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{{short description|2007 film by Kunihiko Yuyama, Tom Wayland}}
I like that movie!
{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2021}}{{Infobox film
| name = Pokémon the Movie: {{nowrap|The Rise of Darkrai}}
| image = The Rise of Darkrai 2.JPG
| alt =
| caption = Japanese theatrical release poster
| native_name = {{Infobox Japanese
| kanji = 劇場版ポケットモンスター ダイヤモンド&パール ディアルガVSパルキアVSダークライ
| revhep = Gekijōban Poketto Monsutā Daiyamondo Pāru Diaruga tai Parukia tai Dākurai
| l = Pocket Monsters Diamond & Pearl the Movie: Dialga vs. Palkia vs. Darkrai
}}
| director = ]
| producer = Choji Yoshikawa<br />Mikihiko Fukazawa<br />Junya Okamoto<br />Takemoto Mori
| screenplay = Hideki Sonoda
| based_on = {{Based on|'']''|]<br />]<br />]}}
| starring = ''see ]''
| music = ]
| cinematography = Takaya Mizutani
| editing = Toshio Henmi
| studio = ]<br/>OLM Digital
| distributor = ]
| released = {{film date|2007|7|14|Japan}} <!-- Do not add the US or Australian release dates here please, see WP:FILMRELEASE. -->
| runtime = 90 minutes
| country = Japan
| language = Japanese <!-- Please do not add English here. While the film may be dubbed, this is not a bilingual film. -->
| budget =
| gross = $47.3 million
}}
{{nihongo foot|'''''Pokémon the Movie: The Rise of Darkrai'''''|劇場版ポケットモンスター ダイヤモンド&パール ディアルガVSパルキアVSダークライ|Gekijōban Poketto Monsutā Daiyamondo Pāru Diaruga tai Parukia tai Dākurai|{{lit}} "Pocket Monsters Diamond & Pearl the Movie: Dialga vs. Palkia vs. Darkrai"|lead=yes|group=lower-alpha}} is a 2007 Japanese ] ] ] produced by ] and distributed by ]. The film was directed by ] and written by Hideki Sonoda. It is the ] in the ''Pokémon'' film series created by ], ] and ].


In the film, Dialga and Palkia, two Pokémon known to be deities who were never meant to meet, fight in the space between dimensions. The brawling causes disturbances in the space around Alamos Town. The townsfolk blame the events on a nightmare-causing Pokémon called Darkrai, which is trying to protect the town from Dialga and Palkia's clash. The film was released in Japan on July 14, 2007, to a mixed critical reception but a positive audience reception. Two sequels have been released, '']'' in 2008 and '']'' in 2009.


] performs the movie's theme song, a cover of "]" titled {{nihongo|"Be With You (Itsumo Soba ni)"|ビー・ウィズ・ユー〜いつもそばに〜|Bī Wizu Yū ~Itsumo Soba ni~}}. The cover also features ]. This is also the first film to entirely be animated with ].
{{Unreferenced|date = February 2008}}
{{rewrite}}
{{Infobox_Film |
name = The Rise of Darkrai|
image = The_Rise_of_Darkrai_2.JPG‎ |
caption = The US DVD Cover |
director = Kunihiko Yuyama |
producer = |
writer = Hideki Sonoda |
starring=] <br /> ] <br /> ] <br /> ] <br /> ] <br /> ] <br /> ] <br /> Rich McNanna <br /> ] <br /> ] |
distributor = ] (Latin America) <br /> ] (Japan) <br /> ] (US) <br /> ] (Japan, United States) |
released = {{flagicon|Japan}} ], ]<br />{{flagicon|US}} ], ] (TV Airing)<br/>{{flagicon|US}} ], ]<br/>(DVD Release)<br />{{flagicon|UK}} ], ]<br/>(DVD Release)<br />{{flagicon|AUS}} ], ] (DVD Release)<ref>http://www.kotaku.com.au/games/2008/10/15/pokemon_darkrai_downloadable_free_at_target_and_toys_r_us.html</ref>|
runtime = 1 hour 30 min. (1:29:40) |
language = ], ] |
country = ]<br />] |
budget = |
imdb_id = |
preceded_by = '']''<br />(2007) |
followed_by = '']'' (2009)
}}
{{nihongo|'''''Pokémon: The Rise of Darkrai'''''|劇場版ポケットモンスター ダイヤモンド&パール ディアルガVSパルキアVSダークライ|Gekijōban Poketto Monsutā Daiyamondo Pāru Diaruga Tai Parukia Tai Dākurai|lit. “Pocket Monsters Diamond & Pearl the Movie: Dialga VS Palkia VS Darkrai”}}, is the 10th ] film that was released in Japanese theaters on ], ]. Other release dates for Australia will be released on ] 05 2008, but Europe is yet to be announced. As indicated by the film title, ], ], and ] will be the featured Pokémon. On ], 2008, ] revealed the title to be '''''Pokemon: The Rise Of Darkrai''''', with a preview that aired on ]st, 2008 as part of a 90-minute episode involving a tag team battle at 8 PM ET/PT, and was shown on Cartoon Network on ], 2008 in the United States at 7 pm ET/PT. The preview was shown during Cartoon Network's ], and indicated the possibility that The Rise of Darkrai may be the first Pokemon film to have a cinematic release since ]. This was later proven false when Pokemon.com announced a direct-to-DVD release following the premiere on Cartoon Network.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.pokemon.com/#mailbag_02042008 |title=Darkrai's Debut! |publisher=Pokemon.com |accessdate=2008-02-05}}</ref> This is the first English dub done by DuArt Film and Video instead of TAJ Studios.


