The Pokémon Company has announce the release date of the first episode of the Pokémon LEGENDS Arceus anime three-part limited animated series. The first episode will air on May 18th, 2022 on Pokémon TV and YouTube. Pictures from the press release have been added to an Imageboard thread.


The Japanese version announced the voice actors for the main character Akio. Akio as a young man is voice by Koki Uchiyama (内山昂輝) while Akio as a young boy is voice by Rie Kugimiya (釘宮理恵).

Poster:

Coming Soon: Pokémon: Hisuian Snow on Pokémon TV and YouTube

Learn about a time when Pokémon and humans lived separate lives with a new limited animated series.

Get ready for a new adventure set in the vast, stunning Hisui region. Produced by WIT STUDIO, Pokémon: Hisuian Snow launches May 18 with the first episode in a three-part limited animated series. Available on Pokémon TV and the official Pokémon YouTube channel, Pokémon: Hisuian Snow tells the story of a boy named Alec and his encounter with a Hisuian Zorua. When he was younger, Alec's father taught him that people and Pokémon cannot live together. But Alec's interactions with the Zorua might offer a different lesson.

Source: https://www.pokemon.com/us/pokemon-news/coming-soon-pokemon-hisuian-snow-on-pokemon-tv-and-youtube/

Press Release - POKÉMON ANNOUNCES NEW ANIMATED SERIES ‘POKÉMON: HISUIAN SNOW’

Details Revealed for Three-Episode Web Series Set in the Ancient Hisui Region

BELLEVUE, Wash. — April 26, 2022 — The Pokémon Company International revealed details today about an animated series that will take fans on a new adventure in the ancient Hisui region of the Pokémon world. The web series, originally teased during a Pokémon Presents on Pokémon Day 2022, is titled “Pokémon: Hisuian Snow” and is slated to premiere on May 18, 2022, exclusively on the official Pokémon YouTube channel and Pokémon TV.

The Hisui region was originally explored in the Pokémon Legends: Arceus video game and represents the Sinnoh region of old—before the existence of Pokémon Trainers and Pokémon Leagues. “Pokémon: Hisuian Snow” is a story that takes place during this ancient age when the relationship between people and Pokémon was very different. Aboard a boat bound for the Hisui region, the protagonist Alec reminisces about the first time his father took him there. Over the span of three episodes, “Pokémon: Hisuian Snow” will go into detail about Alec’s stories from the past.

Character Details:

Viewers will meet Hisuian Pokémon and new characters in this limited web series. The Pokémon Company International has revealed initial details of key characters and Pokémon in anticipation of the premiere.

Alec
Alec is heading to the Hisui region in search of medicinal herbs. He is a mild-mannered young man who is studying to become a doctor. As a child, he once accompanied his father on a visit to the Hisui region. He had an adventurous and mischievous side to him when he was a child.


Alec’s Father
Alec’s father is a woodworker. He originally lived in a different region, but recently moved to the Hisui region to procure materials. He came to fear Pokémon after a certain incident.


Zorua (Hisuian Form)
The Spiteful Fox Pokémon who lives in the Hisui region. It is said that the lingering spirits of Zorua who were chased out of their homeland and perished have returned to life in this form, fueled by the power of their malice toward humans and Pokémon.


“Pokémon: Hisuian Snow” is being produced by The Pokémon Company International in collaboration with WIT STUDIO, and episodes will premiere on the official Pokémon YouTube channel and Pokémon TV. Please look forward to more information on additional episode release dates following episode one’s premiere.

Credits

Director: Ken Yamamoto
Screenwriter: Taku Kishimoto
Character Design: KURO
Color Design: Ayaka Nakamura (WIT STUDIO)
Art Director: Yuuji Kaneko (AOSYASIN)
Director of Photography: Takeru Yokoi (WIT STUDIO)
Offline Editor: Akari Saito (Mishima Editing Room)
Sound Director: Masafumi Mima
Music: Conisch
Animation: WIT STUDIO

Game Freak has introduced an "Optional Three-Day Weekend" starting in April 2022. It is aiming to be a flexible work environment where each employee can choose how to work at his or her own will.


Game Freak is a company that plans and develops games such as the Pokémon series, and it has introduced an "Optional Three-Day Weekend" starting in April 2022. This system allows employees who wish to take an additional day off per week in addition to Saturdays and Sundays for the purpose of "childcare, nursing care, or nursing care.

The program targets full-time employees who are raising children of elementary school age or younger or who need to care for or provide nursing care to family members.

Game Freak has also established a staggered workday system, a paid leave system that allows employees to take paid leave in one-hour increments, and a telecommuting system. With the introduction of the selective workweek system, employees will be able to work in a more flexible manner according to their individual circumstances.

We want to become a flexible work environment where each and every one of us can choose how to work at their own accord. This system represents Game Freak's desire to create a new way of working. We will continue to evolve so that our employees can realize their full potential.

