The second trailer for the much anticipated Pokemon movie Detective Pikachu has been released to much fanfare on the internet, with fans more excited than ever.
When it was first announced that there would be a live-action CGI Pokemon movie, most were sceptical. The beloved characters from the Japanese trading cards and animation show phenomenon wouldn’t necessarily translate well into live action, but the two trailers we have already seen show otherwise.
The movie is directed by Rob Letterman, who has previously directed Shark Tale, Monsters Vs Aliens, and Goosebumps. Voicing the small yellow Pokemon will be Deadpool star Ryan Reynolds.
Here are five takeaways from the second trailer:
1) Pikachu talks
Many fans rejected the idea that their beloved Pikachu would have a human voice, contradicting accepted Pokemon lore which says that Pokemons generally don’t say anything other than their own name (it’s quite a rich and extensive set of rules, read up on it if you decide to suddenly jump on the bandwagon).
Seeing Pikachu talk in the trailers has changed opinions though, as Ryan Reynolds makes it seem very natural that our furry friend does indeed talk, and is often sarcastic too. Even though we can hear him talk, the film’s twist is that he is only heard by the main human character of the film, played by Justice Smith.
He’s not any average Pikachu though, he’s a detective, and he’s on a mission to solve a murder.
2) Many Pokemon revealed
Fans of the long running series will tell you that the exact number of Pokemon is not exact, as there's debate on the validity of some, while the company churns out new characters to add to the roster every year.
The first batch of Pokemon, which were made famous from the television show’s first season, totalled 151. But ever since then, the number has been growing exponentially. With every new game and animated movie, more were added. Today, the number stands at 721, excluding all the evolutions.
In the trailer we see a lot of Pokemon, some new, but most from the original 151. This is a clear indication that the film is geared towards every fan of the series, and not just the ones who decided to stick with it through the ages and bothered to memorise the name of every new character.
3) The animation is great
Like many who grew up in the 1990s watching Pokemon, I always dreamt of having a real life version of them - or at least seeing what they could look like if they existed. I had to wait until 2019, but it was worth it. The Pokemon all look great, and they fit the characters we all have come to know them for. Seeing Bulbasaur and Charizard on the big screen will definitely make this 28-year-old giddy with excitement.
4) Small Pokemon, big battles
The trailer shows us glimpses of the Pokemon going up against each other. We see large numbers getting ready for battle, but also a very significant one-on-one. It looks like Pikachu will have to fight Charizard, a Pokemon much bigger and stronger than him.
A significant match up, as it has been portrayed in all mediums. Now though, we get to see it on the big screen. It will be interesting to see how the battle schemes, which fans know well from all the Pokemon games, will be translated into a coherent storytelling tool. The big showdown that would send fans into a frenzy would be Mewtwo going into battle — possibly against Mew.
5) Delivers the laughs
It's no surprise that the trailer has some great comedic moments, seeing as the star of Deadpool is voicing Pikachu. What is surprising though is how funny the other Pokemon are. Snorlax, Jigglypuff, and Mr Mime were known to be regular comic relief characters in the animated show's first season, and seeing them here means we will likely be in store for some good old inside jokes.
Detective Pikachu is expected in UAE cinemas on May 9