== Plot ==
As with all Pokémon films, it was announced in Japan after the ending ] of the previous Pokémon film; in this case, '']''.
A hundred years ago, Godey, the architect who designed an enormous set of musical instruments in Alamos Town called the Space-Time Towers, had a nightmare which he wrote down in his diary, which is later discovered by his great-grandson, the scientist Tonio. The nightmare foretold that two entities that should never have met would cross paths in the space-time rift. Their wrath from this meeting will envelop the town, and cause its collapse. In a garden designed by Godey, Darkrai, a nightmare-causing ] hated by everyone else, opened its heart to a girl called Alicia, who invited Darkrai to stay in the garden. Godey realized the nightmare was telling him to make a music disc for "Orácion",{{refn|group=lower-alpha|] for "Prayer"}} a song with the power to soothe the fiercest rage, for future use. Years later, Darkrai saved the life of Alicia's granddaughter Alice after she tripped and fell from a cliff.


In the present, Godey's foretelling comes true when the Pokémon Palkia, who can control space, and Dialga, who rules over time, cause disturbances in the air around Alamos Town as they brawl in the space between dimensions. At the same time, ], ], and Dawn arrive in the town for Dawn's next Pokémon Contest inside the Space-Time Towers. Palkia and Dialga's clashing causes a disturbance in space, which damages the garden. Baron Alberto believes this is the work of Darkrai. While battling Alberto's Lickilicky, Darkrai makes Ash fall asleep and creates a nightmare where Palkia attacks Ash. Darkrai then appears before disappearing down a hole that Ash and his ] are sucked into.
], famous for her roles in ]'s '']'', performs the movie's theme song, a cover of "]". The cover also features ]. This is the first time an English song was sung in a Japanese dubbed Pokémon film.{{fact|date=February 2008}}. The song was replaced by "I'll Always Remember You" by Kristen Price (who would also sing the theme for the next season) most likely due to the rights to the song are too expensive, and another song called "Living in the Shadow" followed afterwards.


The next day, Palkia, injured and attempting to hide from Dialga, emerges in Alamos Town. It moves the town to another dimension with no way of escaping. Darkrai reappears in the town square, telling someone to go away. Alberto, joined by Ash, Dawn, and other Pokémon trainers, engage in combat with it. Outraged, Darkrai traps many Pokémon in the town square in nightmares. Later that evening, Tonio finds Palkia resting between the Towers. Darkrai tries to attack the resting Palkia. Ash then realizes that Palkia was the one that Darkrai was telling to go away, and that Darkrai's nightmare was warning Ash about Palkia.
This Movie was released on british Reigon 2 DVD, which was surprising as it was the first since Jirachi wish maker to have been.


