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 "title": "Pokémon: Mewtwo Strikes Back—Evolution (ミュウツーの逆襲 EVOLUTION)",
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 "excerpt": "Pokémon: Mewtwo Strikes Back—Evolution (ミュウツーの逆襲 EVOLUTION) is a 2019 full-3DCG remake of the 1998 first Pokémon film, directed by Kunihiko Yuyama and Motonori Sakakibara, released by Toho July 12, 2019, and on Netflix worldwide February 27, 2020.",
 "snippet": "Pokémon: Mewtwo Strikes Back—Evolution (ミュウツーの逆襲 EVOLUTION) is a 2019 full-3DCG remake of the 1998 first Pokémon film, directed by Kunihiko Yuyama and Motonori Sakakibara, released by Toho July 12, 2019, and on Netflix worldwide February 27, 2020.",
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 "markdown": "# Pokémon: Mewtwo Strikes Back—Evolution (ミュウツーの逆襲 EVOLUTION)\n\n**Pokémon: Mewtwo Strikes Back—Evolution** (Japanese: ミュウツーの逆襲 EVOLUTION, *Mewtwo's Counterattack Evolution*, officially known as Mewtwo Strikes Back Evolution in Japan) is a 2019 Japanese animated film that remakes the 1998 theatrical film *Pokémon: The First Movie – Mewtwo Strikes Back* entirely in full 3DCG animation. It is the twenty-second Pokémon movie overall and the third released during the broadcast of *Pokémon the Series: Sun & Moon*.<sup>[1](https://bulbapedia.bulbagarden.net/wiki/Mewtwo_Strikes_Back%E2%80%94Evolution)</sup> Toho distributed it in Japanese theaters on July 12, 2019,<sup>[2](https://eiga.com/movie/90450/)</sup> and Netflix released it worldwide outside Japan and Korea on February 27, 2020, the franchise anniversary known as Pokémon Day.<sup>[1](https://bulbapedia.bulbagarden.net/wiki/Mewtwo_Strikes_Back%E2%80%94Evolution)</sup>\n\n| Key fact | Detail |\n|---|---|\n| Japanese release | July 12, 2019, distributed by Toho; 98 minutes, rated G<sup>[2](https://eiga.com/movie/90450/)</sup> |\n| Directors | Kunihiko Yuyama, veteran director of the Pokémon anime, and Motonori Sakakibara of *Rudolf and the Ippaiattena*<sup>[2](https://eiga.com/movie/90450/)</sup> |\n| Basis | Full 3DCG remake of the 1998 first Pokémon film, *Mewtwo Strikes Back*<sup>[2](https://eiga.com/movie/90450/)</sup> |\n| Mewtwo's voice | Masachika Ichimura, who played Mewtwo in the 1998 theatrical version, reprised the role<sup>[2](https://eiga.com/movie/90450/)</sup> |\n| Box office | Japan $26,654,184; worldwide $27,347,118; opening weekend $5,125,662<sup>[3](https://www.boxofficemojo.com/release/rl3897656577/weekend/)</sup> |\n| Streaming | Netflix, February 27, 2020, worldwide outside Japan and Korea<sup>[1](https://bulbapedia.bulbagarden.net/wiki/Mewtwo_Strikes_Back%E2%80%94Evolution)</sup> |\n| Production scale | About two and a half years of production; 208 CG models; 1,168 shots<sup>[4](https://dogasu.bulbagarden.net/movies/2019_pm_msb_evolution/pm_msb_evolution_bts_cgworld.html)</sup> |\n\n## Spoilers\n\n### Story\n\nThe film retells the story of the first Pokémon movie. Mew, a phantom Pokémon said to be the beginning of all Pokémon, appears only to adventurers who have both a pure heart and a strong wish to meet it. As Pokémon researchers around the world track it, one scientist finds a fossil of Mew and commits a forbidden act with it. Mewtwo, a legendary Pokémon created by human ego in the desire to make the strongest Pokémon, is repeatedly experimented on as a weapon and, not knowing why it exists, comes to harbor hatred toward the humans who made it.<sup>[5](https://www.pokemon.co.jp/tv_movie/movie/2019/)</sup> Ash and his friends try to thwart Mewtwo's plan to destroy the world.