Independent Films, Film Profiles

Pokémon Ranger and the Temple of the Sea

Pokémon Ranger and the Temple of the Sea (劇場版ポケットモンスターアドバンスジェネレーション ポケモンレンジャーと蒼海の王子 マナフィ ,Gekijōban Poketto Monsutā Adobansu Jenerēshon Pokemon Renjā to Umi no Ōji Manafi, lit. “Pocket Monsters Advanced Generation the Movie: The Pokémon Ranger and Prince of the Sea - Manaphy”) is a 2007 Japanese animated film directed by Kunihiko Yuyama as the fourth Pocket Monsters Advanced Generation film, and the ninth Pokémon film overall. As indicated by the title, elements from the Nintendo DS game Pokémon Ranger play a large part. Cartoon Network aired the film on March 23, 2007 at 7:00 p.m. and after its premiere came a repeat at 9:30 p.m.Yuyama visited the ruins of Rome, the city of Naples and the island of Capri, all in Italy, to get ideas of the setting for the film.The film was the first film released in North America to include a Pikachu short, which is Pikachu's Island Adventure, since Pokémon: Jirachi Wishmaker.This was the first film to have the new Pokémon USA English voice cast since the rights of the show's acquisition from 4Kids Entertainment. It was the first full-length Pokémon film to ever be released in its original aspect ratio on Region 1 DVD.An egg is washed up onto a ship led by Phantom the Pirate. Phantom wants the egg to himself so he can hatch the mystery inside and find whatever he needs. But a man takes the egg and escapes; he is Jack Walker, a Pokémon Ranger. Later, Ash and his friends are walking through a large field with the sun beating on them, about to faint from dehydration. They have ran out of water but luckily they meet Lizabeth and her family who put up a traveling water Pokémon show. After having a drink (of water), they are shown a fantastic show by them. That night, May begins having a dream that she is underwater and being guided by a Pokémon to an underwater temple. At breakfast, the heroes are told about the Temple. The gang meets Jackie when he stops Team Rocket from stealing the egg.Phantom later finds Jackie and the others but they escape unharmed. The egg hatches into Manaphy, a Pokémon that is destined to rule the sea; it thinks May is its mother. Elizabeth and her family take Ash and the others to a chapel like room underground with images of the Temple, they say that the Temple blends in with the water and it is only revealed during a lunar eclipse. Phantom fails to find them, but he hires Team Rocket as a cleaning crew.Ash and the rest leave on a boat that is owned by Elizabeth's grandfather. They learn that Manaphy must journey to its home, which is the Temple. One morning when the gang goes swimming Jackie tells about his brutal past, when he got lost in the mountains during a snowstorm and a group of Furrets and Flying Pokémon cuddled up to keep him warm until the next day. After this Ash and May swim with a school of Luvdisc, a Pokémon said to bless eternal love. May is told by Jackie later that day that she can't expect Manaphy to live with her forever. She finds it sad but true. Meanwhile, Team Rocket plans that when they reach the temple they plan to get the treasure all to them selves.Before Dinner the next day, Manaphy runs off into the ocean to find May's lost bandana. Elizabeth, Ash, Brock, May and Max use Ship's submarine to find Manaphy. Phantom takes off to go alone, the group is caught in a riptide, the lunar eclipse happens and they both find themselves at the Temple. Phantom catches up with the group, and takes several jewels from the crown which causes the Temple to sink deeper into the sea. While the group escapes, Jackie and Phantom fight over the jewels. Manaphy swims back to the Crown Room and Ash and May follow behind.The Temple continues to sink, but Ash and May manage to replace most of the jewels but one is missing. Water begins flooding the temple. They find a capsule that was part of Phantoms ship and Ash finds the last jewel. May, Pikachu, and Manaphy shelter in the capsule while Ash tries to return the jewel. He faints, but Manaphy telepathically sends a message to Ash from May saying to be strong. Ash succeeds, but runs out of air. Just as he is about to die, the crown makes Ash invincible. Phantom steals Manaphy, but Ash appears in a glowing yellow streak of light-"The true crown of the sea..."- and he saves Manaphy again. Phantom's ship interferes with the battle, but Manaphy encourages the sea Pokémon (mainly Kyogre) to destroy it. The Chinchou blow up the controls of the ship, Wailord ram the bottom causing a power outage, and finally Kyogre uses Hyper Beam to blow up the remainder of the ship and all the helicopters. Evil defeated, the temple is at peace. Manaphy says goodbye to May before leaving.