Awesome / Pokémon 2000

• Team Rocket steals (get it?) the spot light in the awesome department. They jury-rigged a high speed airboat and help Ash get away from the legendary birds through a Heroic Sacrifice! Go figure.
  • Let's put it this way: when all hope for Ash is seemingly lost, since he's stranded...you will cheer when they show up.
  • When Ash, Misty and Tracey are trying to free two of the legendary birds, Team Rocket decides to send out Arbok and Weezing to try and help free the second one. Without being asked.
  • When Team Rocket is being carried by Lugia; they realize Lugia can't win this fight with them aboard. Considering how important this battle was, they actually CHOSE to leap off of him, knowing full well they're going to die. Awesome, badass and Heartwarming all in one.
    • And then they survive.
• The fact that the three Legendary Birds can overpower Lugia.
  • On that note, the fact that these three Legendary Bird Pokémon are depicted as they are (barring Ho-oh). In the TV anime, video games (of the time), and card games, their status is not quite cemented as legendary, being little more than characters in a media production, to be caught as toys or pets. Here, though, they are HUGE, and not to be trifled or messed with, with powers, attitudes, and attacks to match!
• Also, Misty saving Ash from drowning and Melody playing the song that helps save the day.
  • Speaking of Melody and the song that helps save the day, her lung capacity. Judging by the way the sequence was edited in the anime, she played the ocarina part for the entire song (which qualifies for Crowning Music of Awesome in and of itself) IN ONE CONTINUOUS BREATH. That is unheard of—and incredible. Props to you, girl.
• The huge converging energy beam^note mostly likely it's Signature Move Aeroblast that Lugia fires off toward the end. The first shot damn near bisects Lawrence's massive airship, and the second shot knocks Zapdos and Moltres for a loop even though it doesn't directly hit any of them; just passing near them for an instant is enough.
  • The second shot makes one thing very clear: had it not been for Lawrence's interference, Lugia could have taken down the three Legendary Birds on its own. Sure, they can overpower it if they join forces, but they need a lucky hit or two and to avoid Aeroblast entirely... but Lugia only needed one direct hit to have stopped them cold.
• Ash gets a few in the movie too. The way to the last island is blocked by fighting birds of doom, icebergs, and a snowstorm? He builds a DOGSLED and has his team pull him over!
• Zapdos and Moltres attack Ash on his makeshift sledge. Pikachu and Charizard counter with their own Thunderbolt and Flamethrower, respectively. Pikachu and Charizard WIN!
  • Also, Charizard nonchalantly dodges as Articuno tries to divebomb him.
• The very presence of Lugia in this movie. Not counting Ho-Oh, this was the first legendary of Gen II to fully appear in the anime, and it certainly shows its worth. Sure, he may have been overpowered, but the sheer majesty and badass look of this Pokémon scream volumes of its true potential.
  • Lugia's first cry. Imagine the most beautiful, haunting whale song you have ever heard.
• From Pikachu's Rescue Adventure, the Bellossom dance.
  • And everyone working together to save that Exeggcute nest.
• The opening reveal of the size and scope of Lawrence's ship.

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