When Does Pokemon the First Movie Take Place?

[Cyclops]

The name says it all. I assume it takes place when Ash is on his way to the Orange Islands. Since he doesn't have Pidgeoto ( or Pidgeot), and the episodes featuring Mewtwo happened while Ash was home in Pallet before the Indigo League. Does anyone know, or has never been said?

[Samhaine]

I believe someone here said that the movies didn't really exist in the same timeline as the show, that they were kind of peripherally connected to the show.

Although, now that I think about it, maybe the first movie was in continuity, because there were the references to Mewtwo in the show alot, kind of foreshadowing the movie. Hmm...

So yeah, any Poke-experts that knows the truth?

[kiddiesunshine]

if the movie and tv show are on the same timeline, then that means gary fought mewtwo twice. but he wouldn't make arcanine go through that. the movie had to be separate, because that elephant pokemon wasn't introduced until johto.

[Jowy Blight]

It's like most anime movies based on a series, it doesn't ever happen. It's kind of like a "what if" thing.

[RockItShipper]

It takes place during the block of episodes leading up to the Pokemon League. I think the dub even passed that point before the movie premiered in the US. I think it's in continuity because of the actual build-up and the 'Mewtwo Lives' special that aired in Japan on 12/30/00.

Movie 2? Hard to tell. Because it wasn't referred to when "Todd" showed up as far my Japanese goes, but in the chibi-Lugia arc... There's references to the Orange League made by "Ash" and "Misty".

Movie 3. Absolutely no clue. Movie 4? Hopefully when I get in a couple weeks (woohoooo!), I'll know better.

[Cyclops]

Hmmmmm... the episodes before the Pokemon League? I guesss that makes sense, except where's Ash's Pidgeotto? Also, why go to New Island when he's supposed to be training for the Pokemon League? Aside from these questions, I guess it makes sense.
And hey, kiddiesunshine. Gary didn't have to fight Mewtwo twice, because all those scenes are leading up to Mewtwo escaping from Giovanni. As for Donphan appearing, well that was probably for the sake of promoting the 100 new Pokemon, since this was before Gold and Silver versions.

[RockItShipper]

The 4th Pikachu summer movie short is no exception. It features 3 new Pokemon: a whale-type, a chameleon-type (also shown in an episode that aired this past summer in Japan), and the prevolved form of "Marill". Pretty sure the second Pikachu summer movie short showed Elekid before the Gold and Silver games came out.

No new Pokemon in the Celebi feature, new as in ones that appear in the upcoming GBAdvance cartridge... But there is Chibi-Ookido-hakase.

[HellCat]

Originally posted by Batman
Hmmmmm... the episodes before the Pokemon League? I guesss that makes sense, except where's Ash's Pidgeotto? Also, why go to New Island when he's supposed to be training for the Pokemon League?

Didn't he make several other detours during training? Sea Foam Island, being involved with a movie, going to it's premiere in another town, getting involved with the excavation of Pokemopolis. If he was willing to do all that, I think it's safe to say he would have taken up the challenge to fight a master trainer (and increase his Pokemon's skills) at New Island

[RockItShipper]

Yep. "Ashy-boy" barely got any training in before the Pokemon League and most of it was wiped from his memory.

[Cyclops]

I guess you're right, abouty taking place before the Pokemon League, except he doesn't have Pidgeotto, and that bugs me.
Now I need to know, will the fourth movie be in the U.S. anytime soon, and if so will it be in thearters?

[HellCat]

Originally posted by bloodone
I believe someone here said that the movies didn't really exist in the same timeline as the show, that they were kind of peripherally connected to the show.

Although, now that I think about it, maybe the first movie was in continuity, because there were the references to Mewtwo in the show alot, kind of foreshadowing the movie. Hmm...

So yeah, any Poke-experts that knows the truth?

I think Mewtwo Strikes Back definently happened. There was alot of build up to it in the show (Mewtwo fighting for Giovanni (Battle of the Badge), leaving Team Rocket (Showdown at the Poke-corral))
And there was the recent feature-length episode "Mewtwo Lives/Returns". As for the others, I'm not so sure. Didn't Ash/Satoshi save the world in movie 2? surely then he'd be famous

[RockItShipper]

Originally posted by Batman
I guess you're right, abouty taking place before the Pokemon League, except he doesn't have Pidgeotto, and that bugs me.
Now I need to know, will the fourth movie be in the U.S. anytime soon, and if so will it be in thearters?

Dunno... but it's scheduled for release on the 8th in Japan and Japanese video outlets in other countries.