Which person directed the first Pokémon animated film, released in Japan in 1998?

Kunihiko Yuyama directed the first Pokémon animated film, released in Japan in 1998.

The film is known in English as Pokémon: The First Movie—Mewtwo Strikes Back and in Japan as Mewtwo Strikes Back. It premiered theatrically in Japan on July 18, 1998, and centers on Mewtwo, a genetically engineered Pokémon seeking answers about its existence.

Yuyama was a major creative figure in the Pokémon anime and directed many entries in the long-running film series. The movie expanded the television show's world onto the international cinema circuit and helped establish Pokémon as a multimedia phenomenon beyond games and television.

Takeshi Shudo wrote the screenplay, so he is sometimes mistaken for the director. Masamitsu Hidaka directed the first television episode, while Satoshi Tajiri created the original game concept.