Pokemon: Pikachu no Natsuyasumi

*Note: Spoilers will be riddled about. This review is coming from the perspective of a fan of the Pokémon games. I haven't watched much of the anime.* *Also note: This is a review of the English version that came with Pokémon: The First Movie* Are you ready for a short overloaded with cute Pokémon? Are you ready to see an episode where Pikachu becomes a babysitter? Are you ready to witness Ash's (probably lv 100) Charizard get helplessly stuck in a tube only to be saved by a Cubone?? Presenting: Pikachu's not-so-relaxing Vacation!! Prepare yourself as we watch Pikachu and his friends spend a day away from their trainers only to find themselves using Surf to compete in swimming contests, Swagger to protect Togepi, and Strength to pull out a helpless Charizard. So basically, they set up the framework for the Pokémon Contests that happen in Gen III. Watch Bulbasaur use Razor Leaf to pick an apple from a tree, Vine Whip to sing the first ever Bulbaby, and Confuse Ray to defeat a Snubbull while his counterpart Squirtle resorts to Scary Face instead of Attract to comfort Togepi and even loses a swimming competition to a bloody Marill. Thus, Bulbasaur proves that it deserves to be the first Pokémon in the Pokédex. After, witness Pikachu replay Jesus walking on water and then one-shotting a Weezing, Meowth, and Arbok with Extremespeed. Can Pikachu get anymore OP?? Finally, scream at an Onix that is incapable of pulling out a helpless Charizard that is less than half its own weight. Seriously, all that Onix needs to do is lift its entire body up and Charizard will be free. But it's probably thinking, "Bitch, please." In all seriousness, I admit, despite all those Pokémon inconsistencies, this was one fun short. It successfully and humourously captures all the great things about Gen I Pokémon. Having not watched it for 10 years or so, I had a huge grin across my face all the way until the end. Gen I Pokémon gave me such a fantastic childhood. While not a must-watch (and overshadowed by the epic Pokémon: Mewtwo Strikes Back), if you haven't seen it in a while, or anything Gen I for that matter, go back and take a look! It's just good ol' fun. Who is your favourite Gen I Pokémon? Let me know!!

This brings me back. In fact, this might be the first piece of anime I ever had the pleasure of watching, and what started my life long obsession of everything Pokemon, which has now spanned over 20 years and into adulthood. We have to be a little lenient on the judging right? I mean, it's fricking Pokemon. What sort of mad man would critique something this innocent in the same manner as he does with other more "mature" anime so to speak? If you're not rating this solely based on the nostalgia effect, then there's the door! ;) Of course the rules and physics in this little Pokemon short rarely make sense, even in the world of Pokemon, but you just can't help but smile throughout. The picture quality is fantastic for it's time and the music is as catchy as I remember it being. There's something about the first three Pokemon movies and their little respective Pikachu shorts episodes, it's very atmospheric and I don't think they managed to capture it again. Though maybe that's just my childhood speaking :)

