The first game of the 2025 MLB season took place at Tokyo Dome on Tuesday, March 18th, 2025 as part of the Tokyo Series. The LA Dodgers faced the Chicago Cubs and the game featured MLB Japanese star Shohei Ohtani who was introduced to the original Pocket Monsters opening theme. Pikachu was also there cheering on the teams!

YouTube Clip - EPIC Pokémon-themed introductions for Dodgers vs. Cubs during the 2025 Tokyo Series!

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

Press Release - Pokémon front and center as Tokyo Series celebrates Japanese icons

Michael Clair MLB.com
The Tokyo Dome went dark, the lights blinking off around the stadium. Suddenly, a spotlight flashed on: A lone child stood on the mound, staring toward the plate. But it wasn’t a baseball he was preparing to throw: It was a Poké Ball, the red-and-white orb famous from Pokémon.

If Tuesday’s Tokyo Series opener between the Dodgers and the Cubs was a one-of-a-kind ballgame, with five Japanese superstars playing against each other inside the iconic Tokyo Dome and two Japanese starting pitchers facing off, then the pregame ceremony needed to be just as momentous.

As the child stood on the mound, winding up to throw the Poké Ball, the packed Tokyo Dome once again was plunged into darkness. Then, with epic, action-hero music, the videoboard in center field came to life proclaiming that “MLB Monsters went to Japan.”

It was then time for the players to take the field for their introductions – each player earning a comparison to a different breed of Pokémon. As they did, a series of oversized and overstuffed Pikachus bounced and cantered adorably about the field.

Sources: https://www.mlb.com/news/mlb-tokyo-series-2025-game-1-top-moments, https://www.mlb.com/news/pokemon-yoshiki-featured-in-tokyo-series-pregame-ceremony, https://x.com/MLBONFOX/status/1901955339550945546

Get ready to electrify your imagination in 2026! The Pokémon Company and LEGO have announced a brand-new collaboration and LEGO Pokémon will be released in 2026.

YouTube Clip - Get ready to electrify your imagination in 2026

Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Iw7kU5eGKgs

LEGO® Pokémon™ Coming Soon

Electrify your imagination in 2026 and get ready to build something we’ve never built with LEGO® bricks before! LEGO® Pokémon™ is a brand-new collaboration that brings your love for bricks and your love for Pokémon together. In 2026, we’re calling all Pokémon Trainers to get ready to build and catch some of their favorite Pokémon!

Press Release - The LEGO Group and The Pokémon Company International team up to bring the world of Pokémon to life brick by brick.

Billund, Denmark, March 18, 2025: Today, the LEGO Group and The Pokémon Company International announced a new multi-year partnership that will bring LEGO® Pokémon™ to fans for the first time from 2026.

Since the debut of the Pokémon franchise, fans have dreamed of becoming Pokémon Trainers, and now they can take that experience even further... one brick at a time. This new partnership will bring the world of Pokémon to life in entirely new ways, allowing fans to build beloved Pokémon in LEGO brick form.

Julia Goldin, Chief Product & Marketing Officer of the LEGO Group, said: "We are thrilled to be working with a brand that has such a deep and passionate fanbase as Pokémon, partnering to give our joint audiences what they have been asking us for. We strongly believe that through the endless possibilities of LEGO play and the exciting adventures the world of Pokémon brings, this partnership will create a range of new possibilities for Trainers and builders alike.”

Gaku Susai, Chief Product and Experience Officer at The Pokémon Company International added: “The LEGO Group and Pokémon have strong shared values of imagination, creativity and fun, making this the perfect partnership to deliver unique, meaningful and engaging ways for Trainers to experience the Pokémon brand. Working with the best-in-class team at the LEGO Group and seeing their dedication and passion for the project has culminated in an innovative and groundbreaking collaboration that will surprise and delight fans. We cannot wait to see both LEGO fans and the Pokémon community’s reactions in 2026.”

The LEGO Group and The Pokémon Company International both have a long history of pushing the boundaries of social play, which is at the core of this partnership. For the first time, the LEGO Group will be bringing the most loved Pokémon to life in a brand-new way, with play experiences that will delight new and existing fans alike.

Fans should keep their binoculars peeled and their Pokédex ready to experience the world of LEGO Pokémon, coming their way in 2026. For more information as it is revealed: https://www.lego.com/en-us/themes/pokemon/about

Source: https://press.pokemon.com/en/releases/LEGOPokemonPartnership

On May 15th, 2025, Nintendo will open the doors to Nintendo SAN FRANCISCO, its second official store in the United States. Like the Nintendo NEW YORK store, it will most likely stock some official Pokémon merchandise.

NINTENDO SAN FRANCISCO CELEBRATES GRAND OPENING MAY 15

Visitors Can Experience Nintendo’s Products, Characters and Worlds at the New Official Store in Historic Union Square

On May 15, Nintendo will open the doors to Nintendo SAN FRANCISCO, its second official store in the United States. Located in San Francisco’s iconic Union Square at 331 Powell Street, Nintendo SAN FRANCISCO is set to bring smiles to guests of all ages and visitors from near and far. In addition to game systems and games, Nintendo SAN FRANCISCO will offer a unique shopping experience filled with Nintendo’s characters, worlds and exclusive products including accessories, apparel, home goods and souvenirs available only at this location.

Follow @NintendoStoreUS on X and Instagram for the latest news about events, products, and more available at Nintendo SAN FRANCISCO and Nintendo NEW YORK. You can also visit Nintendo.com for additional information, including details on reservation requirements.

Want to be among the first visitors to Nintendo SAN FRANCISCO? Enter the My Nintendo™ x Nintendo SAN FRANCISCO Sweepstakes for a chance to win a trip to the grand opening*! You and up to two guests can experience the city during a three-night, four-day trip and receive a tour of the new store during the Nintendo SAN FRANCISCO launch event. For more details, including how to enter, visit here.

Source: https://press.nintendo.com

Scopely announced in a press release that it has signed an agreement to acquire Niantic’s games business for $3.5 billion USD and it includes Pokémon GO, Pikmin Bloom, and Monster Hunter Now.

Press Release - Scopely to acquire Niantic games business, which includes “Pokémon GO,” one of the most successful mobile games of all time

- Acquisition will welcome Niantic’s entire game development teams, beloved games “Pokémon GO,” “Pikmin Bloom,” and “Monster Hunter Now,” and companion apps and services “Campfire” and “Wayfarer” to Scopely’s diverse video game portfolio, highlighting the company’s ongoing commitment to community-driven, social experiences

- The Niantic games business delights over 30 million monthly active players (MAU) and drove more than $1 billion in revenue in 2024

- “Pokémon GO” continues to be a global sensation, ranking as a top 10 mobile game every year since its launch nearly a decade ago, with 100 million+ unique players in 2024

- Combined portfolio to create one of the largest global player communities in the world, with over half a billion players in 2024 alone

March 12, 2025 – Scopely, the #1 mobile games company in the U.S., announced today it has signed an agreement to acquire Niantic’s games business. The deal, valued at $3.5 billion, will bring Niantic’s entire team of exceptional gamemakers and category-leading games “Pokémon GO,” “Pikmin Bloom,” and “Monster Hunter Now” to Scopely’s portfolio, among other apps and live experiences. At Scopely, the Niantic game teams will continue to pursue their ambitious roadmaps, led by their long-time game studio leaders Kei Kawai and Ed Wu.

As one of the largest, fastest-growing companies in mobile games, Scopely is renowned for its highly social experiences that bring people together and make life better through play. The company’s always-evolving “digital playgrounds” – from “MONOPOLY GO!” to “Stumble Guys,” “Star TrekTM Fleet Command,” “MARVEL Strike Force,” and more – remain part of players’ lives for years on end. This acquisition signals Scopely’s ongoing commitment to and passion for play by further investing in beloved games with deeply engaged communities that span the world.

“Scopely has always been focused on cultivating meaningful communities through a shared love of play, and the Niantic games organization is one of the best in the world at this endeavor. We are extremely inspired by what the team has built over the last decade, delivering innovative experiences that captivate a vast, enduring global audience and get people out in the real world. We look forward to further accelerating the team’s creativity through our partnership,” said Tim O’Brien, Chief Revenue Officer and Board Member of Scopely. “Few games in the world have delivered the scale and longevity of ‘Pokémon GO’, which reached over 100 million players just last year. The experience also stands apart for its unique ability to foster in-person connections, with Pokémon GO live events attracting millions of attendees. After spending time with the Niantic team, it quickly became clear that this organization shares our inclination to create industry-leading outcomes and exceptional player experiences. We look forward to a bright future ahead.”

With this acquisition, the games, apps, and live experiences joining the Scopely portfolio include:
“Pokémon GO” - One of the most successful mobile games of all time, “Pokémon GO” – based on the globally popular Pokémon entertainment franchise – is a category-leading, evergreen game that continues to endure today.

- With over 20M weekly active players, the game has remained a top 10 mobile title every year since its launch in 2016. “Pokémon GO” players, also known as Trainers, have explored more than 30 billion miles together.

- The beloved experience reaches players in over 190 countries and regions, uniting a massive, deeply engaged fan community that averages 40 minutes in daily playtime. Approximately half of all players return to the game seven days a week.

