Pikachu Project
Background
This is the production company behind the animated theatrical movies in the Pokémon franchise.
Pikachu the Movie
1st Logo (July 18, 1998, November 10, 1999)
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Logo: On a black background, a sky blue circle (possibly representing a spotlight) appears at the right of the screen. Pikachu then appears. The circle then moves to the left and Pikachu runs to the spotlight. The circle then moves to the middle and Pikachu tries to squeeze through it. When he gets through, he stops, and a flash reveals the words "Pikachu the Movie", with him inside the "O".
Technique: Traditional animation by Team Ota of OLM, Inc., who would animate every logo until the fifth.
Music/Sounds: As the circle appears, we hear a rising piece of music. A slide whistle is heard when the circle moves. We also hear the sounds of Pikachu, voiced by Ikue Ōtani, who voiced all subsequent logos. When Pikachu squeezes through, he happily goes "Pikachu!" followed by a string chord combined with some quick synth arpeggios.
Music/Sounds Variant: The Japanese version only had the sounds and not the music.
Availability: Seen on the Pikachu's Vacation short before Pokémon: The First Movie.
2nd Logo (July 17, 1999, July 21, 2000)
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Logo: On a dark blue background, a yellow line appears, first bulgy then it becomes rectangular when it's on the position. Then Pikachu appears pushing the line outwards to form a 'V'. He then jumps out and the background changes to a gradient blue and the words "Pikachu the Movie" appear.
Technique: A mix of traditional animation and CGI.
Music/Sounds: A wind-chime sounding noise at the beginning, followed by a wood creaking sound when Pikachu tries to split the line, Pikachu shouting "Pika!" and the "Ding!" sound when he jumps out.
Availability: Seen on the Pikachu's Rescue Adventure short before Pokémon: The Movie 2000.
3rd Logo (July 8, 2000)
Logo: A filmreel appears reading "Pikachu the Movie" and it opens up, Pikachu jumps into the reel while Pichu jumps into him, he later jumps into the right side of the logo and the two strike a pose while "2000" appears on the bottom right corner.
Technique: Traditional animation.
Music/Sounds: TBA.
Availability: Seen on the Pikachu and Pichu short before Japanese prints of Pokémon 3: The Movie. Currently considered near extinction due to narrator Noriko Sakai's 2009 drug scandal.
4th Logo (April 6-July 7, 2001)
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Logo: On a sapphire background, we see the large year date "2001" in the same color as Pikachu's body, with a red border around, zoom in. Pikachu jumps on the number, and then he bounces off as the logo zooms out. The words "PIKACHU THE (the space where Pikachu's tail serves as the letter M) OVIE" appear with the year "2001".
Technique: Another mix of traditional and CGI animation, though all done in 2D this time.
Music/Sounds: A zooming-in sound comes in when the "2001" appears. When Pikachu jumps on the "2001", it makes a can-hitting sound, and Pikachu does his "PIKA!" as usual. When Pikachu jumps off the "2001", it makes a "doink" noise and Pikachu says one more "Pikachu!"
Availability: Seen on the Pikachu's PikaBoo short before Japanese prints of Pokémon 4Ever. Also seen on the previous short before international prints of Pokémon 3: The Movie.
5th Logo (July 13, 2002-July 10, 2010)
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Logo: On a yellow background, the words "PIKACHU", "THE" and "MOVIE" where Pikachu's tail serves as the letter "M" as they connect while Pikachu is in the left of the background, then Pikachu says its name when the logo is completed.
Anniversary Variants:
- On Pokémon Heroes, "5th" is seen next to the logo.
- On The Rise of Darkrai, after the logo animates as normal, it moves aside, and "10th" appears next to the logo.
Japanese Trailer Variants:
- The Rise of Darkrai: Same as the movie variant, but, instead of the logo moving aside and "10th" appearing, the "10th" connects with the logo.
- Arceus and the Jewel of Life superimposes the logo over a nighttime beach setting.
- Zoroark: Master of Illusions has a short opening cinematic which leads to the logo. We see Zorua sleeping, and he wakes up and sees a bright shining light above. Then, Celebi flies into the light, the screen fades to white, the logo "flashes" and appears.
Technique: 2D computer animation.
Music/Sounds: There are five themes:
- 2002-2004: Silent.
- 2004-2005: Pikachu says "Pika!". This has been in use since Destiny Deoxys, with the exception of Pokémon Ranger and the Temple of the Sea.
- 2005-2006: A reversed crystal-shattering-like sound is heard while the logo forms. After it forms, an echoing "bling" sound (similar to the Game Boy startup sound) is heard. This theme was first heard on Lucario and the Mystery of Mew.
- 2007-2010: Same as before, but the "bling" sound comes in earlier. Then, an electronic "WHOOSH" sound is heard.
- 10th film variant: On The Rise of Darkrai, there is a slight pause in the theme on said movie when the logo moves aside and "10th" appears next to the logo.