Optional Three-Day Weekend for Childcare, Caregiving, and Nursing Care Purposes

• Eligible employees
• Childcare: Full-time employees who take care of children of elementary school age or younger
• Caregiving/Nursing care: Full-time employees who care for or provide nursing care to family members
• Use of the system
• Employees themselves choose one weekday as a day off.
• Available on a monthly basis, starting on the first day of each month and ending at the end of the month.
• Working hours
• 8 hours per day x 4 days = 32 hours per week
• Salary
• 80% of base salary and bonus compared to a regular 2-day weekend

About Game Freak

Game Freak is engaged in the planning and development of games such as the Pokémon series. Even though we are celebrating our 33rd anniversary, our commitment to providing the world with quality games has not changed our development activities. We will continue to create new content with "fun, excitement, and discovery" and "courage, hope, kindness, dreams, and a spirit of adventure" in mind.

Company Profile

Company name: Game Freak
Established: April 26th, 1989
CEO: Satoshi Tajiri
Number of employees: 176 (as of April 2022, regular and contract employees only)

The Pokémon Company International has announced the winners of the 2022 Pokémon Europe International Championships who were crowned in Frankfurt, Germany.

Winners of the 2022 Pokémon Europe International Championships Crowned in Frankfurt, Germany

Pokémon players from 40 countries and regions gathered in Frankfurt, Germany, from April 22–24 2022, for the first International Championships of the 2022 Championship Series season

From April 22–24, Pokémon fans and players from around the globe gathered at the Messe Frankfurt, Germany, for the 2022 Pokémon Europe International Championships. Players competed in the Pokémon Trading Card Game, Pokémon Sword and Pokémon Shield video games, the first international Pokémon GO championship in partnership with Niantic, and Pokkén Tournament DX.

During three days of intense competition, Trainers in the Pokémon Trading Card Game and the Pokémon video games battled to take home the title of International Champion and secure a place at this year’s Pokémon World Championships taking place in London, England, from August 18–21. Pokémon GO players and Pokkén Tournament DX players also battled for a chance to qualify for the 2022 Pokémon World Championships.

This year’s champions were awarded a special Pokémon trophy, a monetary prize in the form of a scholarship or cash prize, and thousands of dollars’ worth of prizes spread among the Pokémon Trading Card Game, the Pokémon video games, Pokémon GO, and Pokkén Tournament DX competition categories.

The final list of winners from the weekend is as follows:

Trading Card Game Junior Division:
1st place: Nathan Osterkatz [US]
2nd place: Luka Levain [FR]

Trading Card Game Senior Division:
1st place: Caleb Rogerson [US]
2nd place: Roberto Costanzo [FR]

Trading Card Game Masters Division:
1st place: Gustavo Wada [BR]
2nd place: Frank Percic [US]

Video Game Junior Division:
1st place: Alexander Musikant [DE]
2nd place: Francesca Zaglio [IT]

Video Game Senior Division:
1st place: Nicholas Kan [AU]
2nd place: Alessandro Marchionne [IT]

Video Game Masters Division:
1st place: Eric Rios [ES]
2nd place: Oliver Eskolin [FI]

Pokémon GO Senior Division:
1st place: Maxwell Ember (MEweedle) [GB]
2nd place: Stefan Cojocaru (KrowMDIV) [DE]

Pokémon GO Masters Division:
1st place: Jakub Zatloukal (Aeeriils) [CZ]
2nd place: Domnik Wieber (Fr43ka) [DE]

Pokkén Tournament DX Senior Division:
1st place: Fardin Rahman Mikan (Royume) [DE]

Pokkén Tournament DX Masters Division:
1st place: Florian Blank (Cloud) [DE]
2nd place: Motochika Nabeshim (Elm) [JP]

The 2022 Pokémon Europe International Championships take place in Frankfurt, Germany from April 22–24th, 2022. The tournament will be streamed live on Twitch.tv

2022 Pokémon Europe International Championships Streaming Info

Twitch.tv/Pokemon
Twitch.tv/PokemonTCG
Twitch.tv/PokemonGO
Twitch.tv/PokkenTournament

Players will compete for incredible prizes and high Championship Point payouts during the 2022 Pokémon Europe International Championships in Frankfurt, Germany from April 22–24, 2022.

Even if you can't make it to Germany, you can still watch all the action live at home. Matches from the Pokémon Trading Card Game and Pokémon Sword and Pokémon Shield will be streaming all weekend long, starting early on Friday morning at 12:00 a.m. (Pacific Daylight Time). You can also catch Pokémon GO and Pokkén Tournament DX competitions during the event's first two days.

Tune in to each game's respective Twitch.tv channel to catch all the action! Don't forget to check out the winning teams and decks at Pokemon.com/EventResults once the tournament is complete.

