Even with this new method applied, Mewtwo Strikes Back: Evolution is a deeply nostalgic, shot-for-shot remake that follows the dialogue and plot of the original (nearly) to the letter. The narrative mostly unfolds in the same fashion over a more decompressed running time, with just a handful of updates - we’ve combed through both films to spot the differences. Check out our comparison between the original movie and Netflix's remake in the slideshow below.
1. The movie has a new look and sound
Let's get the obvious stuff out of the way. The movie was completely remade in with CG animation from OLM, and there’s a brand new voice cast that reflects the current voices from the Pokemon anime, which is why Ash, Misty and Brock look and sound a bit different than you may remember.
2. The Ancient Mew carving has been changed
This next one is a small detail, but the remake shows off a new design of the Ancient Mew carving to something a bit more elegant. Call us old fashioned, but we were always a fan of the original wonky dancing Ancient Mew design.
3. Mewtwo's origin is trimmed down
The movie kicks off with the origin story for Mewtwo, and while they trim out a lot of exposition in the remake, they do add a new line for Mewtwo: "I cannot forget a world where a certain someone flew away from me." And that certain someone is of course Mew, so this line works to better set up Mewto’s motivation and connection to the source of his creation.
Also, those familiar with the "Complete Version" of Pokemon: The First Movie will notice the origin of Mewtwo doesn't feature the character Amber. The Complete Version refers to the original Japanese theatrical release which included a prologue that reveals Mewtwo was created so that the scientist overseeing the project, Dr Fuji, could “unlock the secret to restoring life itself,” to bring his dead daughter Amber back to life (and maybe even restore his marriage in the process; the first film is surprisingly bleak). Mewtwo communicates with Amber’s clone telepathically, his existential crisis beginning when the new Amber dies, becoming confused by the line between humans and Pokemon and where he falls on that line.
In the new film, Mewtwo's crisis is primarily caused by his knowledge of the circumstances of his creation, made at the hands of scientists driven by hubris rather than loss. In both versions, Mewtwo is haunted by dreams of Mew and his time with Team Rocket leader Giovanni (which also occurs in the first film). This change removes the previous film’s empathy for the scientists who defied nature to create Mewtwo in the first place, and skews more in favor of the tortured, vengeful Pokemon.
Of course, if you've never seen the Complete Version, then you'll have never heard of Amber and this change will go completely unnoticed!
4. Mewtwo gets new armor
Mewtwo’s signature armor gets a complete redesign in Evolution. The original was fairly sleek, but the new one looks like someone killed Tarantulus and made a coat out of his robot spider body. Poor Tarantulus.
5. The Pirate Trainer gets a makeover and new Pokemon
The pirate who battles Ash also gets a redesign to look more pirate-y.
And where in the original he tossed out a Golem (along with
a Venomoth and a Pinsir), in the remake he has a Drowzee. This was
possibly done to correct the continuity error from the original where
Pikachu defeats Golem with a Thunderbolt even though it’s a Ground-type
and should be immune to Electric attacks. So tazing a Drowzee instead
just makes more sense.
6. Meowth is a ship captain, instead of a masthead
In the original Mewtwo Strikes Back, Team Rocket, as cunning as ever, disguise themselves as Vikings on a boat (with their talking Pokemon teammate Meowth tied up as its figurehead), offering to ferry Ash and the gang to New Island, where the self-proclaimed “greatest Pokemon trainer in the world” (and maybe treasure) awaits them. Mewtwo Strikes Back: Evolution introduces the trio with sailor outfits and song-and-dance, singing a brief number while conveniently rolling up in a Lapras boat captained by Meowth, disguised by a mustache. They still sink, in both instances.
7. More virtual camera movement, fewer cuts
Though CG-assisted in places (such as with the depiction of Meowth’s cloning, or some assorted background shots), Pokemon: The First Movie was mostly accomplished via traditional cel animation. While the handdrawn cels provide more clarity in its backdrops (and honestly, much better-looking characters than the more rubbery entities of Evolution) it favors more frequent cuts over camera movement to block out a scene - one notable exception being a shot in the original that slowly rotates around Brock and Joy. The new CG-animated film, on the other hand, makes use of longer cuts and more frequent and complex virtual camera movement, mimicking zooms, pans, dolly shots and beyond.
8. The post-credits scene
The first film concludes with a brief post-credits scene of Mew returning to the mountain as witnessed at the film’s opening, after a credits sequence that highlights the ongoing journey of Ash and his friends, walking back through the country. The new version also does this through still concept art, but builds towards a final moment that reemphasizes where the film’s sympathies lay the entire time: with Mewtwo. The last moments before the end of the film see him with his new family of cloned Pokemon leaving Kanto behind, flying towards the western region of Johto to find their new home - which is none other than Mount Quena, a location from Mewtwo Strikes Back’s sequel, Mewtwo Returns.
9. Team Rocket are very clearly fascists
Mewtwo Strikes Back: Evolution hammers home the evil that Team Rocket (the organization, not the trio) represents by using imagery as blunt as in that of General Hux’s speech (and the stormtrooper’s salute in response) in Star Wars: The Force Awakens, whereas in the original Mewtwo Strikes Back, Giovanni is presented as more of an opulent, old-school serial villain. It’s not new territory for the series nor Team Rocket; one episode in 2003, All Things Bright and Beautifly!, had a sequence edited for the English release due to the trio and their subordinates all saluting in a very particular manner.
10. No more "Brother, My Brother"
The iconic “Brother My Brother” song that played during the end clone battle was removed for the remake. How are we supposed to reflect on the meaninglessness of war without a little help from Blessid Union of Souls?
Well, at least the remake added in a cool one-take tracking shot that darts around the battlefield as the Pokemon fight each other. So we can have nice things, but just not all the nice things.
11. Despite all these differences, one thing remains the same...
Ash being turned to stone - and Pikachu’s heartbreaking response - remains devastating, no matter which type of animation the scene is rendered in.
What did you think of Mewtwo Strikes Back: Evolution? Which Pokemon movie would you like to see adapted next? Weigh in below and check out our review of Pokemon: Mewtwo Strikes Back - Evolution.
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