M18

Pokémon the Movie: Hoopa and the Clash of Ages (Japanese: ポケモン・ザ・ムービー　ＸＹ　の　フーパ Pokémon the Movie XY - The Archdjinni of the Rings: Hoopa) is the second movie and the eighteenth Pokémon movie overall. It was released in Japan on July 18, 2015 and premiered in the United States on on December 19, 2015 after an airing of Arceus and the Jewel of Life and Hoopa — The Mischief Pokémon. The English dub first premiered in Australia and New Zealand on November 5, 2015. It first aired in Canada on November 14, 2015 with Hoopa — The Mischief Pokémon and Lights! Camera! Pika!, and in the United Kingdom on on December 12, 2015.

A teaser for the film was shown at the end of M17, showing Primal and Primal. A teaser shown on Oha Suta on December 11, 2014 revealed Kyogre and Groudon along with a  as stars for the film. In the February 2015 issue of CoroCoro, was revealed and confirmed to make its debut in the movie. Prior to the reveal of Hoopa, the movie was promoted under the working title Pokémon the Movie XY 2015.

It was featured in the Japanese theaters with the Pikachu short PK27.

Blurb
The Mythical Pokémon Hoopa is the star of Pokémon the Movie: Hoopa and the Clash of Ages''! When Ash, Pikachu, and their friends visit a desert city by the sea, they meet the Mythical Pokémon Hoopa, who has the ability to summon things—including people and Pokémon—through its magic ring. After a scary incident, they learn a story about a brave hero who stopped the rampage of a terrifying Pokémon long ago. Now, the threat that has been bottled up for years is in danger of breaking loose again! Can Ash help his new friend overcome the darkness within...or will a dangerous secret erupt into a clash of legends?''

Plot
One hundred years ago in a small village, a appears out of a ring, which, using its rings, gives the villagers huge piles of pure gold, thus allowing the village to grow and prosper. It goes on to summon and defeat a series of increasingly strong Pokémon at the behest of the villagers. It eventually summons several Legendary Pokémon. The villagers watch in excitement and the mysterious Pokémon decides to show off its power by defeating the Legendary Pokémon easily. However, the village begins to get destroyed during the ensuing battle and the uncontrollable Pokémon unleashes its fury against the village. A lone traveler then manages to trap the mysterious Pokémon into a bottle, stopping the damage and causing all the summoned Legendary Pokémon to return to where they come from. The traveler disposes of the bottle properly, hoping that the darkness will never be released from its prison.

Years later, a man with his finds the bottle in a cave deep in the desert. But as soon as he touches the bottle, he is possessed by the enraged spirit inside.

Meanwhile, in a Pokémon Center out in the desert, and  are frolicking in the pool and eating 's donut-shaped Poké Puffs. Serena mentions they should visit Dahara City, a famous city with a famous tower. Suddenly, a mysterious ring appears from nowhere and a hand comes out, grabbing 's donut and replacing it with a Tamato Berry. Chespin, not realizing the switch, eats it and begins to overheat from its spicy flavor. Ash then notices multiple rings popping out of nowhere, grabbing all the donuts. He attempts to apprehend the culprit, but manages to get pulled into a ring along with. The pair soon realize that they now are in Dahara City and the prankster reveals itself to be a talking. Always a prankster, Hoopa insists on calling Ash 'Ashkan' and Pikachu 'Pikan'. Hoopa then decides that it wants to show off its power to the two, and summons a large horde of Pikachu, including five Cosplay Pikachu, from its rings. Hoopa makes a game of this and asks Ash which is his 'Pikan', though Ash easily picks out the right one. Eventually, Ash and Hoopa get eletrocuted by the Pikachu as they get excited and out of control.

A woman approaches the three and lectures Hoopa on its behavior, but gets electrocuted as well. She soon introduces herself as Meray and Ash asks Hoopa to make a ring to get to his friends, to which Hoopa excitedly agrees to do so. Ash reaches through and grabs the group to Dahara City. After introductions and getting washed with a mass of water Hoopa had brought through its ring, the group decide to go to Dahara Tower, the same place where Meray was heading. However, when they ask Hoopa if they could make the trip shorter by using its rings, the group find out that Hoopa is unable to go completely through its own rings yet, so the team decide to move on foot instead.