<sup>[6](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/pokemon_mewtwo_strikes_back_evolution)</sup>\n\n## Cast and crew\n\nThe Japanese cast carried over the television series voices: Rica [Matsumoto](https://www.edgepedia.org/matsumoto) as Ash (Satoshi), Ikue Otani as Pikachu, Megumi Hayashibara as Jessie (Musashi), Shin-ichiro Miki as James (Kojiro), and Inuko Inuyama as Meowth (Nyarth). Masachika Ichimura returned as Mewtwo from the 1998 film, and [Koichi Yamadera](https://www.edgepedia.org/koichi-yamadera) voiced Mew. Kunihiko Yamashita's longtime collaborator Shinji Miyazaki composed the music, the theme song is performed by [Sachiko Kobayashi](https://www.edgepedia.org/sachiko-kobayashi) and Shoko Nakagawa, and the original concept is credited to Pokémon creator Satoshi Tajiri with a script by Takeshi Shudo. Animation production was by OLM Digital.<sup>[2](https://eiga.com/movie/90450/)</sup>\n\n## Production\n\n**A CG remake of the first film.** The project was not confirmed as a complete CG remake of the original film until audiences saw it at its world premiere at [Anime Expo](https://www.edgepedia.org/anime-expo) 2019, earlier in the same month as the film's official Japanese release on July 12, 2019.<sup>[7](https://comicbook.com/anime/news/pokemon-mewtwo-strikes-back-evolution-why-film-was-cg-explained/)</sup> Production lasted about two and a half years, starting in early 2017 with the creation of a pilot movie and wrapping up by the end of June 2019; the film debuted in the United States on July 4, 2019.<sup>[4](https://dogasu.bulbagarden.net/movies/2019_pm_msb_evolution/pm_msb_evolution_bts_cgworld.html)</sup>\n\nThe film had two directors working across two countries: Kunihiko Yuyama was based in Japan and Motonori Sakakibara in the United States, and the teams used the production-tracking tool Shotgun so that work could continue essentially around the clock. OLM Digital in Japan worked with Sprite Animation in the US. The pipeline used Maya with the Arnold renderer, Houdini for effects such as Pikachu's electric attacks and the tears that bring Ash back, Nuke for compositing under ACES color management, [Substance Painter](https://www.edgepedia.org/substance-painter) for textures, MarvelousDesigner for clothing, and XGen for hair and fur.<sup>[4](https://dogasu.bulbagarden.net/movies/2019_pm_msb_evolution/pm_msb_evolution_bts_cgworld.html)</sup>\n\nThe staff numbered over 200 members, or 250 including upper management. The film contained 208 CG models, 109 of them with hair or fur, a large step up from the 21 models of the same studios' previous collaboration, *Rudolf the Black Cat*. Each character model took an average of 25 days with two or three people assigned. The film has 1,168 shots carrying about 1,850 separate tasks.<sup>[4](https://dogasu.bulbagarden.net/movies/2019_pm_msb_evolution/pm_msb_evolution_bts_cgworld.html)</sup>\n\n**Pikachu and the human characters.** Pikachu was the hardest model to get right. The first model looked fine standing on two legs, but when reposed to run on all fours its neck stuck out and ruined the classic Pikachu silhouette, so the team tuned the head position and neck muscles until one model worked in both postures. The animators held special meetings just about Pikachu, gave the character its own digital ring light, and devised about seven lighting setups for it. For Brock (Takeshi), whose eyes are drawn as simple lines in the TV series, the team recreated the closed-eyes look by interpreting the black spaces as clusters of eyelashes placed where real eyelashes grow.