Pokémon: Jirachi — Wish Maker
Synopsis — from MyAnimeList
The Millennium Comet is about to make its long-awaited appearance in the sky again, supposedly granting the wishes of all those who see it in the skies above them. Of course, Satoshi and friends are equally interested in the Millennium Festival, especially when they attend a magic performance by the Great Butler. Even more interesting is the mysterious cocoon in Butler’s possession—from which Masato hears a mysterious voice calling! When Jirachi emerges from its slumber, Masato has a new friend—sadly, it’s only for the brief few days that the Millennium Comet appears in the sky. Masato is anxious to make the most of his time with his new friend, but the Great Butler has his own plans for Jirachi, which are not so friendly. He wants to revive the Legendary Groudon, and Jirachi just might be able to grant that wish. Can Masato, Satoshi, Haruka, and Takeshi stop Butler and save Jirachi before Groudon reappears to reign destruction over the land?
Audience Consensus
Audience reception is mixed, with many appreciating the film's charming portrayal of Jirachi and its themes of friendship, alongside praise for the animation and music. However, a significant portion of viewers found the plot to be weak, underdeveloped, and at times nonsensical, leading to a divisive opinion on its overall quality despite its positive emotional elements.
Strengths
- Jirachi is consistently described as adorable and charming.
- The art and animation are praised for their quality, with specific mentions of beautiful backgrounds and good character design.
- The soundtrack is highlighted as incredible and beautiful.
- The film effectively explores themes of friendship and the bittersweet nature of goodbyes.
- The villain is noted for being charismatic and having presence.
- The action sequences and climactic scenes are often described as impressive and energetic.
- The connection of the plot to Team Magma and Groudon is seen as a positive integration with the broader Pokémon lore.
Weaknesses
- The plot is frequently criticized for being simple, nonsensical, or underdeveloped.
- Some critics found the character interactions underwhelming or the characters themselves unlikable (particularly Max).
- The movie is considered by some to be the weakest of the series up to that point.
- The pacing is sometimes described as slow or too long, especially with a focus on 'cute stuff' over plot.
- The villain's motivation, while present, is sometimes seen as not fully developed or its backstory elements as padding.
- The handling of Jirachi's gender (referred to as 'he' but with a girl's voice) was a minor point of confusion or annoyance for some viewers.