Pokémon: Mewtwo Returns

In the Johto region, Mewtwo and a group of cloned Pokémon have established a secluded sanctuary to live away from human influence. This peace is threatened when Giovanni, the leader of Team Rocket, discovers their hiding place and attempts to recapture Mewtwo. While Ash and his companions are searching for Pikachu, they are captured by Team Rocket and drawn into the conflict. Giovanni uses the cloned Pokémon as bait to force Mewtwo into submission, leading to a struggle of wills. Amidst the battle, Mewtwo questions the purpose of its existence as a scientific creation.

Directed by Masamitsu Hidaka, this Japanese animation is a direct-to-video sequel to Pokémon: The First Movie. It marks the first of five listed films directed by Hidaka, followed by Pokémon Chronicles: The Legend of Thunder! in the same year. The voice cast features Rica Matsumoto as Satoshi, Ikue Otani as Pikachu, Mayumi Izuka as Kasumi, Satomi Korogi as Togepy, Yuji Ueda as Takeshi, and Megumi Hayashibara as Musashi. Written by Takeshi Shudo, the film was produced by companies including TV Tokyo and OLM. The movie has received generally positive feedback from viewers, holding a 6.4 rating on IMDb from 4,500 votes and a 6.8 rating on TMDB from 441 votes.