Let’s go back in time to 2005… way, way back to the time of the Pokémon Advanced Generation. Destiny Deoxys was the seventh Pokémon movie out of the 11 that now exist, and tells the tale of a mysterious meteorite that crashes to Earth releasing strange eggs!

The eighth Pokémon movie was released late 2006 in the States as part of a two-DVD special collector’s edition. The first disc contains the movie along with some brilliant extras showing early sketches and behind-the-scenes content. The second is a Cartoon Network special edition of Pokémon called Mastermind Of Mirage Pokémon. Plus inside the package is a limited edition Pokémon Trading Card of Mew and a Manga sampler entitled All That Pikachu! A bit of a bargain really, and well worth searching through the online stores like Amazon for a copy. But what’s the movie all about?

This is your advanced warning – this feature contains spoilers, but then you want to know what really is the Mystery of Mew, don’t you? There are many legends in the world of Pokémon, but there’s a very special tale told by the people who live in Cameron Palace. The legend of the Aura Guardian tells of a hero and his Pokémon, Lucario, and how they saved the world from destruction. The hero was Aaron and the story of how he stopped two giant warring armies from destroying each other and the world around them is a bedtime favourite, passed down from generation to generation. But was Aaron really a hero?

Ash and his friends Max, Brock and May are taking a break from their journey to visit Cameron Palace. Each year the palace holds a special Pokémon Tournament to commemorate the legend of Aaron and the day the world was saved. After dressing up in period costumes, Ash takes part in the Tournament, and being the great Pokémon Trainer that he is, it’s not long before he wins using Pikachu and his Thunderbolt move. His prize is to become the Aura Guardian for a year, and take possession of Aaron’s famous staff, his opponent also reveals herself to be Kid – she’s famous for just about everything and has now turned her attention to Pokémon battling.

After the Tournament, the palace holds a lavish ball with food and dancing. Ash releases all his Pokémon from their Pokéballs and they set off to play around the palace, but there’s a strange morphing Pokémon with them. Who could this be?

The final part of the palace ceremony sees Ash take on the hero’s pose (just like Aaron) and on doing so Ash releases Lucario from the jewel on the end of the staff. Lucario is convinced that Ash is Aaron and repeatedly asks, “Why?”. However, when he opens his eyes he sees that this is not Aaron. Confused Lucario runs off. Can hundreds of years have really passed? This palace is the same place, but somehow different! In the commotion Pikachu disappears, but fortunately Kid is on its trail – she turns out to be some kind of secret agent. We soon learn that Mew has taken Pikachu and Meowth to the Tree of Beginning.

As Mew can change its shape to become any Pokémon, Ash sets off to the Tree of Beginning with Lucario in tow. Lucario can see the aura surrounding any human or Pokémon, so will be able to tell which Pokémon they encounter is Mew. Lucario also wants to find the truth behind Aaron’s mysterious disappearance. Did he really save the world, or was he a coward and simply ran away?
The group travel towards the Tree of Beginning, but it’s a long journey and along the way Ash learns more about this ancient Pokémon, Lucario, and what is upsetting it. They eventually reach a set of rock formations and Ash thinks he can hear Pikachu’s voice, which eggs him on. Suddenly the group is attacked by a Regirock using its Hyper Beam. Then Registeel and Regice Pokémon stand in their way. By working together they manage to find their way around these mechanical monsters and Ash is soon reunited with Pikachu. Lucario learns that Pokémon and humans can have a deeper bond than master and servant. Now they’ve got to make it out of the Tree of Beginning again! Will Ash survive to battle another day?

The tree is a living being and while Lucario is stunned by another Registeel, red blobs from the tree swallow up Ash and Kid. Are they dead? Well they might have been if Mew didn’t come to their rescue. Touching a nearby crystal, Mew performs the tree’s healing spell and Ash and Kid are returned alive and well. The tree soon starts to crumble and they discover that if they don’t get the weakened Mew to the core of the tree immediately then it could be destroyed, taking the rest of the world with it! What can Lucario do? He notices that a nearby crystal has Aaron inside it! Touching a Time Flower that can show stored up events from long ago, Lucario learns that Aaron was actually channelling energy in to Mew to save the tree. Now Lucario must to do the same, but he’s not strong enough alone. Ash knows that his aura is similar to Aaron’s so offers to sacrifice himself for the good of the world, as channeling energy into Mew will lead to certain death.

Together, Lucario and Ash re-energise Mew – but Lucario pushes Ash to one side at the last moment, saving him from death. Mew brings the Tree of Beginning back to life, saving the world in the process and Lucario is reunited with Aaron at last and knows that they’ll always be friends.

8th Movie Facts!
• Released on DVD in the USA September 2006 and available on Amazon.co.uk
• No UK release currently planned
• Regice, Regirock and Registeel get their first appearances in this movie