When to Watch: Pokémon TCG

Pokémon TCG stream: Twitch.tv/PokemonTCG
Commentators: Joe Bernard, Ross Gilbert, Chip Richey, Ethan Hegyi
Friday, April 22: Match coverage begins at 12:00 a.m. PDT
Saturday, April 23: Match coverage continues at 12:00 a.m. PDT
Sunday, April 24: Final matches begin at 1:00 a.m. PDT

When to Watch: Pokémon VGC

Pokémon VGC stream: Twitch.tv/Pokemon
Commentators: Adam Dorricott, Labhaoisa Cromie, Lee Provost, Rosemary Kelley
Friday, April 22: Match coverage begins at 12:00 a.m. PDT
Saturday, April 23: Match coverage continues at 12:00 a.m. PDT
Sunday, April 24: Final matches begin at 1:00 a.m. PDT

When to Watch: Pokémon GO

Pokémon GO stream: Twitch.tv/PokemonGO
Commentators: William “SpeediestChief2” Dunphey, Caleb Peng, Ryan "Zyonik" Hackel, Steven Sanders
Friday, April 22: Match coverage begins at 12:00 a.m. PDT
Saturday, April 23: Match coverage continues at 12:00 a.m. PDT, followed by final matches

When to Watch: Pokkén Tournament DX

Pokkén Tournament DX stream: Twitch.tv/PokkenTournament
Commentators: Evan “WonderChef” Hashimoto, Solomon “SolCalibre” Richard-Croffie, Michael “Midori” Tjong
Friday, April 22: Match coverage begins at 12:00 a.m. PDT
Saturday, April 23: Match coverage continues at 12:00 a.m. PDT, followed by final matches

All times are approximated and subject to change.

Source: https://www.pokemon.com/us/play-pokemon/internationals/2022/europe/streaming/

Press Release - Tune in to the 2022 Pokémon Europe International Championships Live from Frankfurt, April 22-24, 2022

Bellevue, WA—April 19, 2022—Fans around the world can watch all the action from the first Pokémon International Championships event of 2022—the Europe International Championships—via livestream this weekend. Some of the world’s best Pokémon Trainers will battle it out in the Pokémon Trading Card Game, the Pokémon Sword and Pokémon Shield video games, Pokkén Tournament DX, and Pokémon GO.

The broadcasts will take place across three days, April 22–24 2022, with commentary in English from Pokémon community leaders:

• Pokémon Video Games: twitch.tv/pokemon 
  • Commentators: Adam Dorricott, Labhaoisa Cromie, Lee Provost, Rosemary Kelley
• Pokémon Trading Card Game: twitch.tv/pokemontcg 
  • Commentators: Joe Bernard, Ross Gilbert, Chip Richey, Ethan Hegyi
• Pokkén Tournament DX: www.twitch.tv/pokkentournament
  • Commentators: Evan “WonderChef” Hashimoto, Solomon “SolCalibre” Richard-Croffie, Michael “Midori” Tjong
• Pokémon GO: https://www.twitch.tv/pokemongo
  • Commentators: William “SpeediestChief2” Dunphey, Caleb Peng, Ryan “Zyonik” Hackel, Steven Sanders

Each tournament will be streamed from the show floor at Messe Frankfurt in Germany, at the following times:

• Friday, April 22, 2022
  • 9:00 a.m. CEST: Match coverage begins for all four games
• Saturday, April 23, 2022
  • 9:00 a.m. CEST: Match coverage continues for all four games, followed by final matches for Pokkén Tournament DX and Pokémon GO
• Sunday, April 24, 2022
  • 10:00 a.m. CEST: Final matches for Pokémon TCG and Pokémon VGC

Keep up to date with the latest news from the 2022 Pokémon Europe International Championships here, and to find out more about the Play! Pokémon program, be sure to visit https://www.pokemon.com/us/play-pokemon/.

​​​​​​​The Pokémon Company International has announced that they have purchased North Carolina-based Millennium Print Group and will expand it to continue printing the Pokémon Trading Card Game.

THE POKÉMON COMPANY INTERNATIONAL ENTERS INTO AGREEMENT TO PURCHASE MILLENNIUM PRINT GROUP

Bellevue, Wash. – April 18, 2022 – The Pokémon Company International, the company responsible for management of the globally popular Pokémon brand outside of Asia, has entered into agreement to purchase North Carolina-based Millennium Print Group, a manufacturer and printer of trading cards and associated packaging in the US. The two companies have been business partners since 2015 with Millennium Print Group serving as longtime printers of The Pokémon Company International’s best-selling product, the Pokémon Trading Card Game.

With this acquisition, The Pokémon Company International aims to further develop Millennium Print Group’s capabilities, infrastructure, and scale to become a premier printer of trading cards, serving the broader industry. Millennium Print Group will continue to operate as a separate, autonomous organization, but will gain both investment and industry- expertise from The Pokémon Company International.

