American singer Donna Summer has died of cancer at the age of 63. She is best known to Pokémon fans for singing the song The Power of One which was used in the English dub movie Pokémon: The Movie 2000. Earlier this campaign year, Republican nomination candidate Herman Cain quoted lyrics from the song which garnered widespread attention as he initially misquoted where he got the lines from.

"Early this morning, we lost Donna Summer Sudano, a woman of many gifts, the greatest being her faith," the singer's family said in a statement issued Thursday, May 17th, 2012.

"While we grieve her passing, we are at peace celebrating her extraordinary life and her continued legacy. Words truly can't express how much we appreciate your prayers and love for our family at this sensitive time."

The official Japanese Pokémon YouTube site has posted the Pokémon Black 2 White 2 Special Official Introductory Movie. The video features scenes from the upcoming games in an animated form. Below is the full video.


Source: http://www.youtube.com/user/PokemonCoJp

The official Japanese Best Wishes website has been announced that Pocket Monsters Best Wishes (ポケットモンスター ベストウイッシュ) will end on June 14th, 2012 with a 1-hour special. On June 21st, 2012, Pocket Monsters Best Wishes Season 2 (ポケットモンスター ベストウイッシュ シーズン2) will debut. The new series will feature Satoshi continuing his journey in Isshu but many of his old acquaintances will also return for the Pokémon World Tournament Junior Cup.

Series Summary

After reuniting with the Champion of the Sinnoh region, Shirona, Satoshi and his friends join her and travel towards the eastern part of the Isshu region, "East Isshu". There, they encounter a lot of Pokémon not found in the Isshu region, like Kairyu, Riolu and Eievui, as well as Satoshi's travelmates from his adventure in the Sinnoh region, Hikari, Pochama and Hikari's other Pokémon. Additionally, the mythical Pokémon Meloetta joins up with Satoshi and the others on their adventure. The "Pokémon World Tournament Junior Cup", where the winner gets to battle Adeku, the Champion of the Isshu region, begins as well. Satoshi and his friends obviously sign up, as does Shirona and Elite Four Member Cattleya. In addition, a new rival appears before Satoshi, and the Boss Sakaki unveils the greatest operation in the Rocket Gang's history. Lots and lots of upcoming events lie waiting!

Series Summary (Japanese)

新たな冒険の舞台で新展開を迎える『ポケットモンスター ベストウイッシュ シーズン2』。シンオウ地方のチャンピオン・シロナと再会したサトシたちは、シロナとともにイッシュ地方の東側“イースト・イッシュ”へ旅立つことに。そこには、カイリューや、リオル、イーブイなど、イッシュ地方以外のさまざまなポケモンたちや、サトシがシンオウ地方でともに冒険をした仲間・ヒカリとポッチャマたちの姿があった。そしてなんと！　幻のポケモン・メロエッタがサトシたちの仲間になって大冒険が始まるのだ。さらに、優勝すればイッシュ地方チャンピオン・アデクに挑戦できるというバトル大会“ポケモンワールドトーナメントジュニアカップ”も開幕。サトシたちはもちろん、シロナや四天王・カトレアも同大会に参加。そのほかにもサトシの新ライバル登場や、ボス・サカキによるロケット団史上最大の大作戦が幕を開けるなど、盛りだくさんの内容となっている。

Source: http://www.famitsu.com/news/201205/15014667.html

Teaser Poster

Pocket Monsters Best Wishes Season 2 Artwork

Upcoming Final Episodes of Best Wishes

Information about the final episodes of the series was also announced on the official website including some pictures from them.

In BW81 - Sekka Gym Match! A Battlefield of Ice!! (セッカジム戦！　氷のバトルフィールド！！) which airs on May 17th, 2012, Meloetta (メロエッタ) will make its anime debut in the new ending Look at this (Mitemite☆Kotchitchi みてみて☆こっちっち). It will also be featured in this years movie short Meloetta's Sparkling Recital (メロエッタのキラキラリサイタル).


