Pokémon: Giratina and the Sky Warrior

Pokémon: Giratina and the Sky Warrior
English DVD Cover
Directed by	Kunihiko Yuyama Tom Wayland
Produced by	Mikihiko Fukazawa Takemoto Mori Junya Okamoto Choji Yoshikawa
Written by	Hideki Sonoda
Starring	Sarah Natochenny Emily Jenness Bill Rogers Ikue Otani Jimmy Zoppi Michele Knotz Amy Palant Lucas Gray Bella Hudson Marc Thompson Rebecca Soler Tim Werenko Tom Wayland
Music by	Shinji Miyazaki
Cinematography	Takaya Mizutani
Editing by	Toshio Henmi
Studio	OLM, Inc.
Distributed by	Toho (Japan) Universal Studios Home Entertainment (USA)[1]
Release date(s)	July 19, 2008; December 19, 2008 (DVD release) February 13, 2009 (airing on Cartoon Network); March 31, 2009 (DVD release)[2] May 23rd 2009 (airing on Jetix); June 1, 2009
Running time	100 min.
Country	Japan United States
Language	Japanese English
Preceded by	Pokémon: The Rise of Darkrai (2008)
Followed by	Pokémon: Arceus and the Jewel of Life (2009)

Pokémon: Giratina and the Sky Warrior (劇場版ポケットモンスター ダイヤモンド&パール ギラティナと氷空の花束 シェイミ, Gekijōban Poketto Monsutā Daiyamondo & Pāru Giratina to Sora no Hanataba Sheimi^?, lit. “Pocket Monsters Diamond & Pearl the Movie: Giratina and the Sky Bouquet: Shaymin”)^[3][4] is the United States title for the 11th Pokémon movie and the second movie in the Diamond & Pearl trilogy. Directed by Kunihiko Yuyama and written by Hideki Sonoda, it was released in Japanese theaters on July 19, 2008 and was released in Japan on DVD on December 19, 2008. The film premiered on February 13, 2009 in the USA on Cartoon Network and was released on Region 1 DVD on March 31, 2009 and was then premiered on May 23 on Jetix in the UK. This was the first film to be distributed by Universal Studios in North America, the first time since Pokemon 3: The Movie that a film had been distributed by a Big 6 Studio (Warner Bros.), the first time since Pokemon: Destiny Deoxys that a film was from a studio owned by a major media conglomerate (Miramax), and the first anime film that Universal has ever distributed.

The movie was officially announced in a teaser trailer attached to the end of the previous film, Pokémon: The Rise of Darkrai. In the trailer, Regigigas was shown appearing from beneath the ground. This is the only teaser since Pokémon 3: The Movie to feature anything beyond a title and a release date. The theme song for the film is "ONE", by Crystal Kay, and "This is a Beautiful World", by Aaron Brotherton for the English dub.

The dub title was first revealed by Sarah Natochenny on her résumé,^[4] and was later confirmed on the official Pokémon website.

Pre-release

In addition to Regigigas, Dialga and Palkia were shown in both the teaser trailer and on the first poster for the film. Giratina's appearance and the current working title of the film were revealed in a second teaser trailer towards the end of 2007. In the March issue of CoroCoro Comic, it was revealed that Giratina has two forms: "Altered Forme," the form seen in the Pokémon: Diamond and Pearl games as well as on the film's first poster; and "Origin Forme" (オリジンフォルム, Orijin Forumu^?), which is seen in the final poster. The Origin Forme is the form Giratina takes when it travels between dimensions. Shaymin was also confirmed to appear in the March issue of CoroCoro Comic. In another trailer, it is shown that Giratina can travel through dimensions by a strange purple wind that look like streaks of power. One of Giratina's dimensions is shown in a trailer as a bottomless foggy place with floating islands, covered with strange green materials like moss or grass. A middle island is covered in moss/grass.

In one of the teaser trailers it was said that "the battle of the gods is not over yet!", implying a direct connection to the previous film. The final poster for the film does not contain images of either Dialga or Palkia, although Dialga is shown battling Giratina in a trailer released in March 2008, on the official website for the film. The Origin Forme of Giratina is shown on the final poster with the tagline: "Pokémon will follow the new light."

In a new trailer released on April 18, 2008, it is shown that Shaymin is able to communicate by telepathy, and it befriends the group. In the same trailer, it shows Shaymin glowing while floating in the air. Just recently it was confirmed in the June Issue of CoroCoro that its new form is actually a Sky Forme.

People who bring their Pokémon Diamond and Pearl games and Nintendo DS to theatrical showings of the film are able to download a level 50 Shaymin to their game cartridge via wireless connection.^[5] Those who pre-ordered their film tickets are also able to download a level 100 Regigigas into their games. This special Regigigas unlocks an event in the game: the original Regis appear in three separate locations. Fans were also able to obtain a special Shaymin, which when transferred to Platinum, unlock the new item the " Gracidea Flower" in Floaroma Town which allows Shaymin to change forms (these events are only for Platinum).