“The talented team at Millennium Print Group has been an important partner to The Pokémon Company International for many years, helping us bring the Pokémon Trading Card Game to our fans with the quality they expect,” said Kenji Okubo, president of The Pokémon Company International. “By joining forces in a more meaningful way, our goal is to enhance the ways our organizations work together and continue to bring the highest quality Pokémon TCG products to market. Simultaneously, we aim to develop Millennium into an even better, bigger, state-of-the-art version of their already exceptional organization, benefitting not just Pokémon, but all of their customers.”

“Millennium Print Group has had the pleasure of growing alongside the Pokémon brand and Pokémon Trading Card Game for nearly a decade,” said Terry Pegram, CEO, Millennium Print Group. “In that time, we have had the opportunity to develop an amazing relationship with the expert team at The Pokémon Company International, an organization with a special culture who lives its values every day. This exciting new chapter for Millennium Print Group has tremendous beneficial impact for both our business and its employees. We look forward to continuing to support our team members and customers while growing Millennium to be a premier printer for trading cards in the world.”

To learn more about The Pokémon Company International visit www.Pokemon.com and to learn more about Millennium Print Group visit www.mprintgroup.com.

About Millennium Print Group
Millennium Print Group (MPG), a division of Park Communications, is a unique and distinctive printer located in North Carolina specializing in TCG printing. Millennium was acquired in 2014 and has made significant investments to grow the company into a premier print-provider in the region. For more information, visit www.mprintgroup.com.

Guinness World Records has officially confirmed that YouTuber Logan Paul has purchased the most expensive Pokémon Trading Card, a Japanese PSA Grade 10 Pikachu Illustrator card, considered to be one of the rarest Pokémon TCG cards. He paid a record-breaking trade worth $5,275,000 USD for it. He recently showed off the card by wearing it at WrestleMania 38.

Logan Paul owns $5.275 million Pokémon card after record-breaking trade

YouTuber Logan Paul (USA) has recently acquired a coveted PSA Grade 10 Pikachu Illustrator card following a record-breaking trade worth $5,275,000 (£3,862,424 / €4,477,146).

The card was purchased by Paul in Dubai on 22 July 2021, breaking the record for most expensive Pokémon trading card sold at a private sale.


To obtain the PSA Grade 10 Pikachu Illustrator card, Paul exchanged a PSA Grade 9 Pikachu Illustrator card worth $1,275,000 that he had purchased from renowned sports card collector Matt Allen in Como, Italy.

This Grade 9 card plus $4,000,000 equalled the cost of the pristine Grade 10 Pikachu Illustrator card.

"The Pikachu Illustrator is one of the rarest and most highly coveted Pokémon cards in the world," said Paul.

"Only 39 were given out to Illustration contest winners in 1998, and this was a purchase for the only one in the world that has been graded a perfect "10.""

.@LoganPaul wearing the most expensive @Pokemon card in the world right now at #WrestleMania!pic.twitter.com/ZnCTZD8ln9

— WWE (@WWE) April 3, 2022

After leaving the ring and heading backstage, Paul was presented with his official Guinness World Records certificate for the most expensive Pokémon trading card sold at a private sale by Adjudicator Mike Marcotte.


Logan Paul with his Guinness World Records certificate backstage at WrestleMania 38

When asked how it felt to break this record, Paul said he'd been trying to do this his "whole life".

the real star of Wrestlemania — my 1/1 PSA 10 Pikachu Illustrator that I purchased for $5,275,000, officially setting the Guinness World Record for “most expensive Pokémon trading card sold at a private sale” pic.twitter.com/nrAyvrytCB

— Logan Paul (@LoganPaul) April 4, 2022

"I applied for so many records and the fact that I finally got one after my first [WWE] win ever? I come back to the locker room and I get a second win right away?"

"I love Pokémon and the fact that it’s been validated with Guinness World Records – this is crazy. Tonight’s a wild night. This does not feel real!" – Logan Paul

Source: https://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/news/2022/4/logan-paul-owns-5-275-million-pokemon-card-after-record-breaking-trade-697189

On April 1st, 2022, Shogakukan Productions (ShoPro) released a press release and PV video to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the Pocket Monsters anime in Japan and to showcase the upcoming climax to the current Pocket Monsters series.

New Key Visuals and PV Revealed!

A special video commemorating the 25th anniversary of the TV anime is also now available!


The TV anime Pocket Monsters, which airs every Friday at 6:55 pm on TV Tokyo, has unveiled a new key visual and PV! The key visual released this time depicts the two main characters, Satoshi and Go, and their Pokémon partners, as well as Satoshi's goal, Dande, and Go's goal, the Mythical Pokémon Mew. The refreshed visuals show their desire to continue pursuing their dreams.