- Unique in-real-life (IRL) events further propel the title, with Pokémon GO live events bringing millions of people together across multiple continents; two million tickets were sold for ‘Pokémon GO Fest’ alone in 2024. Attendees have caught 150 million+ Pokémon since the gatherings debuted.
“Pikmin Bloom” - In collaboration with Nintendo, Niantic unveiled “Pikmin Bloom” in 2021 to help players cover the world in flowers.

- Like the blooms planted by its players, the title continues to blossom, closing out 2024 with a record-breaking year. The game hit its highest active player count more than three years after launch.

- Players took 3.94 trillion steps in 2024 and gathered at in-person community events in Japan, the U.S., Germany, and Taiwan. Pikmin Bloom Journey brought together 10,000+ participants alone in Tokyo last year.

“Monster Hunter Now” - Niantic’s most recent game “Monster Hunter Now” has taken players by storm, particularly in Japan.

- After launching in September 2023, the game reached 15 million+ downloads in just seven months. Its growing playerbase also quickly embraced IRL events, with more than 20,000 people attending the first Monster Hunter Now Carnival event in Shibuya, Japan last October.

- Over 50% of its audience plays every day of the week, representing a deeply engaged player community that mirrors those of Scopely’s existing portfolio.

“Campfire” and “Wayfarer” - These social companion apps and services drive deep engagement across Niantic games. “Campfire” connects local player communities for real-world gameplay, fostering IRL friendships. “Wayfarer” enables players to map new locations for their favorite Niantic games, directly shaping their adventures in the games they love.

- These apps represent Niantic’s innovative approach to location-based games and highlight the team’s drive to continue elevating the player experience.

- In 2024 alone, 6 million+ people checked-in to in-person meet-ups via “Campfire.”

- The “Wayfarer” community has added more than 11.5 million new Wayspot locations to Niantic games since its 2019 launch.

“Niantic games have always been a bridge to connect people and inspire exploration, and I am confident they will continue to do both as part of Scopely,” said John Hanke, founder and CEO of Niantic. “Scopely shares our focus on building and operating incredible live services, has exceptional experience working with the world's biggest and most beloved intellectual properties, and cares deeply about its player communities and game-making teams. I firmly believe this partnership is great for our players and is the best way to ensure that our games have the long-term support and investment needed to be 'forever games' that will endure for future generations.”

Upon the acquisition, Niantic will spin off its technology platform into a new standalone entity, Niantic Spatial Inc. Led by Hanke, Niantic Spatial will be a geospatial AI company powered by a next generation map, enabling devices and machines to understand and interact with the physical world. Niantic Spatial and will continue to own and operate AR games “Ingress Prime” and “Peridot.” Read more on the Niantic blog here.

All members of the Niantic gamemaking team, along with tenured leaders Kei Kawai and Ed Wu, will join over 2,300 Scopeleans across Asia, EMEA, North America, and Central America to continue to develop and operate their beloved experiences.

“It’s been an incredible joy to serve hundreds of millions of Trainers in our real-world community for the past 10 years, and I truly believe the best is yet to come,” said Ed Wu, SVP of “Pokémon GO.” “Our mission remains clear: to inspire people to discover Pokémon in the real world together. With Scopely’s full commitment, experience, and resources, we're going to make Pokémon GO the very best it can be - from incredible battles for thousands of Trainers at a time at our live events to new ways to connect to your friends and community. Most importantly, we’ll remain focused on the excitement and experience of discovering Pokémon in the real world.”

The transaction is subject to customary closing conditions, including regulatory approvals.

Source: https://www.scopely.com/en/news/scopely-to-acquire-niantic-games-business-which-includes-pokemon-go-one-of-the-most-successful-mobile-games-of-all-time

Pokémon GO: Moving to a New Home with Scopely

Trainers,
I’m Ed Wu and I have the privilege of leading the Pokémon GO team at Niantic. Today I wanted to share some important news: Pokémon GO will be joining Scopely, a video-game developer and publisher home to a wide range of leading games and talented teams around the world.

As it’s always important to me, and our entire game team, that our community understands and is excited by the long-term vision for this game, I want to share why I believe a partnership with Scopely will be a positive step for all of you and the game’s future.

First, Pokémon GO is more than just a game to me; it’s my life’s work. I’ve been part of Niantic since 2012 and deeply involved in many of our projects. In 2015, I was the original engineer on the Pokémon GO codebase, and in 2016, launched the game, working around the clock to make sure that hundreds of millions of Trainers could discover Pokémon in the real world together. Like many of you, I have fond memories from 2016, such as bringing home an alpha build to my then two-year-old daughter who intuitively and enthusiastically became the first young Trainer to ever throw a Poké Ball in our game. As an engineer, I’ve watched the code I’ve written for Pokémon GO change people’s lives drastically for the better. That includes my own family, from relatives improving their health from exercising while playing the game, to hearing so many members of our community recount how they’ve met the love of their lives through playing Pokémon GO and experiencing the incredible real-life community it fosters.

That’s why I’m very excited about today’s announcement. Here are a few reasons why I am confident about the road ahead:

• Scopely expressed a deep admiration for this community and our team. I have every belief Pokémon GO will further flourish as part of Scopely, not only into its second decade, but for many more years to come, under the mission of discovering Pokémon in the real world and inspiring people to explore together. Our new partnership, along with our decade long partnership with The Pokémon Company, means we can maintain this long-term focus. Scopely fully believes in our mission and ongoing goal to create the best Pokémon GO experience possible. Their focus will be to support our team, providing resources to continue delivering the gameplay you all know and love. Read more on their blog here.
• The entire Pokémon GO team is staying together through this partnership. The same people who have been guiding and building the game for years will continue doing what we love. We’re always continually adding to the game - Raid Battles, friends, GO Battle League, Routes, Dynamax/Gigantamax, and, of course, Pokémon GO Fest and our live events - which I look forward to continuing to do for many years to come. Scopely empowers their game teams as autonomous groups to go after the roadmaps that they’re inspired to pursue, and what each team believes is best for the player experience. This approach is extremely appealing to us at Niantic games. I have spoken to a number of game leaders at Scopely who have given me great confidence in how the company enables each game to independently develop and creatively thrive.
• We will be joining a broader organization dedicated to games. I believe that Pokémon GO can continue to thrive with Scopely’s exclusive and long-term focus on game-making. Scopely’s status as a private company also means we can prioritize what’s best for you, our Trainers, for the long term. We believe that prioritizing short-term gains at the expense of our long-term mission would be counterproductive and self-defeating. Every interaction I’ve had with Scopely leaders has reinforced that we are in total agreement that the scale, longevity and most of all, real world community, of Pokémon GO make it truly special. We are united in protecting that.

With Scopely’s full commitment, experience and resources, we’re going to make Pokémon GO the very best it can be – with incredible battles for thousands of Trainers at a time at our live events and new ways to connect to your friends and community, all while remaining focused on the excitement and experience of discovering Pokémon in the real world. We have invested to empower thousands of Community Leaders and Ambassadors who lead millions of Trainers to play together in the real world, and Scopely is in full agreement that this highly-admired program will be a priority to invest in together. The real-world community that loves Pokémon GO will remain our guiding light in all we do.

Our partners at The Pokémon Company have always been central to how we build this game together, starting with the physics of the first Poké Ball throw that we hand-tuned together. I am incredibly grateful for their daily wisdom, guidance, and careful stewardship of our shared vision for discovering Pokémon in the real world, and I’m very excited that our partnership with The Pokémon Company will continue as it has for the last decade.

I won’t say that Pokémon GO will remain the same, because it has always been a work in progress. But how we create and evolve it will remain unchanged, and I hope that we can make the experience even better for all of you.

I have so much gratitude for the incredible joy of serving hundreds of millions of Trainers in our real-world community for the past nine years, and I truly believe the best is yet to come.
-Ed

Source: https://pokemongolive.com/post/moving-to-a-new-home-2025

The Pokémon Company International announced preliminary details for Pokémon Day 2025. A Pokémon Presents Video Presentation will be streamed on February 27th, 2025 at 6 a.m. PST / 9 a.m. EST. Images from the press release have been added to an Imageboard thread.

YouTube Clip - Pokémon Presents | 2.27.2025

Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W7FTkUFU7nw

YouTube Clip - Pokémon Presents | 2.27.2025 (Japanese)

Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2I7SES3ijz4

Codes:

Press Release - POKÉMON EXPANDS ENTERTAINMENT OFFERINGS WITH NEW WAYS TO PLAY IN THE POKÉMON LEGENDS: Z-A VIDEO GAME AND THE REVEAL OF POKÉMON CHAMPIONS

Pokémon Day Celebrates 29 Years of Global Fandom by Increasing Latin American Spanish Support for Upcoming Product Launches, Including the Pokémon Trading Card Game

Additional Franchise Updates Announced During Pokémon Presents Video Presentation, Including Mega Evolution Pokémon ex for the Pokémon Trading Card Game, New Triumphant Light Themed Booster Pack for Pokémon Trading Card Game Pocket, and More

Bellevue, Wash. — Feb. 27, 2025 — Today, The Pokémon Company group hosted a special Pokémon Presents video presentation, streamed online to fans around the world on Pokémon Day, the annual fan-focused holiday celebrating the launch of the original Pokémon video games on Feb. 27, 1996. Highlights include a new look at the Pokémon Legends: Z-A video game, the reveal of Pokémon Champions, a first look at the latest Pokémon TCG news, teasers for new episodes of Pokémon Concierge, and more.

