Pokemon the Movie 10- In theatres possibly?

[Linkpre]

As most of you know, only the first three Pokemon movies were released in theatres nationwide in the USA. After that, the rest were either straight to VHS/DVD or released in limited theatres. I made the conclusion that they rest were release that way because the Pokemon fad was already dying in late 2000 or that WB/4Kids did not wat to bother with more theatre releases.

Flash Forward ta 2007. While the Pokemon brand popularity isn't as high as it was during the earlier days, the release of Pokemon Diamond & Pearl and new episodes from the TV anime have slighting increased the mass popularity of the franchise. Now, I'm not too sure if kids are sstill bringing Pokemon cards to school or playing the games during class, but I do know the overall popularity of Pokemon has increased abit. For example, there are whole toy sections full of Pokemon toys in many stores now. Also sales of the latest games have been excellent.

The real point of this is if the tenth Pokemon movie, that was released last summer in Japan, has a chance to be released in USA and maybe worldwide theatres. I have afew pros and cons to the possiblity of this.

Pros:
-It could bring in tons of money, as there is currently a lack of children's films in the theatres.
-Seeing a new Pokemon movie in theatres may interest older fans, genrating more sales.
- It's just alot more fun watching a Pokemon movie on the big screen (Okay that's just a Pro for Me...)

Cons:
-Pokemon USA could be risking alot, if children don't take interest
-Pokemon USA may not even have the money to fund a nationwide theatre release

Now, what do you all think? Please be respectful to each other while discussing your opinions.

 

[Yoshi1001]

As you've mentioned, the trend as of late has had fewer and fewer children's movies in theatres. I really don't see that changing, as I think direct-to-video is probably a better option. I would, however, like to see some of the movies in high definition now that CN has gone HD.

 

[Cybersai]

Dogasu could probably explain realistically why its unlikely for PUSA to try and get this movie in theaters. Wait for him to come here.

 

[Argy]

PUSA would need to team with a major studio to get a wide release, which seems unlikely. Warner Brothers and Miramax both had their chances, and the Warner Brothers releases seemed easy considering the popularity of Pokémon at the time. Pokémon is perhaps 1/4 as popular as it was back in those days (1999-2001), believe it or not.

Although, with studios possibly shutting down in-house production because of the writers' strike, they may get desperate for foreign material.

 

[Every Breaking Wave]

Although, with studios possibly shutting down in-house production because of the writers' strike, they may get desperate for foreign material.

That will depend on how long the strike is. Considering that Diaruga vs. Parukia vs. Darkrai will probably come out in March or April, it's unlikely since the strike could very well be resolved long before then.

 

[Yoshi1001]

Also, I don't think that the "in theatres" experience is as attractive in general as it used to be. Getting a major motion picture for a property used to be considered the ultimate achievement possible for a franchise, but I don't think that's really true any more. With the improving home theater, cinema just isn't what it used to be.

 

[Trainer Lisa]

Still, I think it would be really cool to see a Pokemon movie go to theaters in the U.S. again.

And I have very fond memories of seeing movies 1, 2, and 3, in the theater. That experience was just amazing!! ^_^


Hmm, I'm not sure how people would react to seeing the 10th movie in theaters....

I agree that if this were possible, it could bring many new fans to the franchise! And that would be awesome!



However, if some older fans go see the 10th movie, they may remember having seen the first 3 movies in theaters back in the day. These fans probably wouldn't like seeing the new voices of Ash, Brock, and Team Rocket.

Of course, that's assuming there are some people who haven't watched the TV series since Pokemon's popular days, so they would still be unaware of the VA switch.


Anyway, it does take away part of Pokemon's nostalgia when the voices/VAs aren't the same.

I'm not saying that would ruin the movie for everyone, but it would ruin the experience for some people.

 

[pokemonmaster24]

It would be awsome if the 10 movie would come out in theaters. But, it proably won't.

 

[Wonder Happiny]

I'm neutral with the whole idea.

But, hey, in this day and age, anything could happen.

 

[Jorah]

I don't think I'd be too happy sitting with 6 year olds yelling and crying throughout the movie :/ I'd end up having to go by myself lol. Heh I can just imagine some people's reactions to it "There's a tenth movie? I didn't know there was a second" Haha

I think its unlikely that they'd risk spending all that money to show it in cinemas when they could just take the safe option of releasing it straight to DVD again. I mean, it may be more popular, but is it that popular that it would make a lot of profit? I don't know.

