Pokémon: The First Movie Retold in iBook Form

Last week, I learned the Pokémon movies are now on iTunes. Not only that, but they also have “interactive iBooks.”

Since the first Pokémon movie was one of my favorites as a kid, I decided to try the iBook.

“A Pokémon Super Story! Pokémon the First Movie” isn’t quite a novelization. It retells the story with basic descriptions, not adding much or going into additional detail. It isn’t a manga, either, although each page uses images from the movie as its background.

Video clips from the movie are mixed in at key moments, and together they follow the entire course of the movie. For example:

Team Rocket watched the battle from a nearby cliff. They saw a Dragonite arrive and deliver a message-bearing hologram to Ash.

(video clip of hologram message)

Ash was excited by the unexpected invitation. “I guess the world’s number one Trainer wants to challenge me to a match!”

Jessie and James decided to follow the trio to find out more.”

Overall, I wouldn’t recommend this as a book. I’d also question why you wouldn’t just watch the movie instead. Nevertheless, if you want to enjoy the story in 48 pages and 24 video clips instead of sitting through the whole movie, it’s a decent (and cheaper) option.

iTunes also has the movie digitally… though so does Amazon, and it’s actually cheaper to buy a DVD copy from Amazon, or as part of a Steelbook Blu-ray Collection of the first three.

None of them contain the Pikachu short, for some reason.

I love this movie. Sure, people criticize its hypocritical (poorly-localized?) message about how Pokémon shouldn’t fight in a series all about making Pokémon fight, but I’m here for Mewtwo! Mewtwo and his journey still resonate with me.

This iBook did contradict my theory about the crying-Pokémon scene…

SpoilerI always believed their sadness made Mewtwo relent and restore Ash to life, not that Pokémon tears have miracle resurrection powers.

…but I might still interpret it my way.

“A Pokémon Super Story! Pokémon the First Movie” isn’t the ideal way to re-experience the first Pokémon movie’s story. It’s not quite a novelization and it’s not particularly interactive. Nevertheless, if you just want a quick, basic retelling, it’s not bad.

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The post Pokémon: The First Movie Retold in iBook Form appeared first on Samantha Lienhard.