The other day, it was announced that fashion model and singer Rola (ローラ) would be doing her first voice acting role for the 15th Pocket Monsters movie Kyurem VS the Sacred Swordsman Keldeo (キュレムVS聖剣士ケルディオ) voicing a cheerful and innocent girl named Malin (マリン) who meets Satoshi while he is on his journey.

Now the official Japanese movie site has announced four more voice actors for the movie. Returning are Pocket Monsters voice acting veterans Shoko Nakagawa (中川翔子) and Kōichi Yamadera (山寺宏一). Joining them will be Katsumi Takahashi (高橋克実). Shoko-tan announced on Pokémon Smash 80 that she would play the voice of Keldeo. What roles Katsumi Takahashi and Kōichi Yamadera will play will be announced in the future. Natsuna Watanabe (渡辺 夏菜) will be the narrator for the 15th movie short Meloetta's Sparkling Recital (メロエッタのキラキラリサイタル).


Source: http://www.pokemon-movie.jp/news/index.php

Photos of this month's Corocoro were recently made available online, revealing a lot of new information on Pocket Monsters Black 2 White 2. The games will be released in Japan on June 23rd, 2012 for 4800yen each. The game will take place in Isshu 2 years after the original BW game and feature an all new plot, new areas including Hiougi City (ヒオウギシティ), where your new adventure will be starting and a new Regional Pokédex with roughly 300 Pokémon total. The game will have two new playable characters and a new rival, as well at least two new gym leaders, the Water type leader Shizui (シズイ) and the Poison type leader Homika (ホミカ). A mysterious researcher named Achroma (アクロマ) will also figure into the plot somehow.

New Miscellaneous Information:

• Homika will be appearing in the Best Wishes anime series in an episode to air June 14th, 2012.
• Black Kyurem knows Freeze Shock and White Kyurem knows Ice Burn.
• New Unova Pokédex: Psyduck is #026, Riolu is #033 and Metagross is #254

Fashion model and singer Rola (ローラ) will sing the ending theme for Kyurem VS the Sacred Swordsman Keldeo (キュレムVS聖剣士ケルディオ) which premieres in Japanese theaters on July 14th, 2012. The theme song is titled Memories (メモリーズ). Rola is 22 years old and was born on March 30th, 1990. Her father is from Bangladesh and her mother is half Japanese and part Russian so that gives Rola her unique features and is why she is a popular model in Japan currently.


Rola was quoted saying, "I've loved Pokémon since I was little, I always played the games and I love Pikachu, I was very happy when I heard the theme song! Really happy happy! Come see the movie!" 「ポケモンは小さいころから大好きだったし、いつもゲームしてたし、ピカチュウも大好きで、主題歌歌うって聞いたときはすごく嬉しかった！ 本当にハッピーハッピー！ 映画も見に来てね！」

Director Kunihiko Yuyama (湯山邦彦) said about the theme, "Before hearing it, considering the title is "Memories (メモリーズ)", it was a very grand image, but when I heard it I felt a sense of large-scale and it works perfectly." 「『Memories（メモリーズ）』というタイトルからして、聴く前からとても壮大なイメージだったのですが、聴いてみてまさに作品にぴったりの大きなスケール感を感じました」

Rola will also be doing her first voice acting role for the movie as she voices a cheerful and innocent girl named Marin (マリン) who meets Satoshi while he is on his journey.

Source: http://www.zaikei.co.jp/article/20120410/100468.html

Oha Suta - April 12th, 2012

Oha Suta aired a new trailer for the upcoming movie Kyurem VS the Sacred Swordsman Keldeo (キュレムVS聖剣士ケルディオ) on April 12th, 2012. The trailer confirmed the new theme song Memories (メモリーズ) and the Pirouette forme of Meloetta was shown for the first time in anime form.


The pre-order tickets for this summers Pocket Monster Movie 15 - Kyurem VS the Sacred Swordsman Keldeo (キュレムVS聖剣士ケルディオ) go on sale April 14th, 2012 and was showcased on Oha Suta. General admission is 1300yen, youth admission is 800yen and a parent/child combo is 2000yen. The tickets can be purchased at participating: 7/11's, Ito-Yokado, Aeon, Aeon Supercenters, Toys 'R' Us, Apita, Piago, Al-Plaza, Heiwado, Daiei, Fuji, Pokémon Centers and Toho cinemas nationwide. If you purchase the ticket from 7/11, players need to bring the voucher and movie ticket to a participating distribution location as Keldeo will not be distributed at 7/11. Keldeo can not be received by non-Japanese versions of Black and White and it cannot be traded on the Global Trade Station.

