News Articles
Baskin Robbins in Japan is having a 31 Ice Cream Pokémon Lots of Pikachu in Celebration of Mewtwo Strikes Back Evolution (サーティワン アイスクリーム「ポケモン ピカチュウいっぱい編」～ミュウツーの逆襲 EVOLUTION公開記念～) campaign from August 1st, 2019 to August 30th, 2019. A commercial for the campaign features Pokémon super fan Nicole Fujita.
Pikachu's Thunderbolt Fruit Mix (ピカチュウの10まんボルト! フルーツミックス) is the featured product of the campaign which has small colored candy in the fruit sorbet as well as scattered Pikachu head sweets. Those that order 2 scoops will receive 1 of 3 different cups featuring Pikachu, Mewtwo or Mew.
As a bonus, those that order a cup will receive a limited Pikachu spoon. Only one spoon will be given out per cup until supplies last and then regular spoons will be distributed. For an additional 100 yen, patrons can increase the scoop size from a small double to a regular double.
Also for sale will be a Pikachu Ice Cream Cake and an Eievui Ice Cream Cake which come with a cute cake try and colorfully designed box. The Pikachu cake features their popular number 1 favored mint and chocolate ice cream with Pop Rock candies with and additional Strawberry Ice Cream outer layer to give a refreshing acidity and sweet taste.
The Eievui cake has Caramel Ribbon Ice Cream and a Milk Chocolate Ice Cream outer layer which is a perfect match for the Caramel Ribbon Ice Cream.
A Pokémon Variety Pack will also be available featuring 6 different flavors.
Source: https://www.31ice.co.jp/contents/topics/190731_01.html
YouTube Clip - 31 Ice Cream Pokémon Lots of Pikachu in Celebration of Mewtwo Strikes Back Evolution
Original Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uyV8DpkZtCI
Mewtwo Strikes Back Evolution debuted in Japanese theaters on July 12th, 2019 and it was up against Disney's Toy Story 4 for their opening weekend. Movie 22 placed second behind Toy Story 4. It was shown on 408 screens and 454000 tickets were sold for Saturday and Sunday, generating 553 million yen. This placed it 110.6% above last years movie Everyone's Story in it's first week and it ended up with a final revenue of 3.9 billion yen, so it's a decent start for Movie 22. Toy Story 4 made 1.3 billion yen in the same weekend.
Source: https://eiga.com/ranking/
The official Pokémon movie website has updated. Translations follow:
Join your fellow fans in showing your support for those emotional impressions we've all experienced
The legendary event that sold out immediately after tickets went on sale last year
is going to be held once again!
You'll be free to express your support for your favorite Pokémon!
And you can cheer for your favorite characters too, if you want!
Let's all loudly scream out our passionate feelings towards the movie screen!
And she'll be joining you again this year as well!
Shoko Nakagawa, who handled the theme song alongside Sachiko Kobayashi,
will be sitting there in the audience with you, cheering passionately.
Tickets are available until midnight Tuesday July 16th!
Get them here!
Make sure to take the opportunity to join!
Theater: Shinjuku Wald 9
Date and time: Friday July 19th, 9:40pm
*This event is for those age 18 or older only.
*Talking and singing during the movie is allowed.
*Cosplay and props like glowsticks etc are allowed. (Musical instruments are not allowed)
Notes regarding the supportive screening:
Introduction:
"I want to return to being a kid once again - I wonder if I can't become one, even for a day?"
This is a screening for adults that feel this way; Adults that want to return to when they were Pokémon-obsessed kids and cheer on Satoshi and Pikachu once again.
Fill your pockets with lots of Fantasies and come to the theater.
About supporter items:
You may bring supporter items like fans and glowsticks to the screening.
*When you really feel like Pikachu is being super cute, wave a yellow glowstick.
*When you want to show your respect to Mewtwo, act dignified with purple.
*When Satoshi shows off his Super Masaran power, cheer him on with red.
*When the tomboyish mermaid Kasumi overflows with cuteness, make a splash with blue.
*When the mythical Pokémon Mew appears, impress it with pink.
About cheers:
Since you went to the trouble of attending this screening, you should cheer your lungs out! Quips, shouts of joy, cheers; you name it, it's allowed. Even if it's unclear what you're saying, "everyone should understand how you feel"!
