Pokémon: The First Movie set a standard that future sequels couldn't match and did so without hoping to sell a toy.

Since 1998, fans have been treated to 23 animated Pokemon films, and those released in the 2000s remain some of the most beloved by the community.

Based on the already-popular game series, the Pokémon anime became a cultural phenomenon almost immediately after it was first released in the '90s. A quarter-century later, the franchise is about as ...