M15

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  Pikachu the Movie 15th poster

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  Kyurem VS the Sacred Swordsman teaser poster

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  Original Kyurem VS the Sacred Swordsman: Keldeo poster

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  Japanese Resolute form poster

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  Japanese DVD cover

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  English poster

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  Australian alternate DVD cover

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  Keldeo and Pikachu in Japanese promotional artwork

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  Kyurem VS the Sacred Swordsmen teaser logo

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  Kyurem VS the Sacred Swordsman: Keldeo logo

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  Kyurem VS. The Sword of Justice logo

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  Title screen

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  Pikachu the Movie 15th logo

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

Ash and Pikachu, along with their friends Iris and Cilan, are on a train headed to the next stop on their journey. From the train, Ash spots an injured Pokémon—one he’s never seen before. He’s trying to figure out how he can help when the train is attacked by the Legendary Kyurem, a Dragon-type Pokémon with immense power! Ash and the others barely manage to escape the rampaging Kyurem’s attack, and as the dust settles, they turn their attention to the injured Pokémon. Their new acquaintance turns out to be the Mythical Pokémon Keldeo, and it’s on a mission to rescue its friends—Cobalion, Terrakion, and Virizion, the Legendary Pokémon known as the Swords of Justice—from Kyurem’s icy clutches!

But Kyurem’s rampage isn’t over, and it’s drawing power from Reshiram and Zekrom, changing into Black Kyurem or White Kyurem to make its attacks even stronger! Why is Kyurem attacking Ash and his friends with such unrelenting fury? How will they be able to overcome this danger?

To protect its friends, to discover true power and genuine courage, and to preserve its bond with Ash and its companions, a hidden strength awakens within Keldeo...

As the movie begins, the narrator gives an introduction about the Pokémon world before it cuts to a scene of Ash and his Pikachu in a battle with a Pokémon Trainer's Druddigon. He commands Pikachu to use Thunderbolt on the Druddigon. As the Thunderbolt hits, the scene changes to a grass field where Keldeo is training with Virizion. It detects Virizion in the grass and uses Hydro Pump. As the scene progresses, and after Virizion draws its sword, Keldeo attempts to do the same thing but was unable to do so. It then uses its horn as the sword and clashes its horn with Virizion's sword. Later, the scene changes to rocky terrain where Keldeo trains with Terrakion. When Keldeo kicked, it sends Terrakion flying, and Terrakion crashes into a boulder, which falls onto it. It manages to lift that boulder with its strength and Sacred Sword. The two eventually clash weapons. Finally, the scene changes to a dead forest as Keldeo runs alongside Cobalion. A storm envelops the area and burns a few trees down in front of Keldeo. Cobalion notices Keldeo's actions and persistence and tells Keldeo that its actions are reckless. Keldeo exclaims that it wants to battle Kyurem and when asked when it will be ready, Cobalion doesn't answer; instead, it draws its sword, and spars with Keldeo.

The scene changes to a flowing stream, where the three Swords of Justice ask themselves whether Keldeo is ready to fight Kyurem. According to Cobalion, Keldeo hasn't fully learned the weight of the sword and is not ready yet. Keldeo overhears them and tries to convince them, but to no avail. While the Swords of Justice sleep, Keldeo sneaks out and heads to Full Court, where Kyurem resides. Eventually the three notice, and so they left to search for Keldeo. When Keldeo arrives, it challenges Kyurem to battle, which the Boundary Pokémon accepts. When the Swords of Justice arrive, the two are already in battle. During the fight, Kyurem breaks off Keldeo's horn with Shadow Claw, causing the Colt Pokémon to become paralyzed with fear. Cobalion says not to interfere, but Terrakion attempts to stop the fight to save Keldeo. This aggravates Kyurem, who shifts into White Kyurem and freezes the trio, to prevent further interference. Noticing its friends frozen, Keldeo is overcome with fear and flees from the battle. Kyurem, furious, angrily declares that their battle is not yet over...