 

[Trainer Lisa]

Well, despite Pokemon being popular, I know that some people didn't buy the 9th movie (because of the VA switch).

But then again, I'm not sure if that affected the DVD sales or not....


If that did affect the sales, even a little, I doubt they'd want to risk bringing the 10th movie to theaters.

 

[Dogasu]

Although, with studios possibly shutting down in-house production because of the writers' strike, they may get desperate for foreign material.

Movies are insanely complicated productions that take years and years of planning. The movie scripts that were completed in 2007 probably won't be turned into a final product until 2009 or 2010, if not later. In the meantime, studios have plenty of scripts stockpiled and can still continue with production as planned. They just can't do any rewrites since they don't have any writers to do that for them.

But anyway...the Dialga vs. Palkia movie will be old news by the time studios start "resorting" to foreign films.

That will depend on how long the strike is. Considering that Diaruga vs. Parukia vs. Darkrai will probably come out in March or April, it's unlikely since the strike could very well be resolved long before then.

That doesn't seem too likely. Most people are predicting that the strike will last longer than the one in the late 1980's. That one lasted a full 20 weeks.

However, if some older fans go see the 10th movie, they may remember having seen the first 3 movies in theatres back in the day. These fans probably wouldn't like seeing the new voices of Ash, Brock, and Team Rocket.

If people are that far out of the loop, then a) they probably won't be going to a theater to watch a Pokemon movie in the first place, and b) will probably care more about the whereabouts of Misty than any voice actor switch

...

As far as the movie premiering in theatres...I don't see it happening. One thing I noticed that everyone's forgetting is Cartoon Network. They aired the Manaphy movie before it came out on DVD and got great ratings because of it, and they'll want to do the same thing with the Darkrai movie. Especially nowadays, when CN is constantly getting their asses kicked by Nickelodeon and the Disney Channel. But if PUSA decides to release the movies in theatres, CN's ratings for when they eventually do air the movie won't be as high. So, they'll probably fight like crazy to make sure that they get "first dibs."

Movies 1-5 didn't have this problem since, at that time, no network was really interested in airing the Pokemon movies. Well, HBO aired a few of them, but they don't count since they're not basic cable


The way I see it, CN will probably marathon the hell out of Diamond & Pearl before airing the Darkrai movie. Then, maybe a week or so later, the movie will come out on DVD (packaged, maybe, with a dub of the 2007 ANA short "Pikachu's Rescue Club").

I also predict that PUSA will distribute Darkrai to the DS games through a Toys 'R' Us event sometime close to the release date of the DVD.

 

[Perxio]

Shame that it's pretty inevitable that it won't be in theatres. I'd love for just the tenth movie to come out, even in select theatres, and/or for a limited time, just because...yanno...it's the tenth one. Pretty much a milestone in a way. I guess. ....Plus: big screen epic Dialga+Palkia+Darkrai battle=win. Yeah, as much as I've accepted the reality of the situation, what with what everyone's pointed out, I still can't help being disappointed

 

[Nomekop Oen]

I don't know,if junk like Hoodwinked and Doogal can get a decent wide release from a small studio like the The Weinstein Company,I don't see why something as popular as Pokemon can't get into theaters.


The reasons why the fourth and fifth Pokemon movies weren't as successful as the previous three almost had nothing to with Pokemon's popularity at the time.Compare Hoodwinked's and Doogal's releases to the Pokemon 4Ever and Pokemon Heroes releases.'Cause seriously,giving a limited release to something as mainstream and commercial as Pokemon made *a lot* of fucking sense. =/ (gg Miramax...)



I think it pretty much comes down to if Pokemon USA wants to give Movie 10 a theatrical release.And more importantly,if they do it right.





That said,even if Movie 10 was actually released in the theaters,I probably wouldn't go watch it.Mainly because of the VA switch.

 

[Yotsuba]

I don't know,if junk like Hoodwinked and Doogal can get a decent wide release from a small studio like the The Weinstein Company,I don't see why something as popular as Pokemon can't get into theaters.

You would think that, I mean, it's pretty amazing. How many movies do you know that are aimed at children, have next to no advertising, are a limited release, and yet make that much? It's not exactly the most common thing in the world. Even with the fifth movie's drop it's still impressive. Mostly because that thing really did have no advertising (It had like, what? One trailer that was online? And I think it was on Miramax's site too, not even the official pokemon one). ._.

