M4 redirects here. For the JapanesePokémon Trading Card Game set number using this abbreviation, seeNinja Spinner (TCG).

Celebi: The Voice of the Forest セレビィ　時を超えた遭遇Celebi: A Timeless Encounter

Premiere Japan July 7, 2001 United States October 11, 2002

Home video Japan February 8, 2002* United States March 18, 2003*

English themes Opening Born to Be a Winner Ending Cele-B-R-A-T-E

Japanese themes Opening めざせポケモンマスター2001 Ending 明日天気にしておくれ

Ratings United States G Great Britain U Ireland G Canada PG Quebec G Japan G Germany 0 Australia G New Zealand G

Pokémon 4Ever - Celebi: The Voice of the Forest (Japanese:劇場版ポケットモンスター　セレビィ　時を超えた遭遇Pocket Monsters the Movie - Celebi: Encounter Beyond Time; officially known asCelebi: a Timeless Encounter in Japan), also known simply asPokémon 4Ever, is the fourthPokémon movie. It featuresCelebi andSuicune.

It was released in theaters in Japan on July 7, 2001. It was distributed by Miramax in theaters in 2002. A limited release in the United States took place on October 11, 2002, and the official premiere was on October 25, 2002.

Celebi: The Voice of the Forest was shown with thePikachu short moviePikachu's PikaBoo.

Other posters and logos

• 
  Pikachu the Movie poster
• 
  Celebi: A Timeless Encounter teaser poster
• 
  FinalCelebi: A Timeless Encounter movie poster
• 
  Celebi: A Timeless Encounter DVD cover
• 
  Japanese poster featuring Celebi
• 
  2016 digital release poster
• 
  2023 digital release poster
• 
  Celebi: A Timeless Encounter logo
• 
  Celebi: The Voice of the Forest title screen
• 
  English logo
• 
  Digital release English logo

Spoiler warning: this article may contain major plot or ending details.

Blurb

There are always those who seek to contain and capture rare Pokémon—and there are those who would protect these special Pokémon from evil forces. Forty years ago that very thing occurred when Celebi found itself fleeing a vicious hunter, and a young Trainer named Sammy rushed to the rescue. They vanished—becoming yet another strange legend that the townspeople tell.

In the present day, Ash and friends arrive in the forest, and while the story of Sammy and Celebi might seem like just that at first—a story—they find out the truth when both boy and Pokémon turn up again! Though both recover from their harrowing ordeal of forty years past, things aren't necessarily getting better—there are still people looking to capture Celebi! This time it's the Iron Masked Marauder, and his plan might just be the cruelest one yet. He's equipped with Dark Balls, which make any Pokémon captured in them mindlessly obedient and evil. Can Ash, Sammy, Misty, and Brock withstand the power of a possessed Celebi, and restore it to its true self?

Plot

A youngPokémon Trainer namedSam is traveling through the woods. A young woman namedTowa gives Sam a piece of bread and a warning that there is a rare and powerful Pokémon living in the forest. Sam thanks her for the bread and continues into the deep woods, where he begins sketching someBellossom, unaware that elsewhere in the same forest, aCelebi is being chased down by aPokémon poacher who wishes to capture it using hisScyther and hisHoundoom. Celebi, the poacher, and Sam soon come in contact with one another, and Sam protects the Celebi from the man, who reveals himself to be a poacher of rare Pokémon. Celebi is still worried and in pain, however, and transports both itself and Sam into the future.

Forty years later, in a caravan by the forest, the same Pokémon poacher, now aged, is being interrogated by theIron-Masked Marauder, a member ofTeam Rocket, who wants to know where he saw Celebi. The poacher refuses, and therefore the Iron-Masked Marauder demonstrates aDark Ball, using it on one of the Pokémon the poacher has caged up, aTyranitar. Using the nowDark Tyranitar'sHyper Beam, the Iron-Masked Marauder destroys the poacher's camp. Finally convinced of the Rocket member's power, the poacher agrees to show him where he encountered Celebi.

