Next Pokemon Movie Shares Premiere Date, First TV Spot

If you are ready to revisit the golden days of Pokemon, then you will soon have a chance to do just that. Later this year, the folks behind Pokemon are debuting a rather special feature film to reel in nostalgic viewers. Pokemon: I Choose You stands to take fans of the franchise on a time-tripping journey which focuses on Ash Ketchum’s first days as a trainer. The film will be a flashback to the protagonist’s first days with Pikachu, so fans have been anxiously awaiting the brand-new film. And, now, audiences know exactly when the film will premiere.

The first TV spot for Pokemon: I Choose You was just released, and it announces the film will debut in Japan on July 15th. The rest of the clip acts as a montage, showing Ash as he first meets Pikachu and fails to level with the sassy starter. However, as the two continue their journey, Ash proves he is willing to put his life on the line for his new friend – and Pikachu begins to see just how special Ash really is.

You can watch the commercial above. You can also check out the synopsis for Pokemon: I Choose You below:

Ash, a boy living in Pallet Town, greeted the morning of his 10th birthday, the day he could become qualified to become a Pokémon Trainer. Ash’s heart was filled with a desire for Pokémon he has never seen before and a world he has never seen before, but while he was meant to be given a Pokémon that would become his partner at the Oak Laboratories, he ended up severely oversleeping, and all that was left for him was a single Pikachu, a Pokémon that did not get attached to humans. “Do you hate me? I like you!” Even though the two were at odds with one another, their friendship deepened little by little, and as they looked up at the legendary Pokémon Ho-Oh that flew through the sky on the day they set off, Ash and Pikachu swore an oath as they held one of its Rainbow Wings: “Let’s go meet it together one day!” And thus, Pikachu and Ash, who set off on his journey to become the world’s greatest Pokémon Master, end up meeting the Trainers Makoto and Soji on their way before getting told a legend concerning Ho-Oh.

“Those who, guided by the Rainbow Wing, meet with Ho-Oh, shall become the Heroes of the Rainbow.” Ash and the others end up getting guided by Marshadow, a mysterious Pokémon that had been lurking in Ash’s shadow without anyone realizing, and make their way to Mount Tensei, where Ho-Oh lives, but a strong opponent appears before them. Will the duo manage to reach Ho-Oh?! In order for them to fulfill the promise they swore on the day the departed, the two of them now begin an adventure that will last until they become “true partners”!