c133: I Don't Believe Ash Can Get Full Marks!!
"Alright then," Professor Oak announced with a genial tone from the podium, "after enjoying the creative short film Smart Rattata by student Xiaoling, let's move on to our next entry Aerial Race, directed by student Gary Oak."
He scanned the seated students below with a meaningful glance, his gaze pausing subtly when it reached his grandson.
"I was still digesting the last short film," Ash murmured with genuine surprise, "but I didn't expect Gary's film to be shown so soon after."
"Maybe," Gary replied in a low voice, "our films have similar creative approaches, so the staff grouped them back-to-back for comparison. That way it's easier to evaluate which one stands out more in terms of execution and storytelling."
As the two whispered to each other, the giant LED screen behind Professor Oak began to display Gary's Pokémon-themed short film.
"Aerial Race"
True to Gary's words, his film adopted a similar filming technique as Xiaoling's. Using a ThumbCam securely tied around his Fletchling's neck, he captured a first-person aerial perspective. Like Smart Rattata, the story was narrated by the Trainer in voice-over, adding context and emotional depth to the scenes.
However, unlike Xiaoling's short film where narration only began during the conflict with Arbok, Gary's narration started at the very beginning. As Fletchling soared out of a handcrafted, miniature birdhouse nestled on a tall oak tree, Gary's voice introduced the plot with a calm yet engaging rhythm.
This subtle difference in structure helped guide the viewer's emotions early on, providing a smooth lead-up to the core plot and making the viewer more emotionally invested in Fletchling's journey.
In the narrative, the Trainer Gary's self-insert recently relocated from the Kalos Region to the Kanto Region due to his parents' work. As he began adapting to the new environment, Fletchling, too, was eager to make new companions in unfamiliar territory.
With this motivation, Fletchling took flight from the aviary into the bordering Viridian Forest in search of fellow Flying-types. It soon encountered a lone Pidgey perched on a high branch. Fletchling greeted it with a cheerful chirp, but the proud Pidgey responded with a challenge rather than warmth.
"If you think you're fast enough to keep up with me, then you're good enough to be my friend," Pidgey declared, its tone condescending yet playful.
Unfazed and confident in its speed, Fletchling accepted the challenge without hesitation.
What followed was an intense mid-air chase that tested Fletchling's agility and stamina. The two Bird Pokémon each native to different regions and trained under different conditions darted through the canopy and between sharp mountain gusts, engaging in a spirited aerial duel.
As expected from a Kanto native, Pidgey initially held the lead with its well-practiced maneuvering through the terrain. Its early acceleration gave it a noticeable edge, causing Fletchling to lag behind during the opening sequence of the race.
However, Pidgey had also underestimated Fletchling far too much. The very fact that Fletchling accepted its challenge for an aerial race meant it clearly had the skills to back up its confidence this wasn't a bluff. Within just a few powerful wingbeats, Fletchling activated Quick Attack, narrowing the distance between it and Pidgey with astonishing speed. But Pidgey, a native flier of the Kanto region, had also mastered Quick Attack, and immediately surged ahead again, creating a fierce mid-air rivalry.
As the race continued high above the treetops, the duel between the two Flying-type Pokémon reached exhilarating speeds. Sometimes Pidgey would gain the upper wing, pulling ahead, and sometimes Fletchling would counter and overtake with a burst of agility. They soared through open skies and dove into the forest canopy, weaving between branches and navigating through a barrage of natural obstacles.
The air race raged on for a long duration, but for pacing purposes, the short film's editing cut out repetitive sections. A humorous caption—Two Hours Later—flashed onscreen, marking a clean transition to the climax of the race.
Eventually, the exhilarating race ended in a draw. The high-speed competition led both Pokémon to a mutual understanding. "You don't truly know someone until you race them," Gary's narration concluded. Pidgey, who had initially acted haughty and dismissive, now acknowledged Fletchling's strength and sincerity. As a sign of respect, it agreed to follow the Trainer back to the city, forging a new friendship in the Kanto region. Fletchling's efforts paid off he had made his first friend in his new environment. [The short film concluded with a light-hearted happy ending.]
When compared with Xiaoling's earlier entry, Smart Rattata, Gary's Air Race demonstrated clear improvements not only in camera work but also in storytelling. Both short films employed ThumbCams mounted on their Pokémon to deliver immersive first-person perspectives, but Gary went a step further. He also used a Drone Rotom to capture long-range tracking shots and cinematic zoom-ins during key sequences of the race. These drone perspectives were expertly edited alongside the ThumbCam footage to create a dynamic and coherent viewing experience, heightening the realism and audience engagement.
Additionally, the aerial stability of the footage played a key role. Since Rattata ran on uneven terrain, the attached ThumbCam caused considerable shaking, making the footage slightly jarring. In contrast, Fletchling's flight provided a naturally stabilized view, resulting in smoother visuals. This technical difference, subtle at first glance, became especially noticeable when the two short films were juxtaposed back-to-back.
Furthermore, Gary's narration had clearly been written and structured in advance, with a clear narrative arc that included foreshadowing, development, and resolution. His story had emotional stakes and thematic clarity. While Smart Rattata focused on the tension of escaping a wild Arbok, its plot remained static—fleeing from danger without much change or payoff. In contrast, Air Race centered around Fletchling's challenge of adapting to a new region, striving to connect, and ultimately being accepted making the story more emotionally satisfying and narratively rich.
The tale of a "Pokémon transfer student" trying to make friends in a foreign region resonated with many students in the audience. It was a fresh perspective with a heartfelt message, and it landed well.
By the time the final scene faded and the lights came back up in the auditorium, the decision was clear. Even before Professor Oak gave his evaluation, the students broke into spontaneous applause. This time, the applause was louder and more sustained than what followed Smart Rattata.
"A very well-shot and emotionally resonant film," Professor Oak finally said with a nod of approval. "For its technical execution, narrative flow, and emotional tone, I award Air Race a score of 9.5 points."
The room filled with another wave of clapping.
Even Xiaoling, seated a few rows back, gave a quiet nod. "Gary's short film really was better than mine," he thought. "Its narrative structure and visual editing were simply on another level. I was too confident, thinking mine might get a perfect 10."
"But then again," Xiaoling reflected, "why didn't Gary's film get a 10? It certainly felt worthy of it." He paused. "Well, Professor Oak has always been fair and unbiased, even to his own grandson. If Gary got 9.5, then it means someone else might still get a 10…"
Some students were already whispering about who that could be. "Is it possible someone made a short film better than Gary's?" one of them asked.
"No way," someone scoffed. "Unless it's Ash, but that guy's strength is in battles, not cinematography."
"Exactly," another chimed in. "A good Pokémon short film requires more than strong Pokémon. Ash definitely doesn't have what it takes for a top-tier production."
"If Ash somehow gets a perfect score of 10 in today's competition," a student swore aloud, "I'll wash my hair upside down!"
The room erupted in quiet laughter but all eyes began to shift toward the boy from Pallet Town.
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