Anime is not only for kids!

Okay, so Pokemon's first movie might not be the best anime movie out there, it might not be the best anime, or even the best Pokemon movie ever made (Pokemon 2000 is better!), but it's certainly entertaining, and visually beautiful! You don't have to be a kid to enjoy this movie or Pokemon. If you like watching good animation with a good story, like we see on most Disney Movies, you should be able to enjoy Pokemon.

My review is not only on this movie, there's plenty of reviews for the movie here already, but it's more on Pokemon as the animation.

Pokemon is an anime (Japanese animation). I was introduced to Pokemon by my 6 year old niece who loved Sailor Moon (another popular anime) and Pokemon at the time, and I've become an avid anime lover since then. When I first learned about Pokemon, I thought I would not be interested because it was more about little creatures than real characters (or at least Anime people), and thought of it more for the very young, but as I started watching the show with my niece I was charmed by the cute "Pikachu", and then the humor of my now favorite Pokemon Characters 'Team Rocket'- the "villains" you learn to love!

There's big differences when comparing anime from regular cartoons. Not only it has a very distinctive look of animation, characters with big eyes, and hair from every color on the rainbow, but the thing that attracted me most about anime was how behind every episode you watch there's a wonderful story to discover. There's all types of anime...some with deep stories and drama, others full of adventure and humor, but all Anime series have a beginning and an ending.

Pokemon, the series, tells the story of 10 yr-old boy Ash who tries to become the world's greatest Pokemon trainer. His dream is to be a Pokemon Master. Ash's first Pokemon is Pikachu- An electric mouse Pokemon with electric generators on each cheek. Pikachus are very hard to train because they are very capricious and hard to tame. They don't like being kept inside Poke Balls, where Pokemon trainers keep their Pokemon. Pikachu didn't like Ash much when they first met but they soon became best friends. Ash's adventure begins when he saves Pikachu from a bunch of Spearows (wild bird like Pokemons). To save Pikachu from the Spearows Ash has to "borrow" a bike from a girl named Misty (another young Pokemon trainer he bumps into). Ash accidentally ends up breaking Misty's bike, the reason she has to join him on his adventure and follow him town to town. Misty wants Ash to replace her bike! *her excuse* Among many other characters, later in the story we meet Brock, another Pokemon trainer and breeder who joins Ash & Misty on their journey, and Team Rocket- the "villains" of this story who follow Ash everywhere he goes to catch Pikachu because they think is a very special and powerful Pikachu. Team Rocket are my favorite Pokemon characters and they've attracted the older Pokemon fans. Team Rocket are suppose to be Pokemon's evil villains but they end up being more like a comedy act. They are so funny and cute! ^_^

The 1st Pokemon movie introduces you to Mewtwo, the most powerful Pokemon who's also manmade. My favorite scene on the movie is when Ash tries to save Pikachu from Mewtwo and he almost dies. Pikachu's tears bring him back! I recommend this animated movie and ask you to watch with an open mind. Give Pokemon and anime chance!