Toho distributed Pokémon: The First Movie in Japanese cinemas.
The film, known in Japan as Pocket Monsters the Movie: Mewtwo Strikes Back, was theatrically released there on 18 July 1998. Toho handled its Japanese theatrical distribution, while OLM produced the animation and Kunihiko Yuyama directed the feature.
International distribution differed. Warner Bros. released the English-language version in North America and several other markets in November 1999. That distinction is why Warner Bros. is often associated with the film by English-speaking audiences, even though Toho was the Japanese distributor.
The movie focuses on Mewtwo, a genetically engineered Pokémon who challenges the morality of creating powerful life forms. Its theatrical release expanded the television franchise into a successful film series, which continued with numerous animated features and later remakes.