Who directed the first Pokémon theatrical film?

Kunihiko Yuyama directed Pokémon: The First Movie.

The 1998 Japanese animated film is the first theatrical movie in the Pokémon anime film series. Its Japanese title is Pocket Monsters the Movie: Mewtwo Strikes Back, and its story centers on Mewtwo, a genetically engineered Pokémon seeking answers about its existence.

The film was first released in Japan on July 18, 1998, by Toho. The English-language adaptation, titled Pokémon: The First Movie, reached North America in November 1999. It became a major international box-office success despite receiving mixed critical reviews.

Takeshi Shudo wrote the screenplay, so his name is sometimes associated with the film instead of the director. Yuyama directed many Pokémon films and was a major creative figure in the franchise's animated feature history.