Movie
Description
Lawrence III is the main antagonist of Pokémon the Movie 2000: The Power of One. He identifies himself as a collector, though many observers view his methods as those of a Pokémon poacher. He travels the world in a massive flying fortress known as the Hikōkyū, or Flying Palace, which is equipped with advanced technology used to capture and contain legendary Pokémon. Lawrence III is a tall, pale-skinned man with green hair and a refined, elegant appearance, often seen wearing a purple tunic and white trousers. He is soft-spoken and polite in manner, yet his demeanor masks a ruthless and calculating nature. He treats his pursuit of rare Pokémon and ancient artifacts as a strategic game, viewing conflict as a chess match in which he is always several moves ahead.
His motivations stem from a deep-seated obsession with collecting. The first item in his collection was an Ancient Mew card, which inspired his lifelong quest to obtain the rarest treasures in the world. He interprets an ancient prophecy from Shamouti Island as a directive to capture the three legendary birds—Articuno, Zapdos, and Moltres—and then use them to lure and capture Lugia, the guardian of the sea. He mistakenly believes that the prophecy refers to capturing these Pokémon as trophies, when in truth it speaks of restoring balance by a chosen one. Lawrence III considers himself that chosen one and is convinced that his collection is validation of his superiority. This arrogance leads him to disregard the natural consequences of his actions, and he knowingly disrupts the delicate balance of the world’s climate by seizing the birds, causing catastrophic storms and environmental chaos.
In the story, Lawrence III captures Moltres and then Zapdos, accidentally also ensnaring Ash Ketchum, Misty, Tracey, Melody, and Team Rocket in his airship. He ignores the captive humans, focusing solely on his next prize. When Ash’s Pokémon free the captured birds, the resulting battle among Articuno, Moltres, and Zapdos destroys large portions of the fortress, which crashes on Lightning Island. Undeterred, Lawrence III attempts to capture Lugia using a massive net, but Lugia retaliates with an Aeroblast that obliterates the remains of the airship. Left standing in the wreckage, Lawrence III finds his Ancient Mew card—the one object that survived—and declares that he will begin his collection anew. He shows no regret for the devastation he caused and remains determined to continue his obsessive pursuit.
Lawrence III has no known Pokémon of his own before the film, relying entirely on his airship’s technology to subdue and restrain legendary creatures. He does not form any meaningful alliances or friendships; his interactions with other characters are purely transactional, viewing them as obstacles or incidental elements in his plan. He has no significant character development in the traditional sense, as he does not learn from his mistakes or change his worldview. Instead, his arc ends with a reaffirmation of his collecting ambition. His shortsightedness and failure to foresee the broader consequences of his actions ultimately lead to his downfall, but his resolve remains unbroken. Notably, a book bearing his crest appears in the credits of the later film Pokémon Heroes: Latios & Latias, hinting that his legacy continues. Lawrence III stands as a singular, enigmatic figure driven by an insatiable desire to possess the world’s rarest wonders, indifferent to the harm his pursuit causes.
His motivations stem from a deep-seated obsession with collecting. The first item in his collection was an Ancient Mew card, which inspired his lifelong quest to obtain the rarest treasures in the world. He interprets an ancient prophecy from Shamouti Island as a directive to capture the three legendary birds—Articuno, Zapdos, and Moltres—and then use them to lure and capture Lugia, the guardian of the sea. He mistakenly believes that the prophecy refers to capturing these Pokémon as trophies, when in truth it speaks of restoring balance by a chosen one. Lawrence III considers himself that chosen one and is convinced that his collection is validation of his superiority. This arrogance leads him to disregard the natural consequences of his actions, and he knowingly disrupts the delicate balance of the world’s climate by seizing the birds, causing catastrophic storms and environmental chaos.
In the story, Lawrence III captures Moltres and then Zapdos, accidentally also ensnaring Ash Ketchum, Misty, Tracey, Melody, and Team Rocket in his airship. He ignores the captive humans, focusing solely on his next prize. When Ash’s Pokémon free the captured birds, the resulting battle among Articuno, Moltres, and Zapdos destroys large portions of the fortress, which crashes on Lightning Island. Undeterred, Lawrence III attempts to capture Lugia using a massive net, but Lugia retaliates with an Aeroblast that obliterates the remains of the airship. Left standing in the wreckage, Lawrence III finds his Ancient Mew card—the one object that survived—and declares that he will begin his collection anew. He shows no regret for the devastation he caused and remains determined to continue his obsessive pursuit.
Lawrence III has no known Pokémon of his own before the film, relying entirely on his airship’s technology to subdue and restrain legendary creatures. He does not form any meaningful alliances or friendships; his interactions with other characters are purely transactional, viewing them as obstacles or incidental elements in his plan. He has no significant character development in the traditional sense, as he does not learn from his mistakes or change his worldview. Instead, his arc ends with a reaffirmation of his collecting ambition. His shortsightedness and failure to foresee the broader consequences of his actions ultimately lead to his downfall, but his resolve remains unbroken. Notably, a book bearing his crest appears in the credits of the later film Pokémon Heroes: Latios & Latias, hinting that his legacy continues. Lawrence III stands as a singular, enigmatic figure driven by an insatiable desire to possess the world’s rarest wonders, indifferent to the harm his pursuit causes.