Plot

The film opens with Shaymin, who looks around and then walks towards the oasis. It then takes a drink, just as Dialga appears. Then, in the Reverse or Distortion World Giratina senses Dialga's presence, and flies up to the Real World to capture it. Dialga then drinks from the water, just as Giratina's portal opened up. It then jumps at Dialga, captured it and dragged it into the Reverse World. The two Pokémon's mighty winds caught Shaymin and catapulted it into the Reverse World. As Dialga and Giratina fought, as Shaymin hung on for dear life, Zero, a man who seems intent on capturing Giratina, observed the battle in his ship. During the fight, Shaymin absorbs a dark gas and suddenly tossed up into the air. As Giratina flew towards it, Shaymin then "exploded" or in other words, it used a technique called "Seed Flare," tearing a hole in the Reverse World that allowed it to escape. As Shaymin flew out of the Reverse World, Dialga fired a laser at Giratina, enveloping it in a time loop, preventing Giratina from getting out of the Reverse World and chasing it. As Dialga escapes, Shaymin falls into a river and gets swept away.

At a small seaside town, Ash, Pikachu, Dawn, Brock and all their other Pokémon are having lunch when they spot Shaymin, having found itself nearby, eating their food. After it bit Piplup, jumped off the table, collided with the stove, breathed in the gas and used Seed Flare again, it was revealed that Shaymin was sick, so they rushed it to the Pokémon Center where it recovers. Using its ability to speak telepathically, Shaymin repeatedly speaks of returning to its flower field home, where all Shaymin gather every year to migrate. While everyone takes Shaymin to the flower field, it is captured by Team Rocket. However, while chasing the trio of crooks, a mirror portal into the Reverse World sucked Team Rocket in, followed by Ash, Dawn, Pikachu and Piplup. However, Brock reached the mirror too late and the portal closed.

In the Reverse World, Ash and Dawn meet Newton Graceland, a scientist studying the Reverse World who, had also witnessed the battle between Dialga and Giratina earlier. Newton helps them escape the Reverse World. Team Rocket, who are too late to reach the portal out of the Reverse World, are eventually submitted into following Newton. While explaining the cause of Giratina's violent nature, the Reverse World was polluted with toxic smoke caused by the battle between Dialga and Palkia, infuriating Giratina into harboring a grudge for the Temporal and Spacial Pokémon and so willing to capture the two deities with a vengeance.

Upon Ash, Dawn, Pikachu and Piplup's return to the real world and reuniting with Brock, they are attacked by Zero and his horde of Magnemite, Magneton and Magnezone, though they manage to board a train and escape. On board the train, Shaymin is exposed to one of the passenger's bouquet of Gracidea flowers, which are found in Shaymin's flower garden home, causing it to transform into its flying Sky Forme. Shortly afterward, Zero's Pokémon raid the train, though everyone is able to fight them off.

Everyone takes a boat up a river to reach Shaymin's home when a portal to the Reverse World suddenly opens in the water, sucking everyone in again, with Zero entering as well. Giratina and Shaymin battle until Shaymin's Sky Forme wears off. Ash, Dawn and Brock reunite with Newton, who helps them hide from Giratina. They encounter Zero, who was once Newton's assistant and explains his desire to rule the Reverse World. Zero forces Shaymin to use Seed Flare to open a portal to the real world, with everyone ending up in Shaymin's home. Giratina enters the real world, shattering Dialga's time loop, and is captured by Zero. Newton explains that Zero's methods of using Giratina to take over the Reverse World will eventually kill it.

Ash, Pikachu, Dawn, and Newton, along with Shaymin, who regains its Sky Forme, take off to Zero's airship to save Giratina. Newton heads inside the ship to deactivate the device while Ash and Dawn remain outside to fight off Zero's Magnemite, Magneton and Magnezone. Newton succeeds in releasing Giratina, though it causes the ship to crash. Everyone manages to escape, and Shaymin uses its powers to restore the critically injured Giratina to full health. Zero, determined to have his revenge, uses the power he managed to obtain from Giratina to enter the Reverse World and attack everyone from there. In doing so, he awakens the ancient Regigigas, which helps save everyone from a moving glacier caused by Zero's attacks, while Ash, Shaymin and Giratina enter the Reverse World to force him out and put an end to his plans.

After helping Ash and Pikachu escape the Reverse World, Giratina senses Dialga nearby and goes after it. Shaymin gathers with its brethren as they appear in the flower field, thanking everyone for their help before flying off to migrate to a new home.

Cast

Main cast

Box Office

It took the second Japanese box office, beaten by Ponyo on the Cliff by the Sea during the July 19-20 weekend. Giratina to Sora no Hanataba: Shaymin saw 982,000 viewers spending ¥1,018,770,000 (approx. US$9,463,400) to see the film. It is tracking at 89.8% of the box office performance of the last year's film, Pokémon: The Rise of Darkrai.

Sequel

The sequel was released theatrically in Japan on 18 July, 2009. The first teaser trailer was released with showings of Giratina to Sora no Hanataba: Shaymin, showing Dialga, Palkia, and Giratina preparing to battle. The film crew has traveled to Greece for setting inspiration.

A small clip that was included with DP episode 97 showed the crew observing some of the ruins and temples in Athens, Greece. The climax of the location hunt was a sacred location behind the town of Kalampaka. An interview with the director revealed that Ash and a Pichu with a spiked ear would be the key in the movie and that Dialga, Palkia, and Giratina will return in the film. In the latest CoroCoro issue, it is revealed that Arceus, Heatran and the three Johto starters will make an appearance in this movie.

References

External links

• Official site (Japanese)
• Official English site on Pokemon.com
• Pokémon: Giratina and the Sky Warrior at the Internet Movie Database
• [2]
• [3]