*When Mewtwo wakes up in the lab, we should yell the answers to his questions at him.
"Where am I?" -> "The theater!"
"Who am I?" -> "Mewtwo!"
*When your favorite Pokémon appear, you should scream its name.
"Donfaaaaaaaaaaan!"
"Xuuuuuuuuuuuuux!"
"Barnaaaaaaaaaard!"
*You should sing along to "Mezase Pokémon Master"!!
Everyone should sing "Getto daze-i-e-i-e-i-e-i-e-i-e-i-eeee"!
About manners in the theater:
*It's forbidden to suddenly challenge the person next to you to a battle or to throw a monster ball at the screen. In addition, please make it clear to any Pokémon you bring along that they're not to use any moves or such while watching the movie.
*Taking photos or recording video during the movie is strictly forbidden. Junsa-san will be keeping a close watch.
Other notes:
Please tell your future children the tale of this summer when you one day meet them.
Source: https://www.pokemon-movie.jp/news/?p=3785
We Will Hold a Supportive Screening of "Mewtwo Strikes Back Evolution" on Friday July 19th
Join your fellow fans in showing your support for those emotional impressions we've all experienced
The legendary event that sold out immediately after tickets went on sale last year
is going to be held once again!
You'll be free to express your support for your favorite Pokémon!
And you can cheer for your favorite characters too, if you want!
Let's all loudly scream out our passionate feelings towards the movie screen!
And she'll be joining you again this year as well!
Shoko Nakagawa, who handled the theme song alongside Sachiko Kobayashi,
will be sitting there in the audience with you, cheering passionately.
Tickets are available until midnight Tuesday July 16th!
Get them here!
Make sure to take the opportunity to join!
Theater: Shinjuku Wald 9
Date and time: Friday July 19th, 9:40pm
*This event is for those age 18 or older only.
*Talking and singing during the movie is allowed.
*Cosplay and props like glowsticks etc are allowed. (Musical instruments are not allowed)
Notes regarding the supportive screening:
Introduction:
"I want to return to being a kid once again - I wonder if I can't become one, even for a day?"
This is a screening for adults that feel this way; Adults that want to return to when they were Pokémon-obsessed kids and cheer on Satoshi and Pikachu once again.
Fill your pockets with lots of Fantasies and come to the theater.
About supporter items:
You may bring supporter items like fans and glowsticks to the screening.
*When you really feel like Pikachu is being super cute, wave a yellow glowstick.
*When you want to show your respect to Mewtwo, act dignified with purple.
*When Satoshi shows off his Super Masaran power, cheer him on with red.
*When the tomboyish mermaid Kasumi overflows with cuteness, make a splash with blue.
*When the mythical Pokémon Mew appears, impress it with pink.
About cheers:
Since you went to the trouble of attending this screening, you should cheer your lungs out! Quips, shouts of joy, cheers; you name it, it's allowed. Even if it's unclear what you're saying, "everyone should understand how you feel"!
*When Mewtwo wakes up in the lab, we should yell the answers to his questions at him.
"Where am I?" -> "The theater!"
"Who am I?" -> "Mewtwo!"
*When your favorite Pokémon appear, you should scream its name.
"Donfaaaaaaaaaaan!"
"Xuuuuuuuuuuuuux!"
"Barnaaaaaaaaaard!"
*You should sing along to "Mezase Pokémon Master"!!
Everyone should sing "Getto daze-i-e-i-e-i-e-i-e-i-e-i-eeee"!
About manners in the theater:
*It's forbidden to suddenly challenge the person next to you to a battle or to throw a monster ball at the screen. In addition, please make it clear to any Pokémon you bring along that they're not to use any moves or such while watching the movie.
*Taking photos or recording video during the movie is strictly forbidden. Junsa-san will be keeping a close watch.
Other notes:
Please tell your future children the tale of this summer when you one day meet them.
Source: https://www.pokemon-movie.jp/news/?p=3785
Jul 15 2019
JR East Pokémon Stamp Rally 2019
The JR East Pokémon Stamp Rally 2019 is a stamp-collecting event sponsored by JR East. Collect unique stamps in many of the JR East major train stations centered around the Tokyo metropolitan area. Stamp-collecting pamphlets are available in the station. Prizes and other rewards can be earned based on the number of stamps you collect. The stamp rally takes place from July 12th, 2019 until August 25th, 2019.