The details of Keldeo are as follows:

Pokémon	Info
	Level: 15
	Poké ball: Cherish Ball
	Ribbon: Wish Ribbon
	Ability: Justified
	Held Item: PP Max
	Attack 1: Aqua Jet
	Attack 2: Leer
	Attack 3: Double Kick
	Attack 4: BubbleBeam

On March 6th, 2012, Shoko Nakagawa posted three pictures on her blog that showed a banner on the Pokémon Smash set that said: Pokémon Anime 15th Anniversary Special (ポケモンアニメ１５周年スペシャル). On Sunday April 1st, 2012's episode of Pokémon Smash, Pokémon! I Choose You! (Digitally Remastered Version) / A Special Celebrating the 15th Anniversary of the 'Pokémon' anime, with an Appearance from Rica Matsumoto! / A Feature of 15 Years Worth of Movies / The Dearly Missed Pokémon Join the Celebration! (ポケモン！きみにきめた！ (デジタルリマスター版) / アニメ「ポケモン」15周年記念スペシャル、松本梨香さんが登場！ / 15年間の映画情報 / 懐かしいポケモンたちがお祝いに！), a special episode was broadcast which was also the exact anniversary date of the anime which began airing in Japan on April 1st, 1997. Shoko-tan posted back stage pictures with the Pokémon Smash cast and Rica Matsumoto (松本梨香) who appeared in the special. Hikozaru also was reunited with Shoko-tan.


Source: http://ameblo.jp/nakagawa-shoko/entry-11184556192.html

Pokémon 15th Anniversary Special Episode Summary

After introducing the various segments making up today's episode, the show's announcer started it off with the words "Good morning! We will celebrate 15 years of Pokémon TV series! It's time for Pokémon Smash!" After Golgo, Shoko-tan, Robert and the International Division collectively greeted the viewers with a "Pokémorning!", Golgo mentioned that today was April 1st, and asked the others if they knew what day that was. Hana said it was April fool's day, and Golgo answered that while that's true, it's also a Pokémon-related commemoration day. Maria suggests it's the day Akiyama started playing Pokémon and got fat, while Baba suggests it's the day the Pokémon Center got listed on the stock market. Golgo can't believe they don't know and asks Shoko-tan to tell them, and she explains how, on this date, 15 years ago, the very first episode of the Pocket Monsters anime was broadcast. Right after she says this, Professor Red walks in with a package, explaining how the digitally remastered version of the first Pocket Monsters episode is finally complete. After he shows a clip from the old version and a clip from the new version played side by side to highlight the differences, Golgo explains that they'll show this digital remaster right now, propting Red to use a special go-to phrase: "OK! Digital Remaster!"

After the episode airing, the announcer explained that today's episode is a 15th Anniverary Special for the anime, and how they'll look back at 15 years of adventure together with their special guests. As we cut back to the hosts, they introduce the special properly with banners and posters, and Golgo calls on the first guests: Pikachu and Gonbe. Robert greet their old friend Gonbe, and the announcer explains how he used to work with them earlier. Golgo introduces the next guest as an obvious participant at this celebration, and calls in Rica Matsumoto herself, and Shoko-tan bows down and praises her.

The crew starts listing various key points about the anime: It started airing April 1st 1997, as of today a total of 736 episodes have aired, the highest viewership rating it got was 18.6%, and it currently airs in 77 countries. Additionally, the first opening theme, Matsumoto's "Mezase Pokémon Master" is not only a million seller, but a double million seller, which leads her to perform that very song for the audience.

Next up is the first installment of a segment titled "the Pokémon Anime Playback", which shows various clips from the anime in a manner very similar to the "Strange and Cool Pokémon Plays" segments from the Weekly Pokémon Broadcasting Station show. In the first of these segments, which focuses on Satoshi, we see him dressing up in various manners and being hit by various Pokémon moves.