Also, a new PV has been released! Satoshi aims to battle Dande, the strongest champion, and Go aims to pass Project Mew in order to get Mew, whom he met as a child. The two are pursuing their respective dreams, and there are plenty of scenes that remind us of their upcoming adventures! Koharu and her partner Pokémon Eievui, dressed in their contest costumes, also make an appearance. Watch out for the two of them on the gorgeous stage!

The PV also features Shinji, a rival with whom Satoshi once had heated battles with, and Gekkouga, a Pokémon with whom he shared many adventures! For those who have seen the previous Pocket Monsters series, the content is highly anticipated. The main story of the anime will continue to accelerate toward the climax for the two, so don't miss it!

The PV released today is now available on the official Pokémon YouTube Channel.

YouTube Clip - Pocket Monsters Anime Promotional Video 10

Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1a04Tizpmm4

Special video for the 25th anniversary of the TV animation Pocket Monsters is also now available!

The TV anime Pocket Monsters celebrated its 25th anniversary of its first broadcast on April 1st, 1997. To commemorate this, a special video is being released on the official Anipoke Twitter on midnight on Friday, April 1st, 2022!


Beginning with Satoshi's encounter with his one and only partner, Pikachu, the video traces Satoshi's adventures over the past 25 years, looking back at the Pokémon he has met. It is full of scenes that will make you nostalgic, even if you watched the anime as a child, so please pay attention!

25th Anniversary Retrospect Video

Source: https://twitter.com/anipoke_PR/status/1509546056224485379

新たなキービジュアルとPVを解禁！

テレビアニメ25周年を記念した特別映像も公開中！
テレビ東京系にて毎週金曜よる6時55分に放送中のテレビアニメ「ポケットモンスター」は、新たなキービジュアルとPVを解禁しました！

今回解禁となったキービジュアルは、W主人公のサトシとゴウ、二人のパートナーポケモンたちに加え、サトシの目標であるダンデと、ゴウの目標である幻のポケモン・ミュウが描かれています。夢を目指して進み続ける二人の想いが感じられる爽やかなビジュアルとなっています。

また、PVも新たに解禁！最強の王者ダンデとのバトルを目指すサトシと、幼い頃に出会ったミュウにたどり着くため、「プロジェクト・ミュウ」の合格を目指すゴウ。それぞれの夢を目指す二人の、これからの冒険を想起させるシーンが盛りだくさんです！さらに、コンテスト衣装に身を包むコハルとパートナーポケモンのイーブイも登場。華やかなステージに立つふたりの姿にご注目ください！

PVには、かつてサトシと熱戦を繰り広げたライバル・シンジや、冒険を共にしたポケモン・ゲッコウガの姿も！これまでの「ポケットモンスター」シリーズをご覧になった方にとっても、期待が高まる内容になっています。アニメ本編も、2人の最高潮(クライマックス)に向かってどんどん加速する展開になっていきますので、お見逃しなく！
本日公開されたPVはポケモン公式YouTube（https://youtu.be/1a04Tizpmm4）で公開中！
是非この機会にご紹介のご検討を頂けますよう、お願い申し上げます。

■テレビアニメ「ポケットモンスター」25周年特別映像も公開中！■
テレビアニメ「ポケットモンスター」は、1997年4月1日の初回放送から25年を迎えました。それを記念して、2022年4月1日（金）0時より特別映像をアニポケ公式Twitterで公開中！

サトシの唯一無二のパートナー・ピカチュウの出会いから始まり、これまでにサトシが出会ってきたポケモンたちを振り返りながら25年間の冒険の軌跡をたどる映像になっています。子供の頃にアニメを見ていた方も思わず懐かしくなるようなシーンが満載ですので、是非ご注目ください！

The Pokémon Company has announced that the 2022 Pokémon World Championships will be held at ExCeL London in England on August 18th to 21st, 2022. The World Championships is now a four-day event in order to accommodate the activities and number of tournaments that take place. Top Pokémon players will be invited to compete in the Pokémon Sword and Pokémon Shield video games, the Pokémon Trading Card Game, Pokkén Tournament DX, Pokémon UNITE and Pokémon GO for the title of World Champion.

ExCeL London Hosts the 2022 Pokémon World Championships from August 18–21

The big event is back! Join the action in England for four straight days this summer.

This August, the Pokémon World Championships will make their long-anticipated return! For the first time in history, the big event will be held outside North America when London, England, hosts the competition August 18–21, 2022. The event will include competitions for the Pokémon TCG, the Pokémon Sword and Pokémon Shield video games, Pokémon GO, Pokémon UNITE, and Pokkén Tournament DX. The venue for the event is the enormous ExCeL London event center, which has also hosted previous Europe International Championships.

ExCeL London
One Western Gateway
Royal Victoria Dock
London, England E16 1XL

Worlds is now a four-day event, with exciting activities for players and spectators alike. The very best Pokémon Trainers will be vying for the title of World Champion, but that's only the beginning of the fun—other activities will be available for all Pokémon fans.