The stamps at each station and the Goal are outside the ticket gates. You will need a train ticket or Suica to reach each station. Stamp bootlets are limited to one per persons. Prizes are available while supplies last. Those that collect 6 stamps gets an Original Pass Case and those that collect all the stamps get a special Invitation-look folder for your stamp booklet.
Source: https://www.jreast.co.jp/pokemon-rally/
The official Pokémon movie website has updated. Translations follow:
Newspapers/Magazines:
Saturday July 13th:
"Corocoro Comic" - More info on the attendance gifts, etc.
Tuesday July 16th:
"Shukan Josei" - Interview (with Sachiko Kobayashi and Shoko Nakagawa)
Friday July 19th:
"Shukan Taishu" - Interview (with Koichi Yamadera)
*Note that these are the scheduled publication dates, and as such are subject to change without notice.
Source: https://www.pokemon-movie.jp/news/?p=3783
Media Information
Newspapers/Magazines:
Saturday July 13th:
"Corocoro Comic" - More info on the attendance gifts, etc.
Tuesday July 16th:
"Shukan Josei" - Interview (with Sachiko Kobayashi and Shoko Nakagawa)
Friday July 19th:
"Shukan Taishu" - Interview (with Koichi Yamadera)
*Note that these are the scheduled publication dates, and as such are subject to change without notice.
Source: https://www.pokemon-movie.jp/news/?p=3783
The official Pokémon movie website has updated. Translations follow:
This drawing contest was held in collaboration with 12 Shogakukan magazines!
We received lots of entries from Pokémon Fan, Kindergartener Magazine, TV-kun, First Grader Magazine, Pucchigumi, Ciáo,
Corocoro Comic, Shonen Sunday, Corocoro Aniki, Corocoro Ichiban!, Shogakukan Kids,
and Sunday Webry x Pixiv this year as well!
We will now announce the grand prize winners through lucky prize winners from each magazine!!
Click to see the winning artwork:
Source: http://www.pokemon-movie.jp/illust_contest_result/
Announcing the Results of the Mewtwo Strikes Back Evolution Drawing Contest!
This drawing contest was held in collaboration with 12 Shogakukan magazines!
We received lots of entries from Pokémon Fan, Kindergartener Magazine, TV-kun, First Grader Magazine, Pucchigumi, Ciáo,
Corocoro Comic, Shonen Sunday, Corocoro Aniki, Corocoro Ichiban!, Shogakukan Kids,
and Sunday Webry x Pixiv this year as well!
We will now announce the grand prize winners through lucky prize winners from each magazine!!
Click to see the winning artwork:
Source: http://www.pokemon-movie.jp/illust_contest_result/
Corocoro Online has updated with the sixth part of the Mewtwo Strikes Back Evolution Legend/Legend Collaboration Artwork Project. Translations follow:
Mine Yoshizaki draws a Pokémon picture with intense passion!!
"Mewtwo Strikes Back Evolution", the full 3DCG remake of the movie that served as the ultimate starting point for the Pokémon movie series, finally premieres Friday July 12th!!
To celebrate this return of the legend itself, legendary manga artists and celebrities that love Pokémon have drawn pictures based on "Mewtwo Strikes Back Evolution"!
For this sixth installment, Mine Yoshizaki of "Arcade Gamer Fubuki" and "Sgt. Frog" fame joins the project!! This is Yoshizaki's first time drawing Pokémon...
This memorable first drawing is of Mewtwo, as well as Satoshi's Pikachu and the Copy Pikachu!
This is the Copy Pikachu that was made using Satoshi's Pikachu as a base in "Mewtwo Strikes Back Evolution".
Yoshizaki drew a pleasant illustration of the duo with intense passion!
Even Mewtwo, who's standing in the back there, looks somewhat jealous.
We also have a special comment from Yoshizaki!!
This is the first time I draw a Pokémon picture.
All three members of our household enjoy Pokémon in their own personal way.
Thank you for always being there with us!
I'm looking forward to watching the new movie with my entire family.