The first truly fun special from the classic anime. Pokémon: Pikachu's Summer Vacation is one of those simple specials that delivers exactly what it promises: a fun, laid-back adventure starring the Pokémon themselves. It’s essentially a vacation episode where Pikachu and his friends enjoy some downtime away from their trainers. The concept differs significantly from the traditional anime, as there is virtually no human dialogue, and the entire story is driven by the Pokémon. That is actually one of the special's most interesting aspects. Since there is almost no dialogue, the episode is very easy to follow regardless of the language. Each Pokémon's personality shines through their expressions, actions, and behavior, making the story easy to understand quite naturally. It’s almost like watching a short silent film, but with the characters using their own sounds and expressions to communicate. The story begins when Pikachu and his group find a crying Togepi. While Pikachu, Bulbasaur, and Squirtle try to calm and care for it, other Pokémon show up and start making fun of the situation. This irritates Pikachu and his friends, sparking a rivalry between the two groups. The interesting thing is that this rivalry remains all in good fun. There is no truly serious conflict; instead, it’s a friendly contest that escalates in intensity, leading to various humorous situations. The episode makes excellent use of the Pokémon's personalities to create humor, particularly through their reactions and the mishaps that occur during the adventure. I also really enjoyed the character dynamics. Seeing Pikachu, Togepi, Bulbasaur, and Squirtle interact brings back a lot of nostalgia for anyone who followed the franchise from the beginning. It’s great fun to see the original Pokémon acting more freely, without relying on their trainers to drive the story forward. And, of course, there’s Bulbasaur, my favorite Pokémon. Just his presence makes me like the special that much more, haha. Fortunately, he plays a significant role in the story and has several fun moments, so I wasn't disappointed in that regard. Despite its simplicity, the special also conveys an interesting message about friendship, camaraderie, and cooperation. The conflict between the Pokémon begins with a simple provocation, but as the story unfolds, they come to realize the importance of setting aside their differences and helping one another. It is a simple moral lesson, yet one that fits perfectly with the spirit of the franchise. Visually, I also think the special has aged well. The animation is lovely for its time and effectively conveys the Pokémon's expressions and emotions. Since the story relies heavily on visual communication, this attention to detail is crucial for making the episode work without needing much dialogue. Ultimately, Pokémon: Pikachu's Summer Vacation is a simple, lighthearted, and fun experience. There is no complex plot, epic battles, or menacing villains, but none of that is missed; the goal is simply to show the Pokémon having fun during their vacation and sharing a small adventure together. After watching a few specials that didn't quite excite me, this was the first one I found genuinely entertaining. It is an innocent, nostalgic, and delightful story that perfectly captures the spirit of classic Pokémon. It isn't groundbreaking, but it is a special that succeeds at what it sets out to do and manages to elicit a few laughs. For anyone who enjoys the first generation and feels nostalgic for classic Pokémon, I believe it is well worth checking out. Recommended. Raiting: 6/10. =================================================================================================================Versão em Português===================================== O primeiro especial realmente divertido do anime clássico. Pokémon: Pikachu no Natsuyasumi é um daqueles especiais simples, mas que conseguem entregar exatamente aquilo que prometem: uma aventura divertida e descontraída protagonizada pelos próprios Pokémon. Aqui temos uma espécie de episódio de férias, onde Pikachu e seus amigos aproveitam um momento de descanso longe dos seus treinadores. A proposta é bastante diferente do anime tradicional, já que praticamente não temos diálogos humanos e toda a história é conduzida pelos Pokémon. Esse é, inclusive, um dos pontos mais interessantes do especial. Como quase não existem diálogos, é muito fácil acompanhar o episódio independentemente do idioma. A personalidade de cada Pokémon é transmitida através de suas expressões, ações e comportamentos, fazendo com que a história seja compreendida de maneira bastante natural. É quase como acompanhar um pequeno filme mudo, mas com os personagens utilizando seus próprios sons e expressões para se comunicar. A história começa quando Pikachu e sua turma encontram Togepi, que está chorando. Enquanto Pikachu, Bulbassauro e Squirtle tentam acalmar e cuidar dele, outros Pokémon aparecem e começam a tirar sarro da situação. Isso acaba irritando Pikachu e seus amigos, dando início a uma disputa entre os dois grupos. O interessante é que essa rivalidade nunca deixa de ser uma brincadeira. Não temos um conflito realmente sério, mas sim uma disputa amigável que vai ficando cada vez mais intensa e acaba criando diversas situações engraçadas. O episódio consegue aproveitar muito bem a personalidade dos Pokémon para construir o humor, principalmente através das reações e das confusões que acontecem durante a aventura. Também gostei bastante da dinâmica entre os personagens. Ver Pikachu, Togepi, Bulbassauro e Squirtle interagindo entre si é algo que traz muita nostalgia para quem acompanhou o começo da franquia. É muito divertido ver os Pokémon originais agindo de maneira mais livre, sem depender da presença dos treinadores para conduzir a história. E, obviamente, temos Bulbassauro, que é o meu Pokémon favorito. Só a presença dele já me faz gostar um pouco mais do especial kkkkk. Felizmente, ele também participa bastante da história e possui vários momentos divertidos, então não fiquei decepcionado nesse aspecto. Apesar de toda a simplicidade, o especial também possui uma mensagem interessante sobre amizade, companheirismo e colaboração. O conflito entre os Pokémon começa por uma simples provocação, mas, no decorrer da história, eles acabam percebendo a importância de deixar as diferenças de lado e ajudar uns aos outros. É uma lição de moral bastante simples, mas que combina perfeitamente com o espírito da franquia. Visualmente, também considero que o especial envelheceu bem. A animação é bonita para a época e consegue transmitir muito bem as expressões e emoções dos Pokémon. Como a história depende bastante da comunicação visual, esse cuidado acaba sendo importante para que o episódio funcione mesmo sem a necessidade de muitos diálogos. No fim, Pokémon: Pikachu no Natsuyasumi é uma experiência simples, leve e divertida. Não temos uma história complexa, grandes batalhas ou vilões ameaçadores, mas isso não faz falta, pois a proposta é justamente mostrar os Pokémon se divertindo durante as férias e vivendo uma pequena aventura juntos. Depois de assistir a alguns especiais que não me empolgaram tanto, esse foi o primeiro que realmente achei divertido. É uma história inocente, nostálgica e agradável, que representa muito bem o espírito do Pokémon clássico. Não é algo revolucionário, mas é um especial que cumpre muito bem sua função e consegue arrancar algumas risadas. Para quem gosta da primeira geração e sente nostalgia dos Pokémon clássicos, acredito que vale bastante a pena conferir. Recomendo. Nota: 6/10.