As Palkia is about to hit Darkrai with one of its attacks, Dialga arrives, opens fire on the two and immediately runs into Palkia. As Palkia and Dialga brawl, the entire town slowly starts to collapse. After Alice finds the "Oración" music disc, Ash and Dawn climb up to the music disc player on the Space-Time Towers' skybridge while Brock helps evacuate the townspeople. Tonio reveals that if Palkia and Dialga collide once more, the dimension they are in will be destroyed. When Palkia and Dialga discharge their attacks, Darkrai crosses the attacks' line and forms a sphere around itself to block the attacks, engulfing and immobilizing Palkia and Dialga in the process.
== Plot ==

{{rewrite}}
After breaking free, Palkia and Dialga both attack Darkrai, causing it to disintegrate. Ash and Dawn realize that the Space-Time Towers are no-longer charged, so Pikachu along with Dawn's Pachirisu use their electrical powers to charge the Towers as they play the "Orácion" disc. The song successfully calms Palkia and Dialga down. Dialga flies away, and Palkia's wound heals. Ash and Dawn successfully plead to Palkia to restore the lost parts of the town, returning Alamos Town to how it originally was, and the townspeople and Pokémon rejoice and return home. Later, the group mourns the loss of Darkrai, with Alice thanking it for its efforts. They then find Darkrai standing on top of the Space Tower.
On their way to participate in the next Pokémon contest, ] and his friends have come to Alamos Town, where they meet a girl named Alice. Alice guides them around the landmarks of the town - the Space-Time Tower and the beautiful gardens filled with greenery and water, and while they are completely absorbed by the sightseeing, they discover that the gardens have been devastated by someone. Then, Baron Alberto, an influential man of the town, comes on to the scene. Alberto is confident that the devastation is the work of the legendary Pokémon Darkrai. Then, from the ominous shadows, Darkrai suddenly appears before them. A never-before known Pokémon, just who is Darkrai? Just at that moment, a fierce battle between Dialga and Palkia is unfolding in an interval of space-time. Space-time is torn apart by the collision of terrible energies. Through the tear, Alamos Town can be seen...


In the end credit montage, Dawn fails to win a ribbon at her Pokémon contest.
The whole of Alamos Town is wrapped in an ominous fog, and a mysterious phenomenon arises where the people are unable to leave the town. Then, Tonio, who has become aware of the abnormal space-time phenomena, hastily analyzes the data, and discovers that the devastation of the garden was a sign that Palkia had entered the town. Palkia, having sustained injuries in its violent fight with Dialga, took refuge in Alamos Town. However, Darkrai senses the presence of Palkia and attacks it, causing a terrible battle. Furthermore, chasing Palkia, Dialga appears in Alamos Town from another dimension. When the two Pokémon called as gods encounter Darkrai, the greatest battle in history will begin. Powerful shockwaves shake all of Alamos Town, and before long the town is on the verge of collapse. The nightmare written in Godey's diary is becoming reality... Will Ash and his friends be able to resolve this crisis? Is Darkrai an enemy or an ally? {{fact|date=February 2008}}


== Setting == == Setting ==
''The Rise of Darkrai'' is set in an area based on ], ].<ref name=”movie_setting”>{{cite web|accessdate=2006-12-22|url=http://dogasu.bulbagarden.net/movies/dialga_palkia/dialga_palkia.html|title=“Diaruga VS Parukia”}}</ref> The staff visited this area in September 2006 to form a basis for the movie’s setting. Yuyama Kunihiko travelled there with screenwriter Hideki Sonoda and composer Shinji Miyazaki. Places in ''The Rise of Darkrai'' are inspired by places in Spain - the Space-Time Tower and Oración featured are based on the uncompleted ] and the ], respectively, in ]. The name of the architect behind the Space-Time Tower, Godey, and the name of his descendant, Tonio, bear homage to the name of Sagrada Família's architect, ]. ''The Rise of Darkrai'' is set in an area based on Barcelona, Spain.<ref name="movie_setting">{{cite web|access-date=2006-12-22|url=https://dogasu.bulbagarden.net/movies/dialga_palkia/dialga_palkia.html|title=Diaruga VS Parukia |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070324072833/http://www.dogasu.bulbagarden.net/movies/dialga_palkia/dialga_palkia.html <!-- Bot retrieved archive --> |archive-date = 2007-03-24}}</ref> The staff visited this area in September 2006 to form a basis for the movie's setting. Yuyama travelled there with screenwriter Hideki Sonoda and composer Shinji Miyazaki. Places in ''The Rise of Darkrai'' are inspired by places in Spain - the Space-Time Towers and Oración featured are based on the incomplete ] and the ], respectively, in Barcelona. The name of the architect behind the Space-Time Towers, Godey, and the name of his descendant, Tonio, bear homage to the name of Sagrada Família's architect, ].