Meanwhile, Ash and his friends are on their journey, boarding a train that leads to a city. Oshawott, Pikachu, and Axew are playing in the train car, later joined by Scraggy. The train stops at Windy Station. Cilan notices a stall selling Darumaka lunch boxes and gets some for the group, along with water bottles and Oran Berry Pops. Ash has to carry the lunch boxes, yet he trips over Scraggy, sending the boxes flying. Fortunately, the trio's Pokémon and Iris manage to catch the lunch boxes. As they all board, they accidentally leave Scraggy in the station just as the train leaves, and notice he is trying to run for it. Ash urges him to jump on, but the Shedding Pokémon can't muster the strength to do so, so Ash commands Snivy to fetch him with Vine Whip. She manages to catch him and bring him in, but suddenly, a Pokémon slips on the mountain, landing on top of the train. Pikachu notices and tells the rest to follow him. It was Keldeo, injured from its previous battle. As Ash and his friends find it, it warns them about Kyurem. Suddenly, Kyurem leaps onto the train and attacks the group, and soon was forced to jump off the train when the train enters a tunnel. Later on, they move to a cargo area of the train, where Iris tells the group about the legend of Kyurem, which she learned from the Village of Dragons' elder.

The train arrives at Roshan City and the group visits the Pokémon Center there so Keldeo can be treated. Nurse Joy identifies the Colt Pokémon to the group, and tells them the legend of the Swords of Justice. She mentions that according to this legend, the three arrived at a forest plagued by flames from a war between human factions. Terrakion shaped an escape route into the earth, Virizion used its speed to shield the fleeing Pokémon, and Cobalion escorted the Pokémon to safety. Within the ashes of the now burned-down forest, they found a lone Pokémon—Keldeo—that they took in as their own. Keldeo is training to be a Sword of Justice.

Later, when Keldeo has been healed (except for its horn), it walks outside the Pokémon Center with Ash and his friends. Iris expresses relief on Keldeo's recovery. Ash and his friends introduce themselves and Ash asks Keldeo what happened. While a Liepard and a Herdier battle on a nearby battlefield, Keldeo tells them what it did before it met them. It also reveals that to become a Sword of Justice, one has to defeat Kyurem. After telling them how it ran away, Keldeo douses its head under a pipe. Keldeo speculates that Kyurem is probably furious, and Ash realizes that that's why Kyurem attacked them. Ash questions it, asking it if it's scared. He says that Keldeo shouldn't be scared just because it lost, which angers Keldeo. It vows to rescue the Swords of Justice right then. Ash and his friends agree and promise to go with Keldeo. First, they eat from the Darumaka lunch boxes. Ash and Keldeo eat quickly and simultaneously choke, which makes Iris call both Ash and Keldeo "little kids".

Meanwhile, at the harbor, the water freezes over. As an army of Cryogonal surround the area, Kyurem bursts out of the frozen lake. The Cryogonal head into the city, with Kyurem following and turning into White Kyurem. The transformation triggers another flashback of the elder showing Iris Kyurem's White Form, along with Black Kyurem. As Ash and his friends walk, the air suddenly becomes cold and the waterfall next to them freezes. Kyurem's Cryogonal army show up and attack them. The group flees, with White Kyurem and the Cryogonal in pursuit. Pikachu uses Thunderbolt on Kyurem, prompting it to turn into Black Kyurem and retaliate with Dragon Pulse. Kyurem then heads to the top of the city's tallest tower. Pikachu repels the Cryogonal with Iron Tail and Electro Ball, and as more arrive to surround them, Keldeo flies away with Hydro Pump with Ash and Pikachu holding on tight. With the Cryogonal in hot pursuit, Ash, Pikachu and Keldeo head towards a bridge where Iris and Cilan are. The Cryogonal use Ice Beam to freeze the river. Ash sends out Boldore to ride across the ice with Keldeo and escape.

