The Pokémon Company unveils plans for Pokémon Day 2022

Beginning today, The Pokémon Company International is inviting fans around the world to get excited for this year’s Pokémon Day by unveiling news and events from across the franchise in the lead-up to February 27. These updates will be revealed globally on the brand’s official social media channels @Pokemon, and fans are invited to join the conversation with #PokemonDay.

Pokémon Day is an annual event marking the date – February 27, 1996 – that the first Pokémon video games, Pokémon Red and Pokémon Green, launched in Japan. Each year, fans celebrate their love for Pokémon as a community, and to help them celebrate, The Pokémon Company International and its partners are hosting a variety of fan-focused activations.
Pokémon Center, the online destination for official Pokémon merchandise in the US, Canada and UK will be celebrating by unveiling and releasing a variety of new products featuring fan-favourite Pokémon throughout this week. The introductions begin with the launch today of new custom skateboards in the US and Canada by industry craftsman, Bear Walker, featuring Mew and Gyarados (available while supplies last).
Fans around the world can also check their local Pokémon animation broadcaster and streaming services for Pokémon Day-related celebrations featuring classic episodes of the beloved series and movies. Curated collections of episodes and movies leading up to and on Pokémon Day are also available now for free on Pokémon TV
“The Pokémon fan community is one of the most passionate and dedicated in the world,” says J.C. Smith, Senior Director of Consumer Marketing for The Pokémon Company International. “We look forward to helping Trainers celebrate their love of all things Pokémon from the Pokémon Trading Card Game to the video games, mobile apps, animation and more every year on Pokémon Day.
“Following Pokémon’s landmark 25th anniversary in 2021, one day did not feel like enough for Pokémon Day 2022, so we invite fans to join us in a week-long countdown to February 27 and enjoy the daily surprise reveals and activations along the way.”

Record sales for Pokémon in its 25th anniversary year

The Pokémon Company International has announced that Pokémon celebrated a fantastic year at retail in 2021, seeing a significant increase in sales across Europe for its Pokémon Trading Card Game (TCG) and toy ranges as it celebrated its 25th anniversary.

Named Best Gaming Licensed Property at the 2021 Licensing Awards, Pokémon was the number 1 property for 2021 in France, Belgium, and the Netherlands, and saw the highest year-on-year sales increase across all listed properties in the UK, France, Germany, Belgium, and the Netherlands, according to figures recorded by information specialists NPD Group. Pokémon is the number 1 gaining property in 2021 across the EU8, according to data gathered by NPD, growing by +106% vs. 2020.

Pokémon was the number 1 NPD toy property in France with sales almost double that of the number 2 brand, achieving 102% growth YOY. Pokémon also had five items in the top 50 toys of the year, including Pokémon TCG Battle Academy, the first-ever board game adaptation of the TCG which won the Best Game category at the 2021 US Toy of the Year Awards, coming in at number 7 with over €5m in sales.

In 2021, Pokémon achieved its highest-ever annual position in both Germany and the UK. It was number 9 in Germany with 100% growth, and number 7 in the UK with 78% growth.

Pokémon was number 1 in both Belgium and the Netherlands, achieving an amazing 183% growth in the Netherlands and 125% in Belgium, where its sales were almost double those of the number 2 brand.

In addition to Pokémon’s success in western Europe, TPCi is currently eyeing future growth and is extending its localised marketing efforts for the popular Trading Card Game to Poland, Slovakia, the Czech Republic and Israel.

The new Pokémon TCG: Sword & Shield – Brilliant Stars expansion, which introduces the Pokémon VSTAR mechanic, launches on 25 February.

Pokémon toys include Mattel’s Mega Construx Celebration Pikachu, strategy game Pokémon Labyrinth from Ravensburger, and the award-winning range from Jazwares including the popular Pokémon Carry Case Volcano Playset backpack.

“2021 was an exceptional year for Pokémon,” says Mathieu Galante, Licensing Director EMEA for The Pokémon Company International. “Our packed programme of exciting activity and new and different best-in-class product launches, including a host of fabulous anniversary items, resulted in huge demand and surging sales. We are delighted with the superb performance at retail which demonstrates the brand’s continued iconic cultural relevance, and we continue to work hard to bring more innovation to fans over the coming months.”

“Pokémon TCG sales were simply sensational in 2021, breaking all previous records,” says Simon Benton, VP Pokémon TCG Sales Europe. “We would like to thank our retail partners and distributors for their continued support in showcasing the products to consumers. Pokémon is the number 1 NPD property in three countries and also saw astonishing three-digit year-on-year gains across the majority of our key territories. These figures have cemented the phenomenal success of the brand’s 25th anniversary year. With increased TCG distribution set to launch in Eastern Europe, we look forward to expanding our reach in 2022.”

Since its launch in Japan in 1996, Pokémon has grown into one of the most popular entertainment properties in the world, encompassing video games, the Pokémon Trading Card Game, mobile games and apps, animation and movies, Play! Pokémon competitive events, and licensed products.

