Shows Like Pokémon

Frequently asked about Pokémon

Common questions people search for, with answers written by us at MoviesPack.

• Why does Ash's Pikachu refuse to go into its Poké Ball?▾

  When Ash first received Pikachu, the Pokémon was defiant and disobedient, refusing to battle or follow Ash's commands. After Ash shielded Pikachu from a flock of wild Spearow with his own body, Pikachu saw that Ash genuinely cared for it and chose to stay by his side — but from that point on, Pikachu insisted on traveling outside its Poké Ball as a sign of their bond of trust rather than a trainer-owned possession dynamic.

• What happened to Ash at the end of the first episode that set the tone for the series?▾

  At the climax of the first episode, Ash and Pikachu are cornered by hundreds of angry Spearow. Ash throws himself in front of Pikachu to protect it, and in response Pikachu releases a massive thunderbolt that drives the flock away. The two then witness a mysterious golden Pokémon flying through a rainbow — widely interpreted as Ho-Oh — which foreshadows Ash's destiny as a Pokémon trainer and hints at legendary Pokémon existing beyond the world he knows.

• Why does Mewtwo harbor so much hatred toward humans in Pokémon: The First Movie?▾

  Mewtwo was created by scientists who cloned it from the DNA of the ancient Pokémon Mew, essentially bringing it into existence as a living weapon. When Mewtwo became aware of its own nature and that it was being exploited by Team Rocket's Giovanni, it felt profound betrayal — it had no say in being created, no identity beyond serving others, and no understanding of love or choice. This existential anger drives its desire to destroy both humans and the original Pokémon to create a world ruled by clones.

• What is the significance of Ash turning to stone and Pikachu's tears reviving him in Pokémon: The First Movie?▾

  When Ash runs between Mew and Mewtwo's clashing energy blasts to stop their battle, he is turned to stone — a consequence of being caught in the crossfire of godlike power. Pikachu's tearful, desperate attempts to revive Ash, joined by the tears of all the other Pokémon present, ultimately restore him to life. The scene illustrates the film's central theme that love and genuine emotional bonds — not battle strength — are the most powerful force in the Pokémon world, and it is the only moment in the anime where Pikachu's tears have this magical restorative effect.

• Why does Team Rocket follow Ash throughout the series instead of reporting back to Giovanni?▾

  Jessie, James, and Meowth were tasked by Giovanni with capturing rare or powerful Pokémon, and they became fixated on Ash's Pikachu after recognizing that its electric power far exceeded a normal specimen. Each failed attempt to capture Pikachu became a point of obsession and pride — admitting failure and returning empty-handed would mean disgrace within Team Rocket. Over time the trio also developed a complicated, quasi-familial attachment to their rivalry with Ash, which kept them pursuing him across every region even as Giovanni largely forgot about them.