Recap: Pokémon- Zoroark: Master of Illusions

Hello, everyone, and welcome to my look at Pokémon: Zoroark- Master of Illusions! We’ve finally reached the last of the Diamond and Pearl era films, and it’s my favorite of the DP films. I have wanted to talk about this for a long time, so let’s open it up!

For the sake of argument, I’m going to forgo the “world of Pokémon” segment; since the copy of the movie I’m using to write this recap does too. We open on Ash, Dawn and Brock on their way to Crown City to watch the Pokémon Baccer World Cup, and Brock seems to be having trouble with his Poké Gear. In addition to the movie helping promote the bestselling video games, it also seems to piggyback on the World Cup fever of the time. None of those obnoxious vuvuzelas either! 

They are once again lost, and in the twilight, they see a group of Beautifly flying overhead! They are in awe of this sight, and continue on their way! I’ve been wanting to do this movie for a long time, and I definitely want to keep this up before I watch the I Choose You movie. 

Team Rocket is following close behind on a glider shaped like a Yanmega, but they’re sent into facepalms by a rogue Skiploom! Reminds me of reading Anime News Network’s ranking of all these movies. Planning on doing my own when this marathon is over.

They didn't like this movie? Are you mad?

After trolling a horde of Vigoroth, it turns out that it’s really a Zorua! I haven’t ranked my favorite Generation V Pokémon in a while, but this fella and its evolved form on the marquee are very high on the list. Considering revising it for 2017 before Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon come out.

Ash, Dawn and Brock help fight off the Vigoroth with the aid of Infernape, Mamoswine and Sudowoodo, and they also see Crown City on the horizon! They also agree to help Zorua find his “mema,” and I still have no formal opinion on the idea that Zorua is telepathic.

What I do know, however; is that I love Zorua’s illusion ability! The way he shape shifts into a more snide version of Ash is basically my assessment to those dicks at Box of Danger. Before I started this blog, they came off like a bunch of arrogant douchebags, and about as valid as some guy from Colorado trolling people while listening to Boston. 

It turns out that Zoroark is indeed Zorua’s “mema,” and is being manipulated by the villain of this film, Grings Kodai! He is easily among one of the best villains that the films have given us, and I will be eager to tell you more over the course of this movie.

We then transition to Crown City, where we see the enthusiastic fan Peg backing her favorite team, the Coronet Fighters! In addition to the city being based on Belgium (where the animators traveled to for location scouting), this peppy lass is voiced in each version by two equally excitable actresses: longtime fan turned star Nakagawa Shoko in Japan, and future Bonnie and Sophocles actress Alyson Leigh Rosenfeld! 

After that, we see a couple florists, Joe and Tammy get ready for the World Cup as they await the arrival of their grandson Karl!

I must say, this movie has some very impressive animation. As the last of the DP films, I can say that the shots we get of Crown City are incredible, especially with how Zoroark explores the place even as Team Rocket has crashed in a tree.

So, Kodai uses Zoroark’s illusions to fake an attack on the city, and benefit from the coverage with the help of his aide Rowena and his right hand man Goon! Yes, that really is the latter’s name.

After the denizens of Crown City witness all the destruction, naturally, Kodai’s broadcast comes on one of the monitors in the city; lamenting what has happened! I have been wanting to do this movie for a while, and this plot thread makes for a lot more material given certain events over the past year or two. 

No, I will not answer any questions about this, you are fake news!

At the sight of the phony Johto legendaries, we see the shiny forms of the real Johto legendaries about to take it on, starting with Entei! 

We also see a shiny Raikou, and this is definitely a way to help make up for how badly The Legend of Thunder screwed this legendary beast over. 

While Zoroark has been implicated in the attack on the city, Zorua doubts that his “mema” would have done such as thing on her own! After changing into Brock to slip past the crowd, Zorua indeed confirms that Kodai is the true culprit behind all this! 

Karl then arrives back from a visit from Unova, and sees right through Zorua’s tricks! While he may seem different given his design and the Woobat on his hat; he is willing to help this shapeshifting canine! 

However, Kodai is also after Celebi, and experiences a vision of what lies ahead! Yes, it turns out that Kodai has psychic powers; and as a result, this is one of the reasons why he’s among the most memorable villains of the films for me. In addition to making his fortune in mass media with his power, he also forces the heroes to actively think about their tactics to stop him! I will tell you more in a moment, but he’s one of many reasons why this film was a good one for the DP films to go out on.

He not only senses that Rowena may have other motives, but also what he’s truly been searching for: the Time Ripple!

After everyone introduces themselves, Karl agrees to help Zorua reunite with Zoroark; as well as make sure people find out what’s really going on with Kodai! He’s a journalist from Unova, and feel free to insert an “I get my news from a reliable source” joke here.

On that note, Karl leads everyone through an underground passageway and exposits further about Kodai. He has been called “the man who can see into the future,” which he takes advantage of with his media empire that may include a smarmy TV network and a controversial cable news network. He also has many economic holdings and ambition, all while having bizarre fashion sense and an even more bizarre haircut… make your own assumptions.

