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Pokémon Detective Pikachu

May 31

2026

The Little Theatre Rochester, NY

Tickets
with

Caroline DeLong, PhD

Professor of Psychology at the Rochester Institute of Technology

and

The Seneca Park Zoo

Community Partner

Pokémon: Detective Pikachu— Animal Detectives: Problem Solving in Orangutans and Otters

During a pre-screening presentation, Dr. Caroline DeLong will explore how to investigate problem solving in animals. We will look at studies showing how orangutans can solve puzzles using stick tools and solve a challenging task using water as a tool. We will also look at how otters can solve the problem of extracting food from a puzzle feeder. These real-life animal detectives have to figure out the best way to approach a problem and solve it to get a delicious food reward!

Following the screening, staff from The Seneca Park Zoo will take The Little’s historic stage alongside their ambassador animals. During this demonstration, they will discuss animal behavior, adaptation, and conservation efforts at the zoo.

The Little Theatre Rochester, NY

Tickets

Film Synopsis

In a world where people collect Pokémon to do battle, a boy comes across an intelligent talking Pikachu who seeks to be a detective.

    Ace detective Harry Goodman goes mysteriously missing, prompting his 21-year-old son, Tim (Justice Smith), to find out what happened. Aiding in the investigation is Harry's former Pokémon partner, super-sleuth Detective Pikachu (voiced by Ryan Reynolds). Finding that they are uniquely equipped to work together, as Tim is the only human who can talk with Pikachu, they join forces to unravel the tangled mystery.

    Photo credit: Warner Bros.

    About the Speaker

    Dr. Caroline DeLong is a Professor of Psychology at the Rochester Institute of Technology. She has a Ph.D. from the University of Hawaii and has studied animal minds for the last 30 years. She has worked with a wide variety of animals, including dolphins, bats, honeybees, fish, penguins, dogs, otters, orangutans, and baboons. She has investigated how animals perceive the world, what they can learn and remember, how they identify objects, how they assess quantities of items, how they solve problems, and how their minds compare to human minds. You can find out more about her work at https://www.rit.edu/delonglab/

    The Seneca Park Zoo is a place where unforgettable memories, a stronger community, and a healthier planet get their start. Our Mission is to inspire our community to connect with, care for, and conserve wildlife and wild places. Learn more: https://senecaparkzoo.org