<sup>[4](https://dogasu.bulbagarden.net/movies/2019_pm_msb_evolution/pm_msb_evolution_bts_cgworld.html)</sup>\n\nDirector Yuyama's stated aim was to do things the remake could not do with hand-drawn animation, upgrading scenes where possible rather than simply reproducing 1998 in CG. The storm scenes had wave sizes adjusted until they could realistically capsize the heroes' boat, and the long single camera move circling the fight between the original Pokémon and their clones, roughly 30 seconds long, required its own dedicated meeting.<sup>[4](https://dogasu.bulbagarden.net/movies/2019_pm_msb_evolution/pm_msb_evolution_bts_cgworld.html)</sup>\n\n## Differences from the 1998 film\n\nThe official first trailer was released on December 31, 2018.<sup>[8](https://bulbapedia.bulbagarden.net/wiki/2019_Pikachu_Project)</sup> In the Japanese version on Netflix, *Pokémon Theme (Mewtwo Mix)* plays in the opening scene instead of *Aim to Be a Pokémon Master*.<sup>[9](https://bulbapedia.bulbagarden.net/wiki/M22)</sup> Where the credits once ended with footage of Mew soaring away into the mountains, the new version instead depicts Mewtwo and the clones traveling through the air toward Mount Quena, setting up the follow-up special *Mewtwo Returns*.<sup>[8](https://bulbapedia.bulbagarden.net/wiki/2019_Pikachu_Project)</sup> At the Anime Expo screening, the producers revealed they had wanted to make a CGI Pokémon movie for several years, and a preview after the film showed that the next year's Pokémon movie would return to hand-drawn animation.<sup>[10](https://www.pokebeach.com/2019/07/mewtwo-strikes-back-evolution-impressions-changes-and-sequels)</sup>\n\n## Release and reception\n\nThe film premiered in Japan on July 12, 2019.<sup>[11](https://www.crunchyroll.com/news/latest/2020/1/21/mewtwo-strikes-backevolution-cg-movie-hits-netflix-on-pokmon-day)</sup> [Box Office Mojo](https://www.edgepedia.org/box-office-mojo) records $5,125,662 in its opening weekend, ranked second that weekend on its Japanese chart, a Japanese run of $26,654,184, and a worldwide total of $27,347,118.<sup>[3](https://www.boxofficemojo.com/release/rl3897656577/weekend/)</sup> Toho's FACT BOOK 2020 lists the film's 2019 distribution income at 2,980 million yen.<sup>[12](https://www2.jpx.co.jp/disc/96020/140120200413492907.pdf)</sup> It later received theatrical releases in South Korea on September 30, 2020, and in mainland China on December 4, 2020.<sup>[1](https://bulbapedia.bulbagarden.net/wiki/Mewtwo_Strikes_Back%E2%80%94Evolution)</sup>\n\nNetflix and The Pokémon Company International announced in January 2020 that the film would premiere on Netflix around the world outside Japan and Korea, arriving on February 27, 2020.<sup>[13](https://about.netflix.com/en/news/pokemon-and-netflix-team-up-for-global-release-of-pokemon-mewtwo-strikes-back-evolution)</sup> This was the first time in Pokémon's history that the Japanese version of a film was released alongside the English dub; the dub was produced by The Pokémon Company International rather than 4Kids, and one line was written in to honor fans of the original English dub.<sup>[14](https://www.pokebeach.com/2020/02/tpcis-dub-of-mewtwo-strikes-back-evolution-gets-everything-right)</sup>\n\nCritical response to the CG style was mixed. Rotten Tomatoes recorded a 35% Tomatometer from one review, which called the film a fun time that hits nostalgic notes for viewers of the first movie.