== Cast == == Cast ==

</small>
{{col-begin}}
{{col-3}}
{| class="wikitable sortable" {| class="wikitable sortable"
|- |-
!Character !Character
!Voice Actor (Japanese) !Japanese
!Voice Actor (English) !English
!Notes
|- |-
|] || ] || ] |] || ] || ] || A Pokémon trainer who wishes to be a Pokémon Master.
|- |-
|Dawn/Hikari || ] || ] |] || ] || ] || A Pokémon trainer who wishes to be a Pokémon Coordinator.
|- |-
|] || ] || ] || A Pokémon trainer who wishes to be a Pokémon Breeder.
|Pikachu || ] || Ikue Ōtani
|- |-
|] || colspan="2" style="text-align: center"| ] || An Electric Type Pokémon and Ash's partner.
|Brock/Takeshi || ] || ]
|- |-
|] || ] || ] || A Mythical Dark-Type Pokémon that causes nightmares.
|Jessie/Musashi || ] || ]
|- |-
|Tonio || ]<br />] (child) || ] || A scientist and Alice's longtime friend.
|James/Kojirō || ] || ]<br/>(a/k/a Billy Beach)
|- |-
|Alice || ] || Khristine Hvam || A tour guide and a music student capable of playing the leaf whistle.
|Meowth/Nyasuu || ] || Jimmy Zoppi
|- |-
|Baron Alberto || ] || Ax Norman || A rich, snobby Lickilicky trainer
|Darkrai || ] || ]
|- |-
|Kai || ] || Sean Reyes || An ] trainer who also competes in the Pokémon contest.
|Tonio || ] (child - Daisuke Sakaguchi) || Rich McNanna
|- |-
|Maury || Hiroshi Yamamoto || ] || A ] trainer who also competes in the Pokémon contest.
|Alice || ] || ]
|- |-
|Allegra || ] || ] || An ] trainer who also competes in the Pokémon contest and wins.
|Baron Alberto || Kōichi Yamadera || Sean Reyes
|- |-
|Alicia || Chiharu Suzaka|| ] || Alice's grandmother
|Dai || Ryūji Akiyama || Ax Norman
|- |-
|Maurice/Katsumi || Hiroshi Yamamoto || ] |Narrator || ] || ] ||
|-
|Torterra/Dodaitose || Hiroyuki Baba || Jimmy Zoppi
|-
|Maki || Shōko Nakagawa || ]<br/>(a/k/a Elisabeth Williams)
|-
|Alicia || Chiharu Suzaka|| ]
|-
|Narrator || Unshö Ishizuka || ]
|} |}


== Box Office & Reception == == Development ==
As with all ''Pokémon'' films, it was announced in Japan after the ending ] of the previous Pokémon film; in this case, '']''.
''The Rise of Darkrai'' proved to be a very successful film as the movie topped the Japanese box office charts in the first three days of its release. With a revenue of ]1.13 billion (]9.26 million) from 1,074,000 viewers, the movie performed better than its predecessor '']''.<ref name="Japanese Box Office">{{cite news|title=ポケモン映画「ディアルガVSパルキアVSダークライ」初登場1位＆3日で興収11億円突破 |url=http://pokeani.com/news/2007_07/0707_pokenews30.html |work= |publisher=PokeAni |date=]-] |accessdate=2007-07-20 | language = ] }}</ref> The Rise of Darkrai eventually earned a franchise record of 5.02 billion yen (US$47 million).


== Easter Egg == ==Release==
=== Theatrical run ===
In the Pokemon: Diamond & Pearl episode "A Secret Sphere of Influence", a "model" of the Space/Time Towers from the movie can be seen hiding in a glass display case.<ref>http://www.pokemon.com/#tvmovies_1036</ref>
The film originally distributed by Toho was released on Japanese theaters on July 14, 2007, in Japan.


=== Broadcast airing ===
On January 25, 2008, ] revealed the title to be ''Pokémon: The Rise Of Darkrai'', with a preview that aired on February 1, 2008, as part of a two-hour premiere involving a tag team battle at 8 PM ET/ PT, and was shown on Cartoon Network on February 24, 2008, in the United States at 7 pm ET/PT. This is the first English dub done by DuArt Film and Video instead of TAJ Studios.


=== Home media ===
In the Pokemon: Diamond & Pearl video games, when you receive Darkrai in the Nintendo Event, the Wonder Card says The Rise Of Darkrai and has a website, www.pokemon.com/drkgift, and a password, "Orasion". Entering Orasion at the website will unlock wallpapers based on the movie to use on the computer.
In the UK, the movie was released on DVD by Network DVD, who specialise in distributing old British TV shows. ] released the film on DVD in Northern European countries. It was later re-released on DVD in the UK with the other Diamond and Pearl movies as part of the 4 disc '''Diamond & Pearl Collection''' from ], released on May 21, 2018. It was then later re-released as a separate title again by Manga Entertainment on April 15, 2019. Blu-ray Release on December 13, 2021, in the UK.