As we cut back to the studio, Golgo notices that Rica sees to have hidden herself behind a curtain. Throwing it aside, he discovers his old friend Yamirami is there instead, and as the two greet each other, the narrator explains how Yamirami used to work with Golgo and how great friends they were. As Rica reveals herself, having been standing just outside of camera range, Shoko-tan starts explaining the series' history using a giant billboard full of illustrations and references. The crew explains and shows clips referencing the various key aspects of each of the four series, "Pocket Monsters", "Pocket Monsters Advanced Generation", "Pocket Monsters Diamond & Pearl" and "Pocket Monsters Best Wishes", covering aspects such as which region they took place in and who Satoshi's travelmates were. Pochama's popularity as a cast member of Diamond & Pearl is brought up, leading into the introduction of the next guest: Pochama itself.

Another installment of the Pokémon Anime Playback follows, this one focusing on Pikachu, and shows off its power, its (lack of) speed, its love for ketchup and its knack for making amusing faces, as well as its amazing Pokémon mimicry skills.

As the show returns from its commercial break, Robert have prepared a new segment, focusing on several "secret" facts about Satoshi. The first point they bring up is the similar personalities the Pokémon of the same type seem to have. Waninoko and Mijumaru, both Water types, are fun-loving and do things their own way, his Fushigidane and Tsutarja, both Grass types, are serious, no-nonsense Pokémon, and his Fire type Pokémon Pokabu and Hikozaru were both met through dramatic circumstances and were both characters with traumatic histories. This coverage of Satoshi's Pokémon leads them to introduce the next two guests, Leader Kimori and Hikozaru, and the narrator explains how Robert and Shoko-tan used to work with them in the past. As the two Pokémon leave, Robert bring up their next "secret" - Satoshi's amazing strength, which is demonstrated by showing him carrying the 6kg Pikachu on his head while both running at high speeds and jumping great distances, and further by lifting the 49.5kg Hippopotas both in his arms and, again, on his head.

Next we get another Pokémon Anime Playback installment, this one focusing on the Rocket Gang, in particular their various disguises, including Kojiro's Professor Red disguise and Nyarth's Chief Golgo disguise, as well as a showcase of some of their different mechs. As the segment ends, the next guest walks in on his own - it's Nyarth himself, in his first appearance on Pokémon Smash.

Robert asks Rica if she'd be interested in doing a dubbing skit with them, and she agrees, which launches a parody dub of select scenes from the Tornelos VS Voltolos VS Landlos episodes, with Rica voicing Satoshi, Baba voicing Tornelos, Yamamoto voicing Voltolos and Akiyama voicing Landlos, all recorded right there on the spot, as the apparantly partly improvised dialogue changes the Pokémon's battle into one over who ate Landlos' cake.

As the show returns from another commercial break, the International Division introduce their personal segment, a presentation of the 14 Pokémon movies that have been made to date, co-hosted by two new guests, Director Lucario and the Jagged-Eared Pichu. Following this presentation, the girls bring up the latest information of "Kyurem VS the Sacred Swordsman Keldeo", which will debut July 14th: The movie will again have a poster design contest, where Japanese kids can download the black-and-white basic poster design from the official site and design a poster featuring an uplifting message for the people of Japan. The three girls and Shoko-tan show off the example posters they have designed.

Golgo then announces the secret project that has been mentioned a couple times - a 15th Anniversary Roleplay Contest, where Robert as "Team Meloetta" and the International Division as "Team Keldeo" will be competing against each other through viewer support, similar to the Black-White Cheering Showdown from last year. Viewers are given a list of movie Pokémon connected to each team, and can then earn points for the team by sending in pictures of themselves portraying one of these Pokémon. The episode then ends with Rica and the PokéSma crew doing a performance of "Best Wishes" together.

Pokémon! I Choose You! (ポケモン！きみにきめた！) - Digitally Remastered Version

Until the remastered version of Pokémon! I Choose You! (ポケモン！きみにきめた！) aired in Pokémon Smash 78, the highest quality version of the episode was available on DVD in the Pokémon Best Collection DVD Kanto Volume (1) (ポケモンベストコレクションDVD カントー編（１）. The quality difference between the two is very evident and the episode has never looked better. Gone are various defects caused by the inital transfer of the episode from its original film version to a broadcastable version.

