The first-ever live-action Pokémon movie was a 2019 family mystery-adventure film called Detective Pikachu. Though it was a fun and at times touching movie, fans of the original anime had probably hoped to see some familiar faces and storylines that they didn't get to see. That's why future live-action Pokémon movies that closely follow the journey of a trainer (mixed with some memorable catchphrases and characters) would be perfect.
Detective Pikachu was directed and co-written by Rob Letterman and stars Ryan Reynolds who plays a spunky and wise-cracking detective that is an adorable and talking Pikachu. But Justice Smith's character, Tim Goodman, is the only person who can hear and understand Pikachu when he speaks. Tim Goodman was once a Pokémon Trainer but gave up on his pursuit when his mother passed away. Now with his dad missing, he has to team up with Pikachu to help find out what happened. The movie gained a decent amount of fans with about 79% of audience members giving it a positive review. But even with Ryan Reynolds' charming and witty jokes, there were many who thought the mystery was quite predictable and a little basic. And although it is a family movie, the whole thing felt a bit too silly and hollow.
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In comparison to the movie, Pokémon the anime begins with Ash—a 10-year-old boy who is finally able to start training Pokémon. But the day Ash is supposed to get his first Pokémon, he oversleeps and is stuck with the last available one named Pikachu. Pikachu is naughty and sometimes aggressive towards Ash because he does not trust him nor does he want to stay in his Poké Ball. But when Ash saves Pikachu from a group of Pokémon trying to hurt him, Pikachu starts to soften up towards his trainer. Ash's goal is to become a Pokémon Master and "catch 'em all." Along the way, he makes new friends and encounters some enemies, including an iconic trio that is part of the criminal organization, Team Rocket.
Part of what makes the original Pokémon anime so memorable and interesting is the characters. There is a character for people of all ages and genders to relate to. Probably the character most young children will relate to is Ash. He is determined to succeed and be the best, traits almost anyone can relate to or at least admire. Misty is another 10-year-old girl who first appeared when she lent Ash her bicycle. She often acts as a coach for Ash during battles. Misty has 3 older sisters who were favored over her in her family. She often felt excluded by her sisters, so she left home to become a Water-Type Pokémon Master and prove herself to her family. Brock is also a friend Ash meets. He is sensitive and smart. Brock would rather care for the Pokémon than fight with them even though he is a Gym Leader who doesn't want to disappoint his family.
But perhaps the most interesting and fun characters in the show are Jesse, James, and Meowth. As mentioned before, they are part of Team Rocket, but they aren't exactly very highly regarded in their organization. Team Rocket is an enemy group focused on stealing other Trainers' Pokémon. When Ash and his Pikachu stopped the trio on one of their assignments, they decided to follow him around until they could one day finally get revenge on him for their humiliating defeat. This of course comes with a ton of quirky and catchy one-liners that can be heard at least once every episode. Probably the most well-known phrases being "Prepare for trouble. Make it double" or "Surrender now, or prepare to fight!" Often times the 'double trouble' phrase will be made into a rhyme to match the current situation.
The Team Rocket trio is a group of eccentric characters that are usually represented as having little money, probably due to them spending it all on stylish costuming and advanced gadgets to capture Pikachu. Although they are usually used as comedic relief, the trio can sometimes be a real threat to Ash as they become stronger through multiple battles. Seeing these characters come to life in a live-action movie adaption would satisfy old fans while also bringing in new fans.
It can be assumed that the working-class trio would be a great representation for the LGBTQ+ community. Fans have theorized that both Jessie and James are gay, while Meowth is somewhere in the middle with a non-binary gender identity. What's great about the original anime is that these LGBTQ+ characters are represented without focusing so much on their personal lives or making a big deal about their sexual orientation.
Aside from the characters, the plot of the original Pokémon anime is a strong one. Getting to see a young trainer go on their journey to be the best version of themself they can be is exciting and inspirational. And when Ash finally catches the last Pokémon, it will be a fulfilling and accomplished moment even for audience members who were able to go on Ash's mission with him. Even though Detective Pikachu had a lot of fun moments and fan-favorite Pokémon, the original anime had such a diverse group of characters and classic story that would surely make for great Pokémon movies.
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