== Reception ==
=== Box office ===
''The Rise of Darkrai'' topped the Japanese box office charts in the first three days of its release. With a revenue of ]1.13 billion (]9.26 million) from 1,074,000 viewers, the movie performed better than its predecessor '']''.<ref name="Japanese Box Office">{{cite news|title=ポケモン映画「ディアルガVSパルキアVSダークライ」初登場1位＆3日で興収11億円突破 |url=https://pokeani.com/news/2007_07/0707_pokenews30.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070821120746/http://pokeani.com/news/2007_07/0707_pokenews30.html |archive-date=2007-08-21 |publisher=PokeAni |date=2007-07-18 |access-date=2007-07-20 | language = ja }}</ref> ''The Rise of Darkrai'' eventually earned a franchise record of {{JPY|5.02 billion}} ({{US$|47 million}}). It was the fourth highest-grossing film in Japan of 2007, behind '']'', '']'', and '']''.<ref>{{cite web|title=2007 Japan Yearly Box Office Results|url=https://www.boxofficemojo.com/year/2007/?area=JP|website=]|access-date=May 28, 2018|language=en}}</ref> and it also became the highest grossing anime film of 2007.<ref>{{cite news|title=Japanese Box Office: Top 10 Anime Movies of 2007 - Update|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2008-01-31/japanese-box-office-top-10-anime-movies-of-2007-update|work=]|date=February 1, 2008|language=en}}</ref>

Overseas, the film grossed ${{formatnum:{{#expr:159141+99154}}|}}, including $159,141 in Hong Kong and $99,154 in Taiwan.<ref>{{cite web|title=Gekijōban Poketto Monsutā Daiyamondo to Pāru Diaruga Tai Parukia Tai Dākurai (Pokémon: Diamond and Pearl) (2007)|url=https://www.boxofficemojo.com/releasegroup/gr896881157/|website=]|access-date=May 28, 2018}}</ref> Worldwide, the film grossed ${{formatnum:{{#expr:47000000+258295}}|}}.

=== Critical reception ===
Carl Kimlinger, in his review of the film for ], gave the film an overall grade of B−. He described the film's plot as "simple enough for kids to follow with ease", and added: "parents will find the message of teamwork and understanding, as well as the franchise's usual refusal to paint anyone as a villain, quite reassuring." Kimlinger also praised the film's imagery and use of ], writing: "Hardly a minute passes without a Pokémon spitting a shiny ball of CGI energy at something", and described a fight sequence between two Pokémon as "a fantastic tableau of spiraling darkness and swirling smears of soap-on-water rainbow light". However, he criticized the overall animation, saying: "]] never bothered to question how the meticulously rendered CG architecture and frequent bursts of 3-D action would mesh with the simplistic character designs and gaudy cartoon aesthetic of the Pokémon themselves."<ref></ref>

Jenny Sanders, writing for ], gave the film a score of 4 stars out of 5. She wrote that the film "is very well structured, less-than-obviously scripted and has an impressively epic orchestral soundtrack", and praised the film's special effects and scenery, but stated that they "jar terribly with the rather more basic drawing employed for the characters and Pokémon themselves, which seem to have been lifted from the original creations." She concluded: "Despite its aesthetic faults and somewhat clichéd elements, ''The Rise of Darkrai'' is absorbing and entertaining – even if nobody over the age of eight will have any idea what’s going on by two-thirds of the way through."<ref>{{Cite web|last=Sanders|first=Jenny|date=2008-10-02|title=Pokemon: The Rise of Darkrai DVD review|url=https://www.denofgeek.com/movies/pokemon-the-rise-of-darkrai-dvd-review/|access-date=2021-07-10|website=]|language=en-US}}</ref>

Film Music Central gave it a positive review saying that "While Pokémon: The Rise of Darkrai did weird me out at times, I did enjoy the overall story. More than that, I’m eager to see where the story goes, since I know now that the next two films continue the story that was begun here"<ref>{{Cite web |last=Central |first=Film Music |date=2020-05-09 |title=My Thoughts on: Pokémon: The Rise of Darkrai (2007) |url=https://filmmusiccentral.com/2020/05/09/my-thoughts-on-pokemon-the-rise-of-darkrai-2007/ |access-date=2022-04-09 |website=Film Music Central |language=en}}</ref>

