'Pokémon: Mewtwo Strikes Back Evolution' Is Headed To Netflix Next Month

Get ready to bathe in a warm tub of nostalgia, my fellow Pokémaniacs. It's been confirmed that the much-anticipated CGI movie with the ridiculous name, Pokémon: Mewtwo Strikes Back Evolution, is headed to Netflix next month. The feature-length adventure will be available on the streaming service from February 27th, which is of course Pokémon Day!

A reboot/remake of 1999's Pokémon: The First Movie, Mewtwo Strikes Back Evolution follows Ash and the gang as they come face to face with Mewtwo, a genetically-engineered Pokémon with a serious grudge against humanity. There are massive, epic battles, and lots of Team Rocket being funny/useless/stupid.

Oh, and there's one incredibly emotional moment that still hits reduces an entire generation to tears every time they see it. You know what I'm talking about. Check out the new trailer below. Sure, the CGI animation style takes some getting used to, but I think I'm happy to go along for this ride.

"When researchers discover and exploit a fossil of the Mythical Pokémon Mew, they unleash a creation that goes against the very laws of nature," reads the official synopsis from Netflix. "The Legendary Pokémon Mewtwo was intended for use as a tool of destruction. But as Mewtwo becomes aware of its own dubious origin, it begins to resent its human creators and seeks revenge..."

Mewtwo Strikes Back Evolution was first released in Japan last year, where it was considered to be a massive hit. Thanks to the power of nostalgia and Japan's inherent adoration for all things Pokémon, the movie became one of the top-grossing films in its opening weekend. Not too shabby.

I was six years old when Pokémon: The First Movie came out, so I was pretty much just the right age for it have a seriously profound impact on me. Revisiting the movie as a grown man (who would still die for Pokémon), I can see that it's actually a bit cheesy and not all that great... but I don't care, I'll always love it.

The movie's central message, about equality and looking past differences to work together for a brighter future, was an incredibly deep one for kids everywhere at the time, even if it was a little clumsy in its delivery. I've no doubt that with the CGI remake about to hit Netflix, that same message will hit a whole new generation of nippers in exactly the same way... and that's really rather wonderful.