Pokémon Live! facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Pokémon Live!
Gotta catch'em Live!
Cover of the cast recording CD release of the show
Productions	2000 United States tour 2001 United Arab Emirates 2001 Mexico 2002 Portugal 2002 Belgium

Pokémon Live! was a fun musical stage show that traveled across the United States from September 2000 to January 2001. This musical was based on the popular Pokémon TV show. It used many of the same characters, outfits, and story ideas. The show featured songs from the Pokémon anime soundtracks like Pokémon 2BA Master and Totally Pokémon, plus some brand-new songs just for the musical.

The show lasted about 90 minutes. It followed Ash Ketchum, Misty, and Brock on an exciting journey. They were trying to win a special prize called the Diamond Badge. But this event turned out to be a tricky plan by the evil Team Rocket and their boss, Giovanni. He wanted to take over the world!

Pokémon Live! was very popular with audiences. However, critics didn't pay much attention to it. Even though the official Pokémon website said it would be released on home video, it never happened. A TV release was also canceled. But a cast recording CD of the show was released for a short time.

The musical also traveled to other countries. In March 2001, Pokémon Live! was invited to perform in Dubai, U.A.E.. A version in Portuguese was performed in Lisbon, Portugal, in March 2002. A Dutch version of the musical was also performed in Belgium in April 2002.

Later, videos of the full show were posted online. Chris Mitchell, who was the Production Stage Manager for the U.S. tour, shared videos of a performance from December 2000 on YouTube. In 2020, another user created an improved version using parts from many different performances.

The Story of Pokémon Live!

This is what happens in the musical, based on videos and the script.

Act I: The Diamond Badge Challenge

The story starts with Giovanni announcing a challenge. He dares all Pokémon Trainers to defeat him and his Pokémon to win a special Diamond Badge. Ash decides to accept this challenge. He skips a lecture on Snorlax sleep problems that his mom, Delia, and Professor Oak are attending.

As Ash gets ready, Misty reminds him that he forgot her birthday. Ash promises to make it up to her. He then sets off with Misty and Brock to find Giovanni's Gym. They use a map from the Diamond Badge website.

Meanwhile, Jessie, James, and Meowth from Team Rocket get a call from Giovanni. He shows them his amazing new creation: MechaMew2. This giant robot is based on the powerful Mewtwo. Giovanni plans for MechaMew2 to learn every Pokémon attack and become unstoppable. He orders Team Rocket to capture Ash's Pikachu. MechaMew2 needs Pikachu's Thundershock and Thunder Attack moves. Team Rocket agrees, hoping for a big reward.

Many trainers try to battle MechaMew2, but it copies their attacks and uses them back to win. It even learns Self Destruct, but Giovanni makes sure it doesn't use that move on itself. Giovanni is very proud of his robot. He believes nothing will stop him once MechaMew2 knows all attacks.

In the forest, Brock is busy chasing girls. Misty feels sad because Ash seems to care more about his Pokémon than her. Ash tells his friends he wants them to always travel together. Team Rocket tries to trap Ash and his friends in a pitfall trap. But they forget to remove the supports, so the heroes walk right over it! Jessie and James fall into their own trap when they pull the supports out. Meowth has to go get a rope to help them.

At the same time, Delia and Professor Oak arrive at an old building for the Snorlax lecture. Delia worries she's losing touch with Ash. Professor Oak tells her that things always change. Suddenly, Rocket Grunts appear and surround them. Giovanni reveals the lecture was a trap to catch Professor Oak. He also recognizes Delia. She says their past is over, but Giovanni hints that some things don't have to change. He orders the Grunts to take Delia and Oak to his headquarters to witness something amazing.

Back in the forest, Ash, Misty, and Brock are lost. Brock threw away the map earlier. They meet a deaf trainer who agrees to share his map if he battles Ash first. The trainer sends out Jigglypuff, who starts singing a catchy song. Everyone, including the heroes and the deaf trainer, starts dancing! Misty dances to Jigglypuff’s song. Ash and Brock also dance. Misty says the song was Jigglypuff's doing. The heroes continue their journey, with Misty now carrying the map.

Meowth pulls Jessie and James out of their pit. They feel like failures, but Meowth cheers them up. He tells them they are the "best at being the worst." So, Team Rocket sets off to find Pikachu again. They use their Magikarp submarine to catch up with the trainers at Cerulean Blue Lagoon. Ash announces he'll use Pikachu against the gym leader. While the kids are distracted by the song, Team Rocket snatches Pikachu. By the time Ash notices, they are gone.

Act II: The Final Battle

A special Pokémon trading card showing MechaMew2 was released when the show was playing.

