Pokemon: Zoroark - Master of Illusions

Movie review by Jeffrey Anderson, Common Sense Media
Pokemon: Zoroark - Master of Illusions Poster Image

Common Sense says

age 8+

Better but more violent than the usual Pokemon entry.

NR 2011 96 minutes
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Parents say

age 8+

Based on 2 reviews

Kids say

age 7+

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 Pokemon: Zoroark - Master of Illusions is a full-length Pokemon feature that includes all the usual Pokemon stuff: capturing and collecting Pokemon, plus battling and violence. However, this movie is both more elaborate and more violent than the usual Pokemon fare. Besides fighting and explosions, there are vicious attacks and cries of fury, terror, anguish, and pain that can be shocking. Parents might be concerned with the consumer aspect of the Pokemon franchise, which encourages kids to collect cards and toys. Expect some skimpy skirts on female characters and a character who declares his love for every cute girl. Parents might appreciate the quick and subtle -- but positive -- messages about the environment, bullying, and fighting.

Community Reviews

Holly R.
Holly R. Adult
June 22, 2019
age 7+

A quest to save Zorua's adoptive mama

In this 13th entry an evil man driven by greed and whom has the ability to see into the future and made alot of money due to being able to predict the economy and marketing trends is losing his ability that he got 20 years ago by touching a time rift created by the forest spirit Celebi and destroying the plants and trees in the city. With the return of Celebi after a 20 year absence he intends on touching that time rift again at the expense of anything. He kidnaps two Pokemon: Zorua, an orphan Pokemon that looks like a little black fox, and Zoroark, Zorua's adoptive and highly protective "Mima" whom is a master of Illusionsdisguising itself as scary legendary Pokemon whilst unable to do anything actually physical. Zorua escapes captivity, leaving Zoroark still at the mercy of the evil man and unaware that Zorua got away safely. Ash and his friends find Zorua who tells them via telepathy what happened and they agree to help save Zoroark and the gate of the town that is at the mercy of a cruel man who is the one behind the disaster. As far as content goes, this movie has some very iffy things. An evil man who only cares about getting ahead threatens to harm a baby Pokemon to make the grown Pokemon do bad things. He is also shown to choke Zoroark into unconsciousness and to have a complete disregard for anyone but himself. He is one of the most evil villains in the franchise to date and his cruelty shows it. A character nearly dies but is saved by Celebi whom is really adorable and has the ability to heal it's friends. There's a strong emphasis on friends and making friends. Zorua is also cute and is also able to "change" it's appearance, though it can't hide it's tail or it's foxy little smirk. There's some good moral lessons about how greed can drive a person to do terrible things and how they eventually get caught and a message about how caring for others is what truly matters as kindness and caring are rewarded with a very heartwarming ending. It's also great to see an adoptive parent show extreme protectiveness for her child and the ending song "I Believe In You" is a really good song that sounds very Christian-y. Like another reviewer noted it would have been PG (I have a DVD 4 movie set that says TV Y7 so yeah PG).

This title has:

Great messages
Great role models
Too much violence
WhatTheyMissed
WhatTheyMissed Adult
September 30, 2011
age 8+

Program would be PG-rated if rated.

If this program was rated, it would be PG-rated due to the peril.
See all 2 parent reviews

What's the Story?

Everyone is excited about the Pokemon Baccer World Cup in Crown City. Ash, Dawn, and Brock are on their way there, with Pikachu and the other Pokemon in tow. Unexpectedly, they meet a Pokemon they've never seen before, a shape-shifter called Zorua that can speak via telepathy and is looking for "Mema." Meanwhile, three legendary Pokemon begin rampaging through Crown City, requiring a complete evacuation. Refusing to comply, Ash and company instead discover a sinister mystery. What is the connection between Zorua and the rampaging Pokemon? Why has Celebi, the guardian of the forest, suddenly returned after 20 years? And what does it all have to do with Kodai, the businessman that controls all the media in Crown City?

Is It Any Good?

Younger viewers are liable to get lost in the movie's labyrinthine plot but will probably enjoy it moment-by-moment; parents may find it tolerable as well.

The Pokemon movies aren't usually about quality of animation or artistry; they're produced quickly and in a rather slapdash manner to fulfill the demand of a legion of fans and collectors. Happily, the feature film POKEMON: ZOROARK - MASTER OF ILLUSIONS is a cut above the rest, using gorgeous computer-rendered backdrops, as well as some surprisingly majestic and lovely moments. Unfortunately, it's also a bit more violent than we usually get from this series. It's also very complex, with a dozen human and Pokemon characters to remember, as well as a 20-year timeline, time travel, predictions of the future, illusions, and more. Despite the extra effort that the filmmakers put into the movie's look and feel, their storytelling skills are a bit lax.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about the movie's violence. Why did the filmmakers feel it was necessary? Does it make the movie more thrilling or less appealing?

  • Did watching this movie make you want to buy more Pokemon toys, games, or cards? Why?

  • What is the movie's message about the environment? Why do movies like this use political or cultural issues in their plot?

Movie Details

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