How to Create a Funny Action Scene in ‘Pokémon Detective Pikachu’ | Anatomy of a Scene

If you’re new to the world of Pokémon, it’s helpful to know that these creatures can’t speak. Having one talk to you would be as outrageous as your cat engaging in conversation. So what’s with that Pikachu chattering away with the voice of Ryan Reynolds?

Narrating this scene from “Pokémon Detective Pikachu,” the director Rob Letterman sets up that little bit of crazy and amps it up for the film’s lead human, Tim (Justice Smith). He meets the loquacious yellow gumshoe here for the first time, and they’re joined by a handful of rabid Aipom for good measure. Letterman discussed Smith’s dexterity on set, having to react to tennis balls, stuntmen and sometimes nothing at all as stand-ins for the digital critters that were added to the shot in postproduction.

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