What subtitle did Pokémon: The First Movie use in Japan?

In Japan, Pokémon: The First Movie used the subtitle “Mewtwo Strikes Back.”

The film’s Japanese title translates as Pocket Monsters the Movie: Mewtwo Strikes Back. It was released on July 18, 1998, and became the first theatrical film in the Pokémon anime series. The central conflict follows Mewtwo, a Pokémon created through scientific experimentation from genetic material connected to Mew.

Mewtwo believes its creators treated it as an experiment rather than a living being. It therefore invites Pokémon Trainers to its island, intending to prove the superiority of cloned Pokémon. Ash and his friends become involved in the confrontation, which explores identity, creation and the meaning of strength within a family-friendly adventure.

International marketing used the title Pokémon: The First Movie, but the Japanese subtitle remains important because it identifies the original film’s story focus. The 2019 CGI remake reused that phrase in its title as Pokémon: Mewtwo Strikes Back—Evolution, making it distinct from the 1998 animated production.