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2016 Pokémon Film's Plot, Title Revealed With New Mythical Pokémon Magearna

The Pokémon Company International officially revealed the new Mythical Pokémon Magearna (pictured below) on Sunday. The announcement also revealed the plot of the upcoming Pokémon film, titled Pokémon the Movie XY & Z: Volcanion to Karakuri no Magearna (Pokémon the Movie XY & Z: Volcanion and the Tricky Magearna, official English title not yet revealed). The film will premiere in Japan on July 16.

The Pokémon Company International describes Magearna as an Artificial Pokémon, created by humans 500 years ago. It has a metallic body that is 3 feet and 3 inches tall, and it weighs 177.5 lbs. It is also closely tied to the film's plot, which The Pokémon Company International describes as follows:

In this latest Pokémon full-length feature film, a mysterious force binds Ash to the Mythical Pokémon Volcanion when it falls from the sky. Volcanion can't get away, and Ash is dragged along as it continues on its mission. They arrive in a city of cogs and gears, where a corrupt minister has stolen the ultimate invention: the Artificial Pokémon Magearna, created 500 years ago. The minister plans to use Magearna's mysterious power to take control of the mechanical kingdom. Can Ash and Volcanion work together to rescue Magearna? One of the greatest battles in Pokémon history is about to unfold!

The official website for the film streamed a teaser for the film in December. The video previewed the appearance of the new Pokémon Volcanion.

Pokémon anime franchise director Kunihiko Yuyama is returning to helm the film. The website also unveiled a visual for the film in December.

Additionally, the website has revealed two posters for the film.

The two previous Pokémon XY films have each featured a Pikachu anime short that screened before the film.

The following characters and their returning cast are confirmed for the film: Satoshi (Ash), Pikachu, Serena, Citron (Clemont), Eureka (Bonnie), Musashi (Jessie), Kojirō (James), Nyarth (Meowth), and the Narrator.

The January 2016 issue of Shogakukan's Monthly Coro Coro Comics magazine previewed Volcanion in December, describing it as a "Mythical Pokémon." Volcanion is a steam Pokémon whose type is both fire and water, and it is 1.7 meters (5.5 feet) tall and weighs 195 kg (430 lbs). Volcanion is the 721st Pokémon and the final Pokémon in the Pokédex as of the sixth generation.

The August issue of Monthly Coro Coro Comics had revealed the film in July. The announcement had teased "I- Is this a new Pokémon!?"

Pokémon the Movie: Hoopa and the Clash of Ages (Pokémon the Movie XY: Ring no Chōmajin Hoopa) premiered in Japan on July 18, and it featured the main cast of Pocket Monsters XY, Legendary Pokémon from past generations, and movie-original characters. The Pikachu to Pokémon Ongakutai (Pikachu & the Pokémon Music Band) anime short screened before the film.

The film aired on the Canadian television channel Teletoon on November 14, and it aired on Cartoon Network on December 19.

The Pokémon XY & Z television anime series premiered in Japan on October 29. Pokémon XY began airing on Cartoon Network in January 2014.