Are the movies canon?

[Lil Brother]

Not a debate, just a poll. This topic comes up every once in a while, and I'm kinda curious. How many people think the movies are canon and how many don't?

I believe they are.

 

[Casual_Furi]

Anime movies try to make as little a ripple on the min story as possible. Just like an episode of a sitcom.

 

[Blackjack Gabbiani]

You could say the same about pretty much 85% of the episodes, too.

Anyway, I say yes they're canon. There's nothing to contradict it save for Ash's single line about "wouldn't it be great if it was really real?" about Articuno, but even that can be taken to mean "wouldn't it be great if there was really an Articuno here?", which doesn't doubt the existance of the species, just that they would be in that location.

Everything else suggests they're as canon as any given episode. Sure they don't usually reference the movies, but they don't usually reference previous episodes either.

This is, of course, neglecting to mention both obvious tie-ins (such as the destruction of TR HQ in both the show and the first movie) and continuity glitches caused by episode airings and movie releases not tying up.

 

[Masato]

I also say that the movies are canon though they do not affect the main plot. The first movie shows evidence that the movies are canon since several scenes in the first movie are also seen in the anime (Gary's Pokemon getting beaten by Mewtwo, Mewtwo appearing in the anime, and Team Rocket's Headquarters getting destroyed.

 

[Yoshi1001]

The writers basically leave it so that you can watch the show without seeing the movies and vice versa (though the former is easier).

 

[Cybersai]

Of course they're canon to a degree.

Why else would the writers make Drew's hometown the same town from Movie 7? Out of all the places Drew could have come from, they pick the same city as the one from a movie? The only other reason I think they could have done that is because of Sid, and maybe it was a running gag or something.

Between that and the references of Mewtwo, Lugia, Suicune, young Sammy, and Lucario's aura, its enough for me.

 

[Duckgon Z]

Yes, the movies are canon. Drew's hometown is LaRouse City or something, and that was the city in the 7th movie. And we did have Mewtwo battle Gary, and we did see his eventual escape from Giovanni.

Of course the writers don't use the movie to bridge the plot, sans Mewtwo of sorts, because everyone doesn't have the luxuray of seeing the movie, money problems, just not wanting to see it, whatever. Take for example, if the end of Movie 11 has Ash and Co. heading to Hearthome from Shaymin in Sky Forme, and at the beginning of the episode after the opening week of the movie, we see Shaymin in Sky Forme flying off into the distance, and Dawn says something about their adventures. Now if you didn't see that movie, you'd be so lost.

So the movies are more or less side stories that take place within the anime, but aren't really referenced EVER FREAKING TIME or used to progress the plot, because not everyone has seen the movie, and it would be a mess of spoilers.

Though Gen IV could change that, with Dialga and Palkia still in some sort of struggle from the previous movie.

 

[Weedle Mchairybug]

I believe they are. I mean, there haven't been much continuity errors in regards to the series (and even if there were so many, there are also continuity errors between episodes as well.). Heck, the Movies could very well be canon with the Games as well, which I will get to later in the post. Plus, nearly every movie has had hints in regards to their being canon with the anime.

Mewtwo Strikes Back/Birth of Mewtwo: It should be fairly obvious as to whether it's canon or not.

Power of One: Ash and James referenced the events of that movie in the Whirl Island Lugia Arc (which, according to Yoshi-kun and Heracross, were in the Japanese version as well.)

Spell of the Unown: there might have been a reference to that movie in "Entei if you dare", but I'm not TOO sure about that.

4EVER: Ash mentioned his meeting Suicune (he may have saw it in the episode where he first steps into Johto, but it wasn't an actual meeting as it was in the movie.) Plus, in "The Green Guardian", apparantly there was a reference to the Celebi in "4ever"

Heroes: I can't say much as to whether it's canon or not, but considering how Alto Mare is located on the Official Anime Map, I'd say that it IS canon.

Jirachi Wishmaker: again, like above, but this is the first of a few that may tie the Movies with the games as well...

Destiny Deoxys: Canon, without a doubt. The setting of the city was referenced countless times (Heck, one of May's Rivals, Drew, is actually from that city), and besides which, the events of that movie were referenced in Deoxys Crisis.

Lucario and the Mystery of Mew: Lucario and Mew appeared in the Opening, The Spiritomb episode mentioned Aura (not to mention the Aura guardians and Ash being one), The first Maylene episode made references to this movie (Ash's reaction to Lucario, as well as JJM trying to feed it chocolate comes to mind.), and the Wave Guiding Riolu two parter referenced Ash having Aura again (and gave hints at J being an Aura user as well.)

Pokemon Ranger and the Temple of the Sea: Manaphy appeared in the D/P openings, and besides which, Ash referenced the events of the Green Guardian episode in a Pokemon Sunday exclusive preview.

Rise of Darkrai: The Alamos Space-time tower (or rather a diorama of it) made a cameo in A Secret Sphere of Influence.

Now onto the special episodes (BTW, that's NOT counting Pokemon Hoso/Pokemon Chronicles.)

Mewtwo Returns: That special episode was canon without a doubt since it was a "sequel" to the first movie.

Raikou - Legend of thunder: That's canon as well, due to the simple fact that Vincent/Jackson made an appearance, and referenced Marina/Dani as well as Yoshi/Jimmy, not to mention that Marina has made at least 4 cameos thus far.

Mastermind of Mirage pokemon: I'd say that's canon. I mean, this was also, technically, a sequel to Mewtwo Returns.

