Pokémon Ranger and the Prince of the Sea: Manaphy
Encyclopedia
Pokémon Ranger and the Temple of the Sea, originally released in Japan as , is a 2007 Japanese animated film directed by Kunihiko Yuyama
as the fourth and final Pocket Monsters Advanced Generation film, and the ninth Pokémon
film overall. As indicated by the title, elements from the Nintendo DS
game Pokémon Ranger
play a large part. Cartoon Network
aired the film on March 23, 2007 at 7:00 p.m. and after its premiere came a repeat at 9:30 p.m.
The film was the first film released in North America to include a Pikachu
short, which is Pikachu's Island Adventure, since Pokémon: Jirachi Wishmaker
. This was the first film to have the new Pokémon USA
English voice cast since the rights of the show
's acquisition from 4Kids Entertainment
. It was the first full-length Pokémon
film to ever be released in its original aspect ratio on Region 1 DVD. And with a feature running time of 1 hour and 45 minutes, it's currently the longest film in the Pokémon franchise made-to-date (Before the 13th movie released). The story continues with Ash, May, Max and Brock venturing through the Battle Frontier. This is the last film to feature May and Max as main characters in the series. The movie's theme song is titled "Mamoru Beki Mono" by Sowelu
.
Yuyama visited the ruins of Rome
, the city of Naples
and the island of Capri
, all in Italy
, to get ideas of the setting for the film.
Jackie explains that the egg belongs to a legendary water-type Pokemon called Manaphy and that his mission is to deliver it to Samiya, the sea temple. Shortly, Phantom and his goons arrive to steal the egg. After a brief struggle, the egg hatches in May’s arms revealing Manaphy. After escaping Phantom, the group arrive at a series of ruins where Kyle uses a bracelet referred as the People of the Water’s mark to open a secret water route leading to a chamber that displays a legend about Samiya. Ash and the others learn that Samiya can blend in with the water and only appears during a rare lunar eclipse. Jackie mentions that they must protect Manaphy from Phantom or else Phantom will find and steal Samiya’s treasure, the sea crown. Leaving through a grotto, Jackie informs Ash and the others that they can’t participate in his mission. On the mean time, Phantom encounters Team Rocket who hires them as a reward for leading him to Manaphy. Phantom decides to follow the group toward the temple. Jackie, Manaphy and the Marina Group depart on Chip’s boat, the Blue Lagoon to Samiya however Manaphy throws a tantrum noticing May isn’t with it. It uses it ability, Heart Swap to link Jackie to Ash, switching bodies. Ash and the others are welcome aboard on the mission, however Jackie feel concerned over May and Manaphy’s developing relationship. Manaphy, choosing its path individually, leads the Blue Lagoon to Samiya’s location. During their journey, Jackie reveals to Ash that he wanted to become Pokemon ranger after a group of migrating Pokemon saved his life in the mountains as a child. Jackie shortly believes that May’s motherly affection toward Manaphy was effecting his mission and so on May starts to avoid overlay contacting with Manaphy, much to her dismay. That night, Elizabeth hands May her bracelet insisting that she should wear it.
The next day, May’s bandana is pushed into the sea by wind and Manaphy sets out out retrieve it. In a submarine, Elizabeth, Ash, Pikachu, Brock, May and Max set out to find Manaphy, which they do however they get caught in a riptide. They arrive at Samiya during the lunar eclipse, unaware that Phantom has been following them. Phantom encounters the group in Samiya and opens the door to the sea crown. She removes a jewel from the sea crown, triggering the temple to flood and sink. Jackie arrives and faces off with Phantom, outsmarting him returning most of the jewels but one. Before evacuating, Manaphy attempts save the temple with Ash and May behind it. Elizabeth, Brock and Max are forced to leave the temple. Ash and May reach the sea crown and piece the jewels back on the crown but realize there is one left. The temple begins to flood halfway, Jackie and Phantom escape Samiya, Team Rocket that stowed away in Phantom’s submarine are carried off by a current into the sea. Ash finds the last jewel and a large capsule that was apart of Phantom’s submarine. He puts May, Manaphy and Pikachu in the capsule and attempts to the return the jewel, nearly drowning in the process. He manages to save Samiya just after floods completely and the temple rises to the surface. Phantom shows up and snatches Manaphy. Although they believed Ash had died, Ash appears inside a beam of golden light spawned from the crown and takes back Manaphy. Phantom’s ship intervenes and several ocean Pokemon including Kyogre, a water-type legendary Pokemon retaliate under Manaphy’s orders. Phantom is defeated revealing his abnormal strength to be powered by a mecha suit, Jackie’s mission is complete. At dusk, everyone watches as Samiya returns to the depths and May and Manaphy share one last tearful hug before going their separate ways.
