Pokémon the Movie: Secrets of the Jungle (2020) is a Japanese film also known as Gekijouban Poketto monsuta- Koko. The film follows the adventures of Satoshi and his trusty Pikachu as they journey to the Okoya forest and meet a boy raised by Pokémon. This movie was officially released in Japan on December 25, 2020, and on Netflix outside Japan on October 8, 2021. Even with a delayed release, this film managed to earn $18.53 million at the Japanese box office, and it garnered a total of around $23 million worldwide. Read on for a synopsis and review of Pokémon the Movie: Secrets of the Jungle (2020).
Synopsis
Released in 2020 and produced by OLM, Inc, Pokémon the Movie: Secrets of the Jungle is an action-adventure-fantasy film directed by Tetsuo Yajima. It follows the story of a human baby named Koko whom Pokémon find on the riverbank of the Okoya forest. Against their group’s objections, Zerude, one of the mythical Pokémon, decides to raise the human baby and name him Koko. 10 years later, Satoshi and Pikachu are still on their journey to become Pokémon masters. They embark on an adventure to Okoya forest close to the town of Milyfa.
While capturing a Pokémon in the forest, Satoshi meets one of the Biotope company employees conducting research in the area. Not far from Satoshi’s location, Team Rocket is secretly gathering intel on the company and decides to infiltrate it.
Suddenly, Satoshi finds Koko, who falls into the waterfall. He rescues him from the water and helps him return to the forest. However, Koko awakes confused, having never seen a human before. Satoshi and Pikachu help Koko understand humans, and Koko takes Satoshi to meet his father.
Koko forces Zerude to speak the truth about his identity and takes Satoshi to a deserted place that Zerude found shortly after deciding to adopt Koko. Zerude shows them a photo and a piece of Koko’s parents’ heirloom. Koko, curious about his true identity, searches for other clues to his identity, with Satoshi’s help. They find an object carved with the Biotope company’s logo. Satoshi takes Koko there to investigate his parent’s whereabouts.
At Biotope, Satoshi meets Dr. Zed, who reveals that Koko’s original name was Al, and his parents were scientists who died in a car accident. Dr. Zed then examines the heirloom left by Koko’s parents and finally finds the evidence he was looking for. The evidence is about a large tree that is the source of magical water. Koko runs away feeling sad and confused as he hears the news about his parents. He runs to the big tree, and Dr. Zed follows him with a tracking device attached to Koko’s attire.
Dr. Zed destroys the forest and the big tree. Koko, Satoshi, and Pikachu try to stop Dr. Zed, but to no avail. Zerude’s group, incited by their anger, appears at the scene where Satoshi, Pikachu, Koko, and Dr. Zed are. Koko’s foster father also arrives there, along with his Pokémon friends from the Okoya forest. They all fight Dr. Zed, but Koko’s foster father gets injured protecting Koko from Dr. Zed’s attacks.
Conclusion
In Pokémon the Movie: Secrets of the Jungle (2020), Satoshi and Pikachu join Koko on an adventure to find his true identity. The plot gets more intense as they discover the shocking truth about Koko’s parents’ death and their research on the mythical tree that is the source of magical water. The climax of the movie left viewers on the edge of their seats, with the fate of Koko’s forest hanging in the balance. Overall, this movie is a worthy addition to the Pokémon franchise and an enjoyable watch for all fans.
