In the Pokémon anime film series, what was the first feature film released?

The first feature film in the Pokémon anime film series was Pokémon: The First Movie.

The film was directed by Kunihiko Yuyama and produced by OLM for Toho. Its Japanese theatrical release took place on July 18, 1998, making it the first theatrical Pokémon movie. The story centers on Mewtwo, a genetically engineered Pokémon who challenges trainers and confronts Mew.

Outside Japan, the movie received different release dates and distribution arrangements. The English-language version was released in North America in November 1999 by Warner Bros. Pictures. This timing can cause confusion because the film is often remembered by its subtitle, Mewtwo Strikes Back.

The movie was followed by Pokémon the Movie 2000: The Power of One in 1999. It also later received a computer-animated remake, Pokémon: Mewtwo Strikes Back—Evolution, released in 2019. The remake is a separate film, not the original entry in the series.