Review: Pokémon Origins

When Pokémon Origins was first announced I was giddy with excitement, finally an anime that adapts the original story of the games, the ones we all played umpteen times, the ones that we know like the back of our hands. But would it hold up to the lofty expectations or would it fall foul of simply being a nostalgia trip?

It follows Red on his journey right from the beginning where he first chooses Charmander and begins a rivalry with Blue who picks Squirtle. It follows him right up until the end of the actual game where he faces Mewtwo including all the famous events in between from the battles with Team Rocket to the Gym Leaders to legends and many learning experiences.

The plot of the game brought to life but in a shorter, more streamlined format is both a blessing and a curse. It enables all of us who played the games to reminisce about the times we played but to new viewers have haven’t played the game it will feel very rushed, especially if their Pokémon knowledge is limited to the current iterations of the TV show which take an altogether much slower pace. Cramming 20-30 hours of game play into 4 episodes will do that.

Due to length they had to choose which parts to adapt and which to skip and they got most of the big scenes (in the grand scheme of things) right. From the story of the ghost in Pokémon Tower in Lavendar Town (complete with heartbreaking Cubone story) to the infiltration of Team Rocket and the battles with mastermind Giovanni it rarely goes wrong. These are intense and emotionally wrought encounters and to see them through the screen, animated is a real wonder to see.

It also means more of these encounters can be given their due with a stronger focus with two standouts. The first is Gym Leader no. 1 Brock. The anguish, the trial and error Red went through to take down that Onix is something anyone who chose Charmander can relate to. It was tormenting but satisfying to see Red victorious. The second is the battles with Giovanni the big baddie so to speak in the games and here you get to see a crueller side, a side that will do anything for his goals.

What couldn’t be shown (in depth at least) is the countless other events. A few seconds glossing over gym battles, numerous adventures that we all know and love, from catching Pokémon, receiving their first bike, buying the incredible Magikarp and so much more is the price you pay for getting some big scenes focused on. It even brings up age old questions you might have like how do a Nidoqueen and Chariazrd battle in a small room?

My issues came with the Gym Leaders from Misty to Lt. Surge to my favourites Sabrina and Blaine they are glimpsed at but ultimately skipped likewise the Elite 4 and majority of the Champions battle. Gym battles and the Elite 4 were one of the biggest highlights of the game as you come up against new masters of a type, facing the challenge head on. Sure we know what was going to happen but to only give a glimmer of it did not sit right with me. The only ones that lasted a while were the aforementioned Brocks Gym and Giovanni.

And that is my only major gripe here, by cutting away such a large integral part of what made these games so enjoyable, so fondly remembered they have left me with a great deal of disappointment. I was not expecting a full adaptation by any means but I was expecting a bit more of the major events covered. Another episode or two and this would have been perfect.

There was another gripe though it is relatively minor and that is the inclusion of Mega evolutions. Introduced in Generation VI these are actually present here but at the very end after Red has completed the Pokédex. It feels out of place, it was not there originally and feels kind of tacked on. Then again I also see it as a nod to the future, to the developments each generation brings and that there is more out there than Red could comprehend.

Visually the show is very strong. It keeps the aesthetic from the art of the time but spruces it up a bit with a bit more polish, all the classic characters are there all fittingly in their original designs. Pokémon battles themselves are fluid and look gorgeous. You can see the impact moves have, the way the Pokémon move naturally and react to the battles. It looks more fierce and dangerous than the long running anime does.

One touch I really liked was the screens at each opening where the basic text screen appeared and a load game appeared. It’s a little touch but brings a smile to my face because I know that feeling well. This even follows into the episodes themselves with classic text boxes showing on the screen just as they would in game.

As a special for an anniversary of the games it does what it sets out to do, offer nostalgia based miniseries to remind fans of a huge part of their gaming lives but also point to the future. I cannot though look past what was cut out and that is where it disappoints, maybe I am being too harsh but I missed them so much.

Studio: Production I.G, Xebec, OLM

Release: 2013

Length: 4 episodes

Availability: Streaming and BD set

7.5/10