At the same time, in a nearby town,Brock andMisty are waiting forAsh to arrive at the dock of one of the many ferries they've taken across the waterways of the regions. Brock sends out hisCrobat to find Ash and tell him that it's just about time for them to leave, just as Ash starts aPokémon battle with another Trainer namedDundee, using hisPikachu against Dundee'sCroconaw. Pikachu defeats Croconaw easily, just as Crobat shows up, and Ash and Pikachu make a run for the dock, arriving just in time to see the ferry begin to pull away. Ash runs for a dock nearer to where the ferry is, jumping for it and being caught byMr. White, the boat's owner. After Ash has been dragged on board, the Trainers and the owner talk about Pokémon, until Pikachu spots another Pokémon in the forest. As soon as they arrive at their next destination, Ash makes a call toProfessor Oak, who explains to them from Ash's description that it was theLegendary PokémonSuicune. From the description Professor Oak gives the young Trainers, it seems that Oak himself knows more about Suicune specifically than the experts, leading Ash to ask if he ever has seen one. The Professor replies affirmatively, and Ash asks where he did. Before Oak can reply, the ferry's owner calls for Ash, telling him that they must leave. Ash says goodbye quickly and goes with him. At his lab, Professor Oak wonders if he should've told Ash something before he hung up.

Ash andhis friends continue their travel, this time in a different boat, through a deep forest. As always,Jessie,James, andMeowth are following them, observing them from a pedal-powered small plane. However, Jessie stops pedaling for a moment, leaving the contraption underpowered and susceptible to the wind, which is exactly what catches it, sending theTeam Rocket trio blasting off again into the distance.

Meanwhile, Ash, as well as the others, have reached a waterfall along the river. Unable to climb it, Misty asks what they'll do. Mr. White responds with a quick transformation of his craft, turning it from a boat into a small blimp in a matter of seconds, and floating up, over the waterfall, and intoArborville, which a small town comprising entirely of tree-houses, where he lets the Trainers off. They continue on, arriving at the same place that Sam did forty years before, and are asked by Towa, who has now aged considerably if they're going to be going into the forest to look for Pokémon. Ash replies that he will and soon the old woman's granddaughter,Diana, shows up, who Brock promptly hits on. Ash ignores Towa's advice, running headlong into the forest, leaving Misty to pull Brock away from Diana, as she always does. As soon as the trio has gotten into the deep woods, the trees begin to glow blue, something that happened just before Celebi vanished into the future with Sam. At the same place he vanished from, in front of Celebi's shrine, Sam reappears just as Ash, Misty, and Brock run up, with Celebi in his arms. Celebi floats away before the three can see it. Sam is unconscious and Ash, worried about him, decides to take him back to Towa's house.

As soon as the four return, Sam wakes up, pushing Ash away and demanding where Celebi has gone. Before there can be a fight between Ash and Sam, Brock is able to break it up. Towa suddenly recognizes Sam, and she brings everyone inside to explain what happened. Since Sam disappeared 40 years before, she had been keeping his sketchbook and returned it to him, explaining to him just how long he'd been gone. Sam vows to return to where he reappeared and find Celebi to help it, and Ash, Misty, and Brock agree to go with him.

Soon, traveling in the forest, the four see the destruction wreaked by the Iron-Masked Marauder's giant mech, and Sam and Ash find where Celebi is hiding. However, theTime Travel Pokémon appears not to want their help, sending out vines to get them away. Pikachu, taking Celebi's defensiveness for hostility, prepares toThunder Shock it, but Sam prevents it from doing so, and explains that the Pokémon is only scared. Soon, Ash and Sam are able to, together, soothe Celebi and bring it with them. Team Rocket, not yet having given up, are waiting for them, and block their path back. Saying theirmotto, as they always do, causesWobbuffet to fall onto the already-unstable branch they stand on, though, and causes it to break, sending them to the ground, and allowing the four Trainers to continue, unconcerned by that bumbling trio's appearance.

Just as Ash are getting closer to Arborville, the Iron-Masked Marauder attacks, sending out his Dark Tyranitar against the Trainers. Using its Hyper Beam again, he very nearly hits them, however, they are able to escape, partly due to the intervention ofWeezing'sSmokescreen, the Team Rocket trio thinking he's trying to steal "their" Pikachu. However, upon recognizing the Iron-Masked Marauder as a member of their own organization, the trio quickly apologizes, and the Iron-Masked Marauder sends out a DarkScizor and a DarkSneasel to chase after the children.

