At first glance, this anime seems to be one of the most infantile shows in existence. However, upon second glance, the utter brilliance of the show should shine. Pokemon has a substance, a hidden charm that makes it stand notches above anime such as Rurouni Kenshin, Cowboy Bebop, and even Berserk.
Pokemon’s biggest strength is its multi-layered and complex story-line. I had to watch the anime twice to get the real meaning of the story…it’s one of those anime that if you just don’t GET, you just won’t like. It’s in a class of its own. There are many thought-provoking elements: positivism, imperialism, and even Social Darwinism. It’s actually one of the deepest plots I’ve ever seen: I mean you have to search far and wide. You have to train across the land. You gotta catch em all. Why? Man…you just gotta.
The characters, Ash, Misty, Brock, Jesse and James (Team Rocket) are colorful, deep, and highly three-dimensional. Viewers can’t help but root for Ash, (representative of Alexander the Great himself), as he struggles in his great and purposeful sojourn, hoping he’ll be able to dominate the world with his symbols of oppression, the Pocket Monsters. As the great hero strives, how can we not love him? Misty is a great character, as she dares the dangers with her comrade, you must admire the way she remains strong, never complaining. Then there’s Brock, the priestly young fellow who is never tempted by the evils of seduction and the temptations of beautiful women. Lechery and debauchery are just not his style; how can you not admire his will power? And Jesse and James light up the screen with their intelligence, geniuses that always demonstrate their power by thinking up clever tricks to overcome their enemies, and they succeed every time…all while reciting a speech that oozes with acumen. The greatest orators of the time could learn a thing or two from them.
And we certainly can`t forget Pikachu, symbol of not only the Merlianic Disease, but of freedom, independence, and iron-willed strength. I particularly liked the episode when he fell in love with a bottle of ketchup. It shows that even a tough and stringent being can have strong feelings for another. But alas, the ketchup bottle cracked, and Pikachu loses his lover. As tears filled his eyes (and mine), I came to recognize it as the greatest and most intense death scene... EVER. His loss of his flavorful companion is not the only thing that makes Pikachu such a poignant character. In fact, Pikachu is almost a tragic figure, being that he only has one word in his vocabulary, he could never communicate with his friends, so we the viewers must bear his pain and his silence. And the way he refuses to remain in a ball, a shell, is one of the most powerful aspects of the anime.
The series’ biggest flaw is that it is a bit too allegoric and intelligent. It was hard for me to keep up, but I think I understood most of it. I haven`t quite picked up on the religious imagery, though. I must watch it a third time to make sure.
All in all, I highly recommend this to those that enjoy deep and innovative series like Digimon. However, if you like brainless and below average anime like Boogiepop Phantom, FLCL, and Haibane Renmei, I recommend staying away. It’s just not for you.
- Animation
The animation is top-notch. Beautiful and fluid, especially the high-profile and exciting battles between the Pocket Monsters. There`s a lot of bright colors, and I also love the character designs.
- Sound
The opening theme is very haunting. The violin and piano tunes in the series are lovely. Great BGM, probably one of the best OST in anime. Unfortunately, I`ve only watched this dubbed, so I cannot comment on Japanese voice acting. Pikachu`s voice is adorable, and it never gets annoying. James has a sensual voice that gives chills up the spine, and Ash sounds just like the little boy he is.
- Character
The characters are well developed. They`re definitely not the same by the end of the series. Jesse and James are the best characters as they are the most intelligent. Especially James, he`s very sophisticated and romantic. But Ash`s determination is certainly a close second. Very Powerful characters in this one, and each villain in the series has depth and is memorable.
- Value
It`s one of my favorites and it`s a very popular series. It was released in a limited edition box that sold out nearly immediately. I will watch it again...and again...and again.