Product Details

• Actors: Veronica Taylor, Eric Stuart, Ted Lewis, Rachael Lillis, Madeleine Blaustein
• Format: Color, NTSC
• Rated: Unrated
• Number of tapes: 1
• Studio: Geneon [Pioneer]
• VHS Release Date: January 1, 2000
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B000031WT4
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #368,419 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 Pokémons 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 Pokémons are described. Followed by The Mystery of Mount Moon. --Samantha Allen Storey

Pokémons, the little high-tech toys, and the Nintendo game involving them, emerged as a pop-culture phenomenon in 1998: the TV show aired six times a week, a theatrical feature was released in 1999, and Pokémon Web sites popped up all over the Internet. These episodes of the TV series center on Ash Ketchum, an adolescent boy who aspires to become a champion Pokémon trainer. He sets out for his first tournament, accompanied by his sometimes friend, a girl named Misty, and his special pet Pokémon, Pikachu. Along the way, he defeats another boy, Samurai, in a duel and makes a valuable new friend when he challenges Brock, the local champion, while learning lessons about friendship, perseverance, and honorable play. On Moon Mountain, he discovers a fallen meteor with magical powers over the excessively cute Clefaries. Jessie and James, the Team Rocket, attempt to steal the Moon Stone, but are defeated by Ash, Misty, and Brock in a slapstick battle. Adults may have trouble keeping track of the different Pokémons without the help of a child, but the "Full-Length Pokérap" at the end of the disc lists them, an obvious attempt to stimulate the urge to collect all 150 (plus one rare collector's Pokémon coveted by fans). --Charles Solomon

Ash Ketchum continues to work toward his goal of becoming a champion Pokémon trainer as he challenges a trio of synchronized swimmers in "Cerulean City"; A.J., a stern trainer, in "League"; and the conceited champion of a posh prep school in "Hard Knocks." Assisted by Misty and his friend Brock, Ash also overcomes the inept villains of Team Rocket and learns lessons about modesty, honesty, and sportsmanship. Although Ash initially feels that A.J. drives his Pokémons too hard in "League," he discovers how deeply he cares for them when Team Rocket tries to kidnap Sandshrew, his favorite. In "Hard Knocks," Ash defends a smaller boy from bullying upper classmen, and shows the snobbish students that training Pokémons isn't an academic exercise, but a way of life based on friendship and mutual affection. Viewers not caught up in the Pokémon craze may find the idea of fighting high-tech duels with these cute little animals incongruous. But millions of kids in America and Japan embraced it, and they've given the Pokémons a higher profile than such earlier product-characters as My Little Pony, He-Man and the Masters of the Universe, and Herself the Elf. --Charles Solomon

Additional Features

This limited edition gift set contains the first three Pokémon videos (I Choose You! Pikachu!, The Mystery of Mount Moon, The Sisters of Cerulean City) and an 80-page special edition mini-graphic novel. The materials are enclosed in a special vinyl carrying case. There were only 5,000 made.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Good package!, December 30, 1999

By A Customer

This package is excellent! We were able to get three videos in a special vinyl package which was really cool, particularly with Pikachu on one of the cover, and a no. of other Pokemon on the other cover. Wish that all the videos could come a set of three like this i.e. for the episodes following these three. Worth buying especially with the impressive packaging!

Generally, we would agree with the Editors' review. The first video(Poke Friends) shows how Ash gets Bulbasaur, Charmander and Squirtle, with the help of Misty, Brock and Pikachu. In the second video, we finally get to meet Bill (the same as in the GameBoy versions?) and the elusive Dragonite. We sympathised greatly with Pikachu when he lost his battle (and his fighting spirit) to Raichu in Electric Shock Showdown. Lastly, with the translation provided, it was really great to finally understand what the Pokemon were saying to each other when they were stranded on the Island of the Giant Pokemon following the sinking of St Anne.

Overall, worth the buy.

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Never too old for cartoons!, June 28, 2000

By 

"el_diablo" (Leeds Great Britain) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Pokemon Holiday Special Video Gift Pack 1 [VHS] (VHS Tape)

I may be considered too old (20) for kids TV, but hey, I say I'm in touch with my inner child. Ever since transformers, the cartoon world has been waiting for something to match it. At last Pokemon arrived! Its screenings on ITV (UK) got me and my housemates out of bed and into the living room at 9:30 every Saurday morning. This set is the perfect way to begin your Pokemon collection, chronicling the beginning of the adventures. I have to say I'm not such a fan of graphic novels, but the videos and the swanky case make this well worth the money. So go on; discover your inner child and take this ideal first step towards catching 'em all!

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Gift Pack!!, May 5, 2002

By 

Lisa Silas "L_Silas" (Whitney, TX USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Pokemon Holiday Special Video Gift Pack 1 [VHS] (VHS Tape)

My 5 yr old son loves this. He likes being able to carry his movies around in the case.