What is the name of the first Pokémon anime film?

The first Pokémon anime film is titled Pokémon: The First Movie.

The 1998 Japanese film is commonly known by its subtitle, Mewtwo Strikes Back. It was directed by Kunihiko Yuyama and centers on Mewtwo, a Pokémon created through scientific experimentation involving Mew.

The main feature follows Mewtwo’s conflict with its creators and with Pokémon Trainers invited to New Island. Many international releases also included Pikachu’s Summer Vacation, a shorter story shown alongside the feature.

The film is sometimes confused with Pokémon: Mewtwo Strikes Back—Evolution, a 2019 computer-animated remake. The later movie retells the first film’s central story, but it is not the original theatrical debut. Pokémon: The First Movie helped establish Pokémon as a major film franchise beyond television and games.