<sup>[6](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/pokemon_mewtwo_strikes_back_evolution)</sup> On Eiga.com's five-level user rating scale, 23% of the 116 registered reviews at the time of retrieval gave it the top score, with the remainder spread across the lower categories.<sup>[2](https://eiga.com/movie/90450/)</sup>\n\n## References\n\n1. [M22 – Mewtwo Strikes Back—Evolution, Bulbapedia](https://bulbapedia.bulbagarden.net/wiki/Mewtwo_Strikes_Back%E2%80%94Evolution)\n2. [ミュウツーの逆襲 EVOLUTION : 作品情報・声優・キャスト・あらすじ, 映画.com](https://eiga.com/movie/90450/)\n3. [Pokémon: Mewtwo Strikes Back - Evolution, Box Office Mojo](https://www.boxofficemojo.com/release/rl3897656577/weekend/)\n4. [CGWORLD Feature on Mewtwo Strikes Back Evolution, Dogasu's Backpack](https://dogasu.bulbagarden.net/movies/2019_pm_msb_evolution/pm_msb_evolution_bts_cgworld.html)\n5. [2019年 ミュウツーの逆襲 EVOLUTION, ポケットモンスターオフィシャルサイト](https://www.pokemon.co.jp/tv_movie/movie/2019/)\n6. [Pokémon: Mewtwo Strikes Back - Evolution, Rotten Tomatoes](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/pokemon_mewtwo_strikes_back_evolution)\n7. [Pokemon: Mewtwo Strikes Back Evolution Director Explains Why Film Was Done Entirely in 3D, ComicBook.com](https://comicbook.com/anime/news/pokemon-mewtwo-strikes-back-evolution-why-film-was-cg-explained/)\n8. [M22 – Mewtwo Strikes Back—Evolution (2019 Pikachu Project), Bulbapedia](https://bulbapedia.bulbagarden.net/wiki/2019_Pikachu_Project)\n9. [M22 – Mewtwo Strikes Back—Evolution, Bulbapedia (M22)](https://bulbapedia.bulbagarden.net/wiki/M22)\n10. ['Mewtwo Strikes Back Evolution' Impressions, Changes, and Sequels!, PokeBeach](https://www.pokebeach.com/2019/07/mewtwo-strikes-back-evolution-impressions-changes-and-sequels)\n11. [Mewtwo Strikes Back—Evolution CG Movie Hits Netflix on Pokémon Day, Crunchyroll News](https://www.crunchyroll.com/news/latest/2020/1/21/mewtwo-strikes-backevolution-cg-movie-hits-netflix-on-pokmon-day)\n12. [Toho FACT BOOK 2020](https://www2.jpx.co.jp/disc/96020/140120200413492907.pdf)\n13. [Pokémon and Netflix Team Up for Global Release of \"Pokémon: Mewtwo Strikes Back—Evolution\", About Netflix](https://about.netflix.com/en/news/pokemon-and-netflix-team-up-for-global-release-of-pokemon-mewtwo-strikes-back-evolution)\n14. [TPCi's Dub of 'Mewtwo Strikes Back EVOLUTION' Gets Everything Right!, PokeBeach](https://www.pokebeach.com/2020/02/tpcis-dub-of-mewtwo-strikes-back-evolution-gets-everything-right)\n\n---\n*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Screen and stage › Film and television › Films and standalone screen works › Individual films by title and year › Franchise and series entries as standalone works › Anime 'the Movie' franchise entries*\n\n*Initially written Oct 3, 2026 · Reviewed: Oct 3, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Oct 15, 2026; Oct 21, 2026; Oct 25, 2026; Nov 1, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*\n\n*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*\n\nLicense: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license\n",
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 "credit": "\"Pokémon: Mewtwo Strikes Back—Evolution (ミュウツーの逆襲 EVOLUTION)\", Edgepedia (EdgeChat), https://www.edgepedia.org/pokemon-mewtwo-strikes-back-evolution. Edgepedia Community License 1.0.",
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 "speakable": "Pokémon: Mewtwo Strikes Back—Evolution is a 2019 full-3DCG remake of the 1998 first Pokémon film, directed by Kunihiko Yuyama and Motonori Sakakibara, released by Toho July 12, 2019, and on Netflix worldwide February 27, 2020."
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