Misty causes the group to stop due to twisting her knee, and both of the Dark Pokémon catch up. Ash prepares to battle, taking out one of hisPoké Balls. Sam also joins in, unveiling an old-stylePoké Ball and winding it open to send out his Pokémon of choice, aCharmeleon. Ash, now over the surprise of Sam's strange Poké Ball, throws his own, sending outBayleef. Bayleef takes on Scizor, whoseDouble Team proves troublesome, until Bayleef manages to locate the real one and swiftly defeats it. Charmeleon, meanwhile, fares well against Sneasel before defeating it with aHeadbutt. The group leaves the two Dark Pokémon tied up to rocks, though the Iron-Masked Marauder merely chuckles when he and the Team Rocket trio find them, saying that the children's resistance is making things interesting.

Ash and the group continue in the forest, which grows foggy. Leading them through are severalNormal-type Pokémon, who bring them to a lake, called theLake of Life. Sam brings Celebi in, and it dives underwater, usingRecover. Now fully healed, the Pokémon plays with the group a bit, and Ash turns his hat backward and jumps in, followed by Sam. The three of them swim for a bit, then fly through the air with the help of Celebi'sPsychic powers. Celebi soon leads all four of them to a berry tree, and everything seems well for the time being as they enjoy the berries.

Meanwhile, Jessie, James, and Meowth, bored on the Iron-Masked Marauder's mech, try to grab a fruit of their own, however, in doing so, they end up falling out, even losing the fruit itself to aPidgeotto, before hastily chasing after the mech.

Back with Ash's group, he and Sam are discussing Pokémon, and Sam shows Ash his sketchbook, containing several excellent drawings including the one that Sam is working on now; one of Pikachu and Celebi sleeping together. Ash remarks on the quality of Sam's pictures, which Ash compares to aPokédex. The two talk about how, especially for Sam, their mothers must worry about them. Pikachu and Celebi wake up and run off, causing Sam and Ash to follow them. Climbing a tree, they watch a group ofMetapod evolve intoButterfree and fly off creating a magnificently colorful display. The two friends watch this together with the Pokémon, and marvel at the unforgettable sight.

The next morning, the four Trainers continue their journey back to the village when the Iron-Masked Marauder arrives on his mech. With Jessie, James, and Meowth cutting off their escape, the group is forced to try to fight their way out. Pikachu's attacks are stopped by the mech's force field, and the Iron-Masked Maraudercaptures Celebi in his Dark Ball, much to the shock of the group. Ash attempts to attack the Marauder himself and climbs the mech's leg, while a flock ofPidgey surrounds the Marauder, allowing Ash to make it up. However, even though his efforts are able to topple the mech and are able to get the Dark Ball containing Celebi away, the evil Team Rocket member is able to get it back by stomping on Ash's fingers until he loses consciousness. He shows the group, as well as the Pokémon who have gathered to help Celebi, just what has happened: Celebi has become a mindless monster who instantly attacks with its psychic powers easily defeating all the Pokémon. The Iron-Masked Marauder demands Celebi displays more of its power, and the Pokémon responds by picking up a good amount of debris, and Jessie, to create a monstrous ball. Suicune is watching this, and Diana and her grandmother know as well and go to rescue Ash and the others in Mr. White's blimp.

As Celebi moves through the forest, the Iron-Masked Marauder refuses to let Jessie go as he wants her to make a full report toGiovanni about the power he now possesses. He has Celebi turn the ball into a monstrous creation which fires a purple beam at the Lake, causing an explosion that destroys its purity. Jessie promises the Marauder that she'll guarantee him a promotion when he hands Celebi over to Giovanni, however, the Marauder tells her he has no intention of handing Celebi over. Instead, he plans to use Celebi to usurp Giovanni and take over Team Rocket himself. The blimp approaches the Marauder and Ash and Sam try to get Celebi's attention, but the Marauder has Celebi fire at the blimp, causing it to crash land in the lake and another shot sends them flying to shore. Ash and Sam are determined to get Celebi back and Ash orders aThunderbolt from Pikachu against the Celebi monster, but it has no effect. The Iron-Masked Marauder decides to get rid of Ash and Sam once and for all and order Celebi to fire at them. Ash and Sam have no way of avoiding the beam that's forming, and Celebi fires.

