Toho initially distributed Pokémon: The First Movie theatrically in Japan.
The film, known in Japan as Pokémon the Movie: Mewtwo Strikes Back, was first released there on July 18, 1998. It centers on Mewtwo, a genetically engineered Pokémon seeking answers about its creation and identity.
Toho is a major Japanese film company known for distributing and producing many Japanese movies. Its involvement places the Pokémon film within Japan’s established theatrical system before the franchise received a major overseas cinema rollout.
Warner Bros. handled distribution outside Asia for the English-language international release, which opened in the United States in November 1999. That later release is why Warner Bros. is sometimes incorrectly named as the original Japanese distributor. The movie also included the short film Pikachu’s Vacation in many theatrical versions.