The over the air version from TV Tokyo 7, in which this comparison is based off of, broadcasts digitally with a NTSC resolution of 1440x1080, with an aspect ratio flag set to 16:9 and a frame rate of 29.97. While the episode is actually 4:3 and is pillerboxed, the video for the episode has an effective resolution of 960x720. The DVD's resolution is NTSC 720x480, 4:3, 29.97fps. It is quite evident from the remastered broadcast that it was mastered in high definition as the original film is more than sufficient to support high definition. While the OTA resolution and bitrate is not nearly as high as it is possible with Blu-ray, an eventual home release on Blu-ray could correct resolution and bitrate issues. The film grain is a lot more evident in the remastered version but this is very common with shows originally mastered on film and then viewed in high definition.

On September 23rd, 2010, during the Best Wishes debut celebration, Pokémon! I Choose You! (ポケモン！きみにきめた！) aired in the special It's About to Start! It's a Pokémon Festival! Best Wishes (8:00) (もうすぐスタート！　ポケモン祭りだ！　ベストウイッシュ (8:00) on TV Tokyo. While the special was broadcast in high definition, the episode was clearly still in standard definition as comparing this special broadcast to the remastered broadcast clearly shows a difference.

Mastering Changes

The obvious change as stated above is the resolution change. The mastering into high definition gives a lot more detail to the episode than the previous master. This is most evident when looking at text in the episode which is easier to read. The text on the remote in Hanako's hand is a good example of this.


Later in the episode, the Japanese text on Okido's gate is a lot easier to read. The kanji in "Okido Laboratories" (オーキド研究所) is also easier to see.


A color balance and color correction is also clearly evident throughout the remastered version. Gangar's color is more vibrant and the contrast is greatly improved.


The remastering process seems to have scanned in the full frame as the DVD version in comparison is cropped left, top and right. The broadcasted digitally remastered version though seems to have cropped the full frame off a bit at the bottom, possibly to help remove the blackness at the bottom at scene change frames. The Shigeru/Satoshi scene outside the lab is a good place that shows this. In the remastered version, more of the man on the left can be seen and it shows that the tree on the right splits half way up. In the DVD version though, more of Satoshi's arms can be seen as well as the pants of the man on the left.


A direct frame line up from the DVD upscale to match the remastered version shows the difference. The frame on the left is the DVD upscaled frame. The red border is the part of the picture that is in the remastered version but not in the DVD version. The middle frame is what the remastered frame looks like. The frame on the right is the remastered frame with the bottom part of the upscaled DVD version added. The red part in the right frame is the missing part of the full frame scan.


Ghosting from the DVD encoding process is now gone in the remastered version. Reverse Telecine (IVTC) could not fix this issue with the DVD and deinterlacing made it even worse.


Scene change frames that had blackness at the bottom caused by the original telecine process or tape, have been removed from the remastered version. This was one of the most annoying things about watching the original series and it makes it a more enjoyable viewing experience with it being removed.

Episode changes as a result of the Remastering Process

Various small changes to the episode have been incorporated in the remastered version. It is obvious that some of these changes were originally intended to be shown but the original master had transfer problems. Below is a list of these changes and they can also be found in our episode guide edit list for this episode.

Both the Pokémon movie franchise and the Japanese web portal/search engine goo are celebrating their 15th anniversary this year. To commemorate this, goo is hosting a Pokémon movie-related event campaign.


As of today, goo visitors can choose to apply a Pokémon skin to the site. Two skins are currently available, one Pikachu-themed and one Keldeo-themed, with more to come in the future.


If either of these skins are applied, a "Pokémon party" application can be accessed through the main goo site. By signing up for this with a Twitter account, the visitor will be given an empty Pokémon party with 6 slots to be filled, as well as 5 monster balls. Every time the page is visited, a random Pokémon will appear in this application, and the visitor may attempt to get it by clicking on one of their balls. The visitor's stock of monster balls will refill daily.

The application can also be accessed via smart phones, in which case the visitor will be given a more efficient stock of 5 Hyper Balls instead of the usual monster balls.

Once a visitor has gathered a total of 6 Pokémon, he or she is eligible for entering a raffle contest. Three winners will be given a Nintendo 3DS system each, one winner will receive a Keldeo plushie, and three winners will get a "Kyurem VS the Sacred Swordsman Keldeo" movie poster autographed by Rica Matsumoto.

