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Mewtwo Strikes Back
Warner Bros. Brings "Pokèmon The Movie: Mewtwo Strikes Back" To North American Audiences This Fall; Brand-New Pokèmon Introduced Onscreen For First Time in Any Format.
BURBANK, CA, June 24, 1999 - Warner Bros. has acquired the rights to distribute "Pokèmon The Movie: Mewtwo Strikes Back," the first animated Pokèmon feature film, to a worldwide audience, excluding Asia. The big-screen version of the immensely popular franchise wil l be a Kids' WB! Presentation, and will open in theaters throughout North America on November 12, with distribution in the rest of the world to follow. The announcement was made today by Sanford E. Reisenbach, Warner Bros. Executive Vice President of Mark eting and Planning.
"Pokèmon The Movie: Mewtwo Strikes Back" was produced in Japan by Shogakukan Productions Co., Ltd. When the film was released there last summer, it became the fourth-highest grossing film in Japan for 1998.
"Pokèmon The Movie: Mewtwo Strikes Back" is an epic adventure featuring the debut of new, bio-engineered "Super-Pokèmon," whose powers rival those of the existing creatures, creating exciting new plot twists and turns. The new Pokèmon appears in this film for the first time in any format; it cannot yet be seen on television or in any video game. For the upcoming release of the film, the producers are adding a new musical score.
"The Pokèmon storyline combines a variety of appealing characters that not only entertains kids but reinforces teamwork and cooperation," stated Mr. Reisenbach. "The interest and fervor for Pokèmon, by both boys and girls, is incredible. 'Pokèmon The Movie' is family entertainment that everyone will enjoy.
" The Pokèmon phenomenon began in Japan as a game for Nintendo's Game Boy portable video game system before capturing the attention of America. Its huge popularity prompted the creation of a Pokèmon television series, which became a tremendous success in Japan. The phenomenon spread to the United States, where Nintendo has now sold more than 2.8 million units of the game, topping industry sales charts.
The "Pokèmon" TV show now airs in the U.S. in syndication and on Kids WB!, where it has emerged as the #1 kids' program. In addition to the video games and TV show, Pokèmon continues to entertain millions of fans all over the world with a best-selling toy line, a hugely popular card game and a multitude of licensed products.
"'Pokèmon the Movie' will bring these popular characters to an even wider group of view ers, who will learn for themselves what makes Pokèmon red-hot," said Alfred Kahn, Chairman and CEO of 4Kids Entertainment, the company authorized by Nintendo to hold the rights to the movie, television series, home video and merchandising. "We are thrilled to be in business with Warner Bros. and Nintendo in both the television and motion-picture rollout of Pokèmon."
Pokèmon is set in a fantasy world populated by 151 different imaginary creatures called Pokèmon, each possessing un ique, special powers or abilities. In the Pokèmon environment, human beings act as Pokèmon trainers, capturing as many of the creatures as they can. The Pokèmon then join the trainer's team and help capture other Pokèmon, enabling their human companions to become "Pokèmon Masters." In the feature film, Ash Ketchum, accompanied by his friends Misty, Brock and Pikachu (a favorite, electrically charged Pokèmon), continues his quest to become the world's greatest Pokèmon trainer. The challenge is greater than ever when Mewtwo, a bio-engineered Pokèmon, creates a strain of Super-Pokèmon and sets the stage for the ultimate Pokèmon battle.
Proceeding this video is a 22 minute short subject called Pikachu's Vacation!
Information from www.pokemon.com