Just as they are about to leave, the possessed man with the bottle joins the group, and Meray greets him excitedly. However, the man without a word, releases the dark spirit from the Prison Bottle, transforming Hoopa into the same monster that attacked the village one hundred years ago. The transformed Hoopa then begins to attack the group, even throwing a building at them, but Pikachu swiftly counterattacks with, shattering the building and sending Team Rocket, who had been spying on the group for a while, blasting off. The man, now introduced as Baraz, is released from his spell and realizes that Hoopa is wanting the bottle. Meray, pleading that it was her plan from the start, grabs the bottle from him and reseals the dark spirit inside. Hoopa transforms back into its Confined form, falling limply to be caught by Ash. The Prison Bottle flies off and lands close by, but as is about to grab it, Baraz forbids her, now knowing that whoever touches the bottle will become possessed by it. then reveals his, which, using the same mechanics as the move , lifts the bottle without needing someone to hold the bottle.

After everything has settled, Baraz reveals to the group that one hundred years ago Hoopa, in its Unbound form, appeared out of a ring taking the villagers' food. To pay them back, Hoopa offered showers of gold, allowing the town to prosper and grow. The villagers built a house for it, where Hoopa listened to the people's wishes in return for food. The people then began to challenge Hoopa in battle where Hoopa won easily, but eventually Hoopa became carried away in its desire for power. It soon went mad with power, testing its strength against Legendary Pokémon, only to be stopped by the Prison Bottle wielded by Baraz and Meray's great-grandfather. Baraz shows the group his necklace, with a golden cross-like wheel piece resembling 's body. Baraz comments that his ancestors communicated with Arceus and also received their powers from it. Likewise, his great-grandfather had used these powers to seal away the Prison Bottle, and then had settled in Arche Valley. Baraz then reveals that according to his great-grandfather, Hoopa could not pass through its rings until it understood why it had been confined.

Baraz then reflects on his childhood with Meray and Hoopa, including having become lost in the wilderness and caring for Hoopa when it was sick. Having returned safe and sound, he recalls his great-grandfather calling Hoopa as "family too". After this, at Clemont's question, Baraz reveals that he will take the bottle back to Arche Valley. However at that moment, Team Rocket intervene, grabbing the Prison Bottle from above in their Meowth balloon.

As Meowth retrieves the bottle, he becomes possessed by the dark spirit, who controls Meowth to release itself from the bottle. It once again attempts to possess Hoopa, but with the help of Baraz and Meray's power, Hoopa is able to overcome it. Meanwhile, Team Rocket had dropped the bottle, and despite Pikachu running to grab it before it made impact, the dark spirit shatters the bottle, leaving only remnants of it on the floor. Though Hoopa had overcome the darkness, dark spirit then manifests itself into a form like that of Hoopa's Unbound form (the Shadow). It first sends Team Rocket flying, and then sets its target on the real Hoopa. Hoopa summons a to intercept it so that the group can escape. Having run from the chaos, Baraz decides to make a new bottle at Dahara Tower. Meray recalls that they will require the forces of Fire, Water, and Ground to make another one. The group decide to use Serena's Braixen and Ash's Frogadier for two of the forces, and with 's idea, a  she had seen close to the Pokémon Center they had visited before. While Hoopa transports them to Dahara Tower, since Hoopa cannot pass through its ring, Ash, Pikachu and Hoopa instead decide to go into hiding.

While hiding, Ash suggests that Hoopa and the Shadow try to get along, only for them to get found by the Shadow who tries to grab Hoopa. Several times the three are found by the Shadow, only to be saved by Lugia attacking the Shadow. Later, Lugia is shot down by the Shadow and as Lugia tries to retaliate, the Shadow sends it back to the sea using its ring.

Ash then decides to battle the Shadow and asks Hoopa to use its rings. Hoopa summons, and  which the three ride upon. The three Legendary Pokémon attack the Shadow with all at once, but to no avail. Ash, then noticing the tower, decides to head in that direction. But soon they are cornered by the Shadow, who goes on to summon Primal, Primal , , , , and and an all-out battle ensues between the Legendary Pokémon.

Meanwhile in Dahara Tower, using Braixen, Frogadier, and Hippopotas, the group begin to reforge the bottle.

Back outside, the battle amongst the Legendary Pokémon continues. The Shadow and its army continue to attack Ash and his group. However, Ash and his allies find renewed strength and speed by Mega Evolving into Mega Latios, Mega Latias, and Mega Rayquaza. In response, Kyurem transforms into Black Kyurem, and the fierce battle continues, with continued destruction to the city. While Ash, Pikachu and Hoopa are fleeing on Latios and Latias, an attack from Kyurem (now White Kyurem) causes Ash to fall off Latios. As Ash plummets to the ground, he is saved by Hoopa's ring who transports him back onto Latios' back.

