Pokémon gets the Bootleg Universe treatment in a new video from producer Adi Shankar. For those unfamiliar, the Bootleg Universe is an ongoing web series that provides a unique twist on well-known pop culture properties. Everything from Power Ranger to Mr. Rogers' Neighborhood to The PowerPuff Girls have been given a dark and gritty makeover since the Bootleg Universe's inception, allowing fans to see some of their favorite franchises in a new light. Essentially, these work as interesting "what if" scenarios that are fun to contemplate.
In recent years, Pokémon surged back to the forefront of the zeitgeist, bolstered by the overwhelming success of the Pokémon GO mobile game and this summer's Detective Pikachu film. With everyone's favorite pocket monsters dominating the conversation again, it was only a matter of time before the Bootleg Universe got their hands on the beloved characters. Now, that episode has been revealed.
Today, the Bootleg Universe shared their latest video, which offers a satirical take on the entire concept of Pokémon. You can watch the video for yourself in the space below:
In the trailer, Ash is mourning the loss of Pikachu, who apparently died during a Pokémon battle. Due to the tragedy, Ash finds a new purpose in life: free all of the Pokémon so they are no longer subjected to performing horrific acts of violence in the name of entertainment (a critique about the franchise fans have mentioned before). Of course, Ash's actions have some pretty serious consequences, as he upsets the established order, threatens to destabilize the world economy, and inspires a cult that takes it upon themselves to complete Ash's mission. This feels like the kind of story Pokémon would tell if the property grew up with its original audience from the 1990s heyday - although one has to imagine Nintendo would want to trim down the bloody violence and adult language even if they were going to take on more mature subject matter. But this is the upside of the Bootleg Universe; creatives have the ability to go way outside the box and come up with daring narratives.
As for Pokémon's real onscreen future in the hand of Warner Bros., it remains to be seen what transpires. The studio was putting the pieces together for a Detective Pikachu sequel, but the movie wasn't a major mash. It grossed $421.4 million worldwide against an $150 million budget, making it a very modest success. Part of that is likely due to it opening in the shadow of Avengers: Endgame, which was a bigger juggernaut than anyone anticipated. Perhaps when going up against less intense competition, Pokémon can be a bigger draw. Nothing's confirmed yet, but viewers likely haven't seen the last of the characters at the movies.
Source: Adi Shankar's Bootleg Universe