-Mine Yoshizaki
Next week, we'll finish off the project by presenting a picture drawn by the singer of the movie's theme song "Kaze to issho ni"! The custodian of Pokénchi!! Shoko Nakagawa!!!
Look forward to seeing what kind of drawing we'll get!!
Sgt. Frog 1
Author: Mine Yoshizaki
Price: 540 yen + tax
Format: Non-standard B6
Pages: 168
Details: https://www.kadokawa.co.jp/product/199999713307/
Source: https://corocoro.jp/56642/
The "Mewtwo Strikes Back Evolution" Premiere Celebration Project! Part 6: Mine Yoshizaki of "Sgt. Frog" fame draws "The Shocking Duo! Pikachu and Copy Pikachu"
Mine Yoshizaki draws a Pokémon picture with intense passion!!
"Mewtwo Strikes Back Evolution", the full 3DCG remake of the movie that served as the ultimate starting point for the Pokémon movie series, finally premieres Friday July 12th!!
To celebrate this return of the legend itself, legendary manga artists and celebrities that love Pokémon have drawn pictures based on "Mewtwo Strikes Back Evolution"!
For this sixth installment, Mine Yoshizaki of "Arcade Gamer Fubuki" and "Sgt. Frog" fame joins the project!! This is Yoshizaki's first time drawing Pokémon...
This memorable first drawing is of Mewtwo, as well as Satoshi's Pikachu and the Copy Pikachu!
Artwork theme: "The Shocking Duo! Pikachu and Copy Pikachu"
This is the Copy Pikachu that was made using Satoshi's Pikachu as a base in "Mewtwo Strikes Back Evolution".
Yoshizaki drew a pleasant illustration of the duo with intense passion!
Even Mewtwo, who's standing in the back there, looks somewhat jealous.
We also have a special comment from Yoshizaki!!
This is the first time I draw a Pokémon picture.
All three members of our household enjoy Pokémon in their own personal way.
Thank you for always being there with us!
I'm looking forward to watching the new movie with my entire family.
-Mine Yoshizaki
Next week, we'll finish off the project by presenting a picture drawn by the singer of the movie's theme song "Kaze to issho ni"! The custodian of Pokénchi!! Shoko Nakagawa!!!
Look forward to seeing what kind of drawing we'll get!!
Sgt. Frog 1
Author: Mine Yoshizaki
Price: 540 yen + tax
Format: Non-standard B6
Pages: 168
Details: https://www.kadokawa.co.jp/product/199999713307/
Source: https://corocoro.jp/56642/
Jul 10 2019
Movie 22 Website Updates with Report from Sachiko Kobayashi's Appearance at Adult-Only Pre-Screening
The official Pokémon movie website has updated. Translations follow:
An adult-only pre-screening was held in Tokyo Monday July 8th.
Opportunities to buy tickets were available via lottery, and this time we got an incredible 10 times as many people signing up for it as there were tickets!
Some of the fans lucky enough to win could be seen crying from the point the movie started, presumably due to all the memories of their childhood that were coming at them.
It looked like especially many were holding handkerchiefs and tissues against their eyes as "Kaze to issho ni" played alongside the end credits, looking overcome by emotions.
And believe it or not, but on this day, guest voice actor and theme song performer Sachiko Kobayashi was actually watching the movie from the audience alongside the fans...!
When a surprise stage appearance by Sachiko Kobayashi was announced after the screening, she was pressing her hands against her eyes as she made her descent on the stage, saying "I was crying from the very beginning of the movie too..."!
The audience received her warmly and with thunderous applause.
When Kobayashi started singing Kaze to issho ni with the line "Aruki tsuzukete...", the audience could be heard quietly singing along as if they knew the lyrics by heart.
Sobbing voices could also be heard alongside them, the audience breaking out in tears of gratitude.
Sachiko Kobayashi's comment:
The first thing that came to mind as I watched this year's movie was how wonderful the visuals were. And just like when I watched the first movie, I couldn't stop crying when I saw the movie's bonds between Pokémon and Pokémon, and between Pokémon and humans, that depicted our world's "eternal theme": "The desire for a world without conflict".
There were people tearing up from the start of the second half all the way until the end credits...
Once again I feel how this movie, and its theme song, is filled with the memories of many many people.