It is one of the most successful video game franchises of all time with more than 368 million video games sold worldwide. In addition, more than 22 billion Pokémon TCG cards have been shipped to 77 countries in 13 languages, while the mobile game sensation Pokémon GO has received more than one billion downloads globally since launch in 2016. More than 1000 episodes of the animated TV series span 24 seasons, licensed for broadcast in 176 countries and regions in more than 30 languages.

 

 

Bachelors partners with Pokémon to roll out exclusive promotion

Batchelors is kicking off 2022 with an exclusive partnership with Pokémon, offering shoppers a raft of prizes through an on-pack promotion and campaign. Rolling out in stores nationwide from 27 January, the promotion is launching in the same week as the highly anticipated Pokémon Legends: Arceus.

The on-pack promotion will see Pokémon characters feature across packaging for Batchelors Super Noodles and Pasta ’n’ Sauce ranges, with shoppers able to win 100 prizes each week such as Nintendo Switch Consoles, Pokémon plush, copies of the Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and Pokémon Shining Pearl games, and cards from the Pokémon Trading Card Game.

Naomi Shooman, brand director for quick meals, soups and snacks at Premier Foods, comments: “Following on from the previous success of gaming partnerships for Batchelors, we are delighted to be joining forces this year with Pokémon, the highest media grossing franchise in the world. Our on-pack promotion will give shoppers the chance to win a range of prizes and Pokémon products, and is set to attract new shoppers to the category and encourage existing Batchelors fans to grab a pot or pack of Super Noodles or Pasta ’n’ Sauce more often. We know that Batchelors is particularly popular with those aged 35-44, and coupled with Pokémon’s wide-ranging appeal to younger adults, we see the partnership as a real recipe for success.”

The Batchelors and Pokémon promotion will be rolling out across retailers from 27 January, and will be supported through in-store activation in grocery and convenience.

 

Pokémon launches permanent space in KaDeWe Berlin

The Pokémon Company International has launched a permanent Pokémon space in Berlin’s iconic KaDeWe  department store, as the year of celebrations for the globally popular brand’s 25th anniversary concludes with a flourish.

Following a successful two-month pop-up installation in KaDeWe that ended in October, the partnership has been made permanent. The new branded space features a wide range of Pokémon toys, licensed merchandise and Pokémon Trading Card Game products.

Pokémon is the fastest growing property within the German toy market and was the third biggest toy property in October. The latest TCG expansion, Pokémon TCG: Sword & Shield—Fusion Strike, launched last month.

Toy highlights include Jazwares’ product line, distributed by Bot-I, that boasts a variety of 25th anniversary silver plush and silver action figurines.

Mattel’s MEGA CONSTRUX™ line features a special 25th anniversary Celebration Pikachu complete with a party hat and cake.

Ravensburger’s Labyrinth game features paths that players must skillfully navigate in order to catch a variety of hidden Pokémon as quickly as possible.

Mathieu Galante, licensing director (EMEA) for The Pokémon Company International, said: “We are delighted to make our collaboration with KaDeWe a permanent one with this exciting new Pokémon space. Their celebrated store is the perfect partner for our iconic brand. And this makes a wonderful ending to our fantastic 25th anniversary year, offering a great experience for Pokémon fans old and new to enjoy now and into the future.”

Pokémon video games are likely to be featured in the new space as well. The eagerly awaited new Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and Pokémon Shining Pearl video games launched last month, and 2022 will get off to a sensational start with the release of Pokémon Legends: Arceus.

 

Pokémon’s 25th birthday celebrations continue with Selfridges toy-space takeovers

The Pokémon Company International has taken over part of Selfridges’ toy space in three UK stores.

The pop-up activation, which launched on December 13 and will run until the end of January, forms part of the final celebrations of the yearlong celebration of the brand’s 25th anniversary.

Special branded areas have been created at the Selfridges stores on Oxford Street in London, in Birmingham’s Bullring and in the Trafford Centre in Manchester, to promote the Pokémon range in-store and provide a fun and immersive experience for fans of all ages. In addition to a wide selection of Pokémon products, the activation also offers great photo opportunities, including costume character visits to the Oxford Street store

The Pokémon spaces have a Pikachu motif — the iconic Pokémon has been the face of the 25th anniversary. Its bright yellow image can be seen on displays and shelving, as well as digital screens that share promotional content from the different Pokémon brand pillars.

Winner of Best Gaming Licensed Property at the 2021 Licensing Awards, Pokémon is offering a wide range of product across the pop-ups, including special 25th anniversary items.

On display are toys from Jazwares (distributed by Character Options), including an exciting relaunch of the volcano-themed backpack playset, as well as new silver figurines and Pokémon plush. Construction sets from Mattel, collectibles from the Wand Company and Funko Pop! exclusives are also available. The Wand Company’s new Poké Balls feature their latest release, the Dusk Ball replica, while new Funko Pop! Pokémon include silver metallic anniversary figurines.

The new launch from the market-leading Pokémon Trading Card Game is also available. Pokémon TCG: Celebrations commemorates 25 years of the brand and includes remakes of classic TCG cards. Jointly featured is the newly released Sword & Shield—Fusion Strike expansion.

