Who directed the 1998 Japanese film Pokémon: The First Movie?

Kunihiko Yuyama directed the 1998 Japanese film Pokémon: The First Movie.

The film was the first theatrical movie in the Pokémon anime film series. Its Japanese title refers to Mewtwo Strikes Back, and the story centers on Mewtwo’s origins, identity, and conflict with humans and other Pokémon.

Yuyama directed the original Japanese production, which was released theatrically by Toho on July 18, 1998. The film was produced by OLM and written by Takeshi Shudo, who also helped shape the wider anime’s story and characters.

The English-language version arrived in North America in 1999 and used a different adaptation and release campaign. That can lead to confusion over which date or creative credit is being asked about. Yuyama’s directing credit belongs to the original Japanese film, while Shudo is credited as its screenwriter.