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Pokémon Heroes
Movie

Pokémon Heroes

2002 • Unknown

Woke Score
1.4
out of 10

Plot

Ash, Pikachu and the gang try and stop a pair of thieves hiding out in the canals and alleyways of Altomare, the age-old water capital. Joining the adventure are two new legendary Pokémon, a pair of siblings named Latias and Latios, who serve as peacekeepers and protectors of the Soul Dew — a priceless treasure with a mysterious power.

Overall Series Review

Pokémon Heroes is a straightforward adventure film focused on protecting an ancient, beautiful city and its heritage. The narrative centers on the universal themes of heroism, sacrifice, and the fight against greed, as Ash, Pikachu, and friends defend the water capital of Altomare from two professional thieves seeking to exploit the legendary Pokémon Latias and Latios and the powerful Soul Dew. The character dynamics are traditional, with male and female characters demonstrating complementary competence. The story strongly affirms the value of the city's history and its ancestral guardians. No political or ideological commentary is injected into the core conflict, keeping the focus entirely on action, friendship, and the preservation of a sacred, natural balance.

Categorical Breakdown

Identity Politics1/10

The plot centers on a universal conflict of good versus evil (heroes versus thieves). Character merit, specifically Ash's bravery and selflessness, is the driving force of the narrative. No character is defined by race or an intersectional hierarchy. The casting is colorblind and politically neutral. The main conflict is not used to lecture on privilege or systemic oppression.

Oikophobia1/10

The entire story is dedicated to defending a beautiful, ancient city (Altomare) and its centuries-old heritage, which is represented by the Soul Dew and its guardian Pokémon. The ancestors who established the tradition of the guardians are respected. Institutions and local culture are presented as valuable and worthy of sacrifice, directly opposing the trope of civilizational self-hatred.

Feminism2/10

The female villains, Annie and Oakley, are competent and intelligent drivers of the plot, not bumbling idiots. The male protagonist, Ash, is the clear action hero who ultimately saves the city, and Latios makes the ultimate protective sacrifice. Gender roles are traditional and complementary, with no emasculation of males and no focus on anti-natalism. The main female characters are competent but not 'perfect' or 'Mary Sue' figures who overshadow the male lead.

LGBTQ+1/10

The narrative adheres to a normative structure, with the traditional male-female pairing (Ash and a character who is Latias in disguise) being the central romantic subtext. There is no presence of alternative sexual ideologies, deconstruction of the nuclear family, or lecturing on gender theory. Sexuality remains private and a non-factor in the plot.

Anti-Theism2/10

The conflict is built around protecting a powerful, magical/spiritual artifact (the Soul Dew) and the legend surrounding it, which implies a higher moral order and the power of sacrifice. This transcends mundane power dynamics and objective morality is affirmed (stealing and destruction are wrong). The film has no reference to or vilification of traditional religion, making it spiritually neutral but not anti-theistic.