“We are delighted to team up once more with Selfridges for this exciting activity,” says Mathieu Galante, Licensing Director (EMEA) forThe Pokémon Company International. “We have had an amazing year as we’ve celebrated our 25th anniversary and there could be no better way to conclude the festivities than with this takeover in such a prestigious store. We’re sure fans old and new will be thrilled with what’s on offer when they visit these fun and vibrant Pokémon pop-ups.”

The takeover follows a successful collaboration with Selfridges in 2018, at its flagship Oxford Street store, which featured a branded wall, exclusive merchandise and a special event.

Yahoo Ryot Lab, Charli Cohen and Selfridges create virtual 3D experience for limited edition Charli Cohen x Pokémon collection

Converse celebrates 25 years of Pokémon with new collection

Converse has joined the 25th anniversary celebration of Pokémon with the debut of a full range of Pokémon-inspired footwear, apparel and accessories.

Throwing it back to the Kanto region, the first Pokémon world, an original class of Pokémon are interpreted on Converse’s Chuck Taylor All Star icon. Bulbasaur, Charmander, Squirtle, Jigglypuff and Pikachu come to life through the lens of heavy-metal tour merch, underscoring Pokémon’s duality of cuteness and edginess.

The products on offer include the Poké Ball Chuck Taylor All Star, designed for adults and teens, which features an all-over pattern of Pokémon printed against a white canvas upper plus a domed, squeezable Poké Ball as an added fun element; the Easy-On Chuck Taylor All Star Ox (Infant), designed for the tiniest of Pokémon fans, and a heavy-metal inspired Pokémon 25th Celebration Hoodie featuring “electrified” Converse and Pokémon graphics and “tour stops” from the world of Pokémon on the back.

As part of Converse By You, a digital customization experience also enables Trainers to craft their own unique Pokémon Converse on the Chuck Taylor All Star and Chuck 70.

•Converse x Pokémon pricing begins at £35 while custom pricing varies. The collection launches globally starting December 10 at Converse.com and select retailers.

 

 

 

Axel Arigato debuts limited-edition capsule collection celebrating Pokémon’s 25th anniversary

To mark its quarter-century, Pokémon has joined forces with Swedish label Axel Arigato for a nostalgic, streetwear-inspired capsule collection with a contemporary twist.

Pokémon has become one of the most popular entertainment franchises in the world since it first took the world by storm in 1996, and now Axel Arigato is venturing into the ​​Pokémon universe by releasing a limited-edition capsule collection online today and in select standalone stores. The collection features some of the franchise’s most iconic Pokémon – Gengar, Charizard, Meowth and Pikachu – across both ready-to-wear and sneakers.

Drawing inspiration from the passion of Pokémon’s diverse fanbase, the accompanying promotional campaign captures the loyalty of the community, placing the members, and their archival collections, front and centre. Shot in New York, the Axel Arigato x Pokémon capsule is brought to life through the real-life portrayal of Pokémon fans and their collections.

The ready-to-wear collection blends iconic Pokémon with the contemporary Axel Arigato branding. Through a playfulness in logo application as well as a nod to the London Flagship store, the range marries retro iconography with modern silhouettes and tailoring.

The footwear offering consists of The Clean 90 Triple – a minimalist silhouette detailed with contrasting elements – and the Genesis Vintage Runner, a retro-inspired sneaker set on a lightweight modern streamlined sole which has become a bestseller.

Organic cotton hoodies and t-shirts in the brand’s seasonless colour palette of black, Belgian block and beige are available as well as a denim jacket and jean set, inspired by the outfit worn by Pikachu’s best friend, Ash Ketchum. The collection is limited and only available at Axel Arigato stores in London, Paris, Copenhagen, Stockholm and Gothenburg, and online at axelarigato.com.

Axel Arigato debuts limited-edition capsule collection celebrating Pokémon’s 25th anniversary

To mark its quarter-century, Pokémon has joined forces with Swedish label Axel Arigato for a nostalgic, streetwear-inspired capsule collection with a contemporary twist.

Pokémon has become one of the most popular entertainment franchises in the world since it first took the world by storm in 1996, and now Axel Arigato is venturing into the ​​Pokémon universe by releasing a limited-edition capsule collection online today and in select standalone stores. The collection features some of the franchise’s most iconic Pokémon – Gengar, Charizard, Meowth and Pikachu – across both ready-to-wear and sneakers.

Drawing inspiration from the passion of Pokémon’s diverse fanbase, the accompanying promotional campaign captures the loyalty of the community, placing the members, and their archival collections, front and centre. Shot in New York, the Axel Arigato x Pokémon capsule is brought to life through the real-life portrayal of Pokémon fans and their collections.

The ready-to-wear collection blends iconic Pokémon with the contemporary Axel Arigato branding. Through a playfulness in logo application as well as a nod to the London Flagship store, the range marries retro iconography with modern silhouettes and tailoring.

The footwear offering consists of The Clean 90 Triple – a minimalist silhouette detailed with contrasting elements – and the Genesis Vintage Runner, a retro-inspired sneaker set on a lightweight modern streamlined sole