Pokémon Evolutions

Pokémon Evolutions
Original net animation
Directed byDaiki Tomiyasu
Produced byAndy Gose
Taito Okiura
Written byBenjamin Townsend
StudioOLM Team Kato
Released September 9, 2021 (2021-09-09) December 23, 2021 (2021-12-23)
Runtime6–10 minutes
Episodes8 (List of episodes)

Pokémon Evolutions (ポケモンエボリューションズ, Pokémon Eboryūshonzu) is a 2021 Japanese animated original net animation series released on YouTube and Pokémon TV by The Pokémon Company.[1]

Pokémon Evolutions is a series of 8 episodes released in celebration of the 25th anniversary[2] of Pokémon and is inspired by all 8 regions of the Pokémon world.[3] The series was first announced on September 2, 2021.[4][5][6] Each episode is dedicated to each core series region in reverse order by introduction. The first episode was released on September 9, 2021, with subsequent episodes released on a weekly or bi-weekly basis.

Episode list

No.TitleOriginal release dateRef.
1"The Champion"
"The Champion" (ザ・チャンピオン)
September 9, 2021 (2021-09-09)[7]
In the moments before his championship match, Galar's Champion Leon reflects on his defeat at the hands of Eternatus during the Darkest Day, and the subsequent triumph of Victor, Leon's challenger.
2"The Eclipse"
"The Eclipse" (ジ・エクリプス)
September 23, 2021 (2021-09-23)[8]
After Lusamine uses Nebby's power to travel into the Ultra Wormhole to battle Necrozma, Lillie together with Selene summon the Legendary Pokémon Lunala in an effort to both restore Nebby's power and save Lillie's mother. After both Guzma and Lusamine fall out of the Ultra Wormhole, Necrozma emerges behind them. Nebby, now a Lunala, proceeds to battle Necrozma but is defeated, and is subsequently absorbed by Necrozma to create its Dawn Wings form.
3"The Visionary"
"The Visionary" (ザ・ビジョナリー)
October 7, 2021 (2021-10-07)[9]
After activating the ultimate weapon underneath Geosenge Town, Lysandre battles with his Mega Gyarados against Calem and his Xerneas, but is defeated. After reflecting on his ideals of preserving the world's beauty, Lysandre fires the ultimate weapon in an attempt to grant himself, Calem, and his friends eternal life.
4"The Plan"
"The Plan" (ザ・プラン)
October 21, 2021 (2021-10-21)[10]
Shortly after N's Castle rises over the Pokémon League, Ghetsis reflects on his plan up to this point. He recalls several key events, from meeting a young N and making him the king of Team Plasma to conveying his message of liberation to the citizens of Unova. Following N's victory against Alder, Hilda arrives at the entrance to N's throne room where Ghetsis instructs her to go inside and battle N for the title of Unova's hero.
5"The Rival"
"The Rival" (ザ・ライバル)
December 2, 2021 (2021-12-02)[11]
As Barry enters the Battle Tower and challenges the Tower Tycoon, whose identity is largely obscured, he reflects on his journey to become strong enough to challenge his father. Events include when he and rival Lucas obtained their starter Pokémon, to his defeat at the hands of Team Galactic Commander Jupiter, and his subsequent triumph over Jupiter alongside Lucas at the top of Spear Pillar. Upon Barry's victory over the Tower Tycoon, the Tycoon's identity is revealed to be Palmer, Barry's father, who proceeds to congratulate his son.
6"The Wish"
"The Wish" (ザ・ウィッシュ)
December 9, 2021 (2021-12-09)[12]
After May arrives at the Sky Pillar on the back of Latios, Zinnia welcomes her, appreciating her for coming to the Sky Pillar, and proceeds to tell the story of Primal Kyogre and Primal Groudon, and the origins of Mega Evolution, as well as her people. The two later go to the top of the Sky Pillar, where Zinnia successfully summons Rayquaza. However, despite her pleas for the Legendary Pokemon to Mega Evolve, it cannot do so, due to the fact that the Meteoroids in Rayquaza's body have lost power over the years. Because of this, Zinnia despairs, due to all her efforts of Mega Evolving Rayquaza having failed. Suddenly, May's Meteoroid begins to glow, and at Rayquaza's urging, throws it at the Legendary Pokemon, swallowing it, and regaining the ability to Mega Evolve. May later challenges Rayquaza to a battle, and weakens it enough for it to be caught. Zinnia enters a flashback state, reflecting on her childhood dream of one day meeting Rayquaza. She later urges May to catch it, and succeeds in doing so. As her final duty as the last Lorekeeper of the Draconids, Zinnia, with her Mega Salamence, challenges May, who now has Mega Rayquaza on her side, in order to teach her how to use its full power.
7"The Show"
"The Show" (ザ・ショウ)
December 16, 2021 (2021-12-16)[13]
The Kimono Girls perform a stage play at the Ecruteak City Dance Theater, where they each take turns narrating a part of the story of Ho-oh, Lugia, and the destruction of the Brass Tower that led to Lugia fleeing to the ocean depths. The girls' respective Pokémon assist in visual effects.
8"The Discovery"
"The Discovery" (ザ・ディスカバリー)
December 23, 2021 (2021-12-23)[14]
Green searches for the 150th Pokémon in order to complete her Pokédex, and notices Trace entering Cerulean Cave with the same goal. Upon confronting Trace, she declares that she will compete to catch the Pokémon first. She later discovers that Elaine has already beaten them both to capturing it, which is revealed to be Mewtwo, prompting Green to challenge Elaine in order to see Mewtwo in battle, but is defeated. Green returns to Professor Oak's lab and apologizes for being unable to complete the Pokédex, before she is reassured by Oak that she was part of a collective effort together with Trace and Elaine toward its completion. Oak is informed of the discovery of Steel-type Pokémon, and he declares that the Pokédex is not complete yet.


