TLDR;
In this episode of "Pokémon Gotta Watch Them All," the hosts and guests review "Zoroark: Master of Illusions," discussing its plot, animation, and characters. They share their opinions, predictions, and compare it to other Pokémon movies. The group also discusses the upcoming poll challenge, where viewers can vote for their favorite Pokémon from the movie.
- The movie is a transition between Gen 4 and Gen 5, with a unique storyline and visually appealing effects.
- The villain's motives are somewhat unclear, but the movie has a satisfying payoff.
- The hosts debate the film's ranking among other Pokémon movies, with some placing it near the top and others in the middle.
Intro [0:00]
CJ welcomes the audience to another episode of "Pokémon Gotta Watch Them All," where they watch and discuss every Pokémon movie. He introduces the guests: Connor, Chris Halford, and Jonathan, the production man. They will be discussing "Zoroark: Master of Illusions," which serves as a transition between Generation Four and Generation Five.
General Opinions on Zoroark: Master of Illusions [3:42]
Connor enjoyed the movie, describing it as a gentle horror film and appreciating Zoroark's character. Chris found the story visually beautiful but struggled with the antagonist's motives, placing the movie in the middle. Connor considered it on the better side of mediocre, enjoyable as a kid. CJ revealed he enjoyed the movie, praising a specific payoff that erased its pacing issues, and debated if it was better than the third movie.
Comparing Zoroark to Other Pokemon Movies [6:52]
CJ compared "Zoroark" to "Lucario and the Mystery of Mew," finding their structures similar but "Zoroark" superior in plot. He mentioned an ongoing fan poll where "Lucario" was slightly ahead. The panel briefly discussed Dan Green's voice acting in the movie.
Plot Summary: Introduction and Bocker [8:40]
The movie starts with a short intro featuring Ethan and Dawn battling. The gang then watches a Pokémon sport called "Bocker" on TV, a combination of soccer and Pokémon battles. The announcer's emphasis on "balls" was humorous. The teams consist of three-stage evolution lines, like Electabuzz, Electabuzz, and Electivire versus Beldum, Metang, and Metagross. Team Rocket appears as cleaning staff, and Brock mentions they are headed to Crown City for the main Bocker event.
Zoroark's Stowaway and Kodai's Plan [14:15]
The scene shifts to an airplane where Zoroark is hiding with a baby Zoroa. Kodai observes them, testing Zoroark's illusion abilities using a bracelet that cancels illusions. He plans to use Zoroark for his scheme. Ninjask captures Zoroa, and Zoroark escapes the plane, using illusions to evade capture.
Time Ripple and Celebi's Appearance [22:26]
Kodai expresses urgency about finding the "time ripple" before it disappears. Celebi emerges from the time ripple, exploring Crown City. The group discusses Zoroark's ability to change the landscape with evolutionary scenery powers, questioning whether it's an illusion or a physical change.
Team Rocket and Zoroa's Escape [26:22]
Team Rocket encounters the gang in the forest, but a Skip Bloom knocks them out of the sky. Zoroa runs away from Vigoroth and encounters Ash and Dawn, who save him. Zoroa reveals he can talk and needs to get to Crown City to save "Meemaw."
Zoroa's Transformations and Kodai's Hologram [31:41]
Zoroa transforms into Ash and Pikachu, but struggles to hide his tail. Kodai uses a hologram of Zoroa to manipulate Zoroark, ordering it to terrorize Crown City in exchange for Zoroa's release.
Celebi's Blessings and Zoroark's Rampage [34:39]
Celebi blesses Crown City, causing plants to bloom and making people happy. Zoroark, under Kodai's control, attacks the city, turning into Suicune, Entei, and Raikou to spread chaos. Kodai uses this to turn the public against Zoroark.
The Shiny Legendary Beasts [39:27]
The real legendary beasts, appearing as shiny versions, head towards Crown City. The group discusses the distribution event for the shiny beasts and Zoroark in the games.
Zoroa's Defiance and Carl's Revelation [41:49]
Zoroa refuses to believe Meemaw would cause such destruction. He encounters a fluffy-haired journalist named Carl, who helps the gang navigate the city. Carl reveals that Kodai has been faking the attacks.
Kodai's Past and Future Visions [44:37]
Kodai's assistant, Rowena, is revealed to be working against him. Kodai's ability to see the future is discussed, and a flashback shows how he gained his powers by draining energy from Celebi, causing destruction in Crown City 20 years prior.
Celebi's Capture and Zoroa's Rescue Attempt [53:16]
Kodai captures Celebi, and Zoroa attempts to rescue him, creating an illusion of Tangrowth. The real Tangrowth attacks, and Celebi uses its powers to turn flowers into berries, befriending Zoroa.
The Gang's Capture and Rowena's Betrayal [1:04:22]
The gang is captured by Kodai, but Rowena reveals her true identity as a journalist and helps them escape. She explains Kodai's plan to steal time energy from the time ripple.
Kodai's Plan and the Beasts' Intervention [1:11:49]
Kodai reaches the time ripple and begins draining its energy. Zoroark attacks, but is stopped by the shiny legendary beasts. The beasts destroy Kodai's ship, and the gang continues their efforts to stop him.
Zoroark's Illusion and Kodai's Downfall [1:31:50]
Zoroark creates an illusion, tricking Kodai into revealing his evil intentions. Carl and Rowena expose Kodai's confession on the stadium screen. Kodai tries to attack Zoroa, but Zoroark protects him, sacrificing himself.
Celebi's Healing and Kodai's Arrest [1:39:20]
Celebi heals Zoroark, bringing him back to life. Kodai is arrested, and Zoroark and Zoroa are reunited. The gang says goodbye to Carl and Rowena, and Zoroa plays a prank on them before they leave.
Credits and Paul's Appearance [1:43:20]
The credits roll, showing the Bocker match and the legendary beasts watching the boat sail away. A scene shows Paul checking out statues of Dialga and Palkia, hinting at his continued interest in Pokémon.
Ranking the Movie [1:46:23]
The hosts discuss where to rank "Zoroark: Master of Illusions" among the other Pokémon movies. Dante places it at the top, while others rank it in the middle. They debate the movie's plot, villain, and overall impact. Ultimately, they decide to place it as the new number six on their list.
Poll Challenge [2:03:07]
The hosts announce the poll challenge, where viewers can vote for their favorite Pokémon from the movie. Chris picks Shiny Raikou, John picks Braylon, Connor picks Sunkern, CJ picks Scizor, Dante picks Zoroark, and Kane picks Tangrowth.