Ash and Sam are rescued by Suicune, who had arrived just in time. Suicune confirms it's there to help, and Ash and Sam prepare to get Celebi back. The Iron-Masked Marauder notices Suicune's arrival and decides to capture it too, and sends out his Dark Tyranitar and orders a Hyper Beam. Brock knows Tyranitar has to be stopped and sends outOnix against it. The two Pokémon begin to fight, but Onix, despite its size advantage, finds itself to be no match against Tyranitar's strength. Meanwhile, Suicune attempts to find an opening to get Ash and Sam to Celebi but cannot get past the Celebi-monster's defenses. Eventually, Tyranitar heads towards Suicune who unleashes a powerfulBubble Beam that knocks it back, allowing Onix to use its tail to send Tyranitar flying into the Lake, taking it out of the fight. However, the battle has taken its toll on Onix, who faints. Brock congratulates Onix on a job well done and returns it to its Poké Ball.

Meanwhile, Suicune is finally able to make a run for Celebi up the monster's arm but is caught by the creature's tendril which starts to sap the energy out of it. Ash and Sam are sent flying but are caught by Jessie who informs them of Celebi's location. Ash and Sam climb the monster and find Celebi at its heart. Ash and Sam start to climb through, withstanding Celebi's attacks and trying to remind it of its previous gentle nature. Eventually, Celebi starts to regain its memories of Ash, Sam, and Pikachu and the tendrils holding Suicune release it. Celebi soon breaks free of its brainwashing, destroying its Dark Ball in the process.

Now that Celebi is free from the Iron-Masked Marauder's control, the Celebi-monster is left to crumble into the lake along with the Iron-Masked Marauder and Jessie. Celebi flies Ash and Sam out of the disintegrating creature however it starts to lose strength. By the time Ash's friends and Suicune meet Ash and Sam at the lakeside Celebi is unconscious, something is seriously wrong. Just then Celebi withers in Ash's arms, to everyone's horror. Brock suggests putting Celebi into the water, however, it has no effect as the lake's water has been tainted by the attack on it. Suicune, however, has the power to save the lake and jumps across the water purifying and restoring it with every step.

Ash places Celebi into the water, however, despite being clean it still has no effect. Ash tries feeding it the Berries it liked earlier, but Celebi doesn't move and the Berries fall into the lake. It is now clear that Celebi is dead, and Ash and the villagers start to weep. Sam angrily states that Celebi didn't do anything wrong, that it was forced to attack the forest and never got the choice, and now it can never have a choice. Sam starts to cry as well, as the others continue to sob, upset at losing such an innocent Pokémon and friend. Suicune and the Forest Pokémon are also devastated, and all cry out in anguish.

Suddenly, a bright light appears in the sky enveloping the lake causing everyone to look up. The light vibrates for a few seconds before a portal opens through which multiple otherCelebi appear. They cause the Celebi lying dead in Ash's arms to rise up and take it to the middle of a circle and start to give it energy. Towa explains that the spirits of the past and the future cantravel through time too, and so they've all come to help their fallen friend. Celebi's body returns to its previous state and the tiny Pokémon suddenly wakes up completely revived to everyone's joy. The Celebi spirits travel back through the portal, which closes in a magnificent display of light. Celebi is now full of life and starts to fly across the lake, happily returning to everyone on the shore.

The reunion is cut short when the Iron-Masked Marauder suddenly emerges from the lake grabbing Celebi. Determined to get away with Celebi one way or another, two rockets emerge from a jet pack on his back and he flies away. Ash is desperate to not let him get away and grabs the Iron-Masked Marauder's leg as he rises and holds on tight, despite rising very high very fast, and with the Marauder trying to kick him off. Ash climbs up his legs orders Pikachu to useThunderbolt on the evil man, causing the jet pack to explode, and he, Ash, and Pikachu to fall back to Earth. Ash and Pikachu are immediately rescued by Celebi, who helps them fly and return to their friends. The Iron-Masked Marauder falls through the trees, eventually reaching the ground, losing his helmet, and having to face the wrath of the Arborville citizens and severalBug-type Pokémon. He goes to send out his Scizor and Sneasel, but the Dark Balls are missing, and all of the Bug types useString Shot to tie him up.

Back at the lake, Ash and company say goodbye to Suicune, and Celebi prepares to travel back in time 40 years to return Sam from where he came. As Ash says goodbye, Sam and he agree that they'll see each other again one day. Celebi and Sam disappear as they travel through time and those who remained in the present are saddened by Sam and Celebi's departure, with Ash especially upset that his new friend had to leave.