During the credits, Phantom and his second-in-command Galen is detained and Ash, Pikachu, Brock, May and Max depart from the Marina Group. Jackie is seen on patrol capturing the legendary electric/flying-type Zapdos. Team Rocket have been swallowed by a Wailord and are shot out of its blowhole and it appears Samiya is now in peace with Manaphy present. Ash and the others continue their journey as the film closes.
Kunihiko Yuyama
' is a Japanese director of anime films, television, and video series. His best-known work involves Pokémon productions. Other anime he has directed include Kimagure Orange Road: Summer's Beginning, Plawres Sanshiro, Wedding Peach, and the adult-oriented Weather Report Girl.Developing an interest...
as the fourth and final Pocket Monsters Advanced Generation film, and the ninth Pokémon
Pokémon
is a media franchise published and owned by the video game company Nintendo and created by Satoshi Tajiri in 1996. Originally released as a pair of interlinkable Game Boy role-playing video games developed by Game Freak, Pokémon has since become the second most successful and lucrative video...
film overall. As indicated by the title, elements from the Nintendo DS
Nintendo DS
The is a portable game console produced by Nintendo, first released on November 21, 2004. A distinctive feature of the system is the presence of two separate LCD screens, the lower of which is a touchscreen, encompassed within a clamshell design, similar to the Game Boy Advance SP...
game Pokémon Ranger
Pokémon Ranger
is an action/role-playing video game developed by HAL Laboratory and published by Nintendo for the Nintendo DS video game console. The game was released at various dates, varying between continents. The game was first released in Japan on March 22, 2006 and was later released in North America and...
play a large part. Cartoon Network
Cartoon Network
Cartoon Network is a name of television channels worldwide created by Turner Broadcasting which used to primarily show animated programming. The channel began broadcasting on October 1, 1992 in the United States....
aired the film on March 23, 2007 at 7:00 p.m. and after its premiere came a repeat at 9:30 p.m.
The film was the first film released in North America to include a Pikachu
Pikachu
is one of the species of Pokémon creatures from the Pokémon media franchise—a collection of video games, anime, manga, books, trading cards, and other media created by Satoshi Tajiri. As do all Pokémon, Pikachu fight other Pokémon in battles central to the anime, manga, and games of the series...
short, which is Pikachu's Island Adventure, since Pokémon: Jirachi Wishmaker
Pokémon: Jirachi Wishmaker
Pokémon: Jirachi Wish Maker, originally released in Japan as , is the sixth film associated with the Pokémon animated series, and is the first one featuring the characters from Advanced Generation. It was accompanied by the short Gotta Dance. It was released in theaters in Japan on July 19, 2003...
. This was the first film to have the new Pokémon USA
The Pokémon Company
is a corporation responsible for marketing and licensing the Pokémon franchise and is affiliated and owned by Nintendo. It began operating in 1998 and adopted the moniker "Pokémon Ltd." in 2000. The company is headquartered in the Roppongi Hills Mori Tower in Roppongi Rokuchome, Minato, Tokyo...
English voice cast since the rights of the show
Pokémon (anime)
, abbreviated from , is a children's TV anime series, which has since been adapted for the North and South American, Australian and European television markets...
's acquisition from 4Kids Entertainment
4Kids Entertainment
4Kids Entertainment is an American film and television production company in bankruptcy since April 2011. It is known for English-dubbing Japanese anime and specializing in the acquisition, production and licensing of children's entertainment around the United States...