Those of you who were children in 1998 grew up, became members of society and started working. I felt like your mother as I sang this song with all my heart, hoping to reach you.
When I was singing the song right now, there were people sitting right in front of me, crying... and I got worried I wouldn't be able to sing properly because I'd start crying along with them. (laughs)
"Mewtwo Strikes Back Evolution" finally premieres Friday July 12th!!
Source: https://www.pokemon-movie.jp/news/?p=3776
Sachiko Kobayashi Descended to the Adult-Only Pre-Screening to Great Surprise!!
An adult-only pre-screening was held in Tokyo Monday July 8th.
Opportunities to buy tickets were available via lottery, and this time we got an incredible 10 times as many people signing up for it as there were tickets!
Some of the fans lucky enough to win could be seen crying from the point the movie started, presumably due to all the memories of their childhood that were coming at them.
It looked like especially many were holding handkerchiefs and tissues against their eyes as "Kaze to issho ni" played alongside the end credits, looking overcome by emotions.
And believe it or not, but on this day, guest voice actor and theme song performer Sachiko Kobayashi was actually watching the movie from the audience alongside the fans...!
When a surprise stage appearance by Sachiko Kobayashi was announced after the screening, she was pressing her hands against her eyes as she made her descent on the stage, saying "I was crying from the very beginning of the movie too..."!
The audience received her warmly and with thunderous applause.
When Kobayashi started singing Kaze to issho ni with the line "Aruki tsuzukete...", the audience could be heard quietly singing along as if they knew the lyrics by heart.
Sobbing voices could also be heard alongside them, the audience breaking out in tears of gratitude.
Sachiko Kobayashi's comment:
The first thing that came to mind as I watched this year's movie was how wonderful the visuals were. And just like when I watched the first movie, I couldn't stop crying when I saw the movie's bonds between Pokémon and Pokémon, and between Pokémon and humans, that depicted our world's "eternal theme": "The desire for a world without conflict".
There were people tearing up from the start of the second half all the way until the end credits...
Once again I feel how this movie, and its theme song, is filled with the memories of many many people.
Those of you who were children in 1998 grew up, became members of society and started working. I felt like your mother as I sang this song with all my heart, hoping to reach you.
When I was singing the song right now, there were people sitting right in front of me, crying... and I got worried I wouldn't be able to sing properly because I'd start crying along with them. (laughs)
"Mewtwo Strikes Back Evolution" finally premieres Friday July 12th!!
Source: https://www.pokemon-movie.jp/news/?p=3776
Jul 08 2019
Movie 22 Website Updates with Report from LA Premiere, Pokémon GO Event and Special Promo Video
The official Pokémon movie website has updated. Translations follow:
"Mewtwo Strikes Back Evolution" was invited to the largest anime convention in North America, "Anime Expo 2019" in Los Angeles, USA, where it had its LA premiere Thursday July 4th (local time)!
This first international screening was attended by the person indispensable to Pokémon, Satoshi's voice actress Rica Matsumoto, as well as Director Kunihiko Yuyama and Director Motonori Sakakibara.
The day before the premiere, the three of them visited the entrance of TCL Chinese Theatre, where the premiere of the first Pokémon movie, "Pocket Monsters the Movie: Mewtwo Strikes Back", had taken place.
As they were standing at this spot that had become "the Pokémon movies' first step towards the world", they talked about their thoughts towards the next day's screening, which was going to be this movie's overseas debut.
Matsumoto:
There's going to be so many people watching the movie with us I get goosebumps at the mere mention of the premiere. All kinds of people continue to love the Pokémon World, including both the video games and the movies, and I would love if it could connect them and form a circle of happy faces. Let's get smiles!
Director Yuyama
I came to America to see an actual screening of the first movie back when it was in theaters here, and it was a very novel experience to witness the audience yelling "Yay!" during the opening and when Satoshi made his appearance. Now I'm back in America again after 21 years, and I'm really excited to see how the movie will be received this time.
Director Sakakibara
3DCG animation is mainstream in America, so I'm looking forward to seeing how the movie will be received. I was working on a movie back when the first Pokémon movie premiered, and when I saw with my own eyes that a movie like that, a product of the Japanese entertainment industry, became such a massive blockbuster, I was thinking how I really wanted to make a movie like that myself one day. Though I'm still astonished I got to work on one now, 20 years later.