He’s also after something much bigger than just the media, and will do anything to get it! Zorua continues on his quest, and shape shifts into Dawn; much to her chagrin.

As the film continues, Goon enters the city to sweep up whatever resistance is left! 

Goon stops Zoroark from escaping, and Team Rocket laments that their keep has been taken! Still, they set their sights on the Johto Legendary beasts as Kodai tells Rowena to keep up the broadcast!

After Kodai leaves, Rowena decides to do some digging on her own while Ash, Pikachu and Zorua search for signs of Zoroark! In addition to Piplup being surprised by Zorua turning into Dawn again, Ash takes to searching for tracks in more ways than one. I know I use this gag a lot, but screw it: I want to get this finished by the end of the month; so I can get started on my plans for September before classes start up again.

I'm Ash Ketchum, and welcome to Jackass.

As Ash reassures Zorua that they will find his “mema,” Karl realizes that Kodai’s story about attack was a forgery; and this element is arguably more topical than it was when it first came out. More on that in a moment, as something else is coming!

While he surveys the city, Kodai spots Ash and the others on the security footage and has another vision of the future! Imagine that. I may not be clairvoyant, but I totally called the eclipse not being the end of everything. I also am glad to say that the information revealed about Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon gives further ammo to refute that article I fact-checked earlier this summer.

After Kodai orders Goon to find everyone, the search for Zoroark continues as Zorua destroys one of the monitors showing Kodai’s broadcast! Now there’s a modern TV critic for you.

It also turns out the ones watching them were just the Pokémon that belonged to Karl’s grandparents: a Tangrowth and a Mightyena! Aw, that’s sweet!

After Karl meets up with Joe and Tammy, they give Zorua a place to hide and express further disgust at Kodai’s bunk reporting about the Legendary Beasts! Zorua also senses that Zoroark is in pain!

Zorua runs afoul of some other Pokémon in the garden, but luckily Celebi is there to quell the fighting! Zorua thanks Celebi by jokingly turning into one! Quite the little troll, isn’t he?

Then, all of a sudden, Kodai captures Ash, Dawn, Brock and Karl in an electric cage to use them as bargaining chips not only for the other Pokémon, but for the Time Ripple as well!

Rowena then goes to the cage where everyone is being held, and after taking off her glasses and taking down her hair, she reveals that she’s also investigating Kodai’s true intentions!

She gets everything on Kodai’s plans, and helps everyone else escape the airship so they can reunite with their Pokémon and get the information out!

Once Kodai gets the Time Ripple, his powers of foresight will be unstoppable! We are then given a flashback to 20 years prior to the events of this film! While the timeline of the franchise is often a bit screwy, my head canon just tends to eliminate the guesswork and just set each piece of fiction in the year it originally came out in Japan. As such, given Kodai’s hair and state of dress; he’s in that period in the early 1990s where the 1980s were having their last gasp. So, this music will probably fit.

It then turns out that the Time Ripple and Celebi are linked, meaning if Kodai gains full control of it, Celebi and all the greenery will die! So, the battle for the future has begun on more ways than one. Even if he will gain the ability to see the future perfectly, he will lose any shred of humanity left in him. 

Kodai tries to use his Shuppet to subdue Celebi, but Pikachu attacks Shuppet with a thunderbolt! Outraged, Kodai sends sentries of Ninjask after Pikachu, Piplup, Zorua and Celebi! 

Zorua tries to use its illusions to change into Tangrowth, but Kodai has a device on his left wrist that allows him to see through the illusions! Jeez, he also has a spear on his right arm; so now this guy is just a few more action figure accessories away from being the Yellow Jacket! 

As the shiny Legendary Beasts of Johto descend on Crown City, Zoroark breaks out of her cage and goes to help her child! 

Alongside Raikou and Entei, the trinity of Johto Legendary beasts is rounded out by the shiny Suicune! 

Even as Celebi tries to defend the time ripple, Kodai just drops pretense and just tries to throttle Celebi! While Vicious was very cruel in his approach to manipulating Celebi for his goal, this is far more direct; since Kodai isn’t above straight-up murder! This is one of the movies I credit with cementing the second phase of my Pokémon fandom, since it definitely manages to be in the same league as the dark spirit of not only the original series films, but also the first two TMNT films and the 1986 Transformers movie. It definitely helps that Kodai stands out as one of the villains that has absolutely no redeeming qualities, only caring for themselves and their own gain. He is definitely making the list of the Next Top 13 Pokémon Villains I’m compiling.

Just as Kodai discovers the location of the Time Ripple, Zorua attacks him; not baring to watch it suffer! Goon uses his Scizor to blow the Pikachu and Piplup off a cliff, but Dawn’s Togekiss saves them as everyone confronts Kodai! He is up to the challenge, and Rowena considers what’s about to happen more important than money.

After doubling back to their boat, the next step is to stop Kodai from accessing the time ripple, which is back at the Pokémon Baccer stadium! Well, that’s convenient. Fitting an arena be the setting of the finale.

