Why Parents Shouldn't Worry About Pokemon: The First Movie?

My daughter wants to see this movie badly. In fact, I don't blame her since she has been watching the cartoons religiously. On a few occasions, I sit down with her to check it out. I will tell that at first I was like "What is this all about?" I had to come down to her level to make sense of the cartoons and the frenzy card trading going on around.

Pokemon, a short for Pocket Monster, originated in Japan in 1997. According to the news media, the show's intense flashy lights and changing colors made a lot of children sick. You can imagine the brouhaha. How can a game make children sick to their stomach? Was it magic? So the Japanese makers fixed the problems. No more convulsions! The movie is about a boy named Ash who attempts to capture as many of the creatures as he can. Now he has to rely on his team mates. This is where we have Pikachu who is the loyal sidekick of Ash, Bulbasaur, as the sidekick that risks death as a proof of his loyalty, Squirtle, as a prankster that joins Ash's team and Charmander as the strong Pokemon with a bulb planted on its back and ready to fight to protect its master. I will confess that that I was happy to check out the island scenes, but I started yawning right in the middle of the movie as my daughter seems to enjoy every tidbit of it.

What do I think happens with this movie in terms of lessons? If you watch the show once, you may understand that kids learn quite a few things. They learn a few negotiating skills. You should see how they become alive when they start trading. Well, you may complain that they start learning the commercialism principles at an early age. Hey, this is America at its best. Most things are for sale here. This is the business of America! Our kids may as well star learning to sell at an early age. Nothing is wrong with this picture.

These games, toys and the movie represent the best exports that Japan can ever have. Japan enters the business of fostering and providing some clues for family values. In fact, the lessons are very subtle. The traditional Japanese values are responsibility, empathy, cooperation, obedience, respect for elders, and humility. I observed all of these virtues in my classmates, roommates and Taiwanese professor when I was in college. They put a lot of emphasis on team-building. They tend to be quick to lend a helping hand to those in need. All of this can be seen in the show and movie, to a certain extent. The aim of Pokemon is to collect all 151 creatures, become a master trainer and win battles. There is no gory scenes leading to death. Death happens only when the human trainers fail in their duties. Just like the previous game of Giga pet, there is some responsibility lesson being taught here.

Even when one becomes a true master trainer, he/she is still compelled to be compassionate and responsible. The professor is responsible for his student. Professor Oak offers friendship, advice and guidance to Ash. The teacher does not scold Ash. His friends, buddies do the dirty job.

Now, parents, you may feel a bit better with the craze over the cards, toys, show and movie.