Pokémon the Movie: Mewtwo Strikes Back - Evolution

On a remote island, Ash, Misty and Brock respond to a curious invitation from a shadowy trainer and soon find themselves face to face with Mewtwo, a Pokémon engineered in secret. Their encounter triggers a tense confrontation that tests trust and courage while the world around them holds its breath. This CGI reimagining preserves the emotional heart of the original while leaning into high tech visuals and brisk pacing. As the trio and their enigmatic opponent square off, questions about creation, control and responsibility begin to unfold without revealing the film's ultimate surprises. The result is a compact, action driven tale that still centers friendship and teamwork for both longtime fans and newcomers alike.

Released in 2019 as a CGI remake of the 1998 Pokémon feature, the film was directed by Motonori Sakakibara and Kunihiko Yuyama, with the core material drawn from Satoshi Tajiri, Takeshi Shudo, and Kunihiko Yuyama, bridging classic storytelling with a modern cinematic look.

Critics gave the film mixed notes, praising the updated animation and faithful handling of the central ideas about power and responsibility while noting it falls short of the emotional punch of the original. It reinforces friendship and teamwork and foregrounds the moral costs of creating life.

Animation studio OLM spearheaded the production, turning the classic tale into a feature length CGI remake. The film follows the original premise for modern audiences under the guidance of Kunihiko Yuyama and Motonori Sakakibara, with Rica Matsumoto and Ikue Otani reprising Satoshi and Pikachu, and distribution by Toho.

While not a blockbuster milestone, the Evolution version sparked renewed fan discussion about CGI adaptations of classic anime and drew attention to Mewtwo's ethical questions within the Pokemon mythos. It reminded longtime viewers of the franchise's enduring themes and introduced younger audiences to the Mewtwo legend in homes worldwide.