. It was the first full-length Pokémon
Pokémon (anime)
, abbreviated from , is a children's TV anime series, which has since been adapted for the North and South American, Australian and European television markets...
film to ever be released in its original aspect ratio on Region 1 DVD. And with a feature running time of 1 hour and 45 minutes, it's currently the longest film in the Pokémon franchise made-to-date (Before the 13th movie released). The story continues with Ash, May, Max and Brock venturing through the Battle Frontier. This is the last film to feature May and Max as main characters in the series. The movie's theme song is titled "Mamoru Beki Mono" by Sowelu
Sowelu
better known by her stage name, Sowelu, is a Japanese pop/R&B singer signed onto Avex Group's label Rhythm Zone.- History :Her career started in 2002 with the release of her first single Beautiful Dreamer, a soft love ballad which did very well in the charts, and was later featured on the Relaxin’...
.
Yuyama visited the ruins of Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
, the city of Naples
Naples
Naples is a city in Southern Italy, situated on the country's west coast by the Gulf of Naples. Lying between two notable volcanic regions, Mount Vesuvius and the Phlegraean Fields, it is the capital of the region of Campania and of the province of Naples...
and the island of Capri
Capri
Capri is an Italian island in the Tyrrhenian Sea off the Sorrentine Peninsula, on the south side of the Gulf of Naples, in the Campania region of Southern Italy...
, all in Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
, to get ideas of the setting for the film.
Plot
The film opens with Jack “Jackie” Walker, a Pokemon ranger undercover, infiltrating Phantom the Pirate’s ship and retrieving a special Pokemon egg to prevent Phantom’s selfish desires. Jackie manages to escape with the help of a Mantine, a water/flying type Pokemon. Sometime later Ash Ketchum along with his Pikachu, Brock, May, and her younger brother Max stumble upon the Marina Group, a traveling family circus consisted of water and psychic-type Pokemon. They meet Elizabeth, the star and daughter of Kyle and Meredith, performers and Kyle’s father Chip, the conductor. They kindly take in Ash and the others who are suffering from dehydration in the wasteland. After a performance at a nearby town, May discovers the same egg shown earlier in the film by the Marina Group’s pet Buizel, a water-type Pokemon. A clown apparently traveling with the group takes away the egg and hands it to Elizabeth. That night, May has a dream with her encountering a temple under the sea and a mysterious Pokemon. That morning she explains it to everyone and it turns out that Marina Group have all had that dream and tell the others about a group of people called the People of the Water, stating that they are in relation with them. Meanwhile, Team Rocket; Jessie, James and Meowth raid the Marina Group’s trailer for the egg and attempt to hand it over to Phantom. They fail when the Marina Group’s clown reveals himself as Jack Walker who captures a Fearow to retrieve it.Jackie explains that the egg belongs to a legendary water-type Pokemon called Manaphy and that his mission is to deliver it to Samiya, the sea temple. Shortly, Phantom and his goons arrive to steal the egg. After a brief struggle, the egg hatches in May’s arms revealing Manaphy. After escaping Phantom, the group arrive at a series of ruins where Kyle uses a bracelet referred as the People of the Water’s mark to open a secret water route leading to a chamber that displays a legend about Samiya. Ash and the others learn that Samiya can blend in with the water and only appears during a rare lunar eclipse. Jackie mentions that they must protect Manaphy from Phantom or else Phantom will find and steal Samiya’s treasure, the sea crown. Leaving through a grotto, Jackie informs Ash and the others that they can’t participate in his mission. On the mean time, Phantom encounters Team Rocket who hires them as a reward for leading him to Manaphy. Phantom decides to follow the group toward the temple. Jackie, Manaphy and the Marina Group depart on Chip’s boat, the Blue Lagoon to Samiya however Manaphy throws a tantrum noticing May isn’t with it. It uses it ability, Heart Swap to link Jackie to Ash, switching bodies. Ash and the others are welcome aboard on the mission, however Jackie feel concerned over May and Manaphy’s developing relationship. Manaphy, choosing its path individually, leads the Blue Lagoon to Samiya’s location. During their journey, Jackie reveals to Ash that he wanted to become Pokemon ranger after a group of migrating Pokemon saved his life in the mountains as a child. Jackie shortly believes that May’s motherly affection toward Manaphy was effecting his mission and so on May starts to avoid overlay contacting with Manaphy, much to her dismay. That night, Elizabeth hands May her bracelet insisting that she should wear it.
