Pokémon the Movie: I Choose You!
劇場版 ポケットモンスター キミにきめた！
Detailed parental analysis
Pokémon the Movie: I Choose You! is an adventure animation film with an atmosphere that is both luminous and emotionally intense, conceived as a reimagining of the origins of the iconic television series. The plot follows Ash, a novice trainer, who forges an exceptional bond with his Pikachu during a quest to find the legendary Pokémon Ho-Oh. The film primarily targets children and preteens who are fans of the franchise, as well as adults nostalgic for the early days of the series.
Violence
Pokémon battles are numerous, fast-paced and form the narrative engine of the film. The attacks are visually spectacular, with explosions, lightning and flames, and the Pokémon sustain clearly visible injuries. A sequence involving the Pokémon Marshadow is particularly dark: it plunges the characters into a distressing nightmare that exceeds the usual intensity of the franchise. The violence remains oriented towards emotional stakes and solidarity, never towards gratuitous spectacle, but its accumulation and certain peaks of intensity may trouble younger children.
Underlying Values
The film builds its central message around the rejection of performance as the purpose of training: a Pokémon is not a tool for victory, but a being to be respected and loved. This positioning is coherent and repeated throughout the narrative. As a counterpoint, a few secondary characters embody a utilitarian vision of the trainer-Pokémon bond, which offers a natural opening to discuss with a child the different ways of treating what is entrusted to us, whether it be an animal, a friend or a responsibility.
Parental and Family Portrayals
Parental figures are virtually absent from the narrative, which is consistent with the coming-of-age structure of the film. Ash ventures out into the world alone, with no visible family framework, and grows through direct experience and encounters. This sidelining of adults as points of reference is characteristic of the genre but merits noting, particularly for younger viewers who may implicitly absorb the idea that total autonomy is the norm of adventure.
Strengths
The film succeeds in condensing the foundational emotion of the original series into an accessible cinematic format. The relationship between Ash and Pikachu is treated with a sincerity that transcends mere franchise entertainment: one scene in particular, centred on the death of a Pokémon and its companion's reaction, achieves an emotional depth rare in this type of production. For children growing up with Pokémon, the film functions as an object of intergenerational emotional transmission, and parents who knew the series at its release in the 1990s will share a common viewing experience with their children.
Age recommendation and discussion points
The film is suitable from 8 years old for serene viewing, with recommended accompaniment for sensitive children between 6 and 8 years due to distressing sequences and the death of a Pokémon on screen. After viewing, two lines of discussion deserve to be opened: why do certain characters treat their Pokémon as mere instruments, and what does this say about the respect we owe to those who depend on us? You can also address the death scene by asking the child what they felt, to help them learn to put words to strong emotions.
Synopsis
Ash Ketchum wakes up late one morning after having broken his alarm clock in his sleep. He eventually makes it to Professor Oak's lab, but is told that the three starter List of Pokémon (Bulbasaur, Squirtle, and Charmander) have already been taken by Trainers who were on time. However, Oak reveals that he has one more Pokémon, an Electric-type named Pikachu. Despite its volatile and feisty personality, as well as its refusal to get inside a Poké Ball, Ash happily takes Pikachu for his journey.
About this title
- Format
- Feature film
- Year
- 2017
- Runtime
- 1h 38m
- Countries
- Japan
- Original language
- JA
- Directed by
- Kunihiko Yuyama
- Main cast
- Rica Matsumoto, Ikue Otani, Megumi Hayashibara, Shin-ichiro Miki, Inuko Inuyama, Unsho Ishizuka, Masami Toyoshima, Shoko Nakagawa, Kanata Hongo, Shiori Sato
- Studios
- OLM, Pikachu Project, Shogakukan, Shogakukan-Shueisha Productions, TV Tokyo, The Pokémon Company, TakaraTomy, jeki, TOHO
Content barometer
- Violence2/5Moderate
- Fear3/5Notable tension
- Sexuality0/5None
- Language0/5None
- Narrative complexity1/5Accessible
- Adult themes0/5None
Values conveyed
- Friendship
- Compassion
- Loyalty
- Autonomy
- courage
- perseverance