“Pokémon continues to capture the imaginations of longtime fans and new, and Pokémon Day reveals for 2025 and beyond are our way of celebrating with them by continuing to deliver the joy of Pokémon to Trainers around the world,” said Kenji Okubo, president of The Pokémon Company International. “In addition to the reveal of Pokémon Champions and new introductions to the popular Pokémon Trading Card Game Pocket app, we’re looking forward to a ‘Mega’ year as we prepare for the launch of the Pokémon Legends: Z-A video game featuring the mechanic, as well as the introduction of Mega Evolution Pokémon ex to the best-selling Pokémon TCG. To extend the global celebration, we’re especially looking forward to offering the Pokémon TCG in Latin American Spanish for the first time, as well as Pokémon Legends: Z-A and Pokémon Champions. We wish a happy Pokémon Day to all!”

Highlights and details from the special Pokémon Day Pokémon Presents follow.

Pokémon Champions

Developed by The Pokémon Works in collaboration with GAME FREAK, the developer of the Pokémon video games, Pokémon Champions continues the tradition of Trainers pitting their skills against those of others from around the world, with the aim of allowing core game-style battles to be enjoyed by more players than ever before.[1]

Pokémon Champions will also be compatible with Pokémon HOME, the cloud service for Nintendo Switch and mobile devices, allowing Trainers to team up with Pokémon brought over from previous Pokémon games in addition to those they partner with in Pokémon Champions.[2]


Pokémon Champions will be available on the Nintendo Switch family of systems, as well as on mobile devices. For more details on Pokémon Champions, please stay tuned for future announcements.

Pokémon Legends: Z-A

Scheduled for release in late 2025, and first revealed on Pokémon Day 2024, the Pokémon Legends: Z-A game is set in Lumiose City, where an urban redevelopment plan is underway to shape the city into a place that belongs to both people and Pokémon. After arriving in Lumiose City, players will befriend a Pokémon that will become their first partner Pokémon: Chikorita, Tepig, or Totodile.

Explore Wild Zones and Make Pokémon Your Allies

Players can catch wild Pokémon living in wild zones or out and about in Lumiose City by aiming a Poké Ball at them and letting it fly. Some Pokémon will flee immediately if they spot the player, meaning players should hide out of sight or approach from behind to make themselves harder to notice. Players can also battle Pokémon to lower their HP, making them easier to catch.

A Pokémon Series First: Trainers and Pokémon Taking Real-Time Actions During Battle

In previous Pokémon video game series titles, Pokémon’s actions were turn-based. In Pokémon Legends: Z-A, Trainers and their Pokémon will move around in real time during battles, and Pokémon will unleash their moves when their Trainers command them to. New gameplay mechanics include precise timing for swapping out Pokémon or using moves, the different lengths of time moves will take to launch, and the total area the moves will impact.

People and Pokémon You Can Encounter in Lumiose City

While visiting Lumiose City, players will stay in an old hotel named Hotel Z and encounter the hotel’s owner, AZ—plus his partner Pokémon, Eternal Flower Floette, an unusual Floette that holds a black flower. This hotel will serve as players’ base of operations as they experience all sorts of adventures in Lumiose City alongside new and exciting characters, such as Urbain or Taunie—a new friend players will make throughout their adventures. The appearance players choose at the beginning of the game will determine which of the two they’ll meet.

Mega Evolution

In Lumiose City, Trainers will sometimes be able to see Pokémon undergo Mega Evolution—a kind of Evolution that transcends standard Evolution. Effectively using Mega Evolution will likely be key to victory in Pokémon battles.

For more information, please visit the official Pokémon Legends: Z-A website.

Pokémon Legends: Z-A, Pokémon Champions, and Pokémon TCG Expand Playable Languages to Include Latin American Spanish

Pokémon Legends: Z-A and Pokémon Champions will be playable in Latin American Spanish at launch, marking a new milestone in localization for the region. With the addition of Latin American Spanish, the Pokémon series will soon support 10 playable languages. The globally popular Pokémon TCG will also soon expand language support to include Latin American Spanish with the launch of the next expansion, Scarlet & Violet—Journey Together, ensuring that millions of fans can enjoy Pokémon in their regional language and connect with the global Pokémon community like never before.

Pokémon Trading Card Game Pocket Celebrates 100 Million Downloads with Reveal of New Triumphant Light Themed Booster Pack

A new themed booster pack for the popular Pokémon TCG Pocket app, titled Triumphant Light, will be playable around the world beginning Feb. 28, 2025. The announcement comes as the app celebrates over 100 million downloads on iOS and Android devices since its global launch late last year.


To celebrate Pokémon Day, from Feb. 27, 2025, at 6:00 a.m. PST to April 29, 2025, at 10:59 p.m. PDT, players can log in to receive special booster packs at no cost that are guaranteed to include at least one card of ♦♦♦♦ rarity or higher. Furthermore, special missions will be available from Feb. 27, 2025, at 10:00 p.m. PST to March 26, 2025, at 10:59 p.m. PDT. For more information, please check the in-game news during the event periods.


In addition, Ranked Matches will be coming to Pokémon TCG Pocket starting March 2025. Additional details will be shared at a later date.

Mega Evolution Series Coming to the Pokémon TCG in 2025

In 2025, fans can look forward to the new Pokémon TCG: Mega Evolution Series of expansions, marking a new era for the globally popular trading card game with the return of Mega Evolution Pokémon ex, including Mega Lucario ex and Mega Gardevoir ex. Mega Evolution Pokémon ex have increased HP and attack damage compared to regular Pokémon ex, but they give up three Prize cards when Knocked Out.

More details on the Mega Evolution Series will be shared in the future. In the meantime, fans can find out more at Pokemon.com/TCG.

New Episodes of Pokémon Concierge Coming September 2025

New episodes of the popular stop-motion animated series Pokémon Concierge are scheduled for release in September 2025 exclusively on Netflix. A teaser visual and test footage are now available, showcasing Pokémon that will appear in Pokémon Concierge for the first time.

Until March 9, 2025, Trainers can also now watch the first four episodes of Pokémon Concierge on Pokémon’s official YouTube channel.

New experiences and updates were also announced for various games and apps, including the Pokémon Scarlet and Pokémon Violet video games, Pokémon GO, Pokémon Sleep, Pokémon UNITE, Pokémon Masters EX, and Pokémon Café ReMix.

Source: https://press.pokemon.com/en/releases/POKEMON-EXPANDS-ENTERTAINMENT-OFFERINGS-WITH-NEW-WAYS-TO-PLAY-IN-THE-P

Best Buy Pokémon Day Event - Saturday, February 22nd, 2025

Pokémon Day is February 27th, 2025, but you can celebrate early at select Best Buy stores on February 22nd, 2025 with hands-on gameplay of Pokémon Scarlet and Violet, Pokémon TCG Trade and Play events, and free giveaways (while supplies last).

Pokémon Day Event - Saturday, February 22nd, 2025 - Noon–4 p.m.
Celebrate Pokémon Day early at participating Best Buy stores. Play video games, trade cards, and pick up free Pokémon giveaways such as stickers, lanyards, Trading Card Game fun-packs, activity sheets and more.

Sources: https://x.com/NintendoAmerica/status/1892695731854524689 and https://www.bestbuy.com/site/video-games/video-game-releases-events/pcmcat308100050002.c

Toys R Us Canada - Pokémon FREEBIE! / Pokémon Trade + Play Day

Toys R Us Canada is also holding 2 events for Pokémon Day 2025.

Pokémon FREEBIE! - Friday, February 21st, 2025 - Drop by your local store to get a FREE pack of three 2025 Pokémon Day promo cards!
*One per customer, while supplies last.

Pokémon Trade + Play Day - Saturday, February 22nd, 2025 11am - Receive a free trading kit when you bring your kids and their friends to learn about the Pokémon Trading Card Game!

Source: https://www.toysrus.ca/en/revents.html

Celebrate Pokémon Day at Nintendo New York!

Join us on February 27th, 2025 as we celebrate with the following activities:

• Pokémon Presents screening at 9am ET
• Fan art gallery
• Pikachu and Eevee character appearances (4pm-7pm)
• Pokémon Battle Lab (4pm-7pm)
• Giveaways (while supplies last)

Entry will be on a first come, first served basis.

Source: https://x.com/NintendoNYC/status/1892681484785402317

The Pokémon Company International Unveils 2025 Pokémon Day Plans, Including Pokémon Presents Video Presentation

Additional Anniversary Celebrations to Spotlight Fan-Favorite Pokémon Eevee and its Evolutions

Bellevue, Wash. — Feb. 20, 2025 — Ahead of this year’s Pokémon Day on Feb. 27, 2025, The Pokémon Company International today announced a variety of fan-centric offerings that give Trainers around the world new ways to engage with the Pokémon brand. Pokémon Day is an annual holiday that commemorates the release of the original Pokémon video games, Pokémon Red and Pokémon Green, in Japan. Since then, Pokémon has continued to be one of the most successful and influential entertainment franchises in the world, supported by a passionate and dedicated community.

