Pokémon: The Arceus Chronicles (2022) Review

Welcome to my full review of this year’s Pokémon: The Arceus Chronicles! The four parts of this special were combined into one handy package for its English dub; so let’s open it up.

We open on a narration about the “World of Pokémon,” leading us to our subject; Arceus! This leads Ash and Goh to Canaleve City in the Sinnoh region; which is taking part in a festival to celebrate Hisui. They’re met by Dawn; who is wearing a similar outfit to her counterpart Akari. Ash and Goh are given special outfits as well, courtesy of Cynthia!

The three are then given a special research task, but elsewhere, trouble is brewing with Galactic admins Saturn, Jupiter and Mars. Yep, they’re back, and they even brought back their voice actors. They end up capturing Heatran; and have a major plan with it.

Back with Cynthia, she shows everyone Pokémon from Hisui- along with variants of Growlithe and Braviary, we see Wyrdeer and my personal favorite of the bunch; Basculegion. 

She then hands Ash, Goh and Dawn a supply of Poké Balls modeled on the Hisui region; assigning them to take part in a game, with a preserve being the staging grounds. They’re given three minutes to catch the starters in ancient times: Rowlet, Cyndaquil and Oshawott. I honestly really like this sequence, and the clockwork design of the Poké Balls along other Hisuian gear.

Their prize is a collection of tomes from Cynthia’s research: sounds good to me, and I do like how this anime applied more of the archeologist aspect of her character.

Back at Team Galactic’s hideout, their plan begins to take shape. Its purpose- to bring back their leader Cyrus from the Distortion World! As shockwaves emanate from their lair; the sky turns dark and red, which draws out Arceus along with Uxie, Azelf and Mesprit.

Heading towards a mine, Ash, Goh and Dawn discover some Chingling and a Bronzong going mad from the shockwaves; and after their encounter; they meet up with Uxie, Azelf and Mespirit. After getting a glimpse of Arceus, Ash and Dawn tell Goh about their past encounters in Sinnoh; then head to the Pokémon Center.

The injured Pokémon have their wounds treated, and Ash and Dawn meet up with their old friend Brock; and Goh introduces himself. Brock is still studying medicine; with his aides Blissey and Croagunk. They all agree to go to Mt. Coronet in Brock’s medical transport, which can fly.

Team Galactic activates the device they’re working on; and Dawn sends the information to Cynthia before it’s too late. A beam of light is fired into the sky over Mt. Coronet, and Brock gives chase.

The “Dimensional Gate” is opened as the device starts going haywire, causing their hideout to explode and launching Heatran outside! The heat melts the Dusk Ball it was captured in; sending it on a rampage cloaked in flames!

Brock’s transport arrives just in time to intervene with Heatran’s rampage; determining the beast is headed for the Spear Pillar! I must say that I really like how this special recreated the art style of the DP series with the advances made since then; and kept the rivalry between Brock’s Croagunk and Saturn’s Toxicroak.

Azelf, Uxie and Mespirit try to contain Heatran to the mountain; and Cynthia comes in responding to their message! The sky opens up and lightning cracks over the mountain range! Saturn, Mars and Jupiter try to attack the guardians; but they fight back as they reveal their plan to bring back Cyrus through the dimensional gate!

Goh sends out Cinderace to fight the Galactic admins, and in terms of animation; I really like how the presentation makes this look like a followup to the Diamond and Pearl series with modern production values.

Brock sends out his Steelix to hold off Toxicroak, Skuntank and Purugly; and Ash sends out Dracovish to contain the heat alongside Goh’s Inteleon! 

Cynthia arrives just in time with her Garchomp; and Officer Jenny calls in reinforcements. Brock goes to regroup with the others alongside Steelix; and Cynthia sends out her Roserade to do battle!

Brock comes into help contain the fires; even taking off his shirt to do so, because reasons. With their combined efforts (and an assist from Dawn’s Mamoswine); they’re able to start cooling the beast down.

Arceus descends from the Dimensional Gate; and shoots down Team Galactic’s chopper! Cynthia restrains the admins with Power Whip; and we begin the final part as Arceus meets with Uxie, Azelf and Mespirit. 

There is only one last hope to contain Heatran and stop its rampage; and Arceus is up to the challenge! Encasing Heatran in a globe of water, Uxie, Azelf and Mespirit levitate everyone else inside! Dawn’s Piplup and Ash’s Pikachu combine their attacks, and have to break through to to Heatran to stop its rampage! This whole sequence is quite impressive for a web special.

Heatran makes it out, and Brock begins tending to its wounds. Saturn makes one last plea to Arceus from his bonds, as the deity ascends back to where they came with Uxie, Azelf and Mesprit. The Galactic admins are sent back to prison as Croagunk jabs Brock when he tries to flirt with Cynthia. Dawn remarks she “Hasn’t seen that in a while.” She high-fives Ash and we close this special on Rei working on his quest in Hisui.

That certainly was interesting, and given how long it took to come stateside; I’m guessing rights issues between rival services (Amazon Prime JP and Netflix US) kept it from happening sooner. 

This special is easily some of my favorite Pokémon anime content in recent memory; a testament to both its legacy and its future. Though I may have my reservations going forward, I am glad to experience this and share my thoughts with you all.

Hope you all enjoyed this present to me and you all, and I hope you all have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. Season’s greetings!