>>56545324>M21I feel like that was the perfect formula for the franchise.
You had Ash as a familiar element, but he wasn't the protagonist, his function was to be a vehicle for the plot, accompanying the audience where the real conflict and protagonists would take place.
Using the setting more freely, not limiting yourself to things from the video game or anime like this Pokemon only belongs to X region or such element is exclusive to such game. If they wanted Pokeangeles they would be Pokeangeles, not a city between Kanto and Johto, really in this movie you feel more of a foreign vibe than all the Unova anime.
Finally having the freedom to expand their world, previously they had to limit themselves due to retrocontinuity with the anime, like what Pokemon Ash or another character counted at the moment, in this AU they didn't have to justify anything. I loved Risa as a character, it was a different take on your classic child protagonist, plus I was more curious to see how normal people live their lives in Pokemon and not just focus on the classic trip through gyms.
For me this universe of movies should have continued, it's a shame that the decisions with Koko were so bad.
