As much as disappointing how this movie decided to botch and eradicate pokemon roots was . Its just as much sad that many people in here are apparently perfectly fine, no actually happy and overjoyed that we got generic new characters instead of well established and known major figures from Original series.
Still its just vocal minority.
Regardless all this praise for new characters is ungrounded. Im sick and tired of hearing every single time how "new is instantly better". How that "guarantees freshness and enjoyment".
We get new characters in pokemon all the time. For last 20 years pokemon anime became notoriously known for replacing snd ditching main characters incredibly frequently treating them like expendable junk never to be seen or heard from again. With rollercoaster of adding one after another, while every older one ends up abandoned and forgotten spinning around over and over again.
Amounting to nothing in grand scheme of things with all traveling companions of Ash being pointless basically since they're so quickly erased and omitted from pokemon universe.
It would be nice for a change to once. Just
ONCE do something different and bring back at least sometime those from past doing follow ups and sequels of characters we grew up with and love.
To receive their 10 minutes of spotlight under the sun in new updated design, hear what is happening with them and be remembered. Their contribution to pokemon story be actually recognized and see new things made with them. Sending message how pokemon history is still same one we grew up with and how continuity exist in pokemon show.
It does not matter that this is alternate universe, reboot. Fact is that this movie is made to commemorate 20th anniversary of entire pokemon series.
Yet you make movie dedicated to remembering and acknowledging past but exclude every single major characters which used to matter and exist in pokemon anime replacing it with new characters.
There was no sensible and justified reason to do this, when even in alternate universe Misty and Brock could've been included seeing writers take different approach on direction in which their journey with Ash would go.
Likewise why even go for idea of making complete reboot and alternate retelling of pokemon show universe and Ash starting days as trainer?
OS already introduced Ho-oh establishing its connection with Ash. Writers and directors could had just present this movie with original series characters as lost link. Untold story about Ho-oh and side adventure in which Ash, Misty and Brock participated during their days of traveling through and exploring Kanto.
Or make movie ala style of "Yugioh Dark Side of Dimensions!" , "Digimon Tri Adventure! making reunion of characters who represent anime roots and were ones who with central driving force of series Ash built foundations on which pokemon show later thrived and succeeded. Being Misty and Brock.
Constructing sequel, brand new adventure with loved, iconic and extremely popular characters.
Instead fans got delivered absolutely nothing for 20thg anniversary. But major disappointment and blatant disrespect, condemn and middle finger pointed to their loyalty. Ash character himself messing up whole universe and last 20 years of his achievements and development by making alternate version of him(clone).
Alongside pokemon series past and continuity being all but destroyed. Nice job.
One more thing: To all of those who say: you have OS to watch and see original characters again. People wanted to see new things being done with Misty, Brock and Ash. They wanted to see follow ups, new fresh material , chance to see them maker return in anime at least for one more time.
And to think that not even for such big occasion like 20th anniversary, older characters would be seen and have place in pokemon is rightfully disappointing. Therefore people have every right to be upset.
Imagine what would fan s do if for Yugioh, Digimon or Dragon Ball anniversaries they had movies or specials where Kaiba, Joey, Tea or Gohan, Vegeta, Belma etc, in Digimon case were Tai , Sora, Mimi, Joe etc omitted and replaced with irrelevant and generic new characters taking their place?
Or Star Trek doing special but leaving out Spock, captain Kirk etc? Replacing them with expies of themselves.
Fanbase of this anime or series would go ballistic being rightfully mad.
Actually anger and complaints for pokemon doing this from those who are disappointed that Misty and Brock are erased from pokemon universe and continuity altogether are relatively mild compared to what fans of above mentioned shows would be capable of doing.,
So its surprising how quite a few people in here cannot comprehend what is issue in making movie dedicated toward celebrating pokemon anniversary, yet replace everything which used to stand for and define pokemon showe for past 20 years with alternate universe and alternate characters.
Its disrespecting, unneeded and disappointing no matter how much you try to rationalize it.
Quite frankly i wouldn't be surprised if this movie bombs altogether resulting in major flop. Part of me wouldn't even mind this because such amount of lack of care, ignorance and arrogance from someone in charge of franchise having toward continuity and past coming from their very own creation is staggering. And unprecedented when comparing pokmemon anime with other shows out there where words continuity and history actually mean something.
Wooow, they weren't promised at all and these new characters have so much potential...are people really that upset that Misty and Brock aren't making an appearance?
It may not seem that way nowadays, but Misty and Brock are actually extremely popular and loved characters from pokemon series. Ever since their disband people hoped to see them reunited with Ash for at least one last time.
Actually its quite surprising that founders of pokemon anime don't receive any recognition from younger fans at all.