In BW84 - Movie Showdown! The Isshu Defense Force Goes into Action!! (映画対決！出撃イッシュ防衛隊！！), a mechanical Bangiras (バンギラス) will rampage into action as Satoshi once again helps make a movie with Luke.


The final episode of Best Wishes will air on June 14st, 2012 with Gym Leader Homika making an appearance.


Source: http://www.pokemon.co.jp/info/2012/05/120515_a01.html

The official Korean website has announced that Bolteuroseu (볼트로스) and Toneroseu (토네로스) will be distributed via the Korean Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection from May 14th, 2012 @ 10:00 until July 5th, 2012 @ 23:59. Like the Japanese distribution, the Pokémon are being distributed to promote the two anime episodes Tornelos VS Voltolos VS Landlos! that air on Tooniverse May 24th, 2012. Players of Pokémon Black can receive Bolteuroseu while players of Pokémon White can receive Toneroseu.


Bolteuroseu (볼트로스) is level 70, is holding a Revival Herb and knows: Thunder, Hammer Arm, Focus Blast and Wild Charge while Toneroseu (토네로스) is also level 70, is holding a Revival Herb and knows: Hurricane, Hammer Arm, Air Slash and Hidden Power.

Source: http://pokemonkorea.co.kr/html/event/event_Off_view.asp?IDX=215

Earlier this campaign year, Republican nomination candidate Herman Cain quoted lyrics from the Donna Summer song The Power of One which was used in the English dub movie Pokémon: The Movie 2000. Now Jason Paige, the singer of the original English dub theme song for the Pokémon anime has remixed his original song to promote Republican nomination candidate Ron Paul and posted it on YouTube.

Jason Paige said on his YouTube comments that: "The Pokemon theme is a perfect song for the Ron Paul Revolution, as he racks up the delegates. Almost all the original lyrics fit as is. I Sang the original theme song in 1998 and thought this would be a great update on a classic. Share if you care. There are MILLIONS of Pokemon fans who'll join the revolution. Go Ron Paul!"


Source: http://jasonpaigeshow.com/

On May 5th, 2012, Shoko Nakagawa, one of the hosts of Pokémon Smash, celebrated her 10th Anniversary in the entertainment business and her 27th birthday by having a concert celebration called "10th Year Celebration! SHOKO NAKAGAWA LV UP LIVE Super☆Outdoor Music Festival (10元突破！SHOKO NAKAGAWA LV UP LIVE 超☆野音祭) at Osaka Castle. She sang 27 songs for the concert and Pikachu was one of the guests. Approximately 3100 people attended the event which started off with a bit of rain but ended in good weather and 25C temperatures. An additional performance was also held on May 6th, 2012 in Hibiya, Tokyo.


Shoko-tan will also be having her first Asia tour to celebrate her 10th anniversary. Concerts will be held in five cities in Asia with her bands, starting in Hong Kong on Saturday, July 7 and Sunday, July 8, 2012. Sunday, July 22, 2012 she'll be perforiming in Taipei, Sunday, August 5th, 2012 in Singapore, Friday, August 31st, 2012 in Shanghai and finally Sunday, Setptember 2nd, 2012 in Guangzhou. She stated about the tour that: "I want to sing to make Japan and the world happy and let people know that Japan is doing well."

A bunch of special CD's were released in Japan on May 2nd, 2012 titled: Shoko-tan Best――(°∀°)――!! (しょこたん べすと――(°∀°)――!!). The CD's have been added to our database as they include the album version of the 12th Pocket Monsters theme 'Antenna of the Heart' (心のアンテナ). There are four variants for sale, each has different things included. Details of each CD set is available in the CD database.


Sources: http://www.oricon.co.jp/news/deview/2011216/ and http://ameblo.jp/nakagawa-shoko/entry-11242536066.html