Availability: Seen before every Pokémon movie made at the time. The first movie to use this logo was Pokémon Heroes and the last was Zoroark: Master of Illusions.
Legacy: The most commonly-seen of the logos, it is nostalgic to those who grew up watching the Pokémon movies.
6th Logo (July 16, 2011)
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Logo: On a white background, we see the 5th logo connecting. However, the "connecting" of the logo is animated in 3D, the logo is in a bronze/gold-like color and with a glassy texture. Then the word "DUAL" appears and shines briefly. The DUAL sign and the background can invert their colors in both of the movies.
Technique: CGI animation. Done by Team Kato of OLM, Inc., along with following three logos.
Music/Sounds: It's the music variant of the 5th logo first heard on The Rise of Darkrai, as well as Pikachu's voice. Also, a ting-like sound is heard when the word "DUAL" appears.
Availability: Only seen before the Pokémon movies White — Victini and Zekrom and Black — Victini and Reshiram.
7th Logo (July 14, 2012)
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Logo: On a black background, we see the still version of the 5th logo in yellow. Then, a bright light shines from left to right quickly behind the logo while the "15th" appears after the light shines.
Technique: Simple 2D animation.
Music/Sounds: It's the music variant of the 5th logo first heard on The Rise of Darkrai, as well as Pikachu's voice. However, the electronic "WHOOSH" sound that is heard when the light shines is louder and slightly longer.
Availability: Seen before the Pokémon movie Kyurem vs. the Sword of Justice and the Meloetta's Moonlight Serenade short.
8th Logo (July 13, 2013)
Logo: On a black background, we see the logo in gold and 3D, similar to the 6th logo, which shines once.
Technique: Simple CGI animation.
Music/Sounds: A remade version of the 5th logo's music first heard on The Rise of Darkrai, as well as Pikachu's voice.
Availability: Seen before the Pokémon movie Genesect and the Legend Awakened.
Pokémon the Movie
1st Logo (July 19, 2014-July 16, 2016)
Logo: TBA.
Technique: Digital ink-and-paint animation.
Music/Sounds: May vary depending on the film or short.
Availability: Seen on Japanese prints of Diancie and the Cocoon of Destruction, Hoopa and the Clash of Ages, and Volcanion and the Mechanical Marvel.
2nd Logo (November 8, 2014-November 5, 2017)
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Logo: In a white room, a Poké Ball tries to smash the Pokémon logo. Pikachu then goes out of the Poké Ball. Pikachu then shouts.
Trivia: This logo was first used as the opening of trailers for Pokémon X and Pokémon Y.
Variant: A version with the franchise's slogan, "Gotta catch 'em all!" also exists on commercials and trailers for the video games and the Pokémon Trading Card Game among others.
Technique: All CGI from OLM Digital.
Music/Sounds: Poké Ball sound effects, then Pikachu shouting "Pika!"
Availability: Seen on international prints of Diancie and the Cocoon of Destruction, Hoopa and the Clash of Ages, Volcanion and the Mechanical Marvel and I Choose You!.
3rd Logo (July 15, 2017)
Logo: TBA.
Technique: 2D animation. Again from OLM Digital.
Music/Sounds: TBA.
Availability: Seen on Japanese prints of Pokémon the Movie: I Choose You!.
Pikachu Project
1st Logo (July 13, 2018-February 27, 2020)
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Logo: The Pokémon logo cuts in on a black background and shines once.
Variant: On international prints of Pokémon Mewtwo Strikes Back — Evolution, the Pokémon logo is smaller, and simply fades in and out. It is otherwise still.
Technique: Simple animation. Done by Wit Studio.
Music/Sounds: A chime sound. None for the still variant.
Availability: Seen on Pokémon the Movie: The Power of Us and Pokémon: Mewtwo Strikes Back: Evolution on Netflix.
2nd Logo (July 12, 2019)
Logo: The Pokémon logo is seen on a white background with a monochrome-like appearance, resembling the franchise's Game Boy roots. Pikachu walks through the screen and jumps into the logo while he turns from a 2D sprite into a CGI model and the Pokémon logo turns into its familiar yellow appearance.
Technique: Sprite animation and CGI. This is done by Sprite Animation Studios.
Music/Sounds: The first notes of the original theme from the games, while reorchestrated when Pikachu jumps from the screen.
Availability: Seen on Japanese and Korean prints of Mewtwo Strikes Back: EVOLUTION, released internationally as Pokémon: Mewtwo Strikes Back: Evolution.
3rd Logo (December 25, 2020, October 8, 2021)
Logo: On a black background, we see the Pokémon logo with a trademark next to it. To the bottom right of the logo, Pikachu is sitting on a leaf while wearing a safari hat and a fanny pack that looks like Wailmer. He waves while his tail moves.
Technique: 2D animation. Done by Team Kato.
Music/Sounds: Pikachu saying "Pika!", as well as the opening theme of the movie.
Availability: Seen on Pocket Monsters the Movie: Coco, released internationally as Pokémon the Movie: Secrets of the Jungle.