The next day, May’s bandana is pushed into the sea by wind and Manaphy sets out out retrieve it. In a submarine, Elizabeth, Ash, Pikachu, Brock, May and Max set out to find Manaphy, which they do however they get caught in a riptide. They arrive at Samiya during the lunar eclipse, unaware that Phantom has been following them. Phantom encounters the group in Samiya and opens the door to the sea crown. She removes a jewel from the sea crown, triggering the temple to flood and sink. Jackie arrives and faces off with Phantom, outsmarting him returning most of the jewels but one. Before evacuating, Manaphy attempts save the temple with Ash and May behind it. Elizabeth, Brock and Max are forced to leave the temple. Ash and May reach the sea crown and piece the jewels back on the crown but realize there is one left. The temple begins to flood halfway, Jackie and Phantom escape Samiya, Team Rocket that stowed away in Phantom’s submarine are carried off by a current into the sea. Ash finds the last jewel and a large capsule that was apart of Phantom’s submarine. He puts May, Manaphy and Pikachu in the capsule and attempts to the return the jewel, nearly drowning in the process. He manages to save Samiya just after floods completely and the temple rises to the surface. Phantom shows up and snatches Manaphy. Although they believed Ash had died, Ash appears inside a beam of golden light spawned from the crown and takes back Manaphy. Phantom’s ship intervenes and several ocean Pokemon including Kyogre, a water-type legendary Pokemon retaliate under Manaphy’s orders. Phantom is defeated revealing his abnormal strength to be powered by a mecha suit, Jackie’s mission is complete. At dusk, everyone watches as Samiya returns to the depths and May and Manaphy share one last tearful hug before going their separate ways.
During the credits, Phantom and his second-in-command Galen is detained and Ash, Pikachu, Brock, May and Max depart from the Marina Group. Jackie is seen on patrol capturing the legendary electric/flying-type Zapdos. Team Rocket have been swallowed by a Wailord and are shot out of its blowhole and it appears Samiya is now in peace with Manaphy present. Ash and the others continue their journey as the film closes.
Cast
| Character | Japanese voice | English voice |
|---|---|---|
| Satoshi/Ash Ash Ketchum Ash Ketchum, known as for all appearances in Japan, is a fictional character in the Pokémon franchise owned by Nintendo. He was created by, and named after, Satoshi Tajiri as the protagonist of the anime and manga series, as well as on various merchandise related to the franchise... |
Rica Matsumoto Rica Matsumoto is a Japanese voice actress and J-pop singer who was born in Yokohama, Japan. Her name is also sometimes romanized as Rika Matsumoto. She was one of the original members of the popular vocal group JAM Project. After the way of the stage, she embarked on voice acting and a singing career... |
Sarah Natochenny Sarah Natochenny Sarah Natochenny is an American actress and fashion model. She is known for providing the voice of Ash in the Pokémon anime metaseries. and movies since 2006, taking over for Veronica Taylor. Natochenny also voiced the lead role Alicia on the Xbox 360 video game Bullet Witch... |
| Haruka/May | Kaori Suzuki | Michele Knotz Michele Knotz Michele Knotz is an American voice actress who works for New York-based studios such as TAJ Productions. She is currently recording at DuArt Film and Video, where she provides the voices for various characters in the Pokémon anime.... |
| Masato/Max | Kyoko Yamada Fushigi Yamada , better known by her stage name , is a Japanese voice actress affiliated with 81 Produce.- As Kyoko Yamada :* Bikkuriman * Doraemon * Doraemon: Nobita's Genesis Diary * Dragon Quest: Dai no Daibouken... |
Jamie Peacock Kayzie Rogers Kayzie Rogers is an American voice actress. She is best known for her work in animated television series.... |
| Takeshi/Brock Brock (Pokémon) Brock, known as in Japanese versions, is a video game character in the Pokémon franchise. In the Pokémon video games, he is the Gym Leader of Pewter City and mainly uses Rock -type Pokémon; in the anime series, he left his position as a Gym Leader to travel alongside Ash Ketchum and become a... |
