Gotta Catch 'em All

Written by MithrilSword on February 1, 2011 at 6:12 PM

I've been in the Pokemon scene since the old days of the very first season in Kanto. I loved the anime! But then got turned off as the production quality and voicing started degrading. I remember seeing a Salamance take land and take flight without moving what-so-ever; no wing flapping, no head movement, no foot movement, nothing :\ I felt like I was watching colored manga scans with mouth movement.

I took a chance with this season, feeling a little nostalgic for an old anime favorite. Immediately, I noticed a HUGE change in the animation and production.

Story: With some changes to details and characters, the basic premises of Satoshi/Ash catching new pokemon, battling gym trainers, and entering the Pokemon League still remain. However, I'm still disappointed the only original pokemon he has is his pikachu. I would've hoped he would keep some of his others he trained so hard. I'm also a bit bummed that he didn't grow at all. He's still 10 years old and acts inexperienced, despite how many adventures and battles he's been through.

Dialogue: Its an anime meant for kids, so you have to take the script with a grain of salt if you're older. I think it serves its purpose extremely well. My only complaint: Satoshi has a bit of a potty mouth for a 10-year-old kid!

Animation: A HUGE high point for this season of Pokemon! Its not any of the movie high-budget stuff, but its a couple nice steps above the laziness I saw in previous seasons. Flying pokemon flap their wings when they fly, there's more dynamics with the special effects, especially during the battle sequences. The CG use is quite; fits perfectly for the attacks. I hope the animation budget stays high for this one :)

Entertainment: Its a kid's show. Young, Modern day Pokemon fans will absolutely love it! Long time fans will more than likely love this arch as well! People like myself who were fans of the older seasons may like this anime too, but may feel behind if they're unfamiliar with the myriad of new moves and pokmeon (like myself).

Final Verdict: Its worth the download! Its not a mind-blowing, world changing anime, but this season of Pokemon should keep a wide variety of audiences well entertained. Happy viewing!