== Notes ==
{{Reflist|group=lower-alpha}}


== References == == References ==
{{reflist}} {{Reflist}}


== External links == == External links ==
{{Portal|Video games}}
*
* {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080428220948/http://www.pokemon-movie.jp/main.html |date=April 28, 2008 |title=Official Site (Japanese) }}
*
*
* {{IMDb title|1226251}}
* {{anime News Network|movie|7674||noparen}}
* '''' at Bulbapedia


{{Pokémon films}} {{Pokémon Generation 4|state=expanded}}
{{Pokémon movie summary}}
]
] {{OLM films}}
]
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]


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Latest revision as of 14:58, 19 December 2024

2007 film by Kunihiko Yuyama, Tom Wayland
Pokémon the Movie: The Rise of Darkrai
Japanese theatrical release poster
Japanese name
Kanji劇場版ポケットモンスター ダイヤモンド&パール ディアルガVSパルキアVSダークライ
Literal meaningPocket Monsters Diamond & Pearl the Movie: Dialga vs. Palkia vs. Darkrai
Transcriptions
Revised HepburnGekijōban Poketto Monsutā Daiyamondo Pāru Diaruga tai Parukia tai Dākurai
Directed byKunihiko Yuyama
Screenplay byHideki Sonoda
Based onPokémon Diamond and Pearl
by Satoshi Tajiri
Junichi Masuda
Ken Sugimori
Produced byChoji Yoshikawa
Mikihiko Fukazawa
Junya Okamoto
Takemoto Mori
Starringsee below
CinematographyTakaya Mizutani
Edited byToshio Henmi
Music byShinji Miyazaki
Production
companies		OLM, Inc.
OLM Digital
Distributed byToho
Release date
  • July 14, 2007 (2007-07-14) (Japan)
Running time90 minutes
CountryJapan
LanguageJapanese
Box office$47.3 million

Pokémon the Movie: The Rise of Darkrai is a 2007 Japanese animated fantasy adventure film produced by OLM, Inc. and distributed by Toho. The film was directed by Kunihiko Yuyama and written by Hideki Sonoda. It is the tenth animated installment in the Pokémon film series created by Satoshi Tajiri, Junichi Masuda and Ken Sugimori.

In the film, Dialga and Palkia, two Pokémon known to be deities who were never meant to meet, fight in the space between dimensions. The brawling causes disturbances in the space around Alamos Town. The townsfolk blame the events on a nightmare-causing Pokémon called Darkrai, which is trying to protect the town from Dialga and Palkia's clash. The film was released in Japan on July 14, 2007, to a mixed critical reception but a positive audience reception. Two sequels have been released, Pokémon: Giratina & the Sky Warrior in 2008 and Pokémon: Arceus and the Jewel of Life in 2009.

Sarah Brightman performs the movie's theme song, a cover of "Where the Lost Ones Go" titled "Be With You (Itsumo Soba ni)" (ビー・ウィズ・ユー〜いつもそばに〜, Bī Wizu Yū ~Itsumo Soba ni~). The cover also features Chris Thompson. This is also the first film to entirely be animated with digital ink and paint.

Plot

A hundred years ago, Godey, the architect who designed an enormous set of musical instruments in Alamos Town called the Space-Time Towers, had a nightmare which he wrote down in his diary, which is later discovered by his great-grandson, the scientist Tonio. The nightmare foretold that two entities that should never have met would cross paths in the space-time rift. Their wrath from this meeting will envelop the town, and cause its collapse. In a garden designed by Godey, Darkrai, a nightmare-causing Pokémon hated by everyone else, opened its heart to a girl called Alicia, who invited Darkrai to stay in the garden. Godey realized the nightmare was telling him to make a music disc for "Orácion", a song with the power to soothe the fiercest rage, for future use. Years later, Darkrai saved the life of Alicia's granddaughter Alice after she tripped and fell from a cliff.

In the present, Godey's foretelling comes true when the Pokémon Palkia, who can control space, and Dialga, who rules over time, cause disturbances in the air around Alamos Town as they brawl in the space between dimensions. At the same time, Ash Ketchum, Brock, and Dawn arrive in the town for Dawn's next Pokémon Contest inside the Space-Time Towers. Palkia and Dialga's clashing causes a disturbance in space, which damages the garden. Baron Alberto believes this is the work of Darkrai. While battling Alberto's Lickilicky, Darkrai makes Ash fall asleep and creates a nightmare where Palkia attacks Ash. Darkrai then appears before disappearing down a hole that Ash and his Pikachu are sucked into.