The battle then begins to centralize around Dahara Tower, as Latios stops the Shadow's attempts at using its rings to attack the tower. Ash commands Rayquaza to use around the tower along with Latios and Latias'  to impede an all-out assault on the tower. The Shadow's army attacks, but is successfully blocked by the shield they had made. However, the Shadow attacks Rayquaza above, destroying the Twister shield, and Shadow's army proceeds to attack the tower. The Shadow then corners Ash and Hoopa, and is just about the grab Hoopa before it is suddenly stopped by Baraz, who has now completed the Prison Bottle.

Shadow's army, now released from the Shadow, stop attacking and Baraz seals the Shadow within the bottle once more. As he does so, the bottle flies from Baraz's hand, which Ash leaps up to catch. Ash is immediately possessed by the Shadow. The possessed Ash then gets angry at Hoopa, but Hoopa tries to heal the Shadow's wounds with the memories that Hoopa had with Baraz, Meray, and their great-grandfather. Through these memories, the evil power disappears as a ray of light. Out in the distance, the Legendary Pokémon roar, and Hoopa claims that "they were surprised."

However, just as things had settled, a space-time void warp forms around the tower, perhaps due to the fact that too many Legendary Pokémon had been summoned. Pikachu's proves useless against the warp which continues to advance towards the tower, destroying everything in its path. The Legendary Pokémon also try to attack the warp from outside, but to no avail. Hoopa then suggests that Ash use the Prison Bottle, allowing Hoopa to willingly transform into its Unbound form. Using its rings, it helps the people inside the tower escape, including Team Rocket. Finally, only Ash and the group with Hoopa are left behind, knowing that Hoopa cannot go through its own rings. Despite this, Ash encourages Hoopa to try, and transforms Hoopa back into its smaller Confined form. Meanwhile, the destructive warp continues to close in on the tower and Hoopa's ring begins to shrink in size.

After Serena, Clemont and Bonnie escape through the ring, Ash and Hoopa jump into the ring. However they are bounced back, unable to go through the ring. Hoopa tries twoo more times, but Hoopa still cannot go through the ring, and inadvertently helps Meray and Ash escape. Baraz is left alone with Hoopa and the warp is now getting very close to the two. But at the last moment, the rift stops due to the power of Arceus, giving them one more chance to escape through the ring. As everyone lends Hoopa their strength, Hoopa remembers the words that Baraz's great-grandfather had told it - that he considers Hoopa "family too". With these words Hoopa is able to get through the ring. With only a very small ring left, Baraz is able to narrowly escape with the help of Hoopa.

The rift is then broken, and all that is left is a decimated tower. In the sky, everyone notices Arceus looking down at them, which then goes to fly away. After all that happened, Clemont suggests they go back to Arche Valley, but Hoopa declines, saying he has to fix the tower first, and wishes Ash the best of luck on his journey to become a Pokémon Master.

Featured Pokémon

 * Primal
 * Primal
 * Primal

Pokémon debuts

 * (Unbound)

Humans

 * Jessie
 * James
 * Nurse Joy
 * Baraz
 * Meray
 * Ghris
 * Old Man Dom
 * Lucianne
 * Mother and daughter
 * Ghris
 * Old Man Dom
 * Lucianne
 * Mother and daughter

Pokémon

 * (ending)
 * (ending)
 * (ending)
 * (ending)
 * (ending)
 * (Baraz's)
 * (Baraz's)
 * (Confined and Unbound)
 * (Unbound)
 * (×2; one Primal Kyogre)
 * (×2; one Primal Groudon)
 * (Altered Forme)
 * (Black Kyurem; White Kyurem; Normal Kyurem)
 * (Pikachu Rock Star)
 * (Pikachu Belle)
 * (Pikachu Pop Star)
 * (Pikachu, Ph. D)
 * (Pikachu Libre)
 * (multiple)
 * (multiple)
 * (multiple)
 * (multiple)
 * (Altered Forme)
 * (Black Kyurem; White Kyurem; Normal Kyurem)
 * (Pikachu Rock Star)
 * (Pikachu Belle)
 * (Pikachu Pop Star)
 * (Pikachu, Ph. D)
 * (Pikachu Libre)
 * (multiple)
 * (multiple)
 * (multiple)
 * (multiple)
 * (Pikachu Pop Star)
 * (Pikachu, Ph. D)
 * (Pikachu Libre)
 * (multiple)
 * (multiple)
 * (multiple)
 * (multiple)

Other

 * Clembot

Cast
! colspan=6 | Special appearances by


 * }

Pre-order distributions
In Japan, players can receive an Arceus via a serial code, after purchasing a pre-order ticket at a as well as other retail stores from March 7 to July 17, 2015. Each one holds one of 17 different plates or a Silk Scarf that is chosen at random. The serial code only worked in Japanese region games. The codes expired on August 31, 2015.