Soon afterward Ash, Misty, and Brock find themselves back where they started, calling Professor Oak once again to confirm that it indeed was a Suicune they saw, and Misty adds that they also were able to see Celebi. Oak notices Ash's disheartened face and asks him what exactly is bringing him down, as he hasn't said a word since they began talking. Ash replies that it's because he made a really good friend, but now it seems they'll never see each other again. Professor Oak responds that true friendships can withstand the test of time and he's sure that he'll see Sam again and that even though they're separated, they'll be friends forever. Ash feels better from Oak's kind words and promises to tell him the full story when he returns toPallet Town, and Oak remarks that he's looking forward to it. After hanging up, Misty suddenly realizes that Professor Oak somehow knew Sam's name, despite them not having mentioned it to him. Before the group can think about it too much, the next ferry they're taking is prepared to leave, and they have to go catch it. Brock can only simply chalk it up to being that Professor Oak is a brilliant man who knows everything as they run off to more adventures. Back in Oak's lab, the Professor is looking through a sketchbook. Talking to himself, he says that it's all as if it happened yesterday, revealing the drawing of Celebi and Pikachu together that he drew as Sam 40 years ago.

In the end, Jessie is swimming in the lake and relishing in its comfort when James and Meowth find her on a raft. Before she can climb aboard, though, the now-freed Tyranitar appears and breaks the raft. As it swims away, the Iron-Masked Marauder's Scizor and Sneasel also return to their life in the wild after being freed from the Dark Balls. Team Rocket, having their raft destroyed, decides to relax in the lake instead.

Major events

• Professor Oak is revealed to have a owned aCharmeleon.

For a list of all major events inPokémon the Series: Gold and Silver, please see thetimeline page.

Debuts

• Celebi (M04)
• Croconaw
• Tyranitar
• Sneasel
• Jumpluff
• Piloswine

Characters

Humans

• Ash
• Misty
• Brock
• Tracey
• Jessie
• James
• Professor Oak
• Sam
• Iron-Masked Marauder
• Towa
• Diana
• Dundee
• Mr. White
• Pokémon poacher

Pokémon

• Pikachu (Ash's)
• Meowth (Team Rocket)
• Togepi (Misty's)
• Wobbuffet (Jessie's)
• Muk (Ash's; Japanese version only)
• Bayleef (Ash's)
• Onix (Brock's)
• Crobat (Brock's)
• Weezing (James's)
• Charmeleon (Sam's)
• Tyranitar (Iron-Masked Marauder's; new; escapes)
• Scizor (Iron-Masked Marauder's; escapes)
• Sneasel (Iron-Masked Marauder's; escapes)
• Celebi (Iron Masked Marauder's; new; escapes)
• Croconaw (Dundee's)
• Scyther (poacher's)
• Houndoom (poacher's)
• Gengar (Trainer's)
• Onix (Trainer's)
• Suicune (wild)
• Jigglypuff (anime; cameo)
• Caterpie (multiple)
• Metapod (multiple)
• Butterfree (multiple)
• Pidgey (multiple)
• Pidgeotto
• Sentret
• Furret (multiple)
• Oddish (multiple)
• Bellossom (multiple)
• Piloswine
• Rhyhorn (multiple)
• Rhydon
• Ledyba
• Teddiursa
• Ursaring (multiple)
• Stantler (multiple)
• Pichu
• Venonat
• Venomoth
• Nidoran♂
• Nidorino
• Nidoking (multiple)
• Nidoran♀
• Nidorina
• Nidoqueen (multiple)
• Sandshrew (multiple)
• Sandslash
• Spinarak (multiple)
• Hoothoot
• Tangela
• Heracross
• Pinsir
• Rattata (multiple)
• Raticate
• Spearow (multiple)
• Mankey (multiple)
• Paras
• Parasect (multiple)
• Remoraid
• Quagsire
• Magikarp (multiple)
• Gyarados
• Seaking (multiple)
• Jumpluff (multiple)
• Lapras (multiple)
• Starmie
• Tentacool
• Seel (multiple)
• Dewgong (multiple)
• Slowbro
• Diglett (multiple)
• Geodude (multiple)
• Graveler
• Golem
• Bellsprout
• Victreebel
• Weedle (multiple)
• Beedrill (multiple)
• Ponyta (multiple)
• Rapidash (multiple)
• Weezing
• Porygon
• Voltorb
• Electrode
• Celebi (multiple)

Cast

Soundtrack

Main article:Celebi: Encounter Beyond Time Original Soundtrack

Manga adaptation

Main article:Celebi: a Timeless Encounter (manga)