On the day of the LA premiere itself, Anime Expo hosted an autograph session, a screening of the Japanese version of the feature film with English subtitles, as well as stage greetings.
At the autograph session, we got both fans cosplaying Satoshi taking photos with Matsumoto and fans that wanted their personal Pokémon memorabilia autographed.
Some fans had even been waiting in line all night, and they exploded with joy when they got their autograph, showing just how much it meant to them.
When the screening finally begun, the audience burst out in loud cheers.
Adults and children displayed a variety of emotions as they were taking in the movie; One moment they were watching the opening scene where Mewtwo swears revenge on the humans with their eyes glued to the screen as they sat there in complete silence, the next they were roaring with laughter as the Rocket Gang made their appearance, and at the end they were watching the exchange between Satoshi and Pikachu with their cheeks wet with tears.
And when the post-screening stage greetings began, Matsumoto, Director Yuyama and Director Sakakibara received a warm welcome by the local fans, who greeted them with loud cheers and thunderous applause.
Matsumoto:
I'm seeing the earliest days of Pokémon flash before my eyes, and I really wish I could've told everyone back then that a day like this would come. Seeing your reactions, like how you cheer loudly out of love for Pokémon, brings tears to my eyes.
Director Yuyama:
I've made more than 20 Pokémon movies so far, but this is the first 3DCG one, so this time I was watching your reactions to it with the same excitement as if this was my debut movie. What did you all think of it? (the audience applauded loudly)
Director Sakakibara:
I could feel the Pokémon love in your cheers, and it made me really happy we made this movie. This is an amazing feeling.
When Matsumoto performed "Mezase Pokémon Master", the enthusiasm from the audience hit its absolute peak.
The phrase "Pokémon is a universal language" truly fits this situation, and Matsumoto, Director Yuyama and Director Sakakibara all got caught up in the whirlpool of enthusiasm the LA premiere had turned into!
They truly had a blast as the event concluded with a commemorative photo taken with roughly 2800 Pokémon fans.
After the highly successful LA premiere had concluded, Matsumoto commented "All kinds of things were coming to my mind and I got deeply moved, thinking about how it's really been 21 years now. I'm really grateful I've had all this, it's something very few people will ever be able to feel or experience. I'm happy to have shared my song and thoughts with all you LA fans."
The movie and Pokémon GO are having a crossover! Armored Mewtwo makes its appearance!
A Pokémon GO promotion video that utilized various scenes from "Mewtwo Strikes Back Evolution", a crossover between the two, premiered at Anime Expo.
Armored Mewtwo, the restrained form from the movie that suppresses Mewtwo's power, will appear in Pokémon GO between Thursday July 11th and Wednesday July 31st Japanese time.
And if you win a raid battle against it, you'll have the chance to get Armored Mewtwo as well!
A special promotion video set to one of singer Rita Ora's songs has been released!
A special promotion video for "Mewtwo Strikes Back Evolution" featuring one of Rita Ora's songs was released as well. Rita Ora is an artist popular all over the world that also handled the theme song for "Detective Pikachu", which was released in May this year.
This is a must see video where Ora's bright, clear and wonderful singing goes perfectly with the beautiful 3DCG Pokémon world.
The LA premiere came to an end amidst great enthusiasm.
The Japanese premiere finally takes place Friday July 12th!
Keep looking more and more forward to it!
©2019 Niantic, Inc.
©2019 Pokémon. ©1995-2019 Nintendo/Creatures Inc. /GAME FREAK inc.
Source: https://www.pokemon-movie.jp/news/?p=3763
"Mewtwo Strikes Back"'s LA Premiere was a Huge Success! We Also Release the Latest News on Pokémon GO, as Well as a Special Video That Features Rita Ora's Singing!!
The Enthusiastically Received LA Premiere
"Mewtwo Strikes Back Evolution" was invited to the largest anime convention in North America, "Anime Expo 2019" in Los Angeles, USA, where it had its LA premiere Thursday July 4th (local time)!
This first international screening was attended by the person indispensable to Pokémon, Satoshi's voice actress Rica Matsumoto, as well as Director Kunihiko Yuyama and Director Motonori Sakakibara.