Kodai also apparently has similar Vincian/Darth Maul mini-drones to Annie and Oakley! Karl once again meets up with his grandfather, who has another secret passageway to the stadium! I know they’ve been there for centuries, but how does Karl’s family know about all this? Is Joe really a florist, or is this a front for a branch of Kingsman? 

I am also somewhat amused by the way they treat Celebi’s injuries. They do explain that Celebi needs to get back to the time ripple to recover, but it’s interesting all they need to do is just bandage its shoulder even after Kodai tried to choke it to death. Seeing as this movie is based on a series of video games, it’s more or less in the same realm of bizarre logic as Mario getting big from eating mushrooms but dying when he gets hit with a turtle shell.

Pikachu then destroys Kodai’s drone, and they realize that they all need to get to the stadium before Kodai does! Yeah, I don’t like those things either, Pikachu.

As we pass the 1-hour mark and enter the final battle, Zorua reunites with Zoroark and the legendary beasts realize they are not their enemies! Of course: even though I like this movie immensely, in many ways; it’s not a Pokémon movie unless a prominent monster or monsters needing to overcome a barrier of some sort.

As they try to get Celebi to the stadium, Kodai and Goon come barreling in to stop them! 

Some of Goon’s Scizor then clash more with Brock’s Croagunk! I am very excited to play with these two in Pokkén Tournament DX; and I will have something ready in September for then as well as Gold and Silver coming to Virtual Console. 

Zoroark even comes to join the fight! The animation for this final battle is just fantastic. As the last of the Diamond and Pearl era films, this was a good one for them to go out on. This is a saga I credit with helping reignite my Pokémon fandom, and it’s not hard to see why. 

Zorua has also had enough of Kodai’s crap, and bites him on the arm! 

Ash has also managed to hide Celebi in his backpack in order to slip through Kodai’s attacks! In addition to unintentionally predicting Rowlet’s love for his bag, it seems Celebi is kind of a reverse Nebby in hindsight.

As Kodai confronts Ash and Pikachu, Zoroark appears on one of the beams of the stadium! I rather like this shot, and the role she plays in the movie is among the many reasons why Zoroark is one of my favorite Unova Pokémon, if not my favorite. 

Kodai then uses the hook shot on his arm to start electrocuting Zorua! So, he’s not content with trying to kill Celebi; he’s prepared to also try to kill a Pokémon that’s basically a child? … He’s officially gone off the deep end. 

After striking down Zorua and Zoroark, it seems that Kodai has the time ripple! He then goes totally mad with power, until he realizes he’s been had! It turns out that Zorua damaged Kodai’s illusion canceler when he bit his arm! Karl and Rowena also caught everything on film, giving them all the proof they need! Personally, if he tries to claim otherwise, it will be as effective as a shoplifter trying to say they didn’t boost a candy bar from 7-Eleven. Applies in any situation, really.

Kodai then uses his hook shot to electrocute Zoroark for deceiving him, but Zoroark uses Dark Pulse to destroy it!

Brock and Dawn arrive to help, and the Legendary Beasts confront Kodai! I love how their shiny forms play Into this movie, especially Raikou after how badly “The Legend of Thunder” screwed that one over.

Zoroark then collapses from her injuries as Kodai thinks he’s in the clear! Instead, he just falls on his face in the Pokémon Baccer stadium. It seems that she’s been mortally wounded as Zorua tearfully crawls into the arms of its “mema!”

Then, through the power and goodwill of everyone there, Celebi is able to not only heal itself, but also heal Zoroark’s wounds as Zorua is delighted to be reunited with its “mema!” 

Kodai’s treachery is then exposed to the world as Officer Jenny would like to have a word with him! Everything comes to its end eventually. As I expected, like a great many people; everything that led to Kodai’s uprising also led to his undoing.

Then, it seems after the World Cup, Ash and Pikachu are already off to their next adventure!

Ash and Pikachu will return in Avengers: Infinity War.

The real Ash and Pikachu then come running up, saying they’re not leaving yet! We’ll talk next time. Also, Ash has a waffle in his hand. Why yes, Crown City is based on Belgium, why do you ask?

So, we close on Zorua and Zoroark going back to Unova with Karl and Rowena; and Ash and Pikachu deciding to visit there someday soon! Next up are the start of the Best Wishes films, so keep an eye out.

“Pokémon: Zoroark-Master of Illusions” is my favorite of the DP films, and a strong entry for them to go out on. It’s an ideal film to transition between Generation IV and V, with a villain who ranks among the most malicious of the entire franchise and some spectacular animation. Even if ANN didn’t like it, it’s 80 minutes of fun that I never pass up an opportunity to re-experience, even after seven years. 

I have a few more posts I want to take care of before this month is out, so check back in September for my next wave of projects; including FLCL month and my marathon heading into the BW films with a double feature of Pokémon the Movie Black: Victini and Reshiram & White: Victini and Zekrom! See you, space cowboy!