in the Isshu region, like Kairyu, Riolu and Eievui, as well as Satoshi's travelmates from his adventure in the Sinnoh region, Hikari, Pochama and Hikari's other Pokémon. Additionally, the mythical Pokémon Meloetta joins up with Satoshi and the others on their adventure. The "Pokémon World Tournament Junior Cup", where the winner gets to battle Adeku, the Champion of the Isshu region, begins as well. Satoshi and his friends obviously sign up, as does Shirona and Elite Four Member Cattleya. In addition, a new rival appears before Satoshi, and the Boss Sakaki unveils the greatest operation in the Rocket Gang's history. Lots and lots of upcoming events lie waiting!

Series Summary (Japanese)

新たな冒険の舞台で新展開を迎える『ポケットモンスター ベストウイッシュ シーズン2』。シンオウ地方のチャンピオン・シロナと再会したサトシたちは、シロナとともにイッシュ地方の東側“イースト・イッシュ”へ旅立つことに。そこには、カイリューや、リオル、イーブイなど、イッシュ地方以外のさまざまなポケモンたちや、サトシがシンオウ地方でともに冒険をした仲間・ヒカリとポッチャマたちの姿があった。そしてなんと！　幻のポケモン・メロエッタがサトシたちの仲間になって大冒険が始まるのだ。さらに、優勝すればイッシュ地方チャンピオン・アデクに挑戦できるというバトル大会“ポケモンワールドトーナメントジュニアカップ”も開幕。サトシたちはもちろん、シロナや四天王・カトレアも同大会に参加。そのほかにもサトシの新ライバル登場や、ボス・サカキによるロケット団史上最大の大作戦が幕を開けるなど、盛りだくさんの内容となっている。

Source: http://www.famitsu.com/news/201205/15014667.html

Teaser Poster

Pocket Monsters Best Wishes Season 2 Artwork

Upcoming Final Episodes of Best Wishes

Information about the final episodes of the series was also announced on the official website including some pictures from them.

In BW81 - Sekka Gym Match! A Battlefield of Ice!! (セッカジム戦！　氷のバトルフィールド！！) which airs on May 17th, 2012, Meloetta (メロエッタ) will make its anime debut in the new ending Look at this (Mitemite☆Kotchitchi みてみて☆こっちっち). It will also be featured in this years movie short Meloetta's Sparkling Recital (メロエッタのキラキラリサイタル).


In BW84 - Movie Showdown! The Isshu Defense Force Goes into Action!! (映画対決！出撃イッシュ防衛隊！！), a mechanical Bangiras (バンギラス) will rampage into action as Satoshi once again helps make a movie with Luke.


The final episode of Best Wishes will air on June 14st, 2012 with Gym Leader Homika making an appearance.


Source: http://www.pokemon.co.jp/info/2012/05/120515_a01.html