Pokémon THE ORIGIN review: A return to the roots and new appeal

"Pokémon THE ORIGIN" - A vivid animation that depicts the origins of the game

Overview

"Pokémon THE ORIGIN" is an animated series that recreates the world of the 1996 game "Pokémon Red and Green." It was broadcast on TV Tokyo on October 2, 2013, and while faithfully depicting the origins of the series, it develops the story from a new perspective. Comprised of four episodes, each 27 minutes long, this work depicts the adventures of Pokémon, and for fans it is a special animation that combines nostalgia with freshness.

■ Story

Set in the Kanto region, the adventures of young Red begin when he receives his first partner Pokémon, Charmander, from Professor Oak, an authority on Pokémon research. Entrusted by the professor with completing the Pokédex, Red and his partner Charmander have many encounters and battles together. After battling his rival Green, challenging Gym Leader Takeshi, facing off against the evil organization Team Rocket, and fighting a fierce battle with Team Rocket's boss, Giovanni, Red heads towards an encounter with an unknown Pokémon. The adventures of "Pokémon Red and Green" are brought to life in vivid animation.

■Explanation

This work, created to commemorate the release of the latest installment in the Pokémon series, Pokémon X and Y, is an original animation that depicts the world of Pokémon Red and Green, the origin of the series, for the first time. By faithfully recreating the story of the game while incorporating expressions and direction unique to animation, it has been made enjoyable for both fans of the original work and new viewers. The four directors are Itsuro Kawasaki, Yukio Kuroda, Hideya Takahashi, and Daiki Tomiyasu, and each episode is drawn in a different style.

■Cast

The story is played by Junko Takeuchi as the main character Red, Takuya Eguchi as his rival Green, Koji Mori as Professor Oak, and Tomokazu Sugita as the gym leader Takeshi. The performances, which make the most of the individuality of each character, portray the story in greater depth and with more emotion.

■ Main staff

The four directors are Itsuro Kawasaki (Production IG), Yukio Kuroda (XEBEC), Hideya Takahashi (XEBEC), and Daiki Tomiyasu (OLM). The character designer is Hatsushige Kato (XEBEC), and the sound director is Masafumi Mima. The work is supported by the individuality of each staff member in the direction, the detailed character design, and the immersive sound.

■Main Characters

The main character, Red, receives a Charmander from Professor Oak and sets off on an adventure to complete the Pokédex. Red's childhood friend and rival, Green, is Professor Oak's grandson and is entrusted with completing the Pokédex together with Red. Professor Oak, an authority on Pokémon research, gives Red and Green their Pokédex and their first partner Pokémon. Brock, leader of the Nibi Gym, stands in Red's way as a user of rock-type Pokémon. Red's mother, Mama, warmly watches over Red's adventure.

■ Evaluation and impressions

While fans of the original game will feel nostalgic about "Pokémon THE ORIGIN," they will also feel a sense of freshness in the story and character depth depicted from a new perspective. In particular, the scenes depicting the relationship between Red and Green and the bond between Pokémon capture emotional movements that were not felt in the original game. Another appeal of this work is that a different director is in charge of each episode, allowing you to enjoy a variety of direction and perspectives.

The animation quality is also high, and the movements of the Pokémon and the power of the battle scenes are impressive. In particular, the showdown with Team Rocket at the Pokémon Tower and the fight with Sakaki faithfully reproduce the tension of the original game. Furthermore, the Pokémon designs and background depictions are detailed, making this a must-see for fans of the original.

The voice actors' performances are also excellent, especially Junko Takeuchi's Red and Takuya Eguchi's Green, who express the emotions of the characters realistically. Koichi Mori's Professor Oak and Tomokazu Sugita's Takeshi also retain the image of the original work while bringing out new charms that are unique to animation.

■ Recommendation points

"Pokémon THE ORIGIN" is a work that can be enjoyed not only by fans of the original game, but also as an animation. In particular, the following points are recommended.

• Faithful to the original : The story of the Pokémon Red and Green games is faithfully reproduced while incorporating unique animation techniques, making it a film that fans of the original will find both nostalgic and refreshing.
• Diverse Production : Each episode has a different director, so you can enjoy a variety of productions and perspectives. In particular, the power of the battle scenes and the movements of the Pokemon are impressive.
• Character Depth : Scenes depicting the relationship between Red and Green and their bond with their Pokémon capture an emotional dynamic that was not felt in the original game. The voice actors are also fantastic, conveying the characters' feelings realistically.
• High-quality animation : The Pokémon designs and backgrounds are depicted in great detail, making this a must-see for fans of the original. In particular, the battle against Team Rocket at Pokémon Tower and the battle against Giovanni are faithful to the tension of the original game.

Related information

"Pokémon THE ORIGIN" was broadcast on the TV Tokyo network on October 2, 2013. It consists of 4 episodes, each 27 minutes long, depicting the adventures of Pokémon, and is a special animation that fans will find nostalgic and fresh at the same time. The original story is by Tajiri Satoshi and Masuda Junichi, and animation is by OLM, Production IG, and XEBEC. Copyright is ©2013 Pokémon. ©1995-2013 Nintendo/Creatures Inc./GAME FREAK inc.

Conclusion

While fans of the original game will feel nostalgic about "Pokémon THE ORIGIN," the story is depicted from a new perspective and the depth of the characters will also feel fresh. The animation quality is high, and the Pokémon's movements and the power of the battle scenes are stunning. The voice actors' performances are also excellent, and the characters' feelings are expressed realistically. This work is full of many charms, such as faithfulness to the original, diverse direction, character depth, and high-quality animation. We recommend this work not only to Pokémon fans, but also as a work that can be enjoyed as an animation.