From August 17–21, the 2022 Pokémon World Championships will also be home to a Pokémon Center store, where fans will be able to purchase a wide variety of products including a range of items themed around the tournament. The Pokémon Center will remain open while supplies last.

Invited players will not have to pay an entry fee to participate at Worlds, but there will be a nominal fee for spectator badges. Stay tuned for more information on the cost and availability of spectator badges.

The safety and well-being of our competitors, organizers, employees, local communities, and partners continues to be our top priority. Information on our COVID-19 policy can be found here.

If you want to compete in the Pokémon World Championships, it's not too late to get started. Find an event near you and start earning Championship Points toward a coveted Worlds invitation!

We'll have much more news and info on the Pokémon World Championships as we get closer to the event.

Source: https://www.pokemon.com/us/pokemon-news/excel-london-hosts-the-2022-pokemon-world-championships-from-august-1821/

The official Pokémon website has announced that players of Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and Pokémon Shining Pearl can get Arceus and Darkrai if they have a Pokémon Legends: Arceus save file on their Nintendo Switch system with all the main missions completed.

Get Arceus and Darkrai in Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and Pokémon Shining Pearl

Prove your Pokémon Legends: Arceus skills and obtain a special Mystery Gift item to encounter these Mythical Pokémon in Sinnoh.

A pair of Mythical Pokémon are waiting for you in the Sinnoh region! By following the instructions below, you can encounter Arceus and Darkrai in your Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and Pokémon Shining Pearl adventures. They're sure to make incredible additions to your team.

To find Arceus, you'll need to have a Pokémon Legends: Arceus save file on your Nintendo Switch system with all the main missions completed. You'll also need to enter the Hall of Fame and obtain the National Pokédex in Pokémon Brilliant Diamond or Pokémon Shining Pearl. Once all the conditions have been met, return to your room in Pokémon Brilliant Diamond or Pokémon Shining Pearl, where you can get the Azure Flute item. Then, go to the Spear Pillar at the top of Mount Coronet, and Arceus will reveal itself. Be ready to battle this powerful Pokémon!

To befriend Darkrai, you must first obtain the Member Card item—available between the new moons—via the Mystery Gift feature in Pokémon Brilliant Diamond or Pokémon Shining Pearl. Once again, you will also need to enter the Sinnoh region's Hall of Fame and obtain the National Pokédex. Do so, then travel to Newmoon Island, where Darkrai can be found.

Please note that to receive the Azure Flute in Pokémon Brilliant Diamond or Pokémon Shining Pearl, you will need to have downloaded the software update (version 1.3.0) scheduled for distribution on March 15, 2022, at 6:00 p.m. PDT.​

Source: https://www.pokemon.com/us/pokemon-news/get-arceus-and-darkrai-in-pokemon-brilliant-diamond-and-pokemon-shining-pearl/

Press Release - Mythical Pokémon Coming to Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and Pokémon Shining Pearl

The Pokémon Company shared today that a new update is coming to Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and Pokémon Shining Pearl. Players will be able to befriend Darkrai and, by playing Pokémon Legends: Arceus, fans will be able to encounter Arceus in Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and Pokémon Shining Pearl.

• Encountering Arceus: To encounter Arceus in Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and Pokémon Shining Pearl, players must update their game to version 1.3.0* and have a Pokémon Legends: Arceus save file on their Nintendo Switch system with all the main missions completed. They can then receive the Azure Flute item in Pokémon Brilliant Diamond or Pokémon Shining Pearl after entering the Hall of Fame and obtaining the National Pokédex. Once these conditions are met, players can go to the entrance of the Spear Pillar and the Mythical Pokémon Arceus will reveal itself.
• Befriending Darkrai:​ The Member Card item will be given as a gift from 8:24 a.m. CEST on Friday, 1 April, until 10:28 p.m. CEST on Saturday, 30 April 2022. After obtaining the item by selecting Get via Internet from the Mystery Gift feature in-game and fulfilling specific conditions—players must have entered the Hall of Fame, obtained the National Pokédex, and completed the in-game event for Cresselia — you will be able to go to Newmoon Island, where the Mythical Pokémon Darkrai can be found.​

The new update will be available starting Wednesday, March 16th, 2022.

On March 12th, 2022, The Pokémon Company published a press release for the VS Elite Four 1 Hour Battle Special (VS四天王1時間バトルスペシャル) which aired on Friday, April 1st, 2022 at 6:55pm on TV Tokyo. It was a special to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the anime originally airing on April 1st, 1997. The official PokéAni Twitter account also posted the comments from Yuki Kaji and Mariya Ise who reprised their roles as Citron and Eureka. High resolution pictures from the press release have been added to an Imageboard thread.


April 1st is the 25th anniversary of the "Pocket Monsters" TV show!
This day the extravagant double feature "VS Elite Four 1 Hour Battle Special" will air! Citron and Eureka will be back as well!
We've received comments from voice actors Yuki Kaji and Mariya Ise!