With the impact the Pokémon brand has had on pop culture and entertainment, the National Day Calendar — the original and authoritative source for fun and unique National Days in the U.S. — has established Feb. 27 as annual National Pokémon Day. This recognition and elevation of Pokémon Day is a testament to the enduring impact that Pokémon has had on Trainers of all ages, backgrounds and interests for 29 years.

To celebrate the holiday, The Pokémon Company group is inviting Trainers around the world to tune in to a Pokémon Presents video presentation on Pokémon Day for exciting updates and announcements across the Pokémon franchise. The video presentation will be streamed at 6 a.m. PST on Feb. 27, 2025, on the official Pokémon YouTube and Twitch channels.

Outside of Pokémon Presents, Trainers can celebrate their fandom with a variety of Pokémon Day-related offerings throughout February 2025, including experiences and merchandise featuring the fan-favorite Pokémon Eevee and its Evolutions, local Play! Pokémon events that allow the community to come together and more. Trainers can join the conversation online with #PokemonDay and keep up with the latest news on the official Pokémon social media channels.

Year of Eevee at Pokémon Center

Pokémon Center, the premier online destination for official Pokémon merchandise, will spotlight Eevee and its adorable Evolutions with new product releases throughout the year, including the recently launched Evolving Personalities figure line. Fans can collect hand-painted figures featuring Vaporeon, Jolteon and Flareon, available now, with new figures releasing in groups of three throughout 2025. In addition, Pokémon Center will launch various bundles containing Eevee-centric items, a new kitchenware line featuring Eevee, as well as exciting Eevee plush throughout the year. For more information, visit Pokémon Center.

Flying–Tera Type Eevee Distribution for the Pokémon Scarlet and Pokémon Violet Video Games

Fans who visit GameStop and Best Buy today through Feb. 27 can receive a distribution code to get a Flying–Tera Type Eevee in their Pokémon Scarlet or Pokémon Violet video game, while supplies last. For more information, please visit Pokemon.com/Eevee.

Pokémon GO PokéStops Highlighting Eevee, Glaceon and Leafeon

Available now through Feb. 27, 2025, Pokémon GO will place PokéStops at participating retailers with Lure Modules active to make more Pokémon appear. Plus, during the week of Feb. 24, Glacial and Mossy Lure Modules will be added, giving fans the opportunity to evolve Eevee into Glaceon and Leafeon within the game. Participating retailers include Target, GameStop and Best Buy.

Pokémon Day Celebrations at Pokémon League Locations

On Pokémon Day, participating Pokémon League locations will host noncompetitive Play! Pokémon events, offering fans of all ages and skill levels the opportunity to play the Pokémon Trading Card Game (TCG), Pokémon video games and Pokémon GO with others in their local community. These events will also facilitate learn-to-play events for Trainers who are just getting started.

Participants will have an opportunity to receive a Pokémon Day 2025 League Celebration promo card featuring Sylveon, while supplies last. Giveaways will also include demo decks highlighting Pikachu ex and Charizard ex, various Pokémon TCG accessories, and promo cards showcasing winning artwork from the Pokémon TCG Illustration Contest 2024.

The Pokémon TCG Illustration Contest 2024 promo cards will also be available as a gift with purchase from participating retailers, including Pokémon Center, starting Feb. 21, 2025, while supplies last. Fans can check with participating retailers for additional offer details.

Overtime Elite Semifinal Game Featuring Pokémon Appearances and Arena Takeover

The Pokémon Company International recently announced a partnership with popular sports media brand Overtime, including a Pokémon takeover of the Overtime Elite Arena in Atlanta during the playoffs beginning on Feb. 18, with each of the eight teams sporting a custom team jersey showcasing fan-favorite Pokémon.

Overtime Elite will celebrate Pokémon Day with a semifinal game that will be broadcast on Feb. 27, 2025, exclusively on Prime Video. Trainers won’t want to miss the action, as Pikachu and Gengar will make appearances at halftime. Additionally, the collaboration will bring an apparel and merchandise collection launching on Pokémon Day exclusively at https://shop.overtime.tv/

Pokémon Animated Content

Fans looking to watch Pokémon animation as part of their Pokémon Day festivities can catch up on Liko and Roy’s latest adventures in Part 1 of “Pokémon Horizons: Season 2—The Search for Laqua,” available now in the U.S. exclusively on Netflix. In addition, the first season of “Pokémon Horizons: The Series” will be coming to Netflix in additional markets, including Canada and Australia, on Pokémon Day.


Separately, current episodes of the globally popular stop-motion animation series “Pokémon Concierge” will be newly available to watch on the official Pokémon YouTube channel for a limited time beginning Feb. 21, 2025, through March 9, 2025. With more episodes being produced in collaboration with Netflix and dwarf studios, “Pokémon Concierge” follows the story of Pokémon Resort concierge Haru, the Psyduck she works with and the many Pokémon and Trainers who visit as guests.

Source: https://press.pokemon.com/en/releases/The-Pokemon-Company-International-Unveils-2025-Pokemon-Day-Plans-Inclu

In 2024, Toyota revealed the TOYOTA MIRAIDON Project but now Honda, under the supervision of The Pokémon Company, has announced the Honda Ride on Dream Project Koraidon. In similar fashion, the Koraidon will be an almost life-size reproduction of Koraidon that will go on display from Friday, March 7th, 2025 to Sunday, March 9th, 2025. Images from the press release have been added to an Imageboard thread.

YouTube Clip - Honda Ride on Dream Project Koraidon

Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ryoEWpD9NMg

Press Release - Honda’s Devotion Make Children’s Dreams Come True

- Honda Koraidon Project Begins
- Honda Koraidon Exhibit at Honda Welcome Plaza Aoyama -

TOKYO, Japan, February 27, 2025 - Honda, under the supervision of The Pokémon Company, has launched the “Honda Koraidon Project” to create future mobility in the shape of Koraidon, a Legendary Pokémon appearing in the game “Pokémon Scarlet.”
The Honda Koraidon made by this project will be exhibited at Honda Welcome Plaza Aoyama from Friday, March 7 to Sunday, March 9, 2025.

In 2024, the Toyota Engineering Society created the “Toyota Miraidon” with their project message,” Adults’ Devotion Make Children’s Dreams Come True.” The Honda Koraidon Project started with the idea that Honda could create a Koraidon that is uniquely Honda, based on the commitment to monozukuri (the art of manufacturing) passed on by the Toyota Miraidon. The project consists of approximately 40 engineers who were recruited from the Motorcycle and Power Products Businesses and the Innovative Research Excellence who have shown interest in this project. Under the slogan “Honda’s Devotion Make Children’s Dreams Come True,” the team applied the design philosophy and simulation technology cultivated by Honda’s motorcycle business over the years. Innovative Research Excellence’s advanced self-balancing technology will also be incorporated to the Honda Koraidon to express game world Koraidon as much as possible in a form Honda’s vision of mobility.

Honda Koraidon Exhibit Overview

Dates: Friday, March 7th, 2025 to Sunday, March 9th, 2025
Venue: Honda Welcome Plaza Aoyama
First floor, Honda Aoyama Building
2-1-1 Minami-Aoyama, Minato-ku
Tokyo 107-8556, Japan
Opening hours: 10:00 am - 6:00 pm (1:00 pm - 6:00 pm on March 7)
Organizer: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.

About Honda Koraidon

Honda Koraidon is future mobility created with Honda’s experiences and unique technologies in the shape of Koraidon, a Legendary Pokémon that appears in the game “Pokémon Scarlet,” with the cooperation of The Pokémon Company. Honda has realized an almost life-size reproduction of the shape of Koraidon in both weight and size, down to the finest details. Honda will use its proprietary self-balancing technology to enable Honda Koraidon to walk on all four legs, and self-stand on two-wheels which is unseen in the game. This balance technology world premiered as Honda Riding Assist at CES 2017, the world’s largest consumer electronics trade show, which was developed by applying the self-balancing technology cultivated in ASIMO humanoid robot research. Honda will apply this technology to realize Koraidon’s “Sprinting Build.”

Evolution of Honda Koraidon as a mobility

Ability to ride on Sprinting Build, and stand upright using balance control technology*
’Honda Koraidon’s hands and legs, neck, facial movements will change along with its Sprint speed, expressing dynamism
Planning to reproduce face, eyes and eyelids movement

* Exhibit at Honda Welcome Plaza Aoyama will be stationary due to space restrictions.

About Koraidon

A Legendary Pokémon that appears in “Pokémon Scarlet,” the video game released in 2022. As the story progresses, Koraidon regains its abilities while travelling with the main character, such as walking on four legs (Limited Build), running by using its strong limbs (Sprinting Build), swimming at high speed (Swimming Build), and gliding in the sky (Gliding Build), to carry its rider to many places.

