Pokémon the Movie: Mewtwo Strikes Back – Evolution (2019)
Story overview
In this 2019 animated Pokémon film, Ash, Misty, and Brock receive a mysterious invitation that leads them to Mewtwo, a powerful genetically-engineered Pokémon. Mewtwo, created by scientists, struggles with its identity and purpose, leading to a climactic battle as it challenges trainers and their Pokémon to prove its superiority. The story explores themes of friendship, acceptance, and the ethics of creation, set against vibrant animation and action sequences typical of the Pokémon franchise.
Parent Guide
A family-friendly animated adventure with mild action and positive themes, appropriate for ages 7+. It offers engaging entertainment with lessons on friendship and acceptance, though younger children might find some battle scenes intense.
Content breakdown
Contains animated Pokémon battles with fantasy attacks like electric shocks, energy beams, and physical strikes. No blood, gore, or serious injuries; characters may get briefly stunned but recover quickly. Mild peril includes scenes of characters in danger during battles, but resolved positively.
Mewtwo's creation story and its initial anger might be slightly unsettling for very young children. Scenes in a laboratory setting and intense battle moments could be momentarily scary, but nothing graphic or prolonged. Overall tone is adventurous rather than frightening.
No offensive or inappropriate language. Dialogue is clean and suitable for children, with typical Pokémon franchise expressions like 'I choose you!' and friendly banter.
No sexual content, nudity, or romantic themes. Focus is on adventure and friendship.
No depiction of alcohol, drugs, smoking, or substance use.
Moderate emotional moments related to Mewtwo's loneliness and identity struggles, but balanced with uplifting themes of friendship. Battle scenes are exciting but not overly intense. Suitable for most children without causing significant distress.
Parent tips
This film is suitable for children ages 7 and up, with mild fantasy action and positive messages. Parents should note: 1) Contains animated battle scenes with Pokémon using attacks like lightning bolts and energy blasts, but no graphic violence or injuries. 2) Mewtwo's origin story involves scientific experimentation and themes of loneliness/identity that may prompt questions. 3) Features strong themes of teamwork and empathy. 4) No inappropriate language, sexual content, or substance use. 5) At 98 minutes, it's engaging but may require breaks for younger viewers.
Parent chat guide
Parent follow-up questions
- Which Pokémon did you like best?
- Was Mewtwo a good friend?
- Did the movie make you happy or sad?
- Why was Mewtwo angry at humans?
- How did Ash show bravery?
- What did you learn about teamwork?
- Do you think creating Pokémon like Mewtwo is ethical?
- How does the movie show that everyone deserves acceptance?
- What would you do if you met someone who felt lonely like Mewtwo?
- How does Mewtwo's story reflect real-world issues about genetic engineering?
- Discuss the film's message about nature vs. nurture.
- What cinematic techniques made the action scenes engaging without being too intense?
🎭 Story Kernel
The film's core theme is the existential crisis of artificial creation versus natural existence. Mewtwo's entire motivation stems from being a genetically engineered clone who questions his purpose and right to exist. This drives his desire to prove clones superior to their originals, leading to the climactic battle. The story is less about Pokémon battles and more about identity, belonging, and whether one's origins define their worth. Ash's sacrifice and the tears of the cloned Pokémon ultimately argue that empathy and shared experience, not genetics or power, give life meaning.
🎬 Visual Aesthetics
The shift to full CGI creates a visually polished but emotionally colder aesthetic compared to the original's hand-drawn warmth. Character models are meticulously detailed, with Pokémon like Mewtwo gaining a more sinister, sleek appearance. The color palette is vibrant and saturated, particularly during battle sequences, but lacks the textured imperfections of cel animation. Camera work is dynamic during action, using sweeping shots of New Island and rapid cuts in fights. However, the visual style sometimes prioritizes technical showcase over the original's emotional rawness, making the famous tear scene feel more calculated than spontaneous.
🔍 Details & Easter Eggs
💡 Behind the Scenes
This 2019 film is a shot-for-shot CGI remake of the 1998 first Pokémon movie, released for the franchise's 20th anniversary. It was produced by OLM, Inc. and animated entirely using computer graphics, a first for a main-series Pokémon film. The Japanese voice cast largely returned to reprise their roles, including Satoshi (Ash) and Mewtwo's voice actors. Interestingly, while visually modernized, the script and scene composition remain extremely faithful to the original, making it more of a visual 'evolution' experiment than a narrative reinterpretation.
Where to watch
Choose region:
- Netflix
- Netflix Standard with Ads
- Amazon Video
- Apple TV Store
- Google Play Movies
- YouTube
Trailer
Trailer playback is unavailable in your region.
