Product Details

• Actors: Unshô Ishizuka, Rica Matsumoto, Ikue Ootani, Megumi Hayashibara, Mayumi Iizuka
• Directors: Kunihiko Yuyama, Masamitsu Hidaka
• Format: Animated, Color, NTSC
• Rated: G (General Audience)
• Number of tapes: 1
• Studio: Viz Media
• VHS Release Date: November 24, 1998
• Run Time: 75 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (143 customer reviews)
• ASIN: 6305209871
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #107,526 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

The eager fan of Pokemon or those curious of the phenomenon will want to get their hands on this first video. This volume includes three TV episodes "Pokémon, I Choose You!," "Pokémon Emergency!" and "Ash Catches a Pokémon," this DVD is guaranteed to please anyone who's caught up in the Pokémon phenomenon. In the Pokémon world, 10-year-olds acquire their Pokémon training license and begin their quest to catch, train, and fight these adorable creatures--all 151 of them! Our enthusiastic hero, Ash Ketchum, is determined and intensely eager to become the best Pokémon trainer in the world! Ash's closest Pokémon is the lovable Pikachu, who helps Ash fight other Pokémon and accompanies him on his quest. In these three episodes Ash meets Misty, his future traveling companion and friend, and the two of them combat Team Rocket, who will always be their arch enemy. This video includes the full-length "Pokérap," in which all 150 Pokémon are described. Followed by The Mystery of Mount Moon. --Samantha Allen Storey

Product Description

Packaged in the original full-color printed cardboard sleeve (the opened shrink-wrap is still on it), this VHS tape is in pristine condition. Excellent.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Definately get this one first, June 5, 2000

By 

S. Gunnels (Anderson, SC United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Pokemon - I Choose You! Pikachu! (Vol. 1) [VHS] (VHS Tape)

OK, I must say I'm a bit old to like Pokemon. I'm 26, but I bought the Yellow edition gameboy game because I love video games. I wasn't sure what the heck was going on so I picked up a video. Unfortunately, it wasn't until later I picked this one up.

If you are new to Pokemon or else don't know what is going on then this one is where you have to start. It goes through the first 3 episodes. You get to learn what the deal is with these cute little creatures. I'll sum it up for you then you get the video and all will be well for you and your children. OK, at age 10 all little boys and girls get to venture out on their own to train Pokemon. It starts the day before Ash's 10th birthday. The next morning he leaves for Professor Oak's lab to get a Pokemon. Squirtle, Bulbasaur and Charmander are all taken so he get's Pikachu. Pikachu doesn't like him too much, but in time he comes to love Ash. They venture out and get chased by a bunch of Spearows. Pika helps them by zapping them and becomes hurt. On his way to a Pokecenter he crosses Misty and steals her bike, Misty later joins ash on his Pokemon quest. Pikachu is very sick and requires immediate attention. Team Roket shows up at the Pokecenter and makes their introduction. Pikachu helps out everyone and saves the day. On Ash's next adventure he catches his first Pokemon. I won't give away what it is, but no it isn't Bulba, Char or Squirtle. He trains it and it evolves for the first time. That's basically it. You get more in detail about why Ash wants to be a Pokemon trainer and why he loves them so much. You also get to see the full length Pokerap which names all the Pokemon. It's hard to explain completely, but trust me I really do like this cartoon and it gives you an idea of what is really going on in the Pokemon world. Plus you can hide your Pokemon addiction like I do....just say you are buying it for your Daughter, or son whichever you have.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An excellent collection of anime TV; Pokemon is Fantastic!, February 13, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Pokemon - I Choose You! Pikachu! (Vol. 1) [VHS] (VHS Tape)

This video, which includes the first 3 episodes of the popular cartoon of the same name, introduces the viewer to the adorable and entertaining world of Pokemon. Pokemon, short for "Pocket Monsters," is the name of one of the biggest videogame and Japanese Pop-Culture franchises I have ever seen. The games (there are currently about a dozen in Japan, with more planned to come soon. Not too bad, considering the relative newness of the franchise; a little over to years) are a run-away hit in every part of the world, and this video does the series justice in it's own right. (In other words, this series could easily stand on it's own, but I am sure that the popularity of the games did help in introducing it to American viewers) The main character, named Ash, begins his journey to become the world greatest Pokemon Master of all time in this video, something that will take him a lot of hard work and dedication, considering that there are at least 150 Pokemons out there for him to catch, and more then a few rival trainers he will need to do battle with. Each episode follows his journeys, and this first volume of 3 tells the tale of how he meets and makes friends with the games official mascot, Pokemon #25, the electric mouse named Pikachu. Ash discovers something is ransacking his home of electric circuts and wires, and when he discovers the culpret is non-other then this cute little critter, he can't help but fall in love. The two begin in this episode what is actually a heartwarming story of a boy and the creature he has taken as his buddy. each episode includes a new Pokemon for the audience to become familiar with, and the show is filled to the brim with information that comes directly from the highest authority on the subject of Pokemon, the game itself. Overall a wonderful buy, and each volume comes with neat little things like comics and trading cards. the firstepisode also includes a coupon for the purchase of the game, because you WILL want this game after yo fall head over heels for Pikachu, not to mention his adorable voice (All the Pokemons can speak, but only in phrases that are made up of their actual names. In other words "Pika-Pika," and "Pika-Chu?" will be commonplace in this series). So what are you waiting for, go get it; After all, a Squillion Japanese kids can't be wrong...

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An energetic, funny and weel-made series, August 12, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Pokemon - I Choose You! Pikachu! (Vol. 1) (DVD)

It seems to me as well as anyone who hasn't been under a rock for the past year and a half that Pokemon (aka Pocket Monsters) is quite the craze. I'm not exactly interested in the Game or cards, but the animated TV series has definetly got me hooked! The characters and critters are very well thought-out and each and ever one of them are funny and likeable to the highest extent. The (sort-of) villanous memebrs of Team Rocket are the funniest and goofiest villans I've ever seen. The dubbing quality continues to improve throughout the series and I am happily awaiting the release of the movies this fall.