Gekijouban Poketto Monsutгў: Kimi Ni Kimeta! Apr 2026

Gekijōban Poketto Monsutā: Kimi ni Kimeta! remains one of the most polarizing yet visually stunning entries in the franchise's cinematic history.

(released in Japan as Gekijōban Poketto Monsutā: Kimi ni Kimeta! ) is the 20th theatrical film in the Pokémon franchise. Released in 2017 to commemorate the anime’s 20th anniversary, the movie served as a bold, out-of-continuity reboot. Instead of adding onto the concurrently running television series, it transported audiences back to the very beginning of Ash Ketchum’s journey in the Kanto region, providing a modernized and highly emotional retelling of his origin story. 🎬 The Premise Gekijouban Poketto monsutГў: Kimi ni kimeta!

: The classic rival Gary Oak is replaced by Cross, a ruthless trainer who values raw power above all else and abandons the Charmander that Ash later adopts. Gekijōban Poketto Monsutā: Kimi ni Kimeta

: Beloved original companions Misty and Brock are absent. Instead, Ash is joined by two entirely new trainers: Verity, a spirited girl with an energetic Piplup, and Sorrel, an aspiring Pokémon Professor traveling with a Lucario. ) is the 20th theatrical film in the Pokémon franchise

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While the film masterfully recreates emotional touchstones from the original 1997 anime—such as Ash rescuing a neglected Charmander in the rain and the bittersweet release of his Butterfree—it diverges drastically from the established canon:

: The movie introduces Marshadow, a Mythical Fighting/Ghost-type Pokémon that guides the shadows and tests the integrity of the Rainbow Hero's heart. ⚖️ Reception and Impact