Sadly though, Pokemon isn't CGI. Both of those movies are. If this generation has taught me anything, it doesn't matter how bad a movie is, if it's CGI? It automatically gets a free pass to the big leagues.

Look at them all! Ice Age, Over the Hedge, Madagascar, Happily Never After...The same old song and dance. They're advertised as being these side splitting comedies, but they downright boring and bland. You know the plot before it happens and there's only about four funny lines, three of which were shown in the preview.

If Pokemon was CGI, I can almost guarantee it'd be given a chance. Heck, I'd say they'd be BEGGING for it to be in theater's. They know people will go to those movies for the "prettiness" (even though I think CGI is ugly), so they want it. But Pokemon isn't...pokemon is boring 2D and nobody likes that anymore. Or at least they won't until Disney's the Frog Princess is shown, then they'll go running back to it like the sheep that they are.

So while I do understand what you're saying Nomekop, the reasons those movies are "ok" is because they fit the current trend. Otherwise as people have stated, I do believe this movie could earn a fair amount of cash. Being the tenth...no kids movies...bah. Ah well!

Hakuna matata!

 

[Cybersai]

'Cause seriously,giving a limited release to something as mainstream and commercial as Pokemon made *a lot* of fucking sense. =/ (gg Miramax...)

From their perspective, it made a lot of sense. The Pokemon fad was just about dead by the end of the 3rd movie, if the 4th or 5th movie were released nationwide they probably would have bombed horribly.

 

[Linkpre]

So from what most have said, it seems like my idea probably won't happen. Still, I just wish Pokemon USA would be a rebel, find a movie distributor and hope for a good run in the theatre. I really don't think the movie would do that terrible.

 

[Cybersai]

So from what most have said, it seems like my idea probably won't happen. Still, I just wish Pokemon USA would be a rebel, find a movie distributor and hope for a good run in the theatre. I really don't think the movie would do that terrible.

How good could the movie possibly do, though? Outside the core fanbase, your average casual fan is so out of touch with the anime that some still think Misty is part of the cast! And she's been gone for 5 years!

The fact that IGN just put up an article about the TFG where he talks about Ash/Misty/Brock being in the anime for 10 seasons just shows how clueless or misinformed your casual watcher of Pokemon is. How goddamn sad is that?

If nobody outside the core fanbase has any clue what's been going on in the anime for the last number of years, how in the world could this movie do well? How many kids would honestly beg their parents to take them to see Pokemon?

 

[Linkpre]

I'm not saying the movie will be the ultimate success story but it'll at least do moderate at the movies.

Also, the people who are writing these articles are most likely young adults or older, which probably wouldn't be the core audience for a Pokemon movie anyways. The core audience would most likely be kids.

Now I don't know how big Pokemon is with the younger kids, but it can't be doing all that bad. I believe Pokemon DP cartoon rating have been good, even surpassing showings of the 1st season on Cartoon Network. Also, as I mentioned, there are whole sections in many stores devoted to Pokemon toys and the card game.

 

[Dogasu]

Unfortunately, what Yotsuba said is correct. Nobody in the U.S. is interested in hand-drawn animation anymore. CGI is "the future." Disney shut down their traditional animation studios in 2005 to focus soley on CGI projects. The traditional hand-drawn movie, as we know it, is dead.

Random story: in my school, there's a poster advertising The Simpsons Movie, which is coming out here in December. And on the poster, they note that it's an American animated movie and, with a hint of surprise, that it's a 2D American animated movie. The truth is, most people equate American animated films with CGI.

A movie like Dialga vs. Palkia vs. Darkrai is not consistent with the current American animated feature film environment. They want talking CGI animals making dated pop culture references, not 2D movies about a boy trying to stop a fight between a pair of mystical beings.

From their perspective, it made a lot of sense. The Pokemon fad was just about dead by the end of the 3rd movie, if the 4th or 5th movie were released nationwide they probably would have bombed horribly.

Exactly. I searched for the numbers and couldn't find them, but I do remember reading that every movie did worse than the one before it. So from Warner Brother's perspective, continuing to release a set of movies that fewer and fewer people are watching isn't smart.

I'm not saying the movie will be the ultimate success story but it'll at least do moderate at the movies.

Movie studios don't want to spend the time/money on films that will be a "moderate" success. They want films that'll earn them hundreds of millions of dollars. A Pokemon movie, unfortunately, can't do that.