Source: https://global.honda/en/topics/2025/c_2025-02-27aeng.html

エンジニアたちの技術と夢の力でホンダコライドンを創り出す！

世界中の子どもと大人を夢中にしているゲームソフト『ポケットモンスター スカーレット』（2022年発売）。物語のキーになる伝説のポケモンが「コライドン」です。
本来ゲームの中でのみ出逢えるポケモンですが、ゲームで遊んだり見たことがある人の多くが、さまざまな“けいたい”に姿を変えるコライドンに、実際にまたがって自由自在に移動してみたい、と一度は願うのではないでしょうか。
Hondaのエンジニアのなかにも、そうした想いを抱いた大人たちがいました。
「Hondaの技術力で、躍動感のあるコライドンをこの世界にモビリティの形で再現させることができるはず……！」
Hondaは夢を原動力に人や社会によろこびを提供したいという想いをもった人びとの集団です。「Hondaらしく向き合って『ホンダコライドン』を自分たちの手でつくりたい」という想いをもって大人が本気になって取り組めば、ものづくりの楽しさを子どもにも大人にも伝えられる、そう考えて社内の有志によって「ホンダコライドンプロジェクト」が始動しました。
Hondaの二輪・パワープロダクツ事業と、先進技術研究所から社内公募で集まったプロジェクトメンバーが目指したのは、Hondaの技術を使ってゲーム内のコライドンの“しっそうけいたい”の姿を映したモビリティの形を追求することです。
たとえば、重さも大きさもコライドンとほぼ同じにすること。
“しっそうけいたい”の形で自立させること。
手足、首、顔の動きを表現すること。
そしてもちろん、「ホンダコライドン」に乗ることができること。
これらをHondaが培ってきたモビリティの技術で実現していきます。
2024年の夏のプロジェクトキックオフから約8カ月を経て、ついに「ホンダコライドン」がこの世にお目見えすることになったのです。

プロジェクトはまだまだはじまったばかり。
「プロジェクトメンバーたちはHondaの二輪事業が培ってきた設計思想やシミュレーション技術、くわえてHonda Riding Assistにも採用されている先進のバランス制御技術を取り入れて、日々開発を進めています。
ようやく姿を現した「ホンダコライドン」は、こうしてHondaのエンジニアたちの夢と技術を糧に、モビリティとしてさらなる進化を遂げて、皆さまの前に姿をお見せします。
大人たちが本気で夢を追いかけて生まれたモビリティが、一歩また一歩と踏み出す姿をどうぞお楽しみに。

Source: https://global.honda/jp/motorcycle/brand/koraidon/

The playmat Stylish Lillie Playmat will be on display at the POKÉMON CARD LOUNGE on the 5th floor of SHIBUYA TSUTAYA from Thursday, February 27th, 2025 to Friday, March 14th, 2025! There will also be a Lillie standup photo spot panel in the PRIVATE ROOM! There is also "draws" being held in the United States for 250 people to win one of the TCG playmats while 5000 will be available in a lottery in Japan.

YouTube Clip - Battle-Ready Sync Pairs Arrive Just in Time!

Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WI5ae9mKM_g

YouTube Clip - Strongest Trainers Festival (Japanese)

Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HC3nwktXTW8

Strongest Trainers Festival Special Collaboration Event with the POKÉMON CARD LOUNGE

To celebrate the Special Kick-Start Event Strong and Reliable Friends (Strongest Trainers Festival 最強トレーナーズフェスティバル), a project that showcases the charms of the Pokémon Trainers with a focus on the Pokémon Card Game and the app Pokémon Masters EX, the POKÉMON CARD LOUNGE will be holding a special collaboration project!

In conjunction with the campaign to win a special play mat for 5,000 people, which has been running in Pokémon Masters EX since February 26th, 2025, an exhibition using illustrations from the playmat will be set up in the POKÉMON CARD LOUNGE.

The first part of the exhibition will be the Stylish Lillie Playmat from Thursday, February 27th, 2025 to Friday, March 14th, 2025 and the second part will be a different playmat from Saturday, March 15th, 2025 to Friday, March 28th, 2025.

During the period, the Welcome Cards given to visitors to the lounge area will also have a special design, and a photo spot panel will also be set up in the gallery area. Enjoy the Strongest Trainers Festival!

Event Summary Japan:

Date and time:
1st round (Stylish Lillie Playmatn) Thursday, February 27th, 2025 - Friday, March 14th, 2025
2nd round (???) Saturday, March 15th, 2025 - Friday, March 28th, 2025
*Details of the 2nd round will be released after Monday, March 10th, 2025

Location: SHIBUYA TSUTAYA 5F POKÉMON CARD LOUNGE
Time: 10:00-22:30 (last entry to lounge area at 21:30)

Pokémon Masters EX Special Collaboration! Playmat Sweepstakes Part 1 Rules - United States Only

The Pokémon Masters EX Special Collaboration! Playmat Sweepstakes Part 1 Draw will start, and be open to entries, from February 25, 2025 10:00 p.m. PT, and will end, and be closed to entries, on March 12, 2025 7:59 a.m. PT Draw Period.

How to Enter:

The Draw is offered in connection with Pokémon Masters EX as available via Apple Inc.’s App Store and Google LLC’s Google Play (“Game”).

During the Draw Period, entrants may participate via either or both of the methods described below. Note that applying via both methods will increase chances of winning.

Participating via In-game Entry Form:
1. Complete the required fields in the in-game entry form.
2. In the Pokémon Masters EX application, play through the Special Collaboration Special Kick-Start Event Strong and Reliable Friends, and team up with Iono & Kilowattrel, Steven & Skarmory, and Marnie & Liepard.
Note: Steps 1 and 2 may be done in any order.

Participating via X (Twitter):
1. Follow our official X (Twitter) account, @PokemonMasters.
2. In the Pokémon Masters EX application, take a screenshot of the victory screen after you’ve won a battle with Iono & Kilowattrel, Steven & Skarmory, and Marnie & Liepard on your team.
3. Post the screenshot you took in Step 2 along with the hashtags #LilliePlaymat2025, #PokemonMasters, and #PokemonTCG.

Prizes Details:
250 Winners - Pokémon TCG: Stylish Lillie Playmat (US $19.99)

Prizes are expected to be delivered starting in June 2025. Prize delivery date and time is subject to change without prior notice. No substitutions are possible. Physical goods may only be sent to a valid address in the US.

Source: https://x.com/PokemonMasters/status/1894628462801162711

You Can Enter to Win a Pokémon Masters EX Special Collaboration Pokémon TCG Playmat

Lillie is the star of this awesome prize featured in this collaborative giveaway. An exciting giveaway is occurring in Pokémon Masters EX to celebrate all that’s going on in-game, including Pokémon Day and the game’s upcoming five-and-a-half-year anniversary. This sweepstakes is an exclusive collaboration with the Pokémon Trading Card Game, and winners will receive a Pokémon TCG playmat featuring original Pokémon Masters EX artwork. The Pokémon TCG: Stylish Lillie Playmat shows the popular Trainer in a variety of charming outfits alongside some of her sync pair partner Pokémon.

You can enter to win the Pokémon TCG: Stylish Lille Playmat from February 25, 2025, at 10:00 p.m. PST to March 12, 2025, at 7:59 a.m. PDT. This sweepstakes will have 250 winners, so don’t miss your chance to win.

To enter the sweepstakes, follow the steps below.

1. Follow @PokemonMasters on X (Twitter).
2. Take a screenshot of the victory screen of a battle you won with the three sync pairs from Special Kick-Start Event Strong and Reliable Friends on your team.
3. Post that screenshot to X (Twitter) with the hashtags #LilliePlaymat2025, #PokemonMasters, and #PokemonTCG.

Source: https://www.pokemon.com/us/pokemon-news/you-can-enter-to-win-a-pokemon-masters-ex-special-collaboration-pokemon-tcg-playmat


最強トレーナーズフェスティバル 特別コラボ企画 in POKÉMON CARD LOUNGE

ポケモンカードゲームやアプリ『ポケモンマスターズ EX』を中心に、「ポケモントレーナー」の魅力を届ける企画「最強トレーナーズフェスティバル」の開催を記念して、POKÉMON CARD LOUNGEでは特別コラボ企画を実施！
2月26日（水）から『ポケモンマスターズ EX』で開催中の、特製プレイマットが5000名様に当たるキャンペーンに合わせて、プレイマットのイラストを使用した展示がPOKÉMON CARD LOUNGEの店内に登場します。
2月27日（木）～ 3月14日（金）は第1弾としてプレイマット「おしゃれを楽しむリーリエ」の展示が行われ、3月15日（土）～
3月28日（金）は第2弾として異なるプレイマットの展示が行われます。
期間中は、ラウンジエリアの入場者プレゼントの「ウェルカムカード」も特別デザインに変わるほか、ギャラリーエリアにはフォトスポットパネルも登場。「最強トレーナーズフェスティバル」を楽しもう！ ※特製プレイマットが5000名様に当たるキャンペーンについて、詳細はこちらをご確認ください。


開催概要

●日時:
第1弾（おしゃれを楽しむリーリエ）　2月27日（木）～ 3月14日（金）
第2弾（？？？）　3月15日（土）～ 3月28日（金）
※第2弾の詳細は3/10（月）以降公開予定です

●場所: SHIBUYA TSUTAYA 5F POKÉMON CARD LOUNGE
●時間: 10時～22時30分（ラウンジエリア最終入場21時30分）

Sources: https://www.pokemon.jp/special/trainers_festival/20250226/ https://x.com/pokemas_game/status/1894643562605941071 and https://shibuyatsutaya.tsite.jp/article/801.html

The season of competition has all led up to this! Get ready for the 2025 Pokémon World Championships in Anaheim, California. The official website for the 2025 Pokémon World Championships Anaheim has opened and the logo and main artwork for Worlds 2025 has been revealed. A new series of Road to Worlds was also announced and is coming in March 2025. Artwork and photos from the press release have been added to an Imageboard thread.

