Pokémon: Lucario and the Mystery of Mew

Pokémon: Lucario and the Mystery of Mew is set in a kingdom that holds an annual festival honoring Sir Aaron, an Aura Guardian said to have saved the realm long ago by using the power of the Tree of Beginning. Ash and his friends arrive in time for the celebration, and Ash wins the Pokémon tournament held there, earning the title of honorary Aura Guardian for the year. When the legendary Pokémon Mew appears and takes Pikachu, a Lucario emerges from the ceremonial staff that Ash received. Lucario remembers Aaron as someone who betrayed him, and he alone knows the way to the Tree of Beginning, so Ash and his companions set out after Mew with a reluctant guide. The journey brings them up against the Regirock, Regice and Registeel that guard the tree.

Kunihiko Yuyama directed the film, the twelfth of the twenty-eight features he has directed in chronological order, following Pokémon: Destiny Deoxys and preceding Pokémon Ranger and the Temple of the Sea. Hideki Sonoda wrote the screenplay, and the voice cast includes Rica Matsumoto as Ash, Ikue Otani as Pikachu, Yuji Ueda, KAORI, Fushigi Yamada and Megumi Hayashibara among thirty-one credited performers.

Released in July 2005 with a budget of about 10 million dollars, the film took roughly 38 million dollars worldwide, a solid return for an entry in a long-running series. On IMDb it holds 6.8 out of 10 from about 5,900 votes, and on TMDB 7 out of 10 from around 342 votes, indicating a generally favorable response from those who have seen it.