In addition to receiving a serial code for Arceus which is limited to Japanese games, all players regardless of the 3DS's region could choose one of six Legendary Pokémon to receive via infrared at the store the ticket was bought from June 20, 2015 to August 31, 2015. Players could choose, , , , , or.

Movie distributions
In Japan, Hoopa was distributed via local wireless at theaters which screen the movie across Japan, which occurred from July 18 to August 30, 2015. It was also distributed at a pre-showing of the movie on July 5, 2015, which was only open to selected people. Like all other local Generation VI events, this event is not region-locked; any player regardless of region and language will be able to receive Hoopa.

Additionally, Ash's Pikachu, Serena's Pancham,, and , all based from the movie, were made available between July 18 and August 16, 2015, available in pairs. Ash's Pikachu (holding a ) and Serena's Pancham (holding ) were available from July 18 to 31, 2015, while Latios (holding a ) and Lugia (holding ) were available from August 1 to 16, 2015.

To obtain these serial codes, players must have completed a stamp rally at 7-Eleven stores. If the player had two stamps, they could choose which of the two Pokémon available during that period that they want.

The codes could then be redeemed in Pokémon X, Y, Omega Ruby, or Alpha Sapphire. Each of the Pokémon can only be obtained once per game.

This event was then repeated at Pokémon Center stores after the Rally had ended. Pancham, was available from August 17 to 23, 2015, Pikachu was available from August 24 to 30, 2015, Latios was available from August 31 to September 6, 2015, and Lugia was available from September 7 to 13, 2015.

Trivia

 * This movie was released between XY081 and XY082 in Japan.
 * The production team went to Dubai as location scouting for the setting of the movie, Dahara City.
 * This was the first movie to not have Hideki Sonoda act as screenwriter since Celebi: The Voice of the Forest. Instead, it was written by Atsuhiro Tomioka.
 * The soundtrack for this film heavily features remixes and samples from previous films' soundtracks, including The Power of One, Pokémon Heroes: Latios & Latias, Arceus and the Jewel of Life, Kyurem vs. the Sword of Justice, and Genesect and the Legend Awakened.
 * Also, a remix of "To Be Continued", which was mostly used during the original series, is used when and  were in a Pokémon Center in a desert. However, this music was replaced in the dub.
 * In an opening scene, and  are shown flying through a town with a similar appearance to Alto Mare, which was the main setting of Pokémon Heroes: Latios & Latias.
 * This marks the second time Ash has been possessed by an evil entity, the first being in Battling The Enemy Within.
 * The movie was released on DVD in Australia and New Zealand by Beyond Home Entertainment on December 2, 2015, prior to the movie's premiere in the United Kingdom and the United States, as well as the home video release in Japan.
 * Some moves of the main characters' Pokémon in this movie have different animation than in the Pokémon main anime series:
 * When Ash's Frogadier uses, it rises a water column around it and direct it to the target, while in the main series, it forms a water sphere in its hands.
 * Serena's Braixen fires from her mouth, like a, instead of her wand stick like in the main series.
 * The Pokémon 20th Anniversary website mistakenly listed the movie as having debuted in the United States on December 12, 2015, which was one week before the actual US debut.
 * is the only member of the creation trio to not be shown in its home dimension at any point in the film.
 * This is the final to air on.
 * This movie features eleven Legendary Pokémon, more than any other so far.

Errors

 * When Giratina launches a at Dahara Tower after Shadow Hoopa breaks the tornado barrier, Mega Latios's forehead briefly turns completely white as it dodges.
 * When Ash is holding the Prison Bottle after it is purified, part of his left glove is missing, showing his un-gloved hand.

Dub edits

 * Every Side Of Me replaces Tweedia as the ending theme.
 * In the initial television broadcast, a number of scenes are removed to shorten the film's running time. Most notably, the entire sequence of the young Meray and Baraz traveling into the desert when Hoopa falls ill is cut up to the point where they return to Arche Valley. As a result, when they encounter Ghris, his line of "and now you have returned" is referring to an event not shown in the broadcast.
 * The ending credits in the broadcast are significantly shortened, played over a black screen, and utilize a short clip of Every Side Of Me for music.

Related articles

 * Hoopa and the Clash of Ages (manga)