Trivia

• This movie was released betweenEP205 andEP206 in Japan.
• This is the last movie to feature an audio commentary. It is also the only one to include voice actorsVeronica Taylor,Rachael Lillis,Eric Stuart, andMaddie Blaustein.
• This was the third Pokémon movie to air on Toon Disney inthe United States, afterJirachi: Wish Maker andDestiny Deoxys.
• Cyndaquil andTotodile appeared in promotional posters for this movie, but not in the movie itself.
• This is the first movie in whichJessie,James, andMeowth directly assist the main villain.
• Togepi isMisty's only Pokémon to appear in the movie.
• This is the first movie in which a Pokémon evolves, in this caseMetapod intoButterfree.
• This is the first movie in whichTeam Rocket blasts off.
• Meowth refers to the real world when he mistakes theIron-Masked Marauder for a "Mexican wrestler".
• This is the first movie not to featuretalking Pokémon other than Meowth.
• Here, unlike in the episodeThe Little Big Horn,Stantler's voice is dubbed.
• This movie marks the first time that acaughtMythical Pokémon is featured in theanimated series.
• This is the first movie to keep its Japanese soundtrack in the dub, a practice that would continue until thesixteenth movie.
• The working title for this movie during its production wasPokémon 2001.
• The events of this movie are later madecanon inFor Ho-Oh the Bells Toll!, where Ash identifiesSuicune by name. He only learned its name in the movie despite seeing it inDon't Touch That 'dile.
• This was the first Pokémon movie to be distributed byMiramax.
• This was the first Pokémon movie to be distributed by Alliance Atlantis in Canada.
• According toMasamitsu Hidaka in a2008 interview with Water Pokémon Master, this movie was the reason why theGS Ball plotline was dropped in the main series, as it was also planned to involve a Celebi before it was decided to star in this movie instead.

Errors

• When the Iron-Masked Maurauder demands thepoacher to tell him where Celebi is, the poacher's right eye is drawn as normal instead of bionic.
• In the opening,Ash is shown in his normal clothes when he is receiving Pikachu, instead of his pajamas as depicted inthe first episode of the animated series.
• WhenMr. White is in his flying boat, his gloves disappear. They return in the next scene.
• When Ash andhis friends arrive at the waterfall, Mr. White speaks, but his mouth does not move.
• When Sam runs out of theLake of Life, his clothes are only wet up to his knees, despite having been in a part of the lake where the water's surface was higher than his waist.
• After the Pokémon are blown away, the front ofAsh's hat is colored red like the rest of the hat instead of white.
• When Suicune goes back to the Lake of Life, a nearbySentret has miscolored ears.
• In the English dub, under the "In Association with" section of the credits,The Pokémon Company is credited as "THE POKEMAN COMPANY," misspelled and lacking an e-acute.

