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.
Direction
Yuyama's 20-year franchise mastery shows in every frame.
Score
That orchestral arrangement of the classic theme? Devastating.
Acting
Ikue Otani's Pikachu voice acting — 20 years, still iconic.
Director
Kunihiko Yuyama
Rica Matsumoto
Satoshi (voice)
Ikue Otani
Pikachu (voice)
Megumi Hayashibara
Musashi (voice)
Shin-ichiro Miki
Kojiro (voice)
Inuko Inuyama
Nyarth (voice)
Unsho Ishizuka
Dr. Okido / Narrator (voice)
Masami Toyoshima
Hanako (voice)
Shoko Nakagawa
Joy (voice)
Kanata Hongo
Souji (voice)
Shiori Sato
Makoto (voice)
Arata Furuta
Bonji (voice)
Ryota Osaka
Cross (voice)
Kyoko Hikami
Erika (voice)
Koichi Yamadera
Marshadow (voice)
Yuji Ueda
Announcer
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
JP