Source: https://worlds.pokemon.com/en-us/

Pokémon Fun All Weekend Long

No matter what kind of Pokémon fan you are, there will be plenty to enjoy at Worlds. Look forward to Worlds-themed merchandise at Pokémon Center, new Trainer experiences at Play Lab, and side events that award prize tickets! Autograph sessions, a collect-and-trade corner where you can buff up your Pokémon TCG collection, panels featuring community figures and special guests, and more are also on the horizon, so stay tuned for details.

YouTube Clip - 2025 Pokémon World Championships Trailer | Anaheim

Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c1DgnDJBmsc

Road to Worlds

Road to Worlds: Pokémon Video Game Championships pulls back the curtain on the lives of competitive Pokémon video game players and casters. Follow the year-long journey of Wolfe Glick, Rosemary Kelley, Lou Akcoş-Cromie, and Markus Stadter as they strive to achieve their dreams at the 2024 Pokémon World Championships.

YouTube Clip - Road to Worlds: Video Game Championships | Official Trailer | Coming March 2025

Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bTdyL13jl68

Pokémon Celebrates Competitive Excellence at the 2025 Pokémon Europe International Championships

Top competitors crowned as The Pokémon Company International announces new content honouring notable Trainers and shares more details about the upcoming Pokémon World Championships in Anaheim, California.

BELLEVUE, Wash. — Feb. 24, 2025 — Following three days of action-packed competition that saw over 5,500 players from around the globe battling it out in London, U.K. from Feb. 21-23, 2025, The Pokémon Company International crowned the winners of the 2025 Pokémon Europe International Championships in the Pokémon Trading Card Game, the Pokémon Scarlet and Pokémon Violet video games, Pokémon GO and Pokémon UNITE categories.

The 2025 Pokémon Europe International Champions are:

Trading Card Game Junior Division:
1st place: Oliver Cahill [UK]
2nd place: Andreas Ketels [BE]

Trading Card Game Senior Division:
1st place: Gabriel Fernandez [BR]
2nd place: Nathan Osterkatz [US]

Trading Card Game Masters Division:
1st place: Ryuki Okada [JP]
2nd place: Natalie Millar [AU]

Video Game Junior Division:
1st place: Fabian Musikant [DE]
2nd place: Ismael Hoggui [FR]
Video Game Senior Division: 1st place: Ian Larson [US] 2nd place: Louis Fontvieille [FR]
Video Game Masters Division:
1st place: Wolfe Glick [US]
2nd place: Dylan Yeomans [UK]

Pokémon GO:
1st place: Leo “P4T0M4N” Marín Torres [ES]
2nd place: Cedric “Zzweilous” Voigt [DE]

Pokémon UNITE:
1st place: Luminosity [North America]
2nd place: Peru Unite [Latin America – South]

During the closing ceremony, The Pokémon Company International shared news that will delight fans of Pokémon competitions:

Road to Worlds: Pokémon Video Game Championships

“Road to Worlds: Pokémon Video Game Championships” is the latest installment in the Pokémon “Road to Worlds” docuseries. The new season is comprised of three episodes that follow Pokémon video games competitors, casters and Professors as they share their aspirations and accomplishments. New episodes will be broadcast weekly on the official Pokémon YouTube channel from Friday, March 7, 2025, starting with Episode 1: “Best in the World.” Watch the trailer for “Road to Worlds: Pokémon Video Game Championships” here.

2025 Pokémon World Championships Spectator Registration Opening Soon

A new trailer for the 2025 Pokémon World Championships that will take place in Anaheim, California, from Aug. 15-17, 2025 revealed the special artwork for the event — Pikachu, Jigglypuff, Machamp and friends on a road trip to California in an electrifying yellow convertible. The trailer also announced that the spectator interest registration for the 2025 Pokémon World Championships will open in March 2025. Starting next month, by registering their interest via worlds.pokemon.com, Pokémon Trainers who would like to attend the festivities will be automatically entered to a randomized draw for the opportunity to purchase tickets for the event.

Source: https://press.pokemon.com/en/releases/Pokemon-Celebrates-Competitive-Excellence-at-the-2025-Pokemon-Europe-I

The Pokémon Company posted their third press release for the Kairyu and the Mailman commemorative animation on February 20th, 2025 as well as the accompanying interview with director Taku Kimura and screenwriter Kentarō Nana. Screenshots from the press release have been added to an Imageboard thread.

The first trailer for the Pokémon Day 2025 commemorative animation "Kairyu and the Mailman" has been released!

The next Pokémon Presents will be streamed at 11:00 pm on Thursday, February 27th, 2025!

A powerful flying scene of Kairyu has been released! Kyogre's leaping body is also seen! And the first interview with director Taku Kimura and screenwriter Kentarō Nana has also been released!

February 20, 2025 5:00 PM
The Pokémon Company has released the trailer for the Pokémon Day 2025 commemorative animation Kairyu and the Mailman, and the anime will be air on the official Pokémon YouTube channel at midnight on Thursday, February 27th, 2025. One week before the release date, the highly anticipated trailer for Kairyu and the Mailman has been released along with stills of Pokémon that appear in the film, including Kairyu, Kyogre, Hogator, Ikkanezumi (Family of Four), Umitrio, and Umidigda. The anime is produced in collaboration with animation studio CoMix Wave Film, which has worked on such films as Your Name, Weathering with You, and Sparrow's Door Closure.

In Kairyu and the Mailman, Hana, a young girl who admires the Mailman Kairyu, finds a letter with no address and goes on an adventure with Pokémon to find the sender. In addition, this animation, which is produced with overwhelming quality by Japan's leading animation production company CoMix Wave Films and up-and-coming director Taku Kimura (木村拓) (Studio Lemon), depicts amazing images for fans, such as Pokémon who work with humans at the post office, Pokémon who live in the wild, and Pokémon who live as partners with humans.

In addition, it has been decided that the next Pokémon Presents will be broadcast on the official Pokémon YouTube channel and other SNS at 11:00 pm Japan time on Thursday, February 27, 2025, on Pokémon Day. This year, it will deliver a lot of the latest information about Pokémon to fans.

In addition to the flying scene of Kairyu, various Pokémon will appear!

The long-awaited trailer for this anime has been released by the production team. The powerful flying scene with Kairyu, which is one of the highlights of this anime, is a must-see video for Pokémon fans that will raise expectations for this anime!

And stills of various Pokémon have also been released for the first time. Hana expresses a wide range of expressions including joy, anger, sadness and happiness. Hogator sits on Hana's shoulder with a letter in its mouth, the Ikkanezumi (Family of Four) delivers the letter, Umitrio, and Umidigda play on the beach, the Mailman Kairyu is hugged by Hana with the sunset in the background, and the Legendary Pokémon Kyogre is powerful and leaps into the air.

In addition to the Pokémon that appear in the trailer and stills, other Pokémon will appear in various scenes. It's sure to be one of the fun parts of the video to try to figure out the Pokémon that appear.

*The trailer will also be released on the official Pokémon YouTube channel on Friday, February 21st, 2025.

An interview with director Taku Kimura and screenwriter Kentaro Nana, who produced the film

An interview with director Taku Kimura and screenwriter Kentaro Nana, who produced the film. This interview conveys the behind-the-scenes production, and the enthusiasm they put into this work, and their deep love for Pokémon.

This work will be released on Pokémon Day on February 27, 2025. Please tell us how you felt when you decided to be involved in this work.
Director Kimura: I'm 30 years old this year (at the time of the interview at the end of 2024), so I'm about the same age as Pokémon, which is celebrating its 29th anniversary. When I heard that I would be working on Pokémon, which I've felt very close to since I was a child, I was pleasantly surprised, but at the same time, I was skeptical and wondered, "Am I really going to do this?" Also, when I first heard about it, it was a smaller project, but as it was discussed, the project expanded and became a work that would become the highlight of Pokémon Day. At first, I was nervous and under pressure, but the staff made it into a good anime, so I think the excitement won out.

Nana: I was born in 1990 and was about 6 years old when Pocket Monsters Red and Green were released. So, for me, Pokémon have been like friends that I've had since I was a child, so I thought, "It's such an honor to be able to work with my childhood friends as an adult!"

What points did you each focus on when creating an animated work based on Pokémon?
Director Kimura: This time, I wanted to portray "two types of Pokémon". The first is the Pokémon that work at the post office and have a good relationship with humans. The other is the wild Pokémon that live vibrantly in nature. There are so many of them, so it's hard to depict them all in animation, but I didn't shy away from that difficulty and portrayed many of them.