Dub edits

• This movie includes several scenes specially animated for Western audiences.
  • The first was an alternate scene of Ash callingProfessor Oak to find out aboutSuicune. In the original scene, Professor Oak assumes it is Suicune, shows Ash a picture of it from a book, and talks about it; however, when he attempts to write aPokémon senryū,Ash's Muk smothers Oak andTracey apologizes. In the English version, Professor Oak confirms that Suicune is one of theLegendary Pokémon, talks about it, confirms that he has seen it, and confirms that the legends about Suicune being the embodiment of the North Wind and being able to purify tainted water are true. Mr. White then calls to Ash andhis friends, and they run off to the boat. The scene then cuts to an exterior shot ofProfessor Oak's Laboratory inPallet Town, then cuts to him sitting inside his lab, wondering if he "should have told him" what was going to happen.
  • The second scene is whenTeam Rocket try to grab some fruit while on the Marauder's mech, only to fall off and be left behind.
  • The third scene is an alternate ending. The new ending is of Ash calling Professor Oak again, telling him of his adventures in the forest and how sad he was that he would never see his new friend again. Oak assures him that he andSammy would always be friends, no matter how far apart they are. After the call, Misty wonders aloud how Oak knew Sam's name. In the original, Sam was shown returning toTowa in the past, and he tells her he had been dreaming. In fact, the only clue for the Japanese audience that Sam was actually a young Professor Oak was during the ending credits, when Tracey finds Sam's faded sketch ofCelebi andPikachu sleeping among Professor Oak's belongings (but this causes a small continuity error in the dub, as Tracey finds the sketchbook stashed away among several other old books despite Professor Oak having been shown recently reading it).
    • For the director's comments on the English DVD involving the voice talent, they talk about watching the original ending and being completely confused on whether it meant that Oak and Sam were the same person or not. They note that the original is a fairly typical way for a Japanese movie to solve a similar mystery in the storyline. Once they confirmed that Oak and Sam were indeed the same person, they created the new ending to clearly show that they were the same for the English-speaking audiences.
    • The addition of the above scene creates a continuity error in the dub, as the scene depicts Ash and his friends already back at the port ready to depart by boat, whereas the very first scene of the ending credits shows them leaving Arborville via Mr. White's flying boat.
    • A special edition of the movie including these additional scenes voiced in Japanese was broadcast on TV Tokyo on March 25th, 2003. However, this version has a few key differences. Firstly, none of the background music created for the English dub of these scenes is played, with the soundtrack simply being silent instead. Secondly, the scene where Ash first calls Professor Oak is identical to the original version with the exception of the added cut to Professor Oak's Laboratory. Lastly, the scene from the original version of Sam returning to his time period is still included, playing directly before Ash's second call to Professor Oak.
• In the Japanese version, Celebi is repeatedly referred to as God of the Forest (森(もり)の神(かみ)). In English, this was translated as "Voice of the Forest", a term which is also included in the English movie title.
• The dub features the prologue (entitled "Ash's Journey") originally made forPokémon Heroes: Latios & Latias. The dub version was also released in America as a special feature on theMewtwo Strikes Back DVD, even beforePokémon Heroes was released in Japan.
• In the original Japanese version, "40 years later" is displayed when the movie returns to present day. This text is removed in the English dub.
• In the dub, it's implied that the hunter lives in the same forest where Celebi appeared and the Iron-Masked Marauder wants to know where exactly in the forest he saw Celebi. This is not the case in the original Japanese version, where the Marauder instead questions the hunter in order to learn the location of the forest.
• The Iron-Masked Marauder never callsTyranitar'sHyper Beam by name in the original version.
• TheCroconaw Trainer is unnamed and has no lines in the Japanese version. However, in the dub, he is given the nameDundee and is heard introducing himself to Ash and sending out Croconaw.
  • Dundee's Australian accent ensures that this is areference to the 1986 action-comedy filmCrocodile Dundee.
• The Team Rocket trio explicitly refers to the Iron-Masked Marauder as aTeam Rocket Executive in the original version. No mention of his rank is made in the dub.
• When the Iron-Masked Marauder catches Celebi, in the dub, he says "Dark Ball, go!" In the Japanese version, he simply grunts upon throwing the ball.
• As Celebi starts forming a ball of forest materials around itself and Jessie gets sucked into it, the dub has James making a comment about Celebi building "a nasty nest", while Jessie simply screams. In the Japanese version, James remarks that this looks like overkill, while Jessie cries out, "I'm alone, and this feels bad", a variation of Team Rocket's Japanese blast-off phrase.
• The Marauder makes no expression about wanting to rule Team Rocket in the Japanese version; in fact, he specifically mentions that since he now owns Celebi, he won't be tied down to Team Rocket anymore, and only he can rule the world.
• WhenBrock says that it looks like Ash evolved into aPrimeape, the Swedish and Portuguese dub mistook it forprimate and erroneously translated it, thus making a reference to the real world.
• In the Swedish subtitles,Teddiursa is subbed as "Pappa Ursa", as if he says "Daddy Ursa" instead of "Teddiursa".

Ash calls Professor Oak

• 
  Original Japanese version
• 
  Dubbed English version

Ending comparison

• 
  Original Japanese version
• 
  Dubbed English version

Additional scenes produced for dubbed English version

• 
  "I wonder if I should have told him before he hung up."
• 
  Team Rocket fall off the Iron-Masked Marauder's mecha.

In other languages

External links

• Pokémon 4Ever onPrime Video(English)
• Pokémon 4Ever onGoogle Play(English)
• Pokémon 4Ever oniTunes(English)
• Pokémon 4Ever at IMDb
• Pokémon 4Ever at Miramax
• Pokémon 4Ever at Wikipedia
• Official website(English)
• Official website(Japanese)
• Pokémon the Movie 4 - Pokémon 2001 promo

Related articles

This movie article is part ofProject Anime, aBulbapedia project that covers all aspects ofPokémon animation.

• Movies
• Episodes that feature time travel