New 'Pokémon: Detective Pikachu' video introduces Jigglypuff, Charizard, Pancham, Eevee and more

Gwynne Watkins
·Writer, Yahoo Entertainment
Updated

The trailers for Pokémon: Detective Pikachu have shown the Pokémon in their natural habitat — by which we mean, the neon-lit streets of Ryme City. Now it's time for them to step into the light. Warner Bros. has released a new video of "screen tests" for more than 20 of the Pokémon who appear in the franchise's first live-action movie. We get a good look at some very cute creatures, like "Balloon Pokémon" Jigglypuff, "Playful Pokémon" Panchan and "Evolution Pokémon" Eevee, along with more intimidating specimens like "Flame Pokémon" Charizard, giant-panda-esque Pangoro and cat-like villain Mewtwo. Plus we get a fun exchange between "Mouse Pokémon" Pikachu (voiced by Ryan Reynolds) and "Duck Pokémon" Psyduck, whose head has a tendency to explode. Watch the featurette, complete with Whitney Houston soundtrack, above.

Inspired by the Nintendo 3DS game of the same name, Detective Pikachu takes place in a world where Pokémon and humans live side-by-side. When a police detective goes missing, his human son Tim (Justice Smith) and former Pokémon partner Pikachu team up to solve the disappearance mystery. The audience can hear Pikachu speak because Tim alone understands him; to the rest of the world, he's simply saying "Pikachu" over and over. Judging from the clips we've seen, the film's other Pokémon will only speak by repeating their names, in the grand tradition of Groot, Hodor and all the prior Pokémon TV shows and films.

So far, the newly-released character designs seem to have the overwhelming approval of Pokémon Twitter, where fans are screen-shotting their favorites.

Along with the trailer, Warner released an image of an exclusive Pokémon trading card that will be given to fans who see the movie opening weekend (beginning with the Thursday-night early shows).

The opening-night exclusive Pokemon TCG card, featuring a coffee-drinking Detective Pikachu. (Warner Bros)
The opening-night exclusive Pokémon TCG card, featuring a coffee-drinking Detective Pikachu. (Photo: Warner Bros.)

Detective Pikachu, rated PG for "action/peril, some rude and suggestive humor, and thematic elements," opens in theaters on May 10. Preorder your tickets on Fandango.

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