Pokemon Anime Collection by Pikachu Records Reviewed by Farfetch'd (joshnickerson@usa.net) Released: 1996 Use with: CD Player +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Opening Snide Remarks: Yes! This is the CD I've been waiting for. And after months of trying to get it on mail order, I finally succeded! Bwa ha ha ha! I am the greatest! Ahem... well, I guess I should get down to reviewing this excellent import CD based on one of the best animated shows of our time, and THE best based on a video game. Of course, I'm talking about Pokemon. This CD contains some of background music from the show, including the excellent battle music. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Impressions: Like I did for the other Pokemon CDs I reviewed, I will list each of the tracks and tell you what part of the show they are from. There are 42 tracks in this CD, and it's about 70 minutes long. After each track, Dexter (the Pokedex) comes on to tell you where from the show each tune is from. 1. Pokemon Get Daze - The first season theme song to the anime. It is very catchy, you'll be humming it for days. Ash and Pikachu come on after the song is over to tell you about the CD. 2. Let The Journey Begin! - The anime enhanced version of the Gameboy title theme. You can also hear it in Pikachu's stage in Super Smash Bros. 3. Route One - Anime version of the Route one music from the game. 4. Bike Riding - The anime enhanced version of the Bike theme. You can hear it in "The Bridge Bike Gang" 5. Surfing - Enhanced version of the Surf theme. You can hear it whenever there is a boat ride involved in the show. 6. Peaceful Times - You can hear this track whenever Ash and his friends have lost their way and are in some woods or something. 7. Meet Pikachu! - This track was played when Prof. Oak introduced Ash to Pikachu (and Pikachu shocked Ash) 8. Let's Rumble! - When Charmander toasts Team Rocket in "Charmander The Stray Pokemon", you will hear this battle music in the background. 9. Nurse Joy - Kinda obvious. The music that plays when Ash visits a Pokemon Center. 10. More Route Music - Catchy! This quick paced tune plays when Butterfree tries to find a mate in "Bye Bye Butterfree" 11. The View From Here - I'm not exactly sure where I heard this music from the show, but it sounds like it would be when the characters are surveying a vast spread of land. 12. The Lighthouse - This kinda creepy, but soothing music played during the "Mystery At The Lighthouse" episode, when the Dragonite approached the island. 13. Mysterious - Hmmm... I'm not quite sure where this track came from either. But it's equally as creepy as the last track. 14. Giovanni - This music plays whenever Team Rocket contacts their boss, knowing they're in big trouble. You can hear it in "Battle Aboard The St. Anne" 15. Sneaking In - This cool music plays whenever Team Rocket is spying on Ash through binoculars. It sounds like old film 'noir music from the 30s. 16. Excited Yet? - Upbeat carnival style music! Plays almost anytime Ash visits a carnival. You can also hear it when Jessie and James dresses up like valley girls in "Battle Aboard the St. Anne" 17. Team Rocket's Motto - Yep, you guessed it. The same music that plays when Team Rocket recites their famous motto. How I wish they had included this music in Pokemon Yellow! 18. Prepare For Battle - Music that is meant to pump you up before a big Gym Battle. You can hear it played when Ash meets Lt. Surge in "Electric Shock Showdown." 19. Let's Battle - Music that plays when Pokemon battle. You can also hear it when Pikachu battles Raichu for the first time in 'Electric Shock Showdown." 20. Let's... Run!!! - You should never be ashamed to run away from danger... Ash does that often, and this is the music that usually plays. 21. Let's Battle Again! - A lighter battle theme, which sounds like it would be more appropriate for plate spinning. You can hear it when Ash battles Misty in "The Water Flowers of Cerulean City" 22. Pokemon Battle! - The anime enhanced version of the Gameboy wild Pokemon battle theme. You can hear it when Ash battles A. J. in "The Path to the Pokemon League" 23. Extreme Pokemon Battle! - This is one of the best tracks on the album. It's the super enhanced version of the wild battle theme, complete with electric guitars and orchestra hits! You can hear it during the huge Pokemon battle in "Battle Aboard the St. Anne". 24. Evolving - A cool track that plays when Pokemon evolve. You can hear it when Ponyta evolves into Rapidash in "The Flame Pokemon-athon" 25. Mt. Moon - A creepy tune that plays when the gang enters Mount Moon. 26. Trouble... - This sad track plays whenever there is trouble, like in "Charmander the Stray Pokemon". 27. Tommorow - A track that plays whenever someone says something inspiring. You can hear it when Brock tells Ash his dreams in "Showdown At Pewter City". 28. Pokemon Takeout - This odd music plays in the episodes "Island of the Giant Pokemon" when the lost Pokemon drown their sorrows at Slowpoke's pad. 29. Let's Rock! - Plays virtually anytime something extreme happens. You can hear it in "The Bridge Bike Gang" and "Song of Jigglypuff" 30. A Great Victory! - Whenever Ash manages to pull of a big win, you can hear this track as he sets off into the sunset to his next challenge. 31. Ghosty Images - Ghostly music that plays when there is something.. er... ghostly... like when Brock meets the Maiden's ghost in "The Ghost of Maiden's Peak". 32. Where's Everyone? - Plays whenever we enter a seemingly deserted area. You can hear it when Ash first enters Pewter Gym in "Showdown At Pewter City." 33. Big Trouble - You can hear this track whenever there is big trouble on the horizon, such as Charmander being attacked by Spearows in "Charmander The Stray Pokemon". 34. Uh, oh! - This plays whenever there is REALLY big trouble, such as when Magikarp evolves into a Gyarados with a bad attitude in "Pokemon Shipwreck". 35. Prize Battle - Some more battle music, with a more uplifting beat to it. You can hear it when Pikachu battles a Muk in "Sparks Fly For Magnemite". 36. Gym Leader Battle - This music plays whenever Ash battles a Gym Leader, such as when he faces Sabrina in "Haunter Vs. Kadabra". 37. Continuing Onward - This is also route music from the game, but on the anime it usually plays when the group wins a fight and the show closes, such as the end to "Tentacool and Tentacruel". 38. Parting Ways - Sad music that plays when friends must part ways, such as Ash had to do when he said goodbye to Butterfree in "Bye Bye Butterfree". 39. Our Journey's Just Begun - Mellow music that plays sometimes plays at the end of an episode, such as "Pokemon I Choose You!" 40. Victory! - More victory music! Often played near the end of many episodes. 41. We Won! Pikachu! - Sigh. More uptempo victory music. This plays when Ash and Pikachu hug at the end of "Electric Shock Showdown". After the track, Ash, Pikachu and Dexter say goodbye. 42. Ending Theme - I'm not exactly sure, but I think this track plays during the credits. It has a kid and a woman singing, and it's kinda catchy as well. La, la, la, la, la.... Extras: The CD comes with a full color hardcover book that has screenshots from the anime and descriptions of each track. It even has some screenshots from episodes they skipped in the U.S. Also comes with some small Pokemon stickers and what looks like a mail in request form for some promo cards. Dang, I wish I knew Japanese. Also, some mail order stores offer the CD with 11 rare cards for about $70 more. Liked: Almost all of the music from the show. Hated: Where's Jigglypuff's song? +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Improve: Hmmm... There are a few catchy tunes from the show that didn't make it onto this CD, so a follow up is in order. But other than that, this is perfection. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Final Words: If you have a chance to get this baby, and you pass it up, tell me where you live and I'll be by to whack you on the head with a shovel. This CD is awesome. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Score: 100% +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Secrets: If you push the Foward Button, you advance to the next song on the CD.