Characters and voice cast

Character English Japanese
Alder Andrew Eales Yasuhiro Mamiya
Announcer (Galar) Kevin M. Connolly Takumu Miyazono[15]
Anthea Brittany Lauda Yukiko Motoyoshi
Barry Connor Ludovice Ayumu Murase
Concordia Dani Artaud Miyari Nemoto
Corviknight/Pokémon voices Shogo Sakata
Diantha Amber Lee Connors Kotono Mitsuishi
Elaine (Player) Brittany Lauda Mariko Nagai
Ghetsis Armen Taylor Takehito Koyasu
Green Cristina Vee Suzuko Mimori
Hop Adriel Varlack Miyu Irino[15]
Jupiter Suzie Yeung Saki Fujita
Kuni Laura Post Sumire Morohoshi
Leon Aleks Le Daisuke Ono[15]
Lillie Ama Lee Ai Kayano[16]
Lusamine Dawn M. Bennett Mie Sonozaki[16]
Lysandre Adin Rudd Takaya Hashi
Malva Marissa Lenti Atsumi Tanezaki
May Hina Natsume
Miki Jenny Yokobori Rie Murakawa
N Chris Hackney Yoshitsugu Matsuoka
N (young) Brittany Lauda Chiyuki Miura
Naoko Xanthe Huynh Akane Fujita
Palmer Kaiji Tang Masakazu Morita
Pikachu (Female) Arisa Kori
Pikachu (Male) Miyari Nemoto
Professor Oak Keith Silverstein Keiichi Sonobe
Professor Sycamore Austin Lee Matthews
Roark Kohsuke Tanabe
Rookidee/Pokémon voices Hina Natsume
Sayo Jackie Lastra Sayaka Senbongi
Stagehand (Ecruteak Theater) Aleks Le Shogo Sakata
Trace Brandon Winckler Soma Saito
Victor Aleks Le Kohsuke Tanabe[15]
Zinnia Laura Stahl Ayane Sakura
Zuki Heather Gonzalez Reina Ueda

References

  1. ^ "Watch the Trailer for Pokémon Evolutions, a New Animated Series". The Pokémon Company. September 2, 2021. Retrieved September 2, 2021.
  2. ^ Moore, Jared (September 2, 2021). "Pokémon Evolutions Is a New Limited Animated Series to Celebrate the 25th Anniversary of the Franchise". IGN. Retrieved September 2, 2021.
  3. ^ Burns, Chris (September 2, 2021). "Pokemon Evolutions release dates revealed for 8-region free series". SlashGear. Retrieved September 2, 2021.
  4. ^ Fahey, Mike (September 2, 2021). "Gorgeous New Pokémon Series Visits Every Game Region". Kotaku. Retrieved September 2, 2021.
  5. ^ Diaz, Ana (September 2, 2021). "New Pokémon anime looks really serious, except for Ball Guy". Polygon. Retrieved September 2, 2021.
  6. ^ Craddock, Benjamin (September 2, 2021). "Pokémon Evolutions, A New Animated Series, Will Air Free On YouTube This Month". Nintendo Life. Retrieved September 2, 2021.
  7. ^ "The Champion 🏆 | Pokémon Evolutions Episode 1". The Pokémon Company via YouTube. September 9, 2021. Retrieved September 24, 2021.
  8. ^ "The Eclipse 🌒 | Pokémon Evolutions Episode 2". The Pokémon Company via YouTube. September 23, 2021. Retrieved September 24, 2021.
  9. ^ "The Visionary 👁️ | Pokémon Evolutions: Episode 3". The Pokémon Company via YouTube. October 7, 2021. Retrieved October 7, 2021.
  10. ^ "The Plan 📝 | Pokémon Evolutions: Episode 4". The Pokémon Company via YouTube. October 21, 2021. Retrieved October 21, 2021.
  11. ^ "The Rival 💥 | Pokémon Evolutions: Episode 5". The Pokémon Company via YouTube. December 2, 2021. Retrieved December 7, 2021.
  12. ^ "The Wish 🌠 | Pokémon Evolutions: Episode 6". The Pokémon Company via YouTube. December 9, 2021. Retrieved December 9, 2021.
  13. ^ "The Show 🎭 | Pokémon Evolutions: Episode 7". The Pokémon Company via YouTube. December 16, 2021. Retrieved December 17, 2021.
  14. ^ "The Discovery 🔍 | Pokémon Evolutions: Episode 8". The Pokémon Company via YouTube. December 23, 2021. Retrieved December 23, 2021.
  15. ^ a b c d "ポケモン25周年記念アニメ『ポケモンエボリューションズ』が公開。第1話はガラル地方を舞台とした「ザ・チャンピオン」。 ダンデの胸によぎる想いとは?" [Pokémon 25th Anniversary Anime "Pokémon Evolutions" has been released. The first episode is "The Champion" set in the Galar region. What is Leon's heart-throbbing feeling?]. Yahoo! Japan (in Japanese). September 9, 2021. Archived from the original on September 15, 2021. Retrieved September 9, 2021.
  16. ^ a b "リーリエと"ほしぐもちゃん"の絆が描かれる『Pokémon Evolutions』第2話が公開。シリーズ25周年を記念するオリジナルアニメ" [The second episode of "Pokémon Evolutions", which depicts the bond between Lillie and "Nebby", has been released. Original animation to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the series]. Yahoo! Japan (in Japanese). September 23, 2021. Archived from the original on September 23, 2021. Retrieved September 24, 2021.