The next day, Palkia, injured and attempting to hide from Dialga, emerges in Alamos Town. It moves the town to another dimension with no way of escaping. Darkrai reappears in the town square, telling someone to go away. Alberto, joined by Ash, Dawn, and other Pokémon trainers, engage in combat with it. Outraged, Darkrai traps many Pokémon in the town square in nightmares. Later that evening, Tonio finds Palkia resting between the Towers. Darkrai tries to attack the resting Palkia. Ash then realizes that Palkia was the one that Darkrai was telling to go away, and that Darkrai's nightmare was warning Ash about Palkia.

As Palkia is about to hit Darkrai with one of its attacks, Dialga arrives, opens fire on the two and immediately runs into Palkia. As Palkia and Dialga brawl, the entire town slowly starts to collapse. After Alice finds the "Oración" music disc, Ash and Dawn climb up to the music disc player on the Space-Time Towers' skybridge while Brock helps evacuate the townspeople. Tonio reveals that if Palkia and Dialga collide once more, the dimension they are in will be destroyed. When Palkia and Dialga discharge their attacks, Darkrai crosses the attacks' line and forms a sphere around itself to block the attacks, engulfing and immobilizing Palkia and Dialga in the process.

After breaking free, Palkia and Dialga both attack Darkrai, causing it to disintegrate. Ash and Dawn realize that the Space-Time Towers are no-longer charged, so Pikachu along with Dawn's Pachirisu use their electrical powers to charge the Towers as they play the "Orácion" disc. The song successfully calms Palkia and Dialga down. Dialga flies away, and Palkia's wound heals. Ash and Dawn successfully plead to Palkia to restore the lost parts of the town, returning Alamos Town to how it originally was, and the townspeople and Pokémon rejoice and return home. Later, the group mourns the loss of Darkrai, with Alice thanking it for its efforts. They then find Darkrai standing on top of the Space Tower.

In the end credit montage, Dawn fails to win a ribbon at her Pokémon contest.

Setting

The Rise of Darkrai is set in an area based on Barcelona, Spain. The staff visited this area in September 2006 to form a basis for the movie's setting. Yuyama travelled there with screenwriter Hideki Sonoda and composer Shinji Miyazaki. Places in The Rise of Darkrai are inspired by places in Spain - the Space-Time Towers and Oración featured are based on the incomplete Sagrada Família and the Park Güell, respectively, in Barcelona. The name of the architect behind the Space-Time Towers, Godey, and the name of his descendant, Tonio, bear homage to the name of Sagrada Família's architect, Antoni Gaudí.

Cast

Character Japanese English Notes
Ash Rica Matsumoto Sarah Natochenny A Pokémon trainer who wishes to be a Pokémon Master.
Dawn Megumi Toyoguchi Emily Bauer A Pokémon trainer who wishes to be a Pokémon Coordinator.
Brock Yūji Ueda Bill Rogers A Pokémon trainer who wishes to be a Pokémon Breeder.
Pikachu Ikue Ōtani An Electric Type Pokémon and Ash's partner.
Darkrai Kōji Ishizaka Bill Rogers A Mythical Dark-Type Pokémon that causes nightmares.
Tonio Koji Yamamoto
Daisuke Sakaguchi (child)		 Rich McNanna A scientist and Alice's longtime friend.
Alice Rosa Kato Khristine Hvam A tour guide and a music student capable of playing the leaf whistle.
Baron Alberto Kōichi Yamadera Ax Norman A rich, snobby Lickilicky trainer
Kai Ryūji Akiyama Sean Reyes An Empoleon trainer who also competes in the Pokémon contest.
Maury Hiroshi Yamamoto Joshua Swanson A Torterra trainer who also competes in the Pokémon contest.
Allegra Shoko Nakagawa Elisabeth Morinelli An Infernape trainer who also competes in the Pokémon contest and wins.
Alicia Chiharu Suzaka Kayzie Rogers Alice's grandmother
Narrator Unshou Ishizuka Rodger Parsons

Development

As with all Pokémon films, it was announced in Japan after the ending credits of the previous Pokémon film; in this case, Pokémon Ranger and the Temple of the Sea.

Release

Theatrical run

The film originally distributed by Toho was released on Japanese theaters on July 14, 2007, in Japan.

Broadcast airing

On January 25, 2008, Cartoon Network revealed the title to be Pokémon: The Rise Of Darkrai, with a preview that aired on February 1, 2008, as part of a two-hour premiere involving a tag team battle at 8 PM ET/ PT, and was shown on Cartoon Network on February 24, 2008, in the United States at 7 pm ET/PT. This is the first English dub done by DuArt Film and Video instead of TAJ Studios.