Yuji Ueda Yuji Ueda is a popular Japanese seiyū.He is most known for the roles of Sagara Sanosuke , Akito Tenkawa , Takeshi , Horohoro , Johannes Krauser II and Keitaro Urashima .... |
Bill Rogers Bill Rogers (voice actor) Bill Rogers is an American voice actor who works in the New York area. He has worked on various dubs, and in stage productions. He is currently working at Pokémon USA and DuArt Film and Video voicing characters on the Pokémon anime.-TV Roles:... |
| Pikachu Pikachu is one of the species of Pokémon creatures from the Pokémon media franchise—a collection of video games, anime, manga, books, trading cards, and other media created by Satoshi Tajiri. As do all Pokémon, Pikachu fight other Pokémon in battles central to the anime, manga, and games of the series... |
Ikue Ōtani Ikue Otani is a Japanese actress and voice actress from Tokyo, most famous as the voice of Pikachu in the Pokémon anime series and products and the voice of Tony Tony Chopper in the manga and anime series One Piece. She is currently attached to Mausu Promotion... |
Ikue Ōtani |
| Musashi/Jessie | Megumi Hayashibara Megumi Hayashibara is a Japanese voice actress, singer, radio personality, and lyricist from Tokyo. She is currently affiliated with Aksent. Her nicknames include: Megu-san, Megu-nee, Bara-san, Kakka, and Daijin... |
Michele Knotz |
| Kojirou/James | Shin-ichiro Miki | Billy Beach Jimmy Zoppi Jimmy Zoppi , sometimes credited as Billy Beach and James Carter Cathcart, is an American bassist, vocalist, and voice-over artist. He has been playing with bands since high school and has been a bassist and vocalist of the Carter Cathcart Band since 1981. Zoppi's first voiceover part was O.G... |
| Nyarth/Meowth | Inuko Inuyama | Billy Beach |
| Jack Walker | Kōichi Yamadera Koichi Yamadera is a Japanese voice actor, actor, tarento, narrator, master of ceremonies and impressionist from Shiogama, Miyagi Prefecture. He graduated from Tohoku Gakuin University's economics school, and is currently affiliated with Across Entertainment. Before that, he was affiliated with the Tokyo Actor's... |
Rich McNanna |
| The Phantom | Hiroshi Fujioka Hiroshi Fujioka , better known by his stage name , is a Japanese actor known for playing the hero Takeshi Hongo in the tokusatsu superhero series Kamen Rider, and later the Sega Saturn mascot Segata Sanshiro. Fujioka is a cultural icon in Japan, even having the minor planet 12408 Fujioka, discovered by Akimasa... |
Eric Schussler |
| Hiromi/Lizabeth | Kaori Manabe Kaori Manabe Kaori Manabe is a Japanese television personality and model. She was born in 1981 in Saijō, Ehime.Her television roles include:*Science Zero *WAKU☆WAKU *WATER BOYSOther appearances:*Ø Story... |
Emily Williams Elisabeth Morinelli Emyln Elisabeth Morinelli is a voice and stage actress that works in the New York area . She is best known for voicing Zoey in Pokémon Diamond and Pearl. She also voiced Pike Queen Lucy in an episode of Pokémon: Battle Frontier and also started voicing Officer Jenny after Season 9... |
| Judy | Becky | Rhonda Krempa |
| Manaphy | Yuri Shiratori Yuri Shiratori is a female seiyū and J-pop singer from Kanagawa Prefecture who has released various solo CD albums. She is employed by 81 Produce.-Profile:*Born on August 20, 1968 in Kanagawa Prefecture*Nickname: Shiratari-san... |
Michele Knotz |
| Narrator | Unshou Ishizuka Unshou Ishizuka , better known as is a Japanese seiyū from Katsuyama, Fukui. He is currently affiliated with Aoni Production and also provides the voice for the Narrator and Professor Oak on Pokémon. During the Johto saga, he voiced Jasmine's Steelix, Pryce's Piloswine, Clair's Gyarados and also Ash's Kingler in... |
Rodger Parsons |
Box office performance
The general screening of Pokémon Ranger and the Prince of the Sea: Manaphy ran for 6 weeks, from July 15 to August 25, 2006.- July 15–16, 2nd overall, 2nd domestic, 1st anime
- July 22–23, 3rd overall, 2nd domestic, 1st anime
- July 29–30, 4th overall, 3rd domestic, 2nd anime
- August 5–6, 5th overall, 4th domestic, 2nd anime
- August 12–13, 4th overall, 3rd domestic, 2nd anime
- August 19–20, 6th overall, 4th domestic, 2nd anime