It's been decided that the anime TV show "Pocket Monsters", which airs every Friday on the Tv Tokyo Network, is going to air the extravagant double feature "VS Elite Four 1 Hour Battle Special" Friday, April 1st, 2022 at 6:55pm! Citron and Eureka, who both traveled with Satoshi in the Kalos region in the TV shows "Pocket Monsters XY" and "Pocket Monsters XY&Z" are going to return! We've received comments from Citron's voice actor Yuki Kaji and Eureka's voice actor Maiya Ise.


And believe it or not, on April 1st 2022 the "Pocket Monsters" anime TV series will be celebrating the 25th anniversary of the original premiere date of April 1st 1997!! It will have a special giveaway campaign as a thank-you to all its fans, so make sure to pay attention to the show that day!

Synopsises for the "VS Elite Four 1 Hour Battle Special" airing Friday April 1st, 2022

"Satoshi and Citron! Special Friendship Training!!"

The venue for the next "Pokémon World Championships" match is in Miare City in the Kalos region. Before the match starts, Satoshi and Go visit Gym leader Citron and his sister Eureka, who used to travel with Satoshi. Satoshi trains by having a Pokémon battle with Citron, but then something happens to Negigaknight...?! Uonoragon seems to take an interest in what happened, and...?!

"Hyper Class! VS Elite Four Dracaena!!"

Satoshi's "Pokémon World Championships" opponent is Dracaena from the Kalos Elite Four, who is ranked 12th in the Hyper Class! Dracaena looks kind, but her battling skills are absolutely extreme?! Satoshi faces the Dragon type Trainer Dracaena with his powered-up Negigaknight and Uonodragon! Will he be able to defeat this powerful opponent?!

Satoshi reunites with Citron and Eureka, the siblings he traveled with in the Kalos region! How with Satoshi fight Kalos Elite Four Dracaena after training with them?! Keep your eyes peeled!

We've received comments from Citron's voice actor Yuki Kaji and Eureka's voice actor Maiya Ise!


Yuki Kaji, voice of Citron:
"I had heard rumors that characters from other series have been appearing one after another, so I'd been hoping Citron one day would as well... and I'm really happy that dream came true today! And it's BOTH siblings, too! I think of the three years I spent dubbing the "Pocket Monsters" TV show as an indispensable masterpiece of my voice actor life. It was a time filled with learning and twinkling.

When I appeared in the show this time, I went to the dubbing session picturing what Citron's life had been like after the conclusion of the "Pocket Monsters XY" series... hoping I could show that I had grown a bit as an actor since last time. The Pokémon dubbing studio is a place for passion and fun!

As far as this episode goes, I think you might consider it a character analysis that truly makes you feel what Citron is like as a person. However, his battle against Satoshi is really well made too, and you should get to hear his catchphrase "Citronic Gear On!" as well...! Don't miss the scene where the siblings reunite with Satoshi, Pikachu and the other either, it's really emotional! I hope they'll make another appearance after this... preferably one where they interact with Go! The Pokémon World is infinitely wide, so there's no doubt things will get even more exciting in the future!

I hope both existing XY fans and those that gain an interest in XY from this episode will get the opportunity to watch these two characters' journey in its entirety! It's the most wonderful story of all! Regards,
Yuki Kaji


Mariya Ise, voice of Eureka:
It made me really happy I got to meet Satoshi's voice actress Rica Matsumoto and all the other people that took care of me back in the days of the "Pocket Monsters XY" series, and getting to play Eureka again made me the happiest of all. Unfortunately I didn't get to record alongside Yuki Kaji, who plays Eureka's brother Citron, but since we spent about three years together in this dubbing studio, I could still hear his voice in my head when I read the script, so I was able to record my lines while being pretty sure how Kaji-kun would deliver his.

If you're new to the Pokémon anime, I hope you'll come to love the innocent angel Eureka who loves to care for Pokémon, and I also hope you'll watch the "Pocket Monsters XY" series as well.

Eureka is a girl who's too young to be a Pokémon Trainer yet, which I think viewers close to her in age will be able to empathize with. The sibling interaction between her and Citron is really charming as well, so I really hope you'll get the opportunity to watch the "Pocket Monsters XY" series in addition to this episode!
-Mariya Ise

4月1日はテレビアニメ「ポケットモンスター」25周年！豪華2本立て！「VS四天王1時間バトルスペシャル」の放送が決定！
シトロンとユリーカも再登場！声優・梶裕貴さん、伊瀬茉莉也さんからコメントが到着！

テレビ東京系にて毎週金曜に放送中のテレビアニメ「ポケットモンスター」は、4月1日（金）よる6時55分から豪華2本立ての1時間SP「VS四天王1時間バトルスペシャル」の放送が決定！テレビアニメ「ポケッモンスターXY」「ポケットモンスターXY&Z」でサトシと一緒にカロス地方を旅したシトロンとユリーカが再登場！シトロン役・梶裕貴さんと、ユリーカ役・伊瀬茉莉也さんからコメントが到着致しました。