In addition, the site is hosting a Pokémon Movie Star Popularity Vote contest, where visitors may vote for their favorite Pokémon or set of Pokémon starring in one of the 15 movies. The alternatives are Mewtwo, Lugia, Entei, Celebi, Latios & Latias, Jirachi, Deoxys, Lucario, Manaphy, Darkrai, Shaymin, Arceus, Zoroark & Zorua, Zekrom & Reshiram and Keldeo & Meloetta. The winner of the poll will receive a goo skin similar to the Pikachu and Keldeo ones. Visitors who participate in the poll and sign up to follow the goo Twitter account will be entered into another raffle, where one winner will receive a set of all 14 Pokémon movie DVDs, one winner a set of giant Cobalon, Terrakion and Virizion plushies, and one winner a set of 7 soft vinyl figures portraying Keldeo, Kyurem, Cobalon, Terrakion, Virizion and two as-of-yet-unannounced Pokémon.

Source: http://www.goo.ne.jp/15th/

The latest episode of Pokémon Smash, Lucky's Clinical Records / The PokéSma Members Start their Training for the World Championships, Joined by New Members! / Misaki the Fighting-user Takes the Stage in the Elite Four Battle! (ラッキーのカルテ / 世界大会を目指してポケスマメンバーが特訓を始動、新メンバーも参加！ / 四天王バトルはかくとう使いのミサキ！) aired this Sunday in Japan.

The show's announcer started the episode off with the words "Hello, boys and girls! We're back to get you the latest Pokémon news! It's time for Pokémon Smash!" TIM and Shoko-tan walked onto the set as Maria was flipping one of the giant coins used in the PokéSma Card Battles, and they asked what she was doing. Robert explained she was testing her luck in getting heads on the coin, and that this tied into the special project the Adventure Division and the International Division were working on. Golgo asked if it was time to reveal the project soon, and Misaki told him they were just about done with their preparations, and they could reveal it afterwards.

This prompted Golgo to introduce the Pokémon Library segment. Today's episode was selected and presented by Yamamoto, who explained its moral as "Show kindness towards all kinds of people" (どんな人にも優しくしよう). The episode was Lucky's Clinical Records (ラッキーのカルテ) from the original series. A full summary of that episode is available in the episode guide. Professor Red said his go-to line 'OK! Pokémon Library!' to start the repeat episode.


After the rerun episode had ended, Golgo finally came forward and revealed the mysterious, secret project they had been talking about earlier: The Adventure Division and the International Division will be participating in the video game tournament Japan Cup 2012 Spring and the card game tournament Battle Carnival 2012 Spring, attempting to become Japan representatives at the world championships in Hawaii. Shoko-tan asks which members will participate in which cup, and they reveal that Robert and Misaki will be entering the video game tournament, while Hana and Maria will go to the card game tournament. Shoko-tan asks if two members isn't a bit too little for the card game tournament, but Hana assures her that's "No problem" , and Red starts saying the new members will take care of that, before getting interrupted by Yamamoto, who launches today's VTR segment.


The segment starts by explaining the layout of the video game tournament. Participants start out by registering for the May 2012 wi-fi tournament Japan Cup 2012 Spring, which is open for everyone, but has a limited number of positions. The highest ranking players here continue on to the Japan Representative Election Tournament to be held in June, and the winners in each division get to travel to Hawaii as Japan representatives in the Pokémon World Championships 2012, which takes place in August.


In order to "level up" their skills before the tournament, the four PokéSma representatives head to Game Freak, where they get another private lecture with Battle Director Shigeki Morimoto (森夲茂樹) himself.
Akiyama is the one most concerned about his own battling abilities (and about the possibilities of sleeping on the plane to Hawaii), and requests a lecture on combo moves similar to the Water Absorb combo he's already familiar with.

The first combo he explains is the one of Yadon's "Own Tempo" Ability and Dredear's "Teeter Dance" move. Teeter Dance is a move that always hits and confuses all other Pokémon on the field, while "Own Tempo" prevents Confusion, so if Dredear uses it with Yadon as its partner, both opponents get confused without any negative effects to your own team.

Next, he describes a combo of Nyorotono's "Drizzle" Ability, which can only be found on Nyorotono acquired through the PGL, and Tornelos "Hurricane" move. The Drizzle Ability automatically changes the current weather to rain, and Tornelos' very powerful but not particularly accurate Hurricane move gets a 100% hit rate when used during rain.