For how the Movies could actually be canon with the games as well, it's simple, really, Diane and Butler made a cameo in Diamond and Pearl as a couple you fight on Route 229, and Rebecca is fought on Route 224 (NOA didn't catch that though, so they renamed them Dana, Felix, and Jamie respectively.), and I doubt they would add in Anime exclusive characters into the games if they didn't want the Anime and the Games to correlate, so I'm pretty sure that they are canon with the games as well.

Also, I think they would affect the plot as well (if they didn't, why would they reference the events of certain movies in the anime (like the Orange Islands Lugia and Professor Lunds research, to name a few?) I mean, I think they're even REFERENCING those events would hint that they do affect the plot. I think they wouldn't have any Idea who Professor Lund is, and they would be confused with Ash and James saying "Hey isn't that a Lugia? we saw that at the Orange Islands!"

Anyways, that's all for now.

 

[Blackjack Gabbiani]

I'm also fairly sure Mewtwo Returns tied into one of the HoSos. In the one where Butch and Cassidy invade Oak's lab, Oak has a picture on the wall of what looks exactly like the MR location. And as you know, it had an unusual shape (probably not unique, but pretty rare).

And it was probably a continuity error due to a lack of communication between the show writers and the movie writers, but Bill seems to know what Mewtwo is.

 

[Dogasu]

Pokemon Ranger and the Temple of the Sea: Manaphy appeared in the D/P openings

There's also Jack Walker appearing in Spurt!...

 

[Gaiash]

I'm going to say that they are. I know for cirtain the the first and eighth are canon because of Mewtwo showing up in a few episodes including a special episode sequel plus Ash's Aura has been related to several episodes. Considering this the sixth movie is also canon as Diane and Butler have a cameo in the eighth movie, this also makes the second, fith and ninth movie as well as the Raikou special canon due to similar links to one another. Considering six movies are canon I imagine the others would be as well.

 

[Blackjack Gabbiani]

If we're counting movie references to other movies, don't forget the pictures of Jirarudan, his ship, and his treasures in the end of 5 (dammit, I want to know what that book was).

And I know Rebecca from 7 was in one of the intros to a different movie, but I can't remember which one. Gee, she's popular, getting in there and in the games...

 

[PDL]

Movies are canon, but they're also self-contained so that people don't need to watch the anime to completely understand what's going on in the movie and vice versa.

 

[dragonite24]

I don't really see the mastermind of mirage pokemon as canon.
They did forgot mewtwo right?

It also a bit unfitting that the ultimate pokemon can be generated with a computer,and gains most atacks by simply let a pokemon head sticking out his body,the whole plot is a bit odd.
It is also made in the U.S,which further questions it being canon.

 

[Weedle Mchairybug]

I don't really see the mastermind of mirage pokemon as canon.
They did forgot mewtwo right?

In Mewtwo strikes back, yes. In Mewtwo Returns, no, he allowed Ash, Misty, Brock, Jessie, James, and all of their pokemon to keep their memories (I guess as a bit of a thank you towards their helping him and his cloned friends.)

It also a bit unfitting that the ultimate pokemon can be generated with a computer,and gains most atacks by simply let a pokemon head sticking out his body,the whole plot is a bit odd.

Yeah, well Porygon's conception didn't seem fitting, either. heck, Electric Soldier Porygon was a very strange episode as well, should we disassociate Porygon from the franchise and say that the pokemon was non-canon?

It is also made in the U.S,which further questions it being canon.

Actually, it was written in Japan. the only thing the U.S. did in regards to the special was allow it to air in the States first. I mean, the Original Anime writers [which included, yes, Satoshi Tajiri] in Japan were actually credited in regards to making this special. Heck, serebii can give you a list if the both of you wish to do it.

If ANY of the Pokemon Anime related things AREN'T canon, it's "Pokemon Live!" since UNLIKE Mastermind, where about HALF of the writing staff credited was the japanese original writers, Live was written and produced 100% by America.

 

[monkeyjb1988]

The movies are CANON. No doubt about it. The Mewtwo and Lucario ones definitly, but I consider all of them to be a part of the TV adventures. The only discrepency is Tracey acting like he never met Oak in A Tents Situation when he did in Power of One. However, the arguement of goofs between show and movies and the fact that movie events are not mentioned in the series is bull, as events in some episodes are not mentioned in other episodes (we don't need a recap every episode), and goofs happen all the time between episodes. I have no doubt that, if I asked Ash about dealing with Lugia in Power of One and about meeting May in the first AG episode, he could tell about both perfectly.

 

[Trainer Lisa]

Yes, I believe that all the movies are canon. ^^

It's just that the first, 7th, and 8th movies seem to be the only ones that have been referenced in the series itself.


Anyway, I like how you don't need to have seen every episode of the show, to be able to watch the movies. That makes it nice. =)

 

[Rocketshipper]

I voted for canon. I don't see anything in them that contradicts the TV series enough to reject them as canon.

 

[Blackjack Gabbiani]

The only discrepency is Tracey acting like he never met Oak in A Tents Situation when he did in Power of One.

They'd also just been through a terrifying experience. Tracey's lack of fanboyism is understandable.

It's just that the first, 7th, and 8th movies seem to be the only ones that have been referenced in the series itself.

"It's a Lugia! Just like the one we saw in the Orange Islands!"

"I met Suicune."

and the whole thing with the movie 10 location being shown in model form, then Ash and Dawn freaking out when Kenny says he's going to see Dialga and Palkia.

 

[monkeyjb1988]

I forgot to put this in my post, but it's not a question of whether the movies are canon or not, but where they take place chronologically, aka between which episodes to put a movie.