Anime Fans Rank The Best Pokemon Films Of All-Time

This year, the Pokemon fandom is helping the anime franchise celebrate one very important milestone. The iconic anime got its start 20 years ago, and the creators behind Pokemon are celebrating in a big way. Later this year, a new film will be released for fans which retells the story of how Ash Ketchum came to team up with his buddy Pikachu. And, to celebrate, one site recently asked anime fans to rank the best Pokemon movies to-date.

Thanks to Anime! Anime!, Pokemon lovers can now see how their movie opinions stack up against others. In the following slides, you can check out the top five most memorable Pokemon movies as voted by fans.

[CB] Crunchyroll

Pokémon: The Rise of Darkrai

Released in July 2007, The Rise of Darkai follows Ash as his friends encounter a Pokemon which has supposedly been causing one town grief. Darkai has been accused of giving Alamos Town nightmares, but the home of the Time-Space Tower may come to rely on Darkai and its legendary fans to save it from destruction.

You can read the movie’s description below:

“Ash may think he’s seen everything when it comes to Pokémon, but is he ready to face the mysterious Darkrai in his latest awesome adventure?

While on their way to a Pokémon Contest, our adventurers pass through Alamos Town, home of the Time-Space Tower. With the beautiful Alice, Ash and his friends discover that something is causing terrible nightmares for Pokémon and people alike! Baron Alberto, a dashing but arrogant fellow, immediately blames this turn of events on Darkrai.

As if it just overheard the accusation, Darkrai appears and confronts our heroes!
Who is Darkrai? Is it a friend… or foe? As the sky tears above Alamos Town and Legendary Pokémon Dialga and Palkia struggle through the rips in a newly created dimension, their ensuing battle threatens to tear a hole in the time-space continuum! Will Ash and his friends survive this showdown and learn Darkrai’s true nature?”

Pokémon: Jirachi Wish Maker

With the Millennium Comet on its way, Ash and his friends decide to celebrate the rare event by visiting a festival. However, when the gang then run into a mystical Pokemon named Jirachi, the trainers find themselves tasked to protect the creature from those who wish to exploit it before the Millennium Comet whisks Jirachi away.

You can read the movie’s description below:

“The Millennium Comet is about to make its long-awaited appearance in the sky again, supposedly granting the wishes of all those who see it in the skies above them. Of course, Ash and friends are equally interested in the Millennium Festival, especially when they attend a magic performance by the Great Butler. Even more interesting is the mysterious cocoon in Butler’s possession—from which Max hears a mysterious voice calling! When Jirachi emerges from its slumber, Max has a new friend—sadly, it’s only for the brief few days that the Millennium Comet appears in the sky.”

Max is anxious to make the most of his time with his new friend, but the Great Butler has his own plans for Jirachi, which are not so friendly. He wants to revive the Legendary Groudon, and Jirachi just might be able to grant that wish.
Can Max, Ash, May, and Brock stop Butler and save Jirachi before Groudon reappears to reign destruction over the land?

Pokémon: Lucario and the Mystery of Mew

Ash Ketchum is no history lover, but the trainer can’t resist a Pokemon competition that’s held at Camaron Palace to honor a man named Sir Aaron. When the trainer is asked to dress up as the legend, Ash learns Sir Aaron has one naysayer: a mysterious Pokemon named Lucario who was betrayed by the knight. Ash finds himself at odds with the Pokemon, but the pair are forced to come to an agreement when Mew whisks off Pikachu to the Tree of Life to give an important history lesson.

You can read the movie’s description below:

“Hundreds of years ago, Camaron Palace and its people were saved by the noble sacrifice of Sir Aaron, an Aura Knight. From that day forward the people have always honored his deeds with an annual festival. Of course, Ash isn’t really much of a history buff—he’s more interested in the Pokémon competition being held! Only when he wins and is asked to don the ceremonial role of Aura Guardian does Aaron’s importance become clear—especially when Lucario emerges from Aaron’s staff! Aaron isn’t a hero to this long-dormant Pokémon—all Lucario remembers is the master that betrayed it!

Left out of the battle all those hundreds of years before, Lucario is asked to be a hero again—Mew has shown up and whisked Pikachu and Meowth away to the Tree of Life, and only Lucario can lead the way! Can Lucario put aside its distrust of humans long enough to reunite Ash with his best friend?”

Pokémon Heroes: Latios and Latias

Brought to the town of Alto Mare, Ash and his friends find themselves enjoying a special Pokemon race. However, the famous trainer finds himself smitten over a girl who winds up being the legendary Pokemon Latias wearing a disguise. Ash grows close to Latis and its comrade Latios, but not everything stays peaceful. When the two Pokemon art threatened by Pokemon hunters, Ash must help the duo save themselves and the whole town of Alto Mare.

You can read the movie’s description below:

“Every year the city of Alto Mare holds a special Water Pokémon race through its canal streets—and this time around, Ash and Misty are top competitors! Even though he doesn’t win, Ash still finds his own special place in the heart of a mysterious girl that he rescues from two roguish women. But this isn’t any ordinary girl—it’s actually the Legendary Latias in disguise!

Ash gets a special peek into the secret world of Latios and Latias, but this world is soon threatened by the two women from before—Annie and Oakley—who are after the two Legendary Pokémon, as well as a mysterious jewel called the Soul Dew. These elements combined will let them control a powerful machine that normally protects against danger. When the machine malfunctions, though, it not only puts Latios and Latias at serious risk, but the entire city of Alto Mare!”

Pokémon: The Movie: Mewtwo Strikes Back

For fans, it looks like the first Pokemon movie still reigns supreme. The feature follows Ash and his friends when they are invited to a mysterious test for Pokemon trainers. However, when the crew arrives at the arena, Ash discovers the event was a ploy for the genetically cloned Pokemon named Mewtwo to get revenge against humans. Unable to see how trainers and Pokemon can be friends, Mewtwo vows to set his brethren free, but Ash does his best to show the Pokemon just what love can look like.

You can read the movie’s description below:

“Giovanni, the leader of Team Rocket, had ambitious plans to take over the world, involving his latest experiment, a powerful clone of Mew—Mewtwo. Mewtwo is very powerful, and also very smart—smart enough to not want to be controlled by Giovanni. It escaped from the lab, and now Mewtwo begins to concoct its own scheme, clandestinely inviting a number of Pokémon Trainers to the ultimate test. Of course, if it’s an event for talented Trainers, Ash Ketchum will be right in the front row!

Ash’s excitement turns to fear and anger when Mewtwo reveals its plan for domination, creating powerful clones of all of the kids’ Pokémon so it can even the “imbalance” between Pokémon and their Trainers. Despite Ash’s protests, Mewtwo refuses to believe that Pokémon and people can be friends. But faced with the determination of a young Trainer and the love of his Pokémon, Mewtwo just might have to reconsider, especially when pitted against the power of the mysterious Mew!”