The day before the premiere, the three of them visited the entrance of TCL Chinese Theatre, where the premiere of the first Pokémon movie, "Pocket Monsters the Movie: Mewtwo Strikes Back", had taken place.
As they were standing at this spot that had become "the Pokémon movies' first step towards the world", they talked about their thoughts towards the next day's screening, which was going to be this movie's overseas debut.
Matsumoto:
There's going to be so many people watching the movie with us I get goosebumps at the mere mention of the premiere. All kinds of people continue to love the Pokémon World, including both the video games and the movies, and I would love if it could connect them and form a circle of happy faces. Let's get smiles!
Director Yuyama
I came to America to see an actual screening of the first movie back when it was in theaters here, and it was a very novel experience to witness the audience yelling "Yay!" during the opening and when Satoshi made his appearance. Now I'm back in America again after 21 years, and I'm really excited to see how the movie will be received this time.
Director Sakakibara
3DCG animation is mainstream in America, so I'm looking forward to seeing how the movie will be received. I was working on a movie back when the first Pokémon movie premiered, and when I saw with my own eyes that a movie like that, a product of the Japanese entertainment industry, became such a massive blockbuster, I was thinking how I really wanted to make a movie like that myself one day. Though I'm still astonished I got to work on one now, 20 years later.
On the day of the LA premiere itself, Anime Expo hosted an autograph session, a screening of the Japanese version of the feature film with English subtitles, as well as stage greetings.
At the autograph session, we got both fans cosplaying Satoshi taking photos with Matsumoto and fans that wanted their personal Pokémon memorabilia autographed.
Some fans had even been waiting in line all night, and they exploded with joy when they got their autograph, showing just how much it meant to them.
When the screening finally begun, the audience burst out in loud cheers.
Adults and children displayed a variety of emotions as they were taking in the movie; One moment they were watching the opening scene where Mewtwo swears revenge on the humans with their eyes glued to the screen as they sat there in complete silence, the next they were roaring with laughter as the Rocket Gang made their appearance, and at the end they were watching the exchange between Satoshi and Pikachu with their cheeks wet with tears.
And when the post-screening stage greetings began, Matsumoto, Director Yuyama and Director Sakakibara received a warm welcome by the local fans, who greeted them with loud cheers and thunderous applause.
Matsumoto:
I'm seeing the earliest days of Pokémon flash before my eyes, and I really wish I could've told everyone back then that a day like this would come. Seeing your reactions, like how you cheer loudly out of love for Pokémon, brings tears to my eyes.
Director Yuyama:
I've made more than 20 Pokémon movies so far, but this is the first 3DCG one, so this time I was watching your reactions to it with the same excitement as if this was my debut movie. What did you all think of it? (the audience applauded loudly)
Director Sakakibara:
I could feel the Pokémon love in your cheers, and it made me really happy we made this movie. This is an amazing feeling.
When Matsumoto performed "Mezase Pokémon Master", the enthusiasm from the audience hit its absolute peak.
The phrase "Pokémon is a universal language" truly fits this situation, and Matsumoto, Director Yuyama and Director Sakakibara all got caught up in the whirlpool of enthusiasm the LA premiere had turned into!
They truly had a blast as the event concluded with a commemorative photo taken with roughly 2800 Pokémon fans.
After the highly successful LA premiere had concluded, Matsumoto commented "All kinds of things were coming to my mind and I got deeply moved, thinking about how it's really been 21 years now. I'm really grateful I've had all this, it's something very few people will ever be able to feel or experience. I'm happy to have shared my song and thoughts with all you LA fans."
The movie and Pokémon GO are having a crossover! Armored Mewtwo makes its appearance!
A Pokémon GO promotion video that utilized various scenes from "Mewtwo Strikes Back Evolution", a crossover between the two, premiered at Anime Expo.
Armored Mewtwo, the restrained form from the movie that suppresses Mewtwo's power, will appear in Pokémon GO between Thursday July 11th and Wednesday July 31st Japanese time.
And if you win a raid battle against it, you'll have the chance to get Armored Mewtwo as well!
A special promotion video set to one of singer Rita Ora's songs has been released!
