Ever since Ash and Pikachu have started their most recent adventures in the hit anime, Pokemon Journeys, the wait for a new film has felt like it would never end. A large part of that is due to the fact that the COVID-19 pandemic forced the newest film Pokemon: Secrets of the Jungle (Pocket Monster Coco in Japan) to delay from its July release to December.
The new film takes an age-old concept and puts a fun twist on it when Ash meets a stage human in a Pokemon filled forest named Koko. A legendary Pokemon raised Koko and believes that he is also a Pokemon just like them because of its care. Now Ash and this "Tarzan-esque" boy must go on a whole new adventure in the film.
With its December release rapidly approaching, there are a couple of new trailers that have released that feature not only new footage but also the film's new opening theme "Koko" by Beverly and the theme song "Fushigi na Fushigi na Ikimono" ("Wonderful, Marvelous Creatures") by Tortoise Matsumoto. The new songs are not only great but also exemplify the bond that Koko has with his caregiver, Zarude.
If the trailer and animation prove anything, this may be the best entry into the Pokemon film series yet! We would love to hear your thoughts on the new videos in the comments below!
The new film's story is set in Okoya Forest, a Pokémon paradise protected by strict rules that forbid outsiders from setting foot inside. The film centers on Koko, a boy who was raised by Pokémon and also considers himself as one, treating the Mythical Pokémon Zarude as his father. Ash and Pikachu encounter Koko during an adventure. The film focuses on the theme of a "human raised by Pokémon," instead of the previous films' focus of the "bond between a human trainer and their Pokémon."
Pokemon: Secrets of the Jungle will open in Japan on Christmas day and in the west sometime in 2021!