"Pokémon Mewtwo! I Am Here" Review: Mewtwo's epic story and its appeal

Pokémon Mewtwo! I Am Here Mewtwo SAGA - A deep insight and moving journey

■Overview of the work

"Pokémon Mewtwo! I Am Here Mewtwo Saga" is a TV special that aired on TV Tokyo on December 30, 2000, and is an anime based on the Pokémon game series. The 94-minute long, one-episode story was directed by Kunihiko Yuyama and Masamitsu Hidaka. Animation was handled by OLM, and production was handled by TV Tokyo, MEDIA NET, and Shogakukan Shueisha Productions. The copyright belongs to Nintendo, Creatures, GAME FREAK, TV Tokyo, ShoPro, and JR Kikaku, and the story delves deeply into the world of Pokémon.

■ Story

In "Mewtwo Strikes Back," Mewtwo, who realized his mistake and set off on a journey with his copy Pokémon, lived peacefully at the top of a mountain called Pure's Rock. However, Mewtwo was unable to find the answer to the question, "Who am I?" Meanwhile, Satoshi and his friends were on their journey when they reached the foot of Pure's Rock and missed the only bus that was running. There, they met Luna, a woman who runs an inn at the foot of the mountain, and decided to stay at her inn.

The next day, while Luna was talking to her about Pure's Rock and the water of Pure River, Dr. Penicillina and her assistant Domino, who were investigating the water of Pure River, came to Luna's inn and asked if they could stay the night. However, as soon as Luna heard Penicillina's request to investigate the water of the river, her expression clouded over. She was also a naturalist, and was concerned that investigating the water of Pure River would destroy the surrounding nature.

At that moment, Team Rocket appears in front of Satoshi and his friends and takes Pikachu away. Satoshi and his friends chase Team Rocket's balloon with Luna and Penicillina, and somehow manage to catch up with them. However, Domino, who was accompanying the group, suddenly shoots down Team Rocket's balloon along with Satoshi and his friends, and flies away in a small rocket. In fact, Domino is a member of Team Rocket, and was searching for Mewtwo under Giovanni's orders. Then, upon receiving news that Mewtwo had been spotted at the top of Pure's Rock, Giovanni heads to Pure's Rock to capture Mewtwo and the copy Pokémon.

Pikachu falls to the top of Pure's Rock with Team Rocket, where he is reunited with his copy Pikachu and Mewtwo, but Mewtwo senses that Team Rocket is approaching and tries to let the copy Pokémon escape. However, before the Pokémon can completely escape, Team Rocket arrives, and Mewtwo is forced to be captured by Sakaki, using the remaining copy Pokémon as shields. Meanwhile, Satoshi, Luna and the others fall onto a small island in Lake Clear, the source of the Pure River at the top of Pure's Rock, and discover the secret of the water of the Pure River, but Domino and the others appear and capture Satoshi and the others along with the copy Pokémon living on the island.

After successfully capturing Mewtwo, Sakaki sets his sights on a small island in Lake Clear, and plans to build a secret base for Team Rocket there. However, his actions lead to an unexpected turn of events...

■ Characters

There are many fascinating characters in this work. The main characters are introduced below.

• Satoshi (voiced by Matsumoto Rika) - A boy who dreams of becoming a Pokémon Master. He continues his adventures with Pikachu.
• Pikachu (voiced by Ikue Otani) - Satoshi's partner and most loyal friend. An electric type Pokémon with high fighting power.
• Takeshi (voice: Yuji Ueda) - Satoshi's traveling companion, aiming to become a Pokémon breeder. He's a reliable older brother figure.
• Kasumi (voiced by Iizuka Mayumi) - Satoshi's travel companion, a Pokémon trainer who specializes in water-type Pokémon. She is intelligent and reliable.
• Togepi (voiced by Korogi Satomi) - Misty's Pokémon, said to bring good luck. It has an adorable appearance.
• Domino (voiced by Kotono Mitsuishi) - A member of Team Rocket, she is searching for Mewtwo under Sakaki's orders. Although she has a ruthless personality, she has great fighting abilities.
• Penicillina (voiced by Koyama Rikiya) - A medical doctor who visits the Pure River to investigate its water. He is also interested in nature conservation.
• Mewtwo (voiced by Masaaki Ichimura) - A Pokémon created by humans, he has great powers and is on a journey to find his own identity.

■ Staff

Many talented people were involved in the production of this work. Below are the main staff members:

• Screenplay : Takeshi Shuto
• Storyboard and direction : Koji Fukazawa, Kiyotaka Igasama, Yuji Asada
• Animation director - Sayuri Ichiishi, Akihiro Tamagawa, Masaaki Iwane

■ Evaluation and impressions

"Pokémon Mewtwo! I Am Here Mewtwo Saga" is one of the Pokémon series with a particularly deep story and character growth. Mewtwo's journey of self-discovery will deeply touch viewers. Satoshi and his friends' adventure and their showdown with Team Rocket are packed with scenes that fans of the series won't want to miss.

Particularly impressive is Mewtwo's inner conflict and growth. After realizing his mistake in "Mewtwo Strikes Back," Mewtwo continues his journey to find his own identity, which gives viewers many insights. In addition, Luna and Penicillina's actions to protect the natural environment of Pure's Rock and Pure River also serve as an opportunity to raise awareness of environmental issues.

The quality of the animation is also high, especially the Mewtwo battle scenes and the beautiful scenery of Pure's Rock. The technical skills of animation directors Sayuri Ichiishi, Akihiro Tamagawa, and Masaaki Iwane shine in this work. In addition, the story written by Takeshi Shuto has the power to draw the viewer in.

■ Recommendation points

Here are some reasons why I recommend this work:

• Deep storyline - Mewtwo's journey of self-discovery and the adventures of Satoshi and his friends will leave viewers deeply moved.
• Beautiful animation - The Pure Rock landscapes and Mewtwo's battle scenes are beautifully drawn.
• Character Growth - The growth of characters such as Mewtwo is depicted, giving viewers many insights.
• Environmental Awareness - The program depicts actions to protect the natural environment of Pure's Rock and Pure River, helping to raise awareness of environmental issues.

■ Related works

If you enjoyed this work, we also recommend the following related works:

• Pokémon: Mewtwo Strikes Back - A story about the birth of Mewtwo and his subsequent actions. It is a prequel to "I Am Here."
• Pokémon XY&Z - A series depicting Satoshi's new adventures and Pokémon battles, including Mewtwo.
• Pokémon Everyone's Gathered! Pikachu Outbreak! - An episode centered around Pikachu that will let you rediscover the charm of Pokémon.

■ Summary

"Pocket Monsters Mewtwo! I Am Here Mewtwo Saga" is a work that depicts the development of characters with a particularly deep storyline among the Pokemon series. It is full of scenes that you cannot miss, such as Mewtwo's journey of self-discovery, the adventure of Satoshi and his friends, and the confrontation with Team Rocket. In addition, with beautiful animation and content that raises awareness of environmental issues, it is a work that can be recommended not only to Pokemon fans but also to a wide range of audiences. Please experience this moving journey.