Pokemon the Movie: Diancie and the Cocoon of Destruction

Movie review by Renee Longstreet, Common Sense Media
Pokemon the Movie: Diancie and the Cocoon of Destruction Poster Image

Common Sense says

age 6+

New characters, fierce action in colorful anime adventure.

NR 2015 76 minutes
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Parents say

age 4+

Based on 1 review

Kids say

age 5+

Based on 2 reviews

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A Lot or a Little?

The parents' guide to what's in this movie.

What Parents Need to Know

Parents need to know that this 17th anime movie in the Pokemon franchise introduces several major new characters (also known as "buying opportunities"), including the valiant Diancie, the Jewel Princess, designed to appeal to girls. The film will be a fan favorite for kids who like their battles bright, colorful, and relentless. Heroic Pokemon players plummet down mountainsides, dangle from cliffs, and are captured again and again. The final sequence, which pits Xerneas, called the "Life Pokemon," against Yveltal, the "Destruction Pokemon," is a lengthy assault filling the screen with laser-like thunderbolts, fire, smoke, and explosions, inflicting widespread damage on both living beings and the forest. Diancie and the Cocoon of Destruction is being released at the same time as a companion paperback book. (Spoiler alert: Pikachu and other likable characters are turned to stone and appear dead for several minutes.)

Community Reviews

Holly R.
Holly R. Adult
November 6, 2017
age 4+

Decent film but not impressive like other entries

I personally know more female fans of this than males and Pokemon always had a solid female fanbase since it's debut. And as a long time fan from the beginning of the hype, I must say that this film is part of the quality spiral that has plagued the newer entries since Kyurem and the Sword of Justice came out in 2012. That being said, this film wasn't quite as bad and it's the best of the XY movies. But it's like the movie relies on colors and pretty visuals and it's easy to miss the story line because of so much going on in the background. Like if you blink you will miss seeing Pikachu's tail grazed by Yveltal's attack that results in about 10 seconds of unconvincing grieving of the mascots death until Xerneas brings new everyone back to life. There's characters that are stone for several minutes, yes, but Pikachu turns to stone and back again in the course of a few seconds to where you can't be sad because he's back before you can shed a tear. It has its good points like encouraging and emphasizing the fact that telling the truth is good and lying is bad as well as friendship and the power of caring for others. There's also some funny parts as Diancie "doesn't get out much" and is easily deceived by obviously shady characters and takes such encounters of being tricked with a bright and chipper attitude with is pretty funny. The jokes are mostly clean and the characters that are stone for long periods are ones kids don't really care about typically. It's not horrible but it can be forgettable because it isn't bad but it doesn't have lasting appeal or anything memorable other than Pikachu dies for 10-20 seconds and gets brought back by Xerneas. I would pass it unless your kids REALLY love Pokemon as there's far better movies to watch in the series.

This title has:

Great messages
Great role models
Too much violence
Too much consumerism
See all 1 parent review

What's the Story?

There's a crisis as POKEMON THE MOVIE: DIANCIE AND THE COCOON OF DESTRUCTION opens. Princess Diancie realizes that the Heart Diamond, which provides all the life-giving energy to the Diamond Domain where she lives, is dying. Time has taken its toll, and Diancie is the only one with enough power to create a new Heart Diamond to take its place. The young princess, unsure of herself and aware that she needs the magical assistance of Xerneas, the Life Pokemon, enlists Ash and his Pokemon partners to make the journey with her. It's a treacherous trip. Diancie's reputation as the sole creator of diamonds has made her the target of a series of greedy villains, including the world of Pokemon's Team Rocket, Millis and Arbus, and Riot and Merilyn, all of whom are eager to take her prisoner and use Diancie's talents to enrich their lives. But finding Xerneas and calling upon her great gifts doesn't begin to prepare the heroes for their encounter in the All-Earth Forest with Yveltal, the Destruction Pokemon. It's an all-out battle for the Pokemon's very lives and for the survival of the fragile forest, as well as the Diamond Domain.

Is It Any Good?

The bright, colorful anime that is Pokemon finds Ash, Pikachu, and company on a typical dangerous quest. This time, however, in a straightforward effort to create more "girl appeal," the Princess Diancie is introduced. Sweet, sensitive Diancie cries a lot but finds her courage, purpose, and power as she embarks on a journey to save her countrymen. Boys have been targeted, too. The action sequences, particularly the final one, which goes on and on and on, is flashy and compelling as a hefty crowd of regular characters and an entire forest are nearly destroyed. It's likely too violent for younger kids, especially when the fate of the beloved Pikachu is unknown. The new characters introduced in this adventure, particularly the dueling Xerneas and Yveltal, are dynamic and beautifully drawn and will be hard for fans to resist.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about how the Pokemon franchise is a marketing power in so many areas. How does the release of a new DVD help the franchise sell other merchandise? Find out what it means to "license" a product.

  • Diancie and the Cocoon of Destruction clearly wants to build a stronger female Pokemon fan base. What elements of the movie were designed to accomplish that mission? What elements were included to assure that boys were satisfied as well?

  • The movie describes a friend as "someone to trust, to know, to play and talk with; they help you and you help them." Do you agree with that description? Are there other things you want in a friend? What happens when a friend disappoints you? Is forgiveness sometimes necessary to keep friendship alive?

Movie Details

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