Pokemon: The Arceus Chronicles has finally been released on Netflix after much anticipation from fans of the Pokemon anime. The hour-long film consists of four individual specials that aired in Japan at the beginning of the year, spinning-off the main anime series, Pokemon Journeys. Initially, it coincided with the release of Pokemon Legends: Arceus.
The specials follow Ash, Goh, Dawn, and their Pokemon as they investigate strange occurrences surrounding a Sinnoh region festival commemorating its past. Along the way, they encounter some old friends, as well as several Easter eggs for fans of Pokemon Legends: Arceus. These eight will definitely catch the eyes of those who adventured through Hisui.
8 Ash And Goh Visiting Jubilife Town
After arriving in Sinnoh, Ash and Goh find themselves at a festival in Canalave City. The city has been remodeled to appear as it did during ancient times. However, those who played Pokemon Legends: Arceus will identify this appearance as identical to Jubilife Village, the main hub where players spend time outside of Pokemon expeditions.
Though Ash and Goh don't get much of a chance to explore the recreated Jubilife Village before being lured into action, fans will recognize the festival taking place in Canala Avenue. However, many of the shops fans may be familiar with from Pokemon Legends: Arceus are replaced with more modern, Pokemon-themed shops for the festival.
7 Dawn's Hisuian Wardrobe Change
When Dawn first appears in The Arceus Chronicles, she's sporting a traditional garb that resembles the default player character's clothes in Pokemon Legends: Arceus. Even her white knit cap is replaced with a headband reminiscent of the female player character's headwear in the Hisui region. Soon after, she convinces Ash and Goh to change as well.
While trying on new Hisui outfits, Ash and Goh re-encounter Cynthia, the Sinnoh region Champion who Dawn stays with. While she adopts a similar clothing to the other three, her hairstyle is even reminiscent of Cynthia's ancestors from Legends Arceus, particularly Cogita, who sports a similar coif of hair over her left eye like Cynthia does.
6 Team Galactic Captures Heatran
An early scene in the film finds several Team Galactic grunts, led by Saturn, encountering a Heatran in a volcanic cave. Heatran, like all the other Sinnoh region Pokemon, also appears in Pokemon Legends: Arceus, though cannot be captured until after the main story is complete. Here, Saturn seems to have gotten to the Legendary Pokemon early.
Fans of any Pokemon series game will note Saturn's strategy to catch Heatran as incredibly effective as well. After suffering damage from a super-effective Ground-type move, Saturn uses a Dusk Ball to successfully capture the Pokemon. Dusk Balls, as most fans will know, are most effective when used at night or in cavernous locations.
5 Hisuian Forms Make A Subtle Appearance
During the Sinnoh festival, Cynthia leads Ash, Goh, and Dawn to a room commemorating the history of the Sinnoh region. The paintings on the wall make reference to many locations in Pokemon Legends: Arceus, but one, in particular, is given specific attention. That painting depicts several Hisuian forms that debuted in the Switch title.
Though The Arceus Chronicles doesn't cover all Hisuian forms, a few specific ones appear in this painting: Hisuian Growlithe and Hisuian Braviary, as well as the new evolved Pokemon, Basculegion and Wyrdeer. Hopefully, future episodes of the Pokemon anime will pay tribute to other new Pokemon, like Hisuian Zoroark or Ursaluna, among others.
4 Catching A New Starter Trio
During their look through the museum exhibit, Cynthia also introduces Ash, Goh, and Dawn to the way Pokemon used to be captured in Hisui. She gives each of them an ancient designed Poke Ball, resembling the same ones from Pokemon Legends: Arceus. To test them out, she takes them to an open field filled with Sinnoh Pokemon.
Ash, Goh, and Dawn are quick to be introduced to an Oshawott, Cyndaquil, and Rowlet, who Cynthia describes as native to other regions but found in ancient Sinnoh. Chasing them down, they each catch one of the starters from Pokemon Legends: Arceus. Ash gets Rowlet, Dawn gets Oshawott, and Goh gets Cyndaquil.
3 A Strange Phenomenon Near Mt. Coronet
The trio's fun adventures learning about ancient Sinnoh come to a halt when Team Galactic force Heatran to exert an energy pulse, affecting all nearby Pokemon. The protagonists' own Pokemon, Pikachu, Grookey, and Piplup, draw their attention to a disturbance on Mt. Coronet. What they soon discover is a dimensional gate opening thanks to the efforts of the evil team.
The plot movement of a dimensional gate opening on Mt. Coronet is a direct reference to the main story of Pokemon Legends: Arceus. After a rift in spacetime begins affecting the Noble Pokemon of each Hisuian region, the player is called upon to temper their rages. Like The Arceus Chronicles, this leads to a confrontation at the summit of Mt. Coronet.
2 Arceus Changes Its Type
During the climax of The Arceus Chronicles, Arceus appears atop Mt. Coronet to halt the raging Heatran's destruction. After pleading with Arceus to help, Arceus reveals one of its signature plates, transforming it into a Water-type Pokemon. With its new abilities, Arceus creates an ocean in the sky, which it uses to temper the Heatran's madness.
The use of Arceus' plates is a significant callback to the Pokemon games. With the individual Plate items found by the player, Arceus' type can change accordingly. The post-game story of Pokemon Legends: Arceus also involves finding the remaining number of Plates prior to capturing Arceus.
1 A Final Cameo Before The Credits
Pokemon: The Arceus Chronicles features more cameos than just Dawn, Cynthia, Brock, and the Team Galactic goons. After thwarting Team Galactic's plans, Ash, Goh, and Dawn leave to go resume festival activities. However, before sending audiences to the scrolling credits, there's one last Easter egg that shows up.
In a scene taking place in ancient Hisui, Rei appears running through the real Jubilife Village. Rei, as the male player character in Pokemon Legends: Arceus, marks the first appearance of a player character in the Pokemon anime who isn't a companion of Ash since Zoroark: Master of Illusions. It's a sweet vignette calling back to the original game.