Talking About Pokemon Openings - "The Pokemon Theme" and "Pokemon World"
So here’s something random that I planned to do a long time ago. I just never got around to it. But since the topic keeps coming up, and I’d rather do it now than during a hype cycle, let’s do it.
I am going to talk about every Pokemon opening theme from the anime. Including the movie versions.
If you know me, you know my overall engagement in the Pokemon fandom fizzled out years ago. So this may be unexpected. But the truth is, this isn't entirely about Pokemon. I like the openings to TV shows. I find the artistry in making a catchy show intro interesting. I appreciate them. A good opening song can help a show immensely. Like many songs, a good theme can last decades in pop culture. This experiment may one day expand to beyond this one show.
BUT for now, we're here. Inarguably, the first Pokemon theme has endured. Over 25 years. We'll get to that.
As for the show itself, it stretched itself thin 2 decades ago. While it's not an equivalent of the "Zombie Simpsons" idea (at least not anymore since Ash Ketchum left) the anime exists solely because BRAND and has little to say anymore on it's own merits.
But this ain't an anime review.
Before this starts, yes I'm aware of the Japanese themes. Not my focus right now. Makes any difference, the XYZ theme is great. Duh.
This is also not one of those tier lists. At most it's kinda a Thanos snap situation. I could more or less easily prefer half these songs over the other half lol.
I'm also fully aware certain announcements could line up with this list if I did it one theme a day. Yeah I don't feel like it and I avoid hype cycles. So I'm tackling multiple Pokemon themes at once. Up to 3, although today will be 2. The "1st Gen" ones if you will.
All that said, let's start.
Pokémon: Indigo League - "The Pokemon Theme"
It just works. The instrumental, lyrics, singers, the structure. Probably the most obvious thing I could say. But compared to later themes, even ones I like, this is simply more polished and…is sophisticated the word? I don't know. A lot of the more recent openings just go for a more basic structure.
4Kids gets criticized for a lot and I've stopped really caring about that discourse since Saturday morning cartoons have been dead for years. Like at this point, people are just angry at ghosts and being pissed online about some shit roughly 25 years ago is not gonna undonut those rice balls. Shit happens. Yet I don't think anyone can say 4Kids didn't have catchy songs which got kids hooked. Idk how they found all that talent all at once. But it really worked.
As an introduction to Pokemon in the west, I don't see how they could've made this song any better. The lyrics not only explain the premise, but makes the premise feel epic and endearing at the same time. While inviting the viewer to the Pokemon journey.
Even that little bit where they had Ash's English voice actor join in on the song is great. The entire thing feels like the culmination of everything people liked from cartoon themes previously. Although I know that wasn't the thought process going into making it. They just wanted to make a good song.
The short version is great, CLEARLY. The extended version could've very well just been weaker, but it really isn't. And 4Kids knew that too because they just played that full version whenever they felt like it. Hell I would've too.
Because it was so great, they made more music for Pokemon in the west and put it on albums. I can tell you right now as someone who used to be a curious enthusiast, I've heard all that stuff at least once. I'm not covering that. At best, 2.B.A. Master has some okay songs. But it only goes downhill. Especially with follow up albums in this era.
This is where it gets weird. Because now is where I would transition to the other version from the movie.
But…the movie got remade. As did the song.
I looked into it. What I'm gonna do is just tackle the 2020 version when covering Sun & Moon's 3rd theme. Might as well. Not much to say on that one.
Mewtwo Strikes Back - "The Pokemon Theme"
Yeah I think it's good. Better than the original? It has some appealing aspects, but overall no. Idk, maybe it's just the mixing or perhaps the singing needed slightly stronger delivery, especially in the chorus. But it's definitely still a vibe.
I can't find an official link on youtube lol. I don't entirely know how this happens with a franchise as big as Pokemon. Their little distro youtube channel is lacking. I'm also not linking the movie clip because I don't wanna help them see it and get it taken down. Here's a substitute link:
Just weird in general. I get the movie soundtrack has licensed music, but Pokemon definitely owns the main theme no matter how they rearranged it.
As a movie version, I think it definitely does what it needs to. I appreciate the beginning for really making it feel like the original, and then transitioning to it's own thing. There's probably a decent argument that the original could've worked for the movie. I prefer the remix route for the movie.
It's hard for me to gauge the visuals of either version since they're meant for the Japanese version of the Pokemon anime. I'm sure as it got more popular in the west, TPCI suggested they should make these openings a little more flexible for interpretation. But initially 4Kids were just mashing up whatever tf they wanted. Not that I have complaints of any edits of these openings specifically. I think the visuals line up with the songs spectacularly in the TV version. Even if there's a lot of scenes from the anime to choose from that were probably left on the cutting room floor.
The mix of the movie version and it's visuals I feel...works less. But that's a whole ass battle so that's different context. It's also just a differently paced and animated Pokemon battle form the norm at the time. Going the soul route with the song combined with a more flowy battle makes some sense. I imagine watching and hearing that on the big screen was a great moment.
Anything else I can say about this? Well I didn't really didn't talk about the TV singer. I've opted not to name anyone in these. But it doesn't change the facts. I would really vibe with him if I didn't learn about something on his wikipedia page dated 2012. Yeah this is Tumblr and I'm tired of giving people an inch. The Pokemon Theme was made by a team of people. Composers, lyricists, backup singers. Not just him. Wouldn't be surprised if a deeper dive into that probably explains why TPCI hasn't really ever brought him back for ANYTHING. Despite the fact he's still actively singing well and it would be easy nostalgia points. Hell even 4Kids didn't do anything with him after the 2.B.A. Master album either.
I don't know, shit's a little off to me personally. Might mean nothing tho.
I guess there's one last confusing branch here. They covered The Pokemon Theme for the 2017 Pokemon movie. In the same style of the original. I will cover that 2017 version along with the 1st Sun & Moon anime theme. Again, might as well. Not much to say there anyway.
Technically The Pokemon Theme was initially used for the Orange Islands at the beginning. Although whether that's just to avoid spoilers, the next song "Pokemon World" needing more time to cook, 4Kids doing a marketing strat to keep engagement, or trying to avoid confusion with kids, who knows?
Pokémon: Adventures in the Orange Islands - "Pokemon World"
Well it is Black History Month so imma just say it in the nicest way. Every critic I've ever seen call this song mid was clearly never from the hood because this shit slapped back then LMAO.
Pokemon World is a hype as fuck song.
If the goal is to get kids hyped, I don't see any kid just ignoring this theme unless they've just been conditioned to hate Hip Hop & R&B or some shit like that. In which case, rip bozo but I'm built different.
The first Pokemon theme invited you. Pokemon World tells you to step the fuck up lol.
I was surprised to even hear this come out of my tv screen when I was a kid. There is nothing about this song that I hate. Hell if the Mewtwo movie singer went as hard as the Pokemon World singer, I probably would've called it a masterpiece.
Something about that chorus is special.
This song has a lot of attitude while still giving the Pokemon journey so much gravitas. It's just more battle focused. Which, you know Ash WINS the Orange Islands. So it might as well be battle focused. Imma miss this attitude when we get to later songs.
The visuals with the TV version of Pokemon World are very good. Everything's energetic and bouncy or at the very least interesting. That Pikachu lightning strike that extends above the earth and into space. That goes hard tbh. The music fits it damn near perfectly in my opinion. Seeing this opening as a kid, why would you NOT watch an episode of Orange Islands?
At the end of the day, it's just…fun. Pokemon World is a song that wants to party. It wants viewers energized and engaged. I believe it does it well in the short version. While being serious enough to not come off as overly goofy or dumbing things down.
Throughout most of these, they'll have a chorus chant "Pokemon". The first few openings that do this are solid, maybe even iconic. The later ones are…bleh. That's for later.
The extended version I think 4Kids also played randomly at times. Obviously I didn't mind. Once again, the second verse does not fail. It matches the first verse, possibly surpassing with the "WHO I WANT TO BE" part.
Again, no official link available. Substitute:
One side note. Pokemon World is in Pokemon Puzzle League too and I still like it. It was a game I actually got for Christmas as a kid. The game also includes a lot of the anime's soundtrack from Seasons 1 and 2, including The Pokemon Theme. I can see (and have seen) people claim it's awkward because it's midi. But for an N64 puzzle soundtrack, it's decent enough. Especially when the blocks get too high and the music gets more intense. As Puzzle League games tend to do.
Another side note. I wonder if the initial intention by 4Kids was to redo the original Pokemon Theme with the Pokemon World Instrumental. Like I can kinda fit the original lyrics into the syllables of the Pokemon World melody. A weird little thought process but it kinda works.
Would be interesting info if true. I'd understand. The season 1 lyrics are great.
The Power of One - "Pokemon World"
I also vibe with the movie version but it's not as straight forward with this one. The inclusion of the solo female singer was a good one and frankly the male/female vocal dynamic always helps with these Pokemon songs. Especially for a movie. It's just the tempo that's the issue. I get why it's like this. Lining up with the Japanese theme for the movie is not an easy task. I think they did what they could with what they had. But as a song in itself, it's alright if a bit awkward.
For most of the song, I would say the tempo works, but then you get to the chant "So you want to be a master of Pok-ay-mon". It's stretched to an awkward degree in this version imo. Still, the breakdown with "we're living" is fantastic. I wanna give points for the beginning being kinda smooth with it. Even if it's not in the movie itself.
Once again, no official link. SMH. Substitute:
Tough call with this one, but I'd say the instrumental carries the song more than the vocals in the movie version of Pokemon World.
But it's fine enough. Again in a movie theater it probably slaps more. But overall, the scene in said movie is just a bunch of people and Pokemon surfing and chillin. Just in the water headed towards a place. With that in mind, the rearrangement works.
Plus honestly, I love this movie and I'd rather have the rearrangement than not have it.
Gonna end this one by saying that in the future, I may be considering certain songs by how they fit a new region or generation. What they choose as a sorta "finale" opening for these subseries.
So retroactively, if Pokemon World is the end of "Gen 1", the song is a great way to send that gen off. As for The Pokemon Theme, it's called that for a reason.
"Because at the time they didn't care enough to specifically name a theme song for a untested franchise in the west?"
Probably. But they also had the power to change the name to something different and never did. Because it is THE Pokemon theme and the perfect introduction to the anime.
Next time I talk about the 3 Johto anime themes.
germansingergirl
jbbartram-illu
prguitarman
baratheonpilled
janainaart
jacobvanloon
tangentwithtanner
pixelskylines