そして、2022年4月1日にテレビアニメ「ポケットモンスター」シリーズは1997年4月1日の初回放送日から、なんと25周年を迎えます！！ファンの皆さまへの感謝を込めて、番組内でのスペシャルプレゼントキャンペーンを実施致しますので、当日は是非番組にご注目ください！

《4月1日（金）放送「VS四天王1時間バトルスペシャル」あらすじ》

「サトシとシトロン！友情大特訓！！」
『ポケモンワールドチャンピオンシップス』の次の試合会場は、カロス地方・ミアレシティ。サトシとゴウは試合の前に、かつてサトシと共に旅をしたジムリーダー・シトロンと妹のユリーカを訪ねる。サトシはシトロンとポケモンバトルの特訓をするが、ネギガナイトに何やら異変が…！？そして、そんなネギガナイトにウオノラゴンは興味津々なようで…！？

「ハイパークラス！VS四天王ドラセナ！！」
『ポケモンワールドチャンピオンシップス』の対戦相手は、ハイパークラス12位のカロス四天王・ドラセナ！一見優しそうなドラセナだが、バトルの腕は超過激！？ ドラゴンタイプ使いのドラセナに対し、サトシはパワーアップしたネギガナイトとウオノラゴンで勝負に挑む！果たしてサトシは強敵に勝利することができるのか！？

かつてカロス地方を共に旅した、シトロンとユリーカ兄妹との再会！彼らとの特訓を経て、サトシはカロス四天王・ドラセナを相手にどんな戦いを見せるのか！？ぜひご注目ください！

シトロン役・梶裕貴さん、ユリーカ役・伊瀬茉莉也さんからコメントが到着しました！ 是非この機会にご紹介のご検討を頂けますよう、お願い申し上げます。

【シトロン役　梶裕貴さん】
他のシリーズのキャラクターたちが次々と登場している噂は聞いていたので「いつかシトロンも！」と願っておりましたが…今回、その夢が実現して本当に嬉しかったです！しかも、兄妹揃って！テレビアニメ「ポケットモンスター」のアフレコ現場で過ごした3年間は、僕の声優人生にとって、なくてはならないマスターピースだと思っています。本当にたくさんの学びとキラキラをいただいた時間でした。

今回出演するにあたり、テレビアニメ「ポケットモンスターXY」シリーズ終了からの、その後のシトロンの人生を想像しつつ…役者として、少しでも成長した自分をお見せできたらなと思いながらアフレコに臨みました。やはり、ポケモンの現場は熱く、楽しかったです！ 内容に関しては、実にシトロンらしさを感じていただけそうな"分析"のドラマになっているかと。とはいえ、サトシとのバトルもバッチリ用意されていますし、あの決めゼリフ「シトロニック・ギア、オン！！」もお聴きいただけるはず…！シトロンとユリーカの兄妹が、サトシやピカチュウたちと再会する瞬間をお見逃しなく！絶対に感動しちゃいますよ！そして願わくば、ぜひ再登場して…今度はゴウとのエピソードなんかも描いてもらえたらな、なんて思っています！無限大に広がるポケモンワールド！ますます盛り上がっていくこと間違いなしですね！

「XY」シリーズファンの皆さんはもちろん…これを機に「XY」に興味を持ってくださった皆さんに、彼らの旅を一からご覧いただけることを祈っています！最高に素敵な物語ですよ！よろしくお願いします！！

【ユリーカ役　伊瀬茉莉也さん】
サトシ役の松本梨香さんをはじめ、テレビアニメ「ポケットモンスターXY」シリーズの時にお世話になった方々にお会いできて嬉しかったですし、何より、またユリーカを演じられることが凄く嬉しかったです。 残念ながらユリーカの兄・シトロン役の梶くんとは一緒に収録はできなかったのですが、アフレコ現場で約3年間を一緒に過ごしてきたので、台本を読んだ時に自然と脳内に梶くんの声が聞こえてきて。きっとこういう風にお芝居するかな…？と想像しながら収録に臨めました。

今回から初めて「アニポケ」をご覧になる方は、天真爛漫でポケモンのお世話が大好きなユリーカの事を好きになって貰えたら嬉しいですし、ぜひテレビアニメ「ポケットモンスターXY」シリーズも観て頂けると良いなと思います。

彼女は年齢的に、まだポケモントレーナーになれない女の子です。見てくださっている方の中にも、ユリーカと近い年齢の子は感情移入して頂けると思いますし、シトロンとユリーカの兄妹のやりとりも魅力的なので、ぜひ、今回の放送とあわせて「ポケットモンスターXY」シリーズもご覧になって頂けたらなと思います！