Nana: I wanted to make a work that is full of the richness and joy that comes from Pokémon, so I incorporated the feeling that "it's nice to live in a world where Pokémon exist" into the script. Also, our studio, CoMix Wave Film, is well-known for the way it depicts landscapes and worlds, so I was conscious of using that strength to create a story that would express the beauty of the Pokémon world.

What scene do you think is the most interesting, and what scene would you like people to pay attention to? Please tell us the reasons.
Director Kimura: Well, I would say everything (laughs), but I can't leave out the Kairyu flying scenes. Also, there is a scene in which Kyogre appears. When I joined the project, I heard that it was okay to have Legendary Pokémon appear, so I submitted an storyboard with Kyogre, and Nana-san incorporated it into the script, so I drew it the best I could. Kyogre also has the Ability Drizzle, so the scene turned out beautifully and included rain drawn by Comix Wave Film, so I hope you will pay attention to it.

Nana-san: For the Kyogre scene, I thought that Director Kimura's storyboard was very visually vivid and good, so I put it in a part of the story that gets particularly exciting, but Director Kimura also gave great direction, so I hope the viewers will enjoy it.

In addition, the music for this work is by the world-renowned Evan Call, and the music in the film is very impressive. When Director Kimura met with Evan Call, he told him that he wanted music that would have a western movie feel, and he was able to create music that was just right. Suis's singing is also wonderful, and I feel that the music has made the film a lot more exciting, so I hope you will pay attention to it along with the animation.

Please give a message to all the Pokémon fans.
Director Kimura: Since this is the 29th anniversary, we tried to include Pokémon from as many different series as possible. The story is also structured so that it gradually goes back through the series starting from the Paldea region. Because of this, I think it is a work that is worthy of the 29th anniversary, and can be enjoyed by people who have enjoyed Pokémon at any point in the series. There are lots of little details, so I hope you will watch it over and over again.

Nana: As a fan who loves Pokémon, I tried to make it a work that makes you think, "This is the kind of Pokémon I want to see", so I would be very happy if Pokémon fans enjoy watching it. Although it is a short film, all the staff members aimed to make it a work that is worth watching like a movie. There are some powerful scenes that can't be fully conveyed on a small screen, so it's worth watching on a big screen, and I hope everyone could see it on a big screen. If anyone would like to see it at the cinema, please send a message to The Pokémon Company! (laughs)
※Excerpt from an interview.

Credits:
Theme song - Anime - Kairyu and the Mailman - Paper Airplane - suis from Yorushika x Evan Call

Staff:
Director and Storyboard: Taku Kimura (木村拓) (Studio Lemon)
Script and Organization: Kentarō Nana
Character Drafts: Asuka Dokai
Character Design and Animation Director: Maho Aoki
Art director: Tasuku Watanabe
Music: Evan Call

Pokémon Day2025 記念アニメーション 『カイリューとゆうびんやさん』予告映像を初公開！次回の「Pokémon Presents（ポケモンプレゼンツ）」が2月27（木）23時より配信決定！

カイリューの大迫力の飛行シーンが公開！カイオーガの跳躍する姿も！そして、木村 拓監督＆脚本・七 健太郎さんへのインタビューも初解禁！
2025年2月20日 17時00分
株式会社ポケモン（本社：東京都港区 代表取締役社⻑：⽯原恒和）は、『君の名は。』『天気の子』『すずめの戸締まり』などの作品を手掛けたアニメーションスタジオ「コミックス・ウェーブ・フィルム」とタッグを組み、「記念すべき日」をテーマとしたPokémon Day（ポケモンデー）2025 記念アニメーション『カイリューとゆうびんやさん』を、２月27日（木）０時（予定）よりポケモン公式YouTubeチャンネルにて公開いたします。この度、ついに配信開始1週間前となり、大きな注目を集める『カイリューとゆうびんやさん』の予告映像とカイリュー、カイオーガ、ホゲータ、イッカネズミ（４ひきかぞく）、ウミトリオやウミディグダなど、劇中に登場するポケモンたちの場面写真が併せて初公開となりました。
『カイリューとゆうびんやさん』は、郵便配達員のカイリューに憧れる少女ハナが、宛先のない手紙を見つけ、ポケモンたちといっしょに差出人を探す冒険に出ます。また、郵便局で人間と共に働くポケモンや、野生に暮らすポケモン、人間のパートナーとして暮らすポケモンなど、ファンにはたまらない描写を、日本を代表すると名高いアニメーション制作会社「コミックス・ウェーブ・フィルム」と新進気鋭の監督・木村 拓さん（スタジオ・レモン）が手掛け、圧巻のクオリティで制作されたアニメーション作品です。
さらに、次回の「Pokémon Presents（ポケモンプレゼンツ）」が「Pokémon Day」当日の2月27（木）、日本時間23時よりポケモン公式YouTubeチャンネル、その他SNSにて配信することが決定しました。Pokémonに関する様々な最新情報を今年もボリューム盛り沢山でファンの皆様にお届けする予定です。

■カイリューの飛行シーンに加えて、様々なポケモンたちが登場！

豪華制作陣による「Pokémon Day（ポケモンデー）2025 記念アニメーション」として、先日情報が解禁された本作の、ファン待望である予告映像が初解禁となりました。今作の見どころでもあるカイリューの大迫力の飛行シーンは本作への期待を高めるポケモン好き必見の映像となっています！
そして様々なポケモンたちの場面写真も初解禁。喜怒哀楽を表情豊かに表現するハナ、そして、ハナの肩に乗り手紙をくわえるホゲータ、4ひきかぞくのイッカネズミが手紙を渡す様子、海辺で戯れるウミディグダやウミトリオ、夕日を背景にハナに抱き着かれる郵便配達員のカイリュー、さらには伝説のポケモン・カイオーガの迫力満点＆躍動感満載な姿も。 予告映像や場面写真に登場するポケモンたちのほかにも、さまざまなシーンでポケモンたちが登場します。どのポケモンが登場するのか探してみるのも楽しみのひとつになること間違いなしです。
※予告映像は、2月21日（金）にポケモン公式YouTubeチャンネルでも公開予定です。

★本作の製作を手掛けた、木村　拓監督＆脚本を担当した七 健太郎さんへインタビューを実施★

本作を手掛けた木村　拓監督＆脚本を担当した七 健太郎さんへのインタビューを実施。
知られざる制作の裏側と本作にかけた意気込み、そして、ポケモンへの深い愛が伝わるインタビューとなりました。
★2025年2月27日の「Pokémon Day」にあわせて本作が公開されます。今回作品に携わることが決まった際の心境を教えてください。
木村監督：私が今年で30歳（※取材2024年末当時）なので29周年のポケモンとはほとんど同世代です。小さい頃から身近に感じていたポケモンにお仕事で関われると聞いたときは、嬉しい驚きと同時に「本当に自分がやるのか」と半信半疑でした。また、最初にお話しをいただいたときはもう少し小規模な企画だったんですが、練り上げるにつれてどんどん企画が膨らんでいき、Pokémon Dayの目玉になるような作品になっていって。最初は緊張やプレッシャーもありましたが、スタッフの皆さんが良い映像にしていってくれたので、ワクワクが勝っていったなと思っています。

七さん：私は90年生まれで『ポケットモンスター 赤・緑』が発売されたのは6歳くらいの時でした。なので、自分にとってポケモンは子供の頃からそばにいる友達みたいな感覚だったため、「子供のころからの友達と大人になって一緒に仕事ができるなんて、こんなに光栄なことはない！」という気持ちでした。

「ポケモン」を題材にしたアニメーション作品を制作するにあたり、おふたりがこだわった点はそれぞれどのポイントになりますか。
木村監督：今回”2種類のポケモン”をしっかり描きたいと思いました。まず1つは郵便局で人間と良い関係性を持って働くポケモン。もう1つは、自然や群れの中で生き生きと暮らしている野生のポケモンたち。その数が多くアニメーションで描くのは一苦労なのですが、その大変さから逃げることなく、しっかりと描きました。

七さん：ポケモンたちが存在する豊かさや喜びに満ちた作品にしたいと思ったので、「ポケモンがいる世界っていいな」という気持ちを脚本に落とし込んでいきました。また、我々のコミックス・ウェーブ・フィルムというスタジオが風景や世界の描き方に定評をいただいているので、その強みを生かしてポケモンの世界の美しさを表現できるような物語にしようと意識しました。

一番見どころだと思うシーン、注目してほしいシーンはどこですか？その理由も教えてください。
木村監督： 全部と言ってしまえば全部なんですが（笑）、やっぱりカイリューの飛行シーンは外せないです。その中でもとくに、カイオーガが出てくるシーンがあるのですが、参加する段階で「伝説のポケモンを登場させても良い」と聞いたので、カイオーガなど描いたイメージボードを提出したところ、七さんが脚本の中に入れ込んでくれたので、気合を入れて描きました。カイオーガには “あめふらし”という特性もあるのですが、コミックス・ウェーブ・フィルムさんが描く雨の描写など含めて綺麗なシーンになっているので、注目して見てほしいです。

七さん： カイオーガのシーンは、木村監督のイメージボードがとてもビジュアル的に鮮烈で良いなと思ったので、物語の中でとくにテンションが上がる部分に入れたのですが、これまた木村監督に凄く良い演出を付けていただいたので、視聴者の方々に楽しんでもらえたら嬉しいです。

