Thanks to countless viewings of early morning episodes of the television show in my younger years, while I may have long since forgotten all the names of the original 150 something pokemon, the "Pokemon" theme song is forever drilled into my head. But it's only do this rendition that I'm actually finding it to be tolerable again, dare I even say enjoyable.
Violinist Lindsey Stirling is back in the Internet limelight again, injecting a her well-known violin dubstep style into the earworm that is the show's theme song, and dressed up as Misty all the while. She's joined by fellow noted musician Kurt Hugo Schneider, who steps up as Ash and rocks out on guitar.
The video's a nice parable that follows the usual sort of Pokemon episode you may remember (minus the ever squinting Brock hitting on Officer Jenny, Nurse Joy, or anything else with double X chromosomes and a pulse): Some simple Pokemon trainers sets off after their infamous Pikachu, unfreeze an icy city, and keep Team Rocket off their backs.
Obviously, the video is timed for the release of Pokemon X and Pokemon Y, out now on the 2DS and 3DS handhelds. The games represent a radical change for the franchise, the top down perspective having been replaced with more of a three quarter perspective, and battles look radically different. As per usual, players will see several new pokemon, 5 of which were teased in the game's trailer at the time of the announcement. Likely There's the usual array of new starter Pokemon, and each game will play host its own type of new, legendary Pokemon. And what's more, a number of classic Pokemon have earned mega-evolutions they can transform into during battle.
But enough about the games, watch Lindsey and Kurt jam out below.