Pokémon Heroes
Movie, 2002, Kanto and Johto, Set in Alto Mare
Pokémon Heroes is #6 of 32 in release order and #6 of 32 in chronological order in the Pokémon.
The story
Ash, Pikachu and the gang try and stop a pair of thieves hiding out in the canals and alleyways of Altomare, the age-old water capital. Joining the adventure are two new legendary Pokémon, a pair of siblings named Latias and Latios, who serve as peacekeepers and protectors of the Soul Dew — a priceless treasure with a mysterious power.
Pokémon Heroes recap
The canal city of Alto Mare is protected by Latias and Latios, whose father died saving it long ago and left behind the Soul Dew, a jewel that holds his spirit and powers an old machine called the Defense Mechanism. Ash, Misty and Brock arrive for a water race, and Ash glimpses an invisible Latias. Two thieves, Annie and Oakley, try to capture her, and Latias, disguised as the local girl Bianca, gets help from Ash. Bianca's grandfather Lorenzo shows Ash a hidden garden where the siblings live, unaware the thieves are spying with a drone. That night Annie and Oakley capture Latios, steal the Soul Dew and switch on the machine, sealing the city and raising ancient Pokémon. Ash and Latias fly to stop them.
Pokémon Heroes ending explained
The Soul Dew is damaged and darkens, and the canals drain into a tidal wave rushing toward Alto Mare. Latios and Latias hold it back together, and Latios gives his life, becoming a new Soul Dew. As Ash and his friends leave, a girl who looks like Bianca, most likely Latias, gives Ash a sketch of himself and Pikachu, kisses him and leaves without a word. Annie and Oakley end up in jail.
Where to watch Pokémon Heroes
Pokémon Heroes isn't on a US streaming service right now. You can rent or buy it on Amazon, Google Play, and YouTube.
Ratings
IMDb 6.1/10, Rotten Tomatoes 20%, MyAnimeList 7.18
Where it fits
- Release order: after Pokémon 4Ever, before Pokémon: Advanced Generation.
- Chronological order: after Pokémon 4Ever, before Pokémon: Advanced Generation.
What to watch before Pokémon Heroes
In release order, the essentials before Pokémon Heroes (2002) are Pokémon: The Original Series (1997), Pokémon: The First Movie (1998), Pokémon: The Movie 2000 (1999), Pokémon 3: The Movie (2000), and Pokémon 4Ever (2001).
Cast
- Rica Matsumoto as Satoshi (voice)
- Ikue Otani as Pikachu (voice)
- Mayumi Izuka as Kasumi (voice)
- Yuji Ueda as Takeshi (voice)
- Satomi Korogi as Togepy (voice)
- Megumi Hayashibara as Musashi / Latias (voice)
- Shin-ichiro Miki as Kojiro / Crobat (voice)
- Inuko Inuyama as Nyarth (voice)
- Fumiko Orikasa as Kanon (voice)
- Masashi Ebara as Latios (voice)
- Uno Kanda as Zanner (voice)
- Yumiko Shaku as Lyon (voice)
Directed by Kunihiko Yuyama.