また、今作は世界的に活躍されているEvan Callさんに音楽を担当していただき、劇中曲にも力が入っています。木村監督がEvan Callさんと打ち合わせしたときに、洋画のような雰囲気を感じられる音楽にしたいとお伝えしたところ、まさにこれぞ！というようなぴったりな音楽を作っていただけました。suisさんの歌唱も素晴らしくて、音楽が作品の魅力を10倍、100倍にもしてくれたと感じているので、アニメーションとあわせて注目してほしいです。

ポケモンを愛するファンの皆様にメッセージをお願いします。
木村監督：今回29周年記念という事で、なるべく様々なシリーズ作品のポケモンを登場させてもらいました。物語の構成的にも、パルデア地方から段々シリーズを遡っていくような工夫を施しています。その為、どのシリーズ作品でポケモンと触れ合った人でも楽しんでいただける、29周年にふさわしい作品になっていると思います。小ネタなども沢山用意しているので何回でも見ていただけたらなと思っています。

七さん：私もポケモンを愛するファンの一人として「こういうポケモンを見たかった」と思えるような作品にしたつもりなので、ポケモンファンの方々に楽しく見てもらえたらすごく嬉しいです。また、短編ではありますが、スタッフ一同、映画のような見応えのある作品を目指して作りました。小さな画面だけでは伝わり切らない、スクリーンでの鑑賞に堪えうる迫力あるシーンもあるので、できれば大画面で見てもらいたいです。もし映画館で見てみたいと思ってもらえる方がいましたら、ぜひ株式会社ポケモンさんにメッセージをお寄せください！（笑）
※インタビュー一部抜粋。

クレジット
＜主題歌＞
アニメ『カイリューとゆうびんやさん』主題歌 「紙ひこうき」 suis from ヨルシカ×Evan Call

<スタッフ>
監督・絵コンテ：木村　拓（スタジオ・レモン）
脚本・構成：七　健太郎
キャラクター原案：土海　明日香
キャラクターデザイン・作画監督：あおき　まほ
美術監督：渡邉　丞
音楽 ：Evan Call

Source: https://prtimes.jp/main/html/rd/p/000000733.000026665.html

A press release on Tuesday, February 18th, 2025 announced the first 2 titles and a teaser trailer was revealed for the monpoké anime series. Natsuki Hanae was also announced as the narrator for the episodes. Oha Suta on February 18th, 2025 also gave a sneak peak at episode 1, broadcasting the first couple minutes of the episode.

Teaser Trailer

Press Release - The monpoké short anime series will finally be released tomorrow!

The narration will be done by voice actor Natsuki Hanae! Screenshots from episodes 1 and 2 have also been released!
The monpoké short anime series will finally be released tomorrow, Wednesday, February 19, 2025, on the official Pokémon YouTube channel, Pokémon KidsTV, and it is the first series based on the monpoké baby brand!
On the first day, Wednesday, February 19th, 2025, episodes 1 and 2 will be released simultaneously at 11:00 a.m.! After that, one episode will be released on Pokémon KidsTV every Wednesday.

monpoké's new 10-episode short anime series tells the story of Pikachu who comes to monpoké Island, meets many friends, including Dedenne, Manene, Doble, and Runpappa, and has many new experiences.
Set on monpoké Island, with its beautiful forests and sparkling sandy beaches, the episodes depict the fun days with Pikachu and its friends and is a show that can be enjoyed by people of all ages, from children to adults.

The narration is done by voice actor Natsuki Hanae!

The series is narrated by voice actor Natsuki Hanae, who has worked on numerous productions.
His narration gently adds color to the film as he accompanies Pikachu and friends' on their journey. We've also received a special comment from Natsuki Hanae!


I previously read the picture book Pikachu's First Friends and thought it was wonderful. I am honored to be involved to make monpoké into an anime. This anime is a heartwarming story that will make everyone smile, from small children to their families. For children who are experiencing Pokémon for the first time, I think it will be a wonderful introduction to the world of Pokémon.
It is heartwarming to see Pikachu and the other Pokémon deepen their friendship and overcome difficulties. I am the narrator this time, and I recorded it while imagining the children getting excited and smiling.
I hope many people will watch it. Thank you very much!
Narration: Natsuki Hanae

We also received a special comment from Reiko Yoshida, who was in charge of Series Construction and the Screenplay!

Every day a new morning arrives, and every day you don't know what will happen next.
It is exciting and a little scary, but if you have courage and cherish the feeling of excitement, you may meet just have very wonderful first time...
Please enjoy the daily life of these Pokémon.
Series Construction and Screenplay by Reiko Yoshida

Summaries from episodes 1 and 2 released in advance!

Episode 1: First Trip
Pikachu arrived on monpoké Island.
It met Dedenne on the beach and asked it to show it around the island.
What other friends will it meet...?

Episode 2: First Outing
monpoké island is full of wonderful places!
Runpappa and it friends show off their favorite places.
Let the fun outing begin!

Starting Wednesday, February 19th, 2025, after which one episode will be released every Wednesday! Please be sure to tune in to the monpoké anime!

monpoké anime (10 episodes)
Animation Production: Fanworks
Director: Kei Yoshimizu
Series Construction and Screenplay: Reiko Yoshida

モンポケのショートアニメがいよいよ明日から公開！　ナレーションは声優・花江夏樹さんが担当！　1話・2話の場面カットも公開！

モンポケのショートアニメ作品がいよいよ明日、2025年2月19日（水）からポケモン公式YouTubeチャンネル「ポケモンKidsTV」にて公開！
ポケモン公式ベビーブランド「モンポケ」が初めてお届けするショートアニメが、いよいよ明日からポケモン公式YouTubeチャンネル「ポケモンKidsTV」にて公開されます！
初回となる2月19日（水）は、特別に1話と2話を11時に同時公開！
以降、毎週水曜日に1話ずつ「ポケモンKidsTV」にて公開予定です。
モンポケが新しくお届けする全10話のショートアニメ作品は、もんぽけ島にやってきたピカチュウが、デデンネ、マネネ、ドーブル、ルンパッパなど、たくさんのなかまたちと出会い、様々な「はじめまして」を見つけていく物語です。
美しい森やきらきらとした砂浜が広がるもんぽけ島を舞台に、ピカチュウたちの楽しい日々が描かれる本作は、子どもから大人まで幅広い年代が楽しめる作品に仕上がっています。

■ナレーションを担当したのは声優・花江夏樹さん！

本作のナレーションを担当したのは、数多くの作品で活躍されている声優・花江夏樹さん。
ピカチュウたちの「はじめまして」な体験に、そっと寄り添うようなナレーションで作品を優しく彩ります。
さらに花江夏樹さんからスペシャルコメントも届いております！

以前、『ピカチュウとはじめてのともだち』という絵本の朗読を させていただいた際、とても素晴らしいなと感じました。 この度、『モンポケ』のアニメ化が決定し、また携わることがで きて大変光栄に思っております。
このアニメは、小さなお子様からそのご家族まで、誰もが笑顔 になれるような温かいストーリーで描かれています。 初めてポケモンに触れるお子様にとって、ポケモンの世界への 素敵な入○になる作品だと思います。
ピカチュウをはじめとするポケモンたちが友情を深め、困難を 乗り越える姿には、心がほっこりと温かくなりますね。 私は今回、ナレーションで声を担当しておりますが、子どもたち がワクワクしたり、笑顔になったりする姿を想像しながら声を 吹き込みました。
ぜひ、多くの方にご覧いただけたらと思います。 どうぞよろしくお願いいたします！
ナレーション：花江夏樹 monpoke

■シリーズ構成・脚本を担当した吉田玲子さんからもスペシャルコメントが届きました！

シリーズ構成・脚本を担当した吉田玲子さんからも素敵なコメントをいただきました。

まいにち、あたらしい朝が訪れ、 まいにち、何が起こるかわからない時間が始まります。
どきどきするし、ちょっとこわいけれど、勇気を出して、 わくわくする気持ちを大事にすればとてもすてきなはじめてに 出会えるかも·…。
そんなポケモンたちのまいにちを一緒に楽しんでください。
シリーズ構成・脚本吉田玲子

■1話と2話の場面カットを先行公開！

1話：「はじめてのたび」
もんぽけ島にやってきたピカチュウ。
砂浜で出会ったデデンネに、島を案内してもらうことになりました。
他にはどんなおともだちと出会えるかな…？

2話：「はじめてのおでかけ」
もんぽけ島には素敵なところがいっぱい！
ルンパッパたちが、それぞれお気に入りの場所を紹介してくれるみたいです。
楽しいおでかけがはじまります。

2025年2月19日（水）以降も毎週水曜日に1話ずつ公開します！
引き続き、モンポケのショートアニメにご注目ください！

■モンポケ ショートアニメ（全10話）
アニメーション制作：ファンワークス
監督：由水 桂
シリーズ構成・脚本：吉田 玲子

Sources: https://prtimes.jp/main/html/rd/p/000001449.000002610.html, https://x.com/monpoke_jp/status/1891616271118237915, and https://www.tv-tokyo.co.jp/broad_tvtokyo/program/detail/202502/14189_202502180705.html