Pokémon the Movie: Hoopa and the Clash of Ages
Pokémon the Movie: Hoopa and the Clash of Ages
Did we miss something on diversity?
Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.
Suggest an Update
A Lot or a Little?
The parents' guide to what's in this movie.
What Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that Pokémon the Movie: Hoopa and the Clash of Ages is a 2015 Japanese animated movie based on the popular cards, toys, and, by this point, countless other kid-centric products. Those who are not already fans of Pokémon will be annoyed by Hoopa's incredibly grating voice. There is frequent cartoon violence -- characters do battle amid explosions and scary-voiced monsters. Overall, the annoying voices and lackluster plot make this difficult viewing for anyone but the most die-hard Pokémon fans.
Community Reviews
Meh.
Report this review
Were you surprised this movie is bad?
Report this review
What's the Story?
Ash, Pikachu, and their friends visit Dahara City, a desert city, where they meet Hoopa, a creature with the ability to summon people and things through its magical rings. While Hoopa at first seems playful and mischievous -- using the rings to steal their donuts -- the power of the rings were part of a dark past in which a more demonic Hoopa used the rings to terrorize this very same city until it was stopped by a mysterious traveler who bottles up the power of what was once Hoopa Unbound. Back to the present day, this bottle has been reopened, and the little Hoopa -- a goofy prankster -- starts to transform back into the demonic Hoopa Unbound, and it's up to Ash and friends to find a way to prevent this from happening and to ensure the safety of Dahara City.
Is It Any Good?
The poor acting and annoying voices make Pokémon the Movie: Hoopa and the Clash of the Ages best for the most die-hard fans only. The character Hoopa, who vacillates between a cutesy little prankster Pokémon and a gigantic demon Pokémon in the throes of megalomania, has a jarring and distractingly annoying voice, no matter the incarnation. This voice is tailor-made for headaches, and that alone will make this difficult viewing for kids and adults who have zero interest in Pokémon.
The story itself is needlessly complicated and seems like more of a chance for the manufacturers of Pokémon products to unveil all the different characters available for purchase than to add anything worthwhile to the story beyond more explosions and cartoon violence. For those interested in checking out Pokémon animated features, this is most certainly not the best place to start.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about movies based on popular products marketed to children. How might these movies encourage kids to want to own the various Pokémon products currently on the market?
What are some other examples of kids' entertainment in which characters based on action figures and other popular toys are prominent?
Did the violence in this cartoon seem necessary to the overall story, or did it seem like it was added for the sake of extra excitement?
Movie Details
- On DVD or streaming: February 19, 2015
- Cast: Rica Matsumoto, Ikue Otani, Yuki Kaji
- Director: Kunihiko Yuyama
- Studio: Pikachu Project
- Genre: Family and Kids
- Topics: Adventures, Monsters, Ghosts, and Vampires
- Run time: 78 minutes
- MPAA rating: NR
- Last updated: March 30, 2022
Our Editors Recommend
-
Spirited Away
Magnificent movie with scary creatures and a strong heroine.
-
My Neighbor Totoro
Beautifully animated fantasy about friendship fit for all.
-
Summer Wars
Excellent, gorgeous anime has some violence, profanity.
For kids who love anime
Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.
See how we rate