When did Pokémon: The First Movie first premiere in Japan?

Pokémon: The First Movie first premiered in Japan on July 18, 1998.

The film is known in Japan as Mewtwo Strikes Back and was directed by Kunihiko Yuyama. It follows Ash, Misty, and Brock as they encounter Mewtwo, a genetically engineered Pokémon created from research involving Mew.

The Japanese release was the first theatrical film in the Pokémon anime series. Its story explored identity, creation, and the relationship between naturally born and artificially created Pokémon. A later extended television version added “The Uncut Story of Mewtwo's Origin,” a prologue that was not part of the original theatrical release.

The English adaptation arrived in North America on November 12, 1999, more than a year after the Japanese premiere. That difference is a frequent source of date confusion. The film's English title also emphasizes its position as the first movie, while the Japanese title centers on Mewtwo's counterattack.