The next combo is that of Nyorotono's Drizzle and Voltolos' Thunder move. Like Hurricane, Thunder is a very powerful but inaccurate move that gains a 100% hit rate during rain.
Next, he describes the combo of Yukinooh's "Snow Warning" Ability and Yukimenoko's "Blizzard" move. Working similarly to the above combos, Snow Warning automatically changes the weather to a hailstorm, while Blizzard is a similarly strong, but inaccurate move that gains a 100% hit rate during hail.

Another, different type of weather combo is Bangiras' Ability "Sand Stream" and Doryuzu's Ability "Sand Rush". Like the earlier Abilities, Sand Stream automatically changes the weather to a sandstorm, while Doryuzu's Sand Rush Ability doubles its Speed in such weather, in addition to preventing the automatic damage caused by sandstorm weather.



Next, the segment focuses on Hana and Maria's card game tournament, and Baba reveals what Red hinted at earlier - since their video game team of Robert and Misaki has four members, and Hana and Maria's card game team only has two, they'll have to recruit a pair of new members for it. The two are asked what kind of members they would want on their team; Hana says she wants someone knowledgeable about the card game, and Maria says she wants someone lucky. Baba says they'll then gather up a group of kids, and select the most knowledgeable and the luckiest among them to join the Hana/Maria team.

15 kids between the ages 6-11, all experienced with the card game, are assembled to participate in the selection.

The first selection is for the most knowledgable among the group. The 15 kids are gathered into one room and given a set of 20 true/false questions on various aspects of the card game. Three examples of questions from the test are given:

At present, there are 10 different Pokémon types in the card game?
A Pokémon can not be evolved immediately after playing it from the hand?
Your resistance reduces damage inflicted by Pokémon of that type?

After time is up, Robert announces the correct results - the answer to every single question on the test was "True". This shocks all the kids, and when Robert asks all who answered True on all 20 questions to raise their hands, not a single hand is raised. When everyone who had 19 "True" answers are asked to raise their hands, two kids raise their, though: 8-year-old Tsubasa Funasaki (船崎飛翼) and 6-year-old Isshin Osawa (大澤一心).

The two are picked out and put through a final quiz to determine which is the most knowledgable. They'll be given True/False questions to answer by jumping to the right for "True" and to the left for "False" until only one remains.
Some of the following questions were asked:

#	Question	Answer
1	A Confused Pokémon can not retreat?	(X) False Spoiler: Click to show!
4	A Pokémon affected by the special condition Paralysis is not cured of the condition if the coin flip during the condition check phase is not heads.	(X) False - Paralysis is cured automatically without any coin flips Spoiler: Click to show!

Tsubasa gets the fourth question wrong, which means Isshin is declared a member of the PokéSma card game team.

The second selection is for the luckiest of the kids present. This selection starts with a contest where, after spinning around for 10 seconds and getting dizzy, the kids are to run over to one of several face-down energy cards and select one. Those who selected the same cards as the ones Hana, Maria and Isshin are revealed to be holding. The three cards were revealed to be Psychic, Steel and Lightning Energy, which were held by 6 kids total: 10-year-old Masayuki Haruhara (春原雅之), 10-year-old Tomoya Shikano (鹿野智哉), 8-year-old Taiyo Sugino (杉野大陽), 8-year-old Sakura Kobayashi (小林さくら), 7-year-old Yume Kobayashi (小林ゆめ) and 8-year-old Yuto Oya (大矢悠人).

The six continue on to the next part, where they will each flip a giant coin at the same time, trying to get heads. Three of the participants will continue to the next stage; Yume and Taiyo are the only two to get heads on the first flip, so the four remaining kids get to flip again. Sakura and Yuto get heads this time and face off against each other, where Sakura gets heads again and get to join Yume and Taiyo in the finals.

In the finals, the three members of Robert are each seated under a metal tray held up by a string, and the kids play rock-paper-scissors to determine which order they get to choose a string in. After choosing one string each, they are then given a pair of cissors to cut it with at the count of three. Only one string is actually connected to the tray so cutting it will cause the tray to fall onto the Robert member's head, and the one to select this string will be deemed the luckiest of the contestants. When the strings are cut, the tray above Yamamoto's head falls onto him, and Taiyo, who chose that string, wins the contest and gets to join Isshin as a member of the card game team.

We are then given an explanation as to how the card game works. The Pokémon Card Game Battle Carnival 2012 Spring tournament will be held in May and June 2012, and the winners of this go on to represent Japan in the Pokémon World Championships 2012 in Hawaii.