After a short break where Ash's Pokédex Dexter talks to the audience, the heroes return to the forest. Ash is sure Team Rocket kidnapped Pikachu again. Misty, still upset about her birthday, suggests Pikachu might have left Ash because he's ignoring his friends. She leaves with Brock, making Ash wonder if Pikachu really left him. Ash sadly says goodbye to Pikachu.

At the Gym, Delia and Professor Oak are trapped in giant cages. Oak asks Delia why Giovanni recognized her. She explains that Giovanni was her old boyfriend when she was younger. She left that life behind when she met Ash's father. She never told Ash because she feared he wouldn't understand. Delia tells Oak she hates Giovanni, and Giovanni walks in just in time to hear her. Giovanni says they are there to see the final battle. MechaMew2 only needs Pikachu's electric moves to learn everything.

Team Rocket arrives with Pikachu. Giovanni orders them to make Pikachu battle MechaMew2. But Pikachu shocks Team Rocket instead! This knocks them into the cages, allowing Oak and Delia to escape. Giovanni isn't worried. He realizes Pikachu needs its trainer to battle. So, he orders Jessie, James, and Meowth to bring Ash to him. They agree and leave to find Ash.

Meanwhile, Misty and Brock search for Pikachu. Misty admits she just wanted Ash to notice her and his other friends. Brock realizes Misty likes Ash. Misty denies it, saying Brock wouldn't know about liking someone since he's always chasing Nurse Joy and Officer Jenny.

Not far away, Delia and Professor Oak continue talking about her past. Misty keeps thinking about her feelings for Ash. Ash tells himself he might have to go on without Pikachu, even if it hurts. Soon, all five of them meet in the forest. Delia tells Ash that Giovanni has Pikachu and that Team Rocket kidnapped him. Ash is furious and determined to get Pikachu back and win the Diamond Badge. Before he leaves, Delia tells Ash about her past with Giovanni. Ash is shocked but still wants to leave quickly.

Suddenly, Jessie and James appear on scooters. They tell Ash to come with them. Everyone is surprised when Ash agrees without a fight! The others try to follow, but Meowth says Giovanni only wants Ash. As Ash and Team Rocket leave, Delia worries that she just gave Ash more reason to face Giovanni.

At his headquarters, Giovanni tells MechaMew2 that their plan to take over the world will begin soon. Ash runs in and demands Pikachu back. Giovanni realizes Ash is Delia's son, which makes Ash angry. He tells Giovanni to leave his mom out of it. Jessie and James enter, celebrating that they captured Ash, not realizing he was already there. Giovanni gets annoyed and tells them to leave. They crash their scooters on the way out.

Ash is happy to be reunited with Pikachu. He gets ready to battle Giovanni, who reveals he is the Gym Leader from the commercial. Giovanni mockingly gives Ash the Diamond Badge, saying he'll take it back after Ash loses.

Ash orders Pikachu to use Thundershock and then Thunder on MechaMew2, but the attacks don't work. MechaMew2 then uses those attacks back, making Pikachu unable to battle. Giovanni declares victory, saying his Pokémon has learned every attack. But Ash doesn't give up and starts a fistfight with Giovanni.

Giovanni gets tired of fighting and orders MechaMew2 to attack Ash. But then, Mewtwo appears! It saves Ash with a forcefield. Mewtwo then attacks MechaMew2 with Ash's happy memories, like his love for Pokémon and Misty. MechaMew2 speaks for the first time! It rebels against Giovanni, saying it learned about love and goodness from Ash. MechaMew2 realizes Giovanni is evil and decides to stop him.

MechaMew2 puts Giovanni in a headlock and gets ready to self-destruct. It tells Mewtwo to take an unconscious Ash somewhere safe. Mewtwo leaves with Ash and Pikachu. Before leaving, Mewtwo tells Giovanni that Ash was the one who defeated MechaMew2. Giovanni breaks free and runs just before MechaMew2 explodes.

In the forest, Ash's friends ask what happened. Ash can't remember Mewtwo appearing or how the battle ended. But he understands that his mom is still his mom, and he loves her no matter what. Ash finds the Diamond Badge in his pocket. He must have won it! He gives the badge to Misty as her birthday present. Everyone celebrates his victory. At the end, all the human and Pokémon cast members appear and dance, even Giovanni!

Songs in the Show

Most of these songs were new versions of songs already released on the Pokémon 2BA Master and Totally Pokémon soundtracks. Four songs were completely new: "It Will All Be Mine", "The Best at Being the Worst", "I've Got a Secret", and "You Just Can't Win". The "Finale" song combines parts of "You & Me & Pokémon" and "My Best Friends".

Tour Locations

Original Cast Members