A special promotion video for "Mewtwo Strikes Back Evolution" featuring one of Rita Ora's songs was released as well. Rita Ora is an artist popular all over the world that also handled the theme song for "Detective Pikachu", which was released in May this year.
This is a must see video where Ora's bright, clear and wonderful singing goes perfectly with the beautiful 3DCG Pokémon world.
The LA premiere came to an end amidst great enthusiasm.
The Japanese premiere finally takes place Friday July 12th!
Keep looking more and more forward to it!
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©2019 Pokémon. ©1995-2019 Nintendo/Creatures Inc. /GAME FREAK inc.
Source: https://www.pokemon-movie.jp/news/?p=3763
The official Pokémon movie website has updated. Translations follow:
A beautiful yet powerful picture showing Satoshi and his friends' determination to travel as they stand on a shore dazzling in the morning sun
A series of specially drawn posters are now ready!
This special artwork was drawn by art director Sei Nakashima, who has done art direction and character design for several Hollywood movies, including the Harry Potter series.
Multiple beautiful pieces of artwork depicting Satoshi, Kasumi and Takeshi's journey,
done in a style somewhat different from how the earlier Pokémon movies have been portrayed, have been born from Mr. Nakashima's hand!
Some of this special artwork is now being presented prior to the movie's premiere!
Specially made posters will be put up at theaters showing "Mewtwo Strikes Back Evolution", so please look forward to them!
More special artwork will appear during the movie's end credits, so make sure to sit through them in their entirety!
The movie will finally premiere this Friday!
Make sure to go to the theater and see this artwork with your own eyes!!
Profile: Sei Nakashima
Born in 1970, moved to America by himself at age 18.
Graduated from the Illustration Department at the Otis-Parsons Art Institute in 1995.
The same year, he joined Rhythm & Hues after a short stint at DreamWorks.
He has done art direction and character designs for movies like Harry Potter, Scooby-Doo, The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor, Night at the Museum and Alvin and the Chipmunks, and is also known as a TV ad designer whose work includes Coca-Cola polar bear ads and more. He has also worked on the A Bug's Life attraction at Disney World, video for indoor attractions at Caesar's Palace and Hilton Hotel in Las Vegas, video games like an online poker game and Guitar Hero: Aerosmith, as well as commercial illustrations. In recent years, he has been broadening his range of expression by involving himself in animation development etc. at Mattel, Disney and other companies as a freelancer.
Source: https://www.pokemon-movie.jp/news/?p=3756
We Present Special Artwork by Hollywood Art Director Sei Nakashima!
A beautiful yet powerful picture showing Satoshi and his friends' determination to travel as they stand on a shore dazzling in the morning sun
A series of specially drawn posters are now ready!
This special artwork was drawn by art director Sei Nakashima, who has done art direction and character design for several Hollywood movies, including the Harry Potter series.
Multiple beautiful pieces of artwork depicting Satoshi, Kasumi and Takeshi's journey,
done in a style somewhat different from how the earlier Pokémon movies have been portrayed, have been born from Mr. Nakashima's hand!
Some of this special artwork is now being presented prior to the movie's premiere!
Specially made posters will be put up at theaters showing "Mewtwo Strikes Back Evolution", so please look forward to them!
More special artwork will appear during the movie's end credits, so make sure to sit through them in their entirety!
The movie will finally premiere this Friday!
Make sure to go to the theater and see this artwork with your own eyes!!
Profile: Sei Nakashima
Born in 1970, moved to America by himself at age 18.
Graduated from the Illustration Department at the Otis-Parsons Art Institute in 1995.
The same year, he joined Rhythm & Hues after a short stint at DreamWorks.
He has done art direction and character designs for movies like Harry Potter, Scooby-Doo, The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor, Night at the Museum and Alvin and the Chipmunks, and is also known as a TV ad designer whose work includes Coca-Cola polar bear ads and more. He has also worked on the A Bug's Life attraction at Disney World, video for indoor attractions at Caesar's Palace and Hilton Hotel in Las Vegas, video games like an online poker game and Guitar Hero: Aerosmith, as well as commercial illustrations. In recent years, he has been broadening his range of expression by involving himself in animation development etc. at Mattel, Disney and other companies as a freelancer.
Source: https://www.pokemon-movie.jp/news/?p=3756