Wanting further instructions on how the card game is played, Hana and Maria head to The Pokémon Company to see Teacher Takashima, though he tells them that since he'll be acting as a judge during the tournament, he's not allowed to give them any coaching. The group decides to go elsewhere for help, seeing Shigeru Kanda (神田繁), one of the developers at Creatures, who design the card game, and who has represented Japan in the World Championships as a card game player several times in the past.

Kanda explains that the tournament is played with a 60-card deck, and that they will have to learn how to construct a deck to win at a tournament-level. He brings out the two recently released half deck sets, the "Sazandora Deck 30" and the "Gablias Deck 30", which he'll use as the basis of his lecture.

He explains that, like these decks, one has to build a deck with a specific theme that can lead to victory, like a "Pokémon EX deck" that focuses on using a Pokémon EX to win, a "combo deck" that creates a combo using the powers of multiple cards to support each other, or a "coin toss deck" that focuses on luck with the coin. Either way, one should focus on a theme for the deck. As an example, one can replace the Tamagetake card from the Sazandora Deck 30 with the Giratina EX card from the newly released Dragon's Blast explansion pack to strengthen that deck.

Kanda asks Hana and Maria what kind of decks they would like to build; Hana says she has enjoyed combining moves in her earlier card game sessions and would like to make a combo deck, while Maria trusts her good luck and wants to create a coin deck. They're then told to start creating such decks, and we're told one should aim at having roughly 20 Pokémon cards, 20 Trainer's cards and 20 Energy cards in a 60 card deck.

As we cut back to the studio, the crew reveals that the two new members of the card game team, Knowledge King Isshin and Super Luck King Taiyo, are right there in the studio, and they are brought onto the set to introduce themselves properly. Golgo dubs the two full teams the "PokéSma 8", and tells them to combine their forces and head for Hawaii!


This episode's Elite Four challenger is 10-year-old Rito Wakatsuki (若月莉都), who challenges Misaki. Yamamoto reveals that she ranked best 8 in the Saitama Preliminaries for the Pokémon World Championships 2010, and Golgo says the medal for beating an Elite Four member might find itself an owner now. And true enough, Rito wins easily, only losing a single Pokémon, and becomes the first challenger to win the Battle Master Gold Medal.

Sean Robbins, host of the Japanese popular music radio show The J-Pop Exchange, has informed us that he will be airing an exclusive interview with Naomi Tamura (田村直美) on Saturday March 17th, 2012 at 8PM EST on his show. Below is his news submission.

Quote from Sean Robbins - Host of The J-Pop Exchange

I will air an exclusive interview with Naomi Tamura this Saturday March 17th at 8PM on my radio show, The J-Pop Exchange, which airs on WVCR 88.3 FM. In addition to talking about her background and influences, Ms. Tamura will also go into extensive detail about her experience with writing and performing songs for anime. This includes Ms. Tamura reflecting on her experience working on Pokémon and how this opportunity came to be. As you probably know, she performed 'Ready Go', 'Aratanaru Chikai' and 'Ippai Summer' for Pokémon.

The audio and transcript are now online at: http://www.jpopexchange.net/Naomi_Tamura.htm

Source: http://www.jpopexchange.net/3_10_2012_Playlist.htm

The latest Pocket Monsters Best Wishes ending theme is now available to download in Japan on the Apple iTunes store for 200yen. A forum post on Aki Okui's (奥井亜紀) official website asked if the song was going to be released on CD but the release is pending. No official reason was given but it is probably due to the fact that there isn't that much new Pocket Monsters music to release on a CD.

Starting with the first episode of 2012 and the 63rd episode overall, January 5th's A Subterranean Gym Match! VS Yacon!!, Pocket Monsters Best Wishes featured the this ending, the third unique ending song used in the series but the 5th overall ending when accounting for different verse variants of the first two endings.

Titled "A Seven-colored Arch" (Nana-iro arch 七色アーチ), the ending features a chorus of multiple generations of Pokémon singers; Toshiko Ezaki, the singer of Advanced Generation's Soko ni sora ga aru kara and Smile, Fumie Akiyoshi, the singer of Diamond and Pearl's Together, Kono yubi tomare and Saikō everyday, and Aki Okui, the singer of Best Wishes' Kokoro no fanfare. The ending replaced Can You Say the Pokémon? BW (Version 2) ポケモン言えるかな？ＢＷ (バージョン2) which had been the ending song since BW54.