Home media

In the UK, the movie was released on DVD by Network DVD, who specialise in distributing old British TV shows. Universal Pictures Home Entertainment released the film on DVD in Northern European countries. It was later re-released on DVD in the UK with the other Diamond and Pearl movies as part of the 4 disc Diamond & Pearl Collection from Manga Entertainment, released on May 21, 2018. It was then later re-released as a separate title again by Manga Entertainment on April 15, 2019. Blu-ray Release on December 13, 2021, in the UK.

Reception

Box office

The Rise of Darkrai topped the Japanese box office charts in the first three days of its release. With a revenue of ¥1.13 billion ($9.26 million) from 1,074,000 viewers, the movie performed better than its predecessor Pokémon Ranger and the Temple of the Sea. The Rise of Darkrai eventually earned a franchise record of ¥5.02 billion (US$47 million). It was the fourth highest-grossing film in Japan of 2007, behind Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, and Hero. and it also became the highest grossing anime film of 2007.

Overseas, the film grossed $258,295, including $159,141 in Hong Kong and $99,154 in Taiwan. Worldwide, the film grossed $47,258,295.

Critical reception

Carl Kimlinger, in his review of the film for Anime News Network, gave the film an overall grade of B−. He described the film's plot as "simple enough for kids to follow with ease", and added: "parents will find the message of teamwork and understanding, as well as the franchise's usual refusal to paint anyone as a villain, quite reassuring." Kimlinger also praised the film's imagery and use of CGI, writing: "Hardly a minute passes without a Pokémon spitting a shiny ball of CGI energy at something", and described a fight sequence between two Pokémon as "a fantastic tableau of spiraling darkness and swirling smears of soap-on-water rainbow light". However, he criticized the overall animation, saying: " never bothered to question how the meticulously rendered CG architecture and frequent bursts of 3-D action would mesh with the simplistic character designs and gaudy cartoon aesthetic of the Pokémon themselves."

Jenny Sanders, writing for Den of Geek, gave the film a score of 4 stars out of 5. She wrote that the film "is very well structured, less-than-obviously scripted and has an impressively epic orchestral soundtrack", and praised the film's special effects and scenery, but stated that they "jar terribly with the rather more basic drawing employed for the characters and Pokémon themselves, which seem to have been lifted from the original creations." She concluded: "Despite its aesthetic faults and somewhat clichéd elements, The Rise of Darkrai is absorbing and entertaining – even if nobody over the age of eight will have any idea what’s going on by two-thirds of the way through."

Film Music Central gave it a positive review saying that "While Pokémon: The Rise of Darkrai did weird me out at times, I did enjoy the overall story. More than that, I’m eager to see where the story goes, since I know now that the next two films continue the story that was begun here"

Notes

  1. Japanese: 劇場版ポケットモンスター ダイヤモンド&パール ディアルガVSパルキアVSダークライ, Hepburn: Gekijōban Poketto Monsutā Daiyamondo Pāru Diaruga tai Parukia tai Dākurai, lit. "Pocket Monsters Diamond & Pearl the Movie: Dialga vs. Palkia vs. Darkrai"
  2. Spanish for "Prayer"

References

  1. "Diaruga VS Parukia". Archived from the original on March 24, 2007. Retrieved December 22, 2006.
  2. "ポケモン映画「ディアルガVSパルキアVSダークライ」初登場1位＆3日で興収11億円突破" (in Japanese). PokeAni. July 18, 2007. Archived from the original on August 21, 2007. Retrieved July 20, 2007.
  3. "2007 Japan Yearly Box Office Results". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved May 28, 2018.
  4. "Japanese Box Office: Top 10 Anime Movies of 2007 - Update". Anime News Network. February 1, 2008.
  5. "Gekijōban Poketto Monsutā Daiyamondo to Pāru Diaruga Tai Parukia Tai Dākurai (Pokémon: Diamond and Pearl) (2007)". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved May 28, 2018.
  6. Pokemon- The Rise of Darkrai Dub. DVD - Review - Anime News Network
  7. Sanders, Jenny (October 2, 2008). "Pokemon: The Rise of Darkrai DVD review". Den of Geek. Retrieved July 10, 2021.
  8. Central, Film Music (May 9, 2020). "My Thoughts on: Pokémon: The Rise of Darkrai (2007)". Film Music Central. Retrieved April 9, 2022.

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