Who directed Pokémon: The First Movie, the franchise's first animated feature?

Kunihiko Yuyama directed Pokémon: The First Movie, the first animated feature in the Pokémon film series.

Released in Japan on July 18, 1998, the film is commonly known internationally as Pokémon: The First Movie—Mewtwo Strikes Back. Its story follows Ash, Misty, and Brock as they encounter Mewtwo, a genetically engineered Pokémon created from research involving Mew.

Yuyama was a major creative figure in the Pokémon anime franchise and directed many of its early films. Takeshi Shudo wrote the screenplay, while OLM handled animation and Toho distributed the Japanese theatrical release.

The English-language adaptation arrived in North America in November 1999. The original Japanese film and the international version differ in some presentation and story details, so “the first movie” can refer to related but not identical releases depending on the market.