The song features Dent as its conductor, and is perfectly suited for school graduations and entrance ceremonies, cheering on good friends and compatriots as they head towards their future. Satoshi and Iris are also featured heavily with their Pokémon, so sing along, everyone!

Ending information about Seven-Colored Arch (七色アーチ) can be found in our Opening/Ending database while full song lyrics can be found in our Song database.

TV Tokyo also posted a full lyrics sheet and sheet music for the song last month and can be viewed below.


Sources: http://itunes.apple.com/jp/album/qi-seachi-single/id504249778 and http://pokemon.ani.tv/index2.html

Echo Bridge Home Entertainment has finally confirmed that a Blyray combo pack for Pokémon 4Ever, Pokémon Heroes, Pokémon Jirachi: Wish Maker and Pokémon: Destiny Deoxys will be released in the United States on April 4th, 2012. The entry first appeared on Amazon.com over a month ago but there were no details confirming what it included. Movie 5 and Movie 7 are already available on Bluray but this will be the first time that Movie 4 and Movie 6 will be released on Bluray anywhere in the world. The Movie Collection is already available on DVD. Our Bluray/DVD database entry for this release has been updated with the latest information. Below is the summary of the Pokémon Bluray Movie Collection.

POKÉMON® HEROES

In a magical water city of canals and mazes, Ash, Pikachu and the rest of the gang face off against a slick pair of thieves who plan to steal an awesome and dangerous jewel guarded by Latios™ and Latias™. To save the city from total destruction, our heroes must defeat the evil duo and overcome impossible obstacles…but time is running out.

POKÉMON® 4EVER

In order to escape a greedy Pokémon hunter, Celebi must use the last of its energy to travel through time to the present day. Celebi brings along Sammy, a boy who had been trying to protect it. Along with Ash, Pikachu, and the rest of the gang, Sammy and Celebi encounter an enemy far more advanced than the hunter. This new enemy possesses a Pokéball called a "Dark Ball," which transforms the Pokémon it captures into evil and far stronger creatures. When Celebi is captured, the fate of the entire forest is threatened.

POKÉMON® JIRACHI WISH MAKER

Only once every thousand years when the Millennium Comet is visible in the night sky does Jirachi awaken from his slumber. And when he awakens this time at a traveling circus, he's got a whole new set of friends by his side: Ash, Pikachu, Max and the whole gang. But soon, they must rescue Jirachi from the clutches of an evil magician and former scientist named Butler who wants to harness Jirachi's incredible energy to bring life to one of the most legendary and powerful Pokémon of all!

POKÉMON® DESTINY DEOXYS

Four years ago a strange meteorite crashed to Earth carrying a powerful secret. Now journey to the high-tech Larousse City where secrets are revealed as Ash, Pikachu and the gang meet Tory—a new friend who is afraid of Pokémon and their trainers. New fears surface when a mysterious aurora appears over the city along with Deoxys™—a Pokémon unlike any seen before. When a spectacular battle between Deoxys and Rayquaza begins, more than just Ash and Pikachu will be needed to stop it—it will take everyone.

Special Feature(s)

• Full High Definition 1080p
• 16x9 (1.78:1)
• English 2.0 Stereo
• English 5.1 DTS
• Smart Menu Technology: Browse the menu, on screen, without leaving film.

Source: https://www.echobridgeentertainment.com/dvd/Pokemon_4_Film_Series_02791

Shoko Nakagawa posted three pictures on her blog recently that shows a banner on the Pokémon Smash set that says: Pokémon Anime 15th Anniversary Special (ポケモンアニメ１５周年スペシャル). It appears that this is from a recent block of Pokémon Smash filming and the 15th Anniversary Special episode will most likely air on Sunday April 1st, 2012's episode of Pokémon Smash as it is the exact anniversary date of the anime which began airing in Japan on April 1st, 1997. It appears Rica Matsumoto (松本梨香) will be a guest as she is in a picture back stage with the Pokémon Smash cast. Hikozaru also appears like it will make a brief appearance as Shoko-tan took a few 'reuniting' pictures from the set.


Source: http://ameblo.jp/nakagawa-shoko/entry-11184556192.html