Pokémon Heroes

Camp Pikachu

The Pichu Bros., travelling back to their hometown via train, end up getting knocked off by a wild Skarmory and land in the nearby woods. They meet Ash's Pikachu and his friends, Togepi, Cyndaquil, Totodile, Phanpy, Corsola, and Psyduck, who agree to help them make their way to the railway. They are also accompanied by a helpful Wynaut. Meanwhile, Meowth and Wobbuffet of Team Rocket are also exploring the area. After a day of playing, the Pokémon camp for the night, the Pichu being pranked by a friendly Duskull. A rainstorm begins, but the Pokémon are led to a mill by a Volbeat. Meowth and Wobbuffet are scared by Duskull, taking shelter in the mill, where the Pokémon get caught up in the building's mechanics. The next day, they rush for the approaching train, the Pichu Bros. successfully getting onboard, as do Meowth and Wobbuffet after fighting the Skarmory to retrieve their stolen supplies.

Heroes: Latios and Latias

The film is set in the Venetian-esque city of Alto Mare, protected by the dragon siblings Latias and Latios. Their father, also a Latios, is said to saved the city from an evil Pokémon Trainer and their Kabutops and Aerodactyl whilst transforming the city's streets into canals. The citizens built the Defence Mechanism of Alto Mare (or “D.M.A.” for short) to protect the city if necessary, but have never had to use it. The father Latios died, leaving behind the Soul Dew, said to contain his own soul and can power the D.M.A.

In the present day, Team Rocket agents Annie and Oakley acquire a book detailing the history of Alto Mare, plotting to control the D.M.A. Ash, Misty, and Brock are touring the city, the former two participating in the Tour de Alto Mare, a water chariot race through the canals of the city. Misty wins when Ash is dragged off course by an invisible Latias. Annie and Oakley stalk Latias, who disguises herself as a human girl, trying to capture her using their Espeon and Ariados. Ash and Pikachu come to the rescue, guiding Latias to safety but she vanishes when Ash’s back is turned.

Visiting the museum, the trio meet the curator Lorenzo who details Alto Mare’s history, the D.M.A., and the fossilized Pokémon on display. Ash spots a girl, Bianca, who resembles Latias’ disguise, and chases her across the city, but she does not recognise him. Latias herself appears, guiding Ash and Pikachu to a hidden garden where she and Latios live, protected by Lorenzo and Bianca, his granddaughter. While Pikachu plays with Latias and Latios, Lorenzo shows Ash the Soul Dew, unaware that Annie and Oakley’s drone has infiltrated the sanctuary.

That night, Annie and Oakley sneak into the garden, successfully capturing Latios and the Soul Dew, but Latias escapes. Bianca and Lorenzo attempt to stop the thieves from using the D.M.A. but are captured, the Soul Dew and Latios used to power the machine. Latias goes to Ash for help, Latios’ “Sight Sharing” ability allowing them to witness the events in the museum. Oakley becomes power hungry, using the D.M.A. to resurrect Kabutops and Aerodactyl, and initiates a city-wide lockdown to prevent interference. Ash, Pikachu, and Latias evade the lockdown, racing to the museum whilst pursued by the fossilised Pokémon.

Oakley tries to drown Ash, Pikachu, and Latias, but the latter’s psychic powers cause the D.M.A. to go out of control. Reaching the museum, the trio rescue Latios and shut down the machine. However, Annie tries to take the blackened Soul Dew, which shatters, causing all of the city’s water to flow out and return as a tidal wave. Latias and Latios combine their powers to stop the wave, Latios giving his life in the process. Kabutops and Aerodactyl perish again, while Annie and Oakley remain trapped in the D.M.A.

Ash and friends find Latias, realising Latios has died, but they share one last vision as he passes away and transforms into a new Soul Dew. Several days later, Ash, Misty, and Brock get ready to leave Alto Mare, saying goodbye to Lorenzo, but Bianca does not appear. On their way out of the city, they spot a girl (either Latias or Bianca) on the docks, who gives Ash a sketch of him and Pikachu, kisses him on the cheek, and leaves. During the ending credits, Ash and Pikachu spot an invisible Latias flying overhead with two Latios, while police free Annie and Oakley from the D.M.A. and lock them in prison.

Japanese version

The Japanese version had a few key differences from the English version.

A long time ago, Alto Mare was just a small town. One day, an old couple walking along the beach found two unconscious children lying in the sand. They brought the children home and took care of them. But a dark cloud above Alto Mare rained down shards of darkness. Anything these shards touched became dark as well. One shard was about to hit the old couple when the children started to glow and all the shards were destroyed. The children revealed themselves as Latios and Latias. More appeared, one of them carrying the Soul Dew. Their power, combined with the Soul Dew's, shone upon the dark cloud, vanquishing it. In gratitude for their help, the two Latios and Latias gave the Soul Dew to the old couple.

Reception

Pokémon Heroes received negative reviews from critics, but got positive reviews from audiences, earning a Rotten Tomatoes approval rating of 16%. However, The Washington Post gave it a positive review, proclaiming, "Kids That Love Pokémon Will Have a Blast!". Also, it was the first-ever animated film based on a Japanese television series to be submitted for consideration for the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature.

Box Office

The film opened up along side with Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones in Japan (where it had opened at number one), and it failed to outgrossed it. In it's North American run, the movie was a box office bomb. This was due to facing competition from X2, The Matrix Reloaded, (which had opened the day before its American release), Bruce Almighty, and the premiere of Finding Nemo. The film closed down its American run on July 10, grossing $20,867,919 worldwide.