Pokémon the Movie: Secrets of the Jungle

Meh Lowly
Rating: 60

7.6/10 - this was good! koko and the jungle pokemon are so cute. i will say the antagonist was unfortunately nothing that we haven’t already seen, but i enjoyed everything else.

Rating: 6.3/10 ⭐️

I'm so relieved they ditched the stiff 3D CGI for classic 2D animation. It's basically Pokémon Tarzan, but packs a surprisingly strong emotional punch about family.

The Director’s Eye:
Yajima's traditional 2D looks fantastic. The lush greens and fluid camera work give the jungle a massive scale. As a conservative valuing the family unit, I deeply connected with the theme of fatherhood. Zarude adopting Koko is a beautiful testament to stepping up and providing. Watching him protect his son from a greedy corporation is a great, traditional hero's journey. The ambient sound design of snapping branches and rustling leaves really immerses you in the wild.

The Cuts:
The villain is an incredibly generic corporate scientist; his breakdown felt cartoonish. The narrative is highly predictable, relying heavily on the Tarzan formula, which made the middle part really drag for me.

Verdict:
A wholesome story about fatherhood and adoption. A solid, faith-friendly family watch for Pokémon Day!

Favorite Line: "I am your father."

Meh Lowly
Rating: 60

7.6/10 - this was good! koko and the jungle pokemon are so cute. i will say the antagonist was unfortunately nothing that we haven’t already seen, but i enjoyed everything else.

Rating: 6.3/10 ⭐️

I'm so relieved they ditched the stiff 3D CGI for classic 2D animation. It's basically Pokémon Tarzan, but packs a surprisingly strong emotional punch about family.

The Director’s Eye:
Yajima's traditional 2D looks fantastic. The lush greens and fluid camera work give the jungle a massive scale. As a conservative valuing the family unit, I deeply connected with the theme of fatherhood. Zarude adopting Koko is a beautiful testament to stepping up and providing. Watching him protect his son from a greedy corporation is a great, traditional hero's journey. The ambient sound design of snapping branches and rustling leaves really immerses you in the wild.

The Cuts:
The villain is an incredibly generic corporate scientist; his breakdown felt cartoonish. The narrative is highly predictable, relying heavily on the Tarzan formula, which made the middle part really drag for me.

Verdict:
A wholesome story about fatherhood and adoption. A solid, faith-friendly family watch for Pokémon Day!

Favorite Line: "I am your father."