The group retreats into the subway tunnels. Cilan tries to open the first door, but it's locked, so Keldeo kicks it open. As they walk through the tunnel, Ash says he's kinda hungry, to which Iris calls him a kid. Keldeo asks if there are any lunch boxes left, further unamusing Iris. They come to another door, which Keldeo attempts to break open again. However, Iris stops the Colt Pokémon and pushes it open, remarking that some doors are open. They arrive at the subway station filled with train cars and other vehicles from the past. Spotting a blimp, Iris gets an idea. The Cryogonal enter through the subway tunnels, and pursue the blimp that is piloted by Iris. Ash, Cilan and Keldeo use a train car to exit the city. Keldeo thinks about Iris' plan to use herself as a diversion so they can escape. Iris teases the duped Cryogonal just as Black Kyurem arrives ad freezes the blimp with cold air, causing it to plummet towards the nearby lake. The Cryogonal then go to where Ash and Cilan went, going after another moving train car piloted by Cilan and powered by Stunfisk. Ash and Keldeo hide behind a hut and retreat into the forest. All the while, Keldeo thinks about Iris and Cilan, while also thinking about the Swords of Justice raising their Sacred Swords to the air and delivering their oath. Ash asks Keldeo what the Swords of Justice are like, and the Colt Pokemon says that Terrakion is the toughest Pokémon he knows, nice and funny too. Keldeo says that Virizion is calm, smart, and the fastest of the three. Finally, Keldeo gets to Cobalion, the leader of the trio, who is stern in his training and says things he doesn't always understand.

Kyurem's Cryogonal are still chasing after Cilan, who sends out Crustle and has it use Rock Wrecker as soon as they enter the tunnel. However, their train car gets frozen by cold air from Black Kyurem. The Boundary Pokémon and its Cryogonal army head out after realizing they've been tricked again. As Keldeo and Ash continue their walk, Keldeo asks Ash why he is helping him if they just met, and Ash says they are friends. They eventually arrive at Full Court, just as White Kyurem and the Cryogonal return. Kyurem lets out a fearsome roar, which frightens Keldeo and reminds him of how his horn was broken off in their last battle. Ash remains determined, but Keldeo backs up, trembling in fear, and admitting that he lied to Kyurem about being a Sword of Justice. Ash tells Keldeo not to worry, going in with Pikachu to handle things themselves. Keldeo tries to go with them, but his fear once again gets the better of him.

As Iris meets up with Cilan, Ash looks for the Swords of Justice. The sun rises, revealing the trio still frozen. Ash sends out Boldore and Pignite, having them and Pikachu use Flamethrower, Rock Smash and Iron Tail. Ash also tries to break the trio free with a pipe, but all their efforts are halted by the arrival of Kyurem. The Boundary Pokémon tells Ash to leave, but he still tries to free the Swords of Justice. Kyurem uses Dragon Pulse, but Keldeo arrives and interferes with Focus Blast. Ash tells Keldeo that he knew he'd come, and Keldeo is glad that Ash believed in him. The Colt Pokémon then admits to Kyurem that he lied before about being a Sword of Justice. Kyurem comes out and says that he knew all along, wanting to finish their battle. Keldeo finds himself trembling again, but Ash reassures him that he's going to be a Sword of Justice. Keldeo realizes that he has never been alone. Refusing to run this time, Keldeo turns into his Resolute Form, just as Iris and Cilan join up with Ash. The two battle until Kyurem eventually gains the upper hand on Keldeo, using Ice Beam to freeze his leg. Kyurem turns into Black Kyurem and charges up for Freeze Shock. Ash and Pikachu try to stop the Boundary Pokémon with Thunderbolt, but Keldeo fires a warning Focus Blast at them, wanting to keep fighting on. Breaking out of the ice with Hydro Pump, Keldeo uses Double Team and Focus Blast, the impact of the attack colliding with Kyurem's Freeze Shock freeing the Swords of Justice. The trio praise Ash and his friends and thank them for saving Keldeo. Keldeo continues the fight against Kyurem, but quickly starts running out of steam as the Boundary Pokémon knocks him back with Shadow Claw. Iris begs the Swords of Justice to step in, but they insist that this is Keldeo's battle, not theirs. Keldeo doesn't give in, avoiding Kyurem's attacks while remembering the advice given to him by the Swords of Justice. Keldeo uses Focus Blast and rams into the attack increase its impact on Kyurem, throwing it out of the arena.

The Swords of Justice praise Keldeo's progress, knowing all he needs to do now is use his Sword. Black Kyurem arrives and uses Freeze Shock, which freezes Keldeo. While encased in the ice, Keldeo starts glowing bright yellow and bursts out using Secret Sword. He gains the upper hand over Kyurem using this move, countering its Dragon Pulse as the Boundary Pokémon praises Keldeo's true power. Keldeo and Kyurem meet each other with Freeze Shock and Focus Blast. The Freeze Shock suddenly heads towards Ash, Iris and Cilan, but Keldeo jumps in from of them and slices the attack in half with a massive Secret Sword. However, the explosion causes the Colt Pokémon heavy damage as he falls over. Kyurem suddenly stops the fight, having seen that Keldeo protected his new friends rather than claiming victory, saying that he has a fine Sword. As Kyurem walks off, Keldeo changes back to his normal form, his horn restored. Cobalion, having seen Keldeo's desire to protect Ash and his friends, tells Keldeo that he now knows the true weight of the Sword. Suddenly, the steel beams start collapsing, so the group retreats. White Kyurem uses Ice Burn to freeze all the falling debris.

The Swords of Justice congratulate Keldeo on becoming one of them, as do Ash and his friends. With that, the Swords of Justice recite their oath, this time with Keldeo joining them in his Resolute Form.

• Kyurem
• Cobalion
• Terrakion
• Virizion
• Keldeo

For a list of all major events in Pokémon the Series: Black & White, please see the timeline page.

Debuts

• Porygon2*
• Porygon-Z*
• Ferrothorn*
• Vullaby*
• Zweilous*
• Kyurem
• Cobalion
• Terrakion
• Virizion
• Keldeo

Humans

• Ash
• Iris
• Cilan
• Jessie (cameo)
• James (cameo)
• Nurse Joy
• Malin
• Mimi
• Elder (flashback)
• Max (Japanese version only)
• Lawrence III (Japanese version only)
• Molly Hale (Japanese version only)
• Oakley (Japanese version only)
• Butler (Japanese version only)
• Tory Lund (Japanese version only)
• Alice (Japanese version only)
• The Phantom (Japanese version only)
• Newton Graceland (Japanese version only)
• Grings Kodai (Japanese version only)
• Kanata and Misaki
• Mother and daughter
• Station attendant

Pokémon

• Pikachu (Ash's)
• Meowth (Team Rocket; cameo)
• Axew (Iris's)
• Oshawott (Ash's)
• Pignite (Ash's)
• Snivy (Ash's)
• Scraggy (Ash's)
• Boldore (Ash's)
• Excadrill (Iris's)
• Emolga (Iris's)
• Pansage (Cilan's)
• Crustle (Cilan's)
• Stunfisk (Cilan's)
• Audino (Nurse Joy's)
• Vanillite (Malin's)
• Liepard (Misaki's)
• Herdier (Kanata's)
• Kyurem (wild)
• Keldeo (wild)
• Cobalion (wild)
• Terrakion (wild)
• Virizion (wild)
• Cryogonal (multiple)
• Druddigon
• Tympole (multiple)
• Pidove (multiple)
• Minccino
• Deerling (Summer Form; multiple)
• Sawsbuck (Summer Form; multiple)
• Bouffalant (multiple)
• Swanna (multiple)
• Cottonee (multiple)
• Whimsicott (multiple)
• Cubchoo
• Basculin (Blue-Striped; multiple)

Pokémon in the Swords of Justice legend

• Deerling (Spring, Summer and Autumn Forms; multiple)
• Sawsbuck (Summer and Autumn Forms; multiple)
• Darumaka
• Petilil (multiple)
• Lilligant
• Minccino (multiple)
• Cinccino
• Cottonee
• Patrat (multiple)
• Watchog (multiple)
• Tranquill (multiple)
• Blitzle (multiple)
• Zebstrika
• Palpitoad (multiple)
• Seismitoad
• Sewaddle (multiple)
• Swadloon (multiple)
• Leavanny
• Purrloin
• Liepard
• Lillipup (multiple)
• Herdier
• Stoutland
• Maractus
• Cubchoo
• Beartic
• Trubbish
• Garbodor
• Drilbur
• Excadrill
• Venipede
• Whirlipede
• Scolipede
• Heatmor

Opening title (Japanese version only)

• Charizard (Ash's)
• Swellow (Ash's)
• Staravia (Ash's)
• Piplup (Dawn's)
• Mewtwo (M01)
• Mew (movie)
• Pikachu (Pikachutwo)
• Zapdos (movie)
• Articuno (movie)
• Moltres (movie)
• Entei (illusion created by the Unown)
• Celebi (wild)
• Latios (anime)
• Latias (anime)
• Jirachi (movie)
• Groudon (Meta Groudon)
• Rayquaza (movie)
• Deoxys (movie)
• Lucario (movie)
• Mew (movie)
• Manaphy (movie)
• Dialga (movie)
• Palkia (movie)
• Shaymin (movie; Sky Forme and Land Forme)
• Pichu (Spiky-eared Pichu)
• Zorua (wild)
• Zoroark (wild)
• Suicune (Shiny)
• Victini (wild)
• Zekrom (wild)
• Reshiram (wild)

Intro

Additionally, every single species of Pokémon discovered prior to Generation VI (including the infamous Porygon evolutionary line, and excluding Genesect) makes a cameo appearance in the intro sequence of the film.

Main article: Kyurem VS the Sacred Swordsman: Keldeo / Meloetta's Dazzling Recital Music Collection

Keldeo event artwork

Pre-order distribution

In Japan, Keldeo was distributed via local wireless at Pokémon Center stores from June 23 to August 31, 2012 to players who pre-ordered tickets to see the film.

In Taiwan, it was distributed via local wireless from September 20 to October 20, 2012.

Movie distributions

Meloetta distribution artwork

In Japan, Meloetta was distributed via infrared at theaters which screened the movie across Japan, which occurred from July 14 to September 30, 2012 and during a pre-release event on July 1, 2012.

In Taiwan, it was distributed via infrared at Showtime Cinemas on October 5, 2012.

English

Sneak-peek videos

Main article: Kyurem VS. The Sword of Justice (manga)

• This movie was released between BW087 and BW088 in Japan. However, it chronologically takes place sometime before the aforementioned episodes, as Dawn was in Ash's group at that point, and they were also accompanied by Meloetta. This arc cannot be interrupted, therefore it must take place some time before BW082, which was when Meloetta started following Ash and his friends or after BW097 when Meloetta left the group.
• This is the fourth consecutive movie in which Ash and his friends do not encounter Team Rocket.
  • This is also the only movie in which Jessie, James, and Meowth do not have speaking roles. Instead, they only make brief cameo appearances in the introduction, ending credits, and small scenes during the actual story.
• Despite being released during Best Wishes! Season 2, this movie does not feature any pre-Generation V Pokémon other than Pikachu and Meowth, outside of the "Pokémon World" intro scene.
  • The cameo of Porygon2 and Porygon-Z in the intro marks the appearance of all pre-Generation V Pokémon in the animated series.
  • The intro also marks the first animated series appearances of Jynx and Kadabra since Pokémon the Series: Ruby and Sapphire.
• In Australia and New Zealand, this movie received a theatrical release, and special screenings were held at selected Hoyts Cinemas for two consecutive weekends; February 16 and 17, and February 23 and 24.
• This movie is the first since Jirachi: Wish Maker to have a Pikachu short distributed alongside it.
• With a length of 72 minutes, this is the shortest of all the Pokémon movies to date.
• The Darumaka boxed lunches seen in this movie later reappear in Partners in Time!, being eaten by James's Morpeko.

Errors

• Kyurem was able to freeze the three Swords of Justice with Ice Burn, and Keldeo with Freeze Shock. This is inconsistent with the Pokémon games, as Ice Burn and Freeze Shock cause burn and paralysis, respectively.
• In the Polish dub, during the first half of the movie, the Swords of Justice are called the "Swords of Destiny."

Dub edits

Opening title montage

• In the Japanese version, during the opening title sequence, the number 15 is created using snapshots from the previous fourteen movies; this is omitted in the dub.
• Be an Arrow! is replaced by Rival Destinies as the opening theme.
• Cartoon Network and YTV's airing of this movie uses a shorter cut provided by The Pokémon Company International. A number of scenes are either excluded or rearranged in order to reduce the movie's running time.
  • The title card sequence is moved to immediately after the "World of Pokémon" segment, while the scenes of Keldeo training and battling Kyurem for the first time – which are before the title card in the original cut – are moved to after it.
  • The battle between Kanata and Misaki is mostly cut out, leaving only a shot of them in the background.
  • All scenes from the ending credits are removed, leaving absent events such as the blimp being returned to the museum. The edited credit roll simply plays the credits over a black background and uses a brief instrumental song.
• Memories is replaced by It's All Inside of You as the ending theme.