Plot: What’s it about?
Pokemon hit the American shores like a tidal wave, crushing other properties and raking in a massive amount of cash. We’ve seen plush toys, lunchboxes, feature films, and of course, the television series, which Pioneer has been releasing on DVD. The franchise has lost most of its steam with the kids, but some fans still remain and I have to admit, I like to watch the series. It’s predictable and often cheese laden, but also fun and I can’t resist the antics of Team Rocket. While the feature films have been less impressive, the series continues to be solid and often very good, so I am pleased to find more episodes issued all the time. This series is beloved by some and despised by others, but in any case, Pokemon on DVD is here to stay, it seems. Below is a list of the three episodes included on this disc, as well as a brief synopsis for each.
1. The Fire-ing Squad – Ash first met his own Squirtle back when his adventure was just starting, but he is about to return to that era, at least in a sense. If you remember, Ash’s Squirtle was part of a rebellious band of Pokemon called The Squirtle Squad, who wore sunglasses and caused all sorts of trouble. But then Ash took his Squirtle and trained it very well, so it became nicer, well behaved, and obedient. This Pokemon is soon reunited with his old pals however, at a fire-fighting competition that his former squad has entered. As expected, the group has a lot of problems, but can Ash’s Squirtle use his new abilities to guide them toward victory?
2. No Big Woop! – It seems like Brock will do anything to impress a beautiful young woman, even if it means volunteering his friends to lend a hand. This time, he has fallen head over heels for a schoolteacher who was tutoring a class of Wooper, but then she was called away and had to leave the poor Pokemon alone. But Brock has offered his help, as well as the help of Ash and Misty, to keep the class up to date on lessons. With a room of mischievous Wooper, can the trio manage to maintain the proper school atmosphere?
3. Tunnel Vision – The nefarious members of Team Rocket have tried a million different plans to undermine Ash’s plans and kidnap Pikachu, but regardless of the approach taken, the team members have been the same. So perhaps lack of success drove Jessie to tinker with the roster and replace the loudest, clumsiest member of the squad, Meowth. In his place, Team Rocket has hired in a Snubbull and while not the most obvious of choices, this new addition could be the recipe to finally reach the finish line. Or more to the truth, could this change of guard prove to be another failed attempt to capture Pikachu and foil Ash’s plans?
Video: How does it look?
The episodes are presented in full frame transfers, as intended. These episodes look terrific and are much improved over the televised & VHS versions, without a doubt. The contrast is stark and well defined, but never becomes too dark, while colors look bold and full of life, just as this series needs from them. I think Pioneer has done some great work with these transfers, as the episodes simply look wonderful.
Audio: How does it sound?
The audio here is more than solid, but don’t expect too much, given the nature and approach used in the series. The music sounds very full, while sound effects are loud and clear, just as intended. At times, some elements become very, very loud, but that is how it should be, so don’t panic when it happens. The vocals are clean and never hard to understand, not even when the action picks up and other elements take the focus. This disc also contains optional English subtitles, in case you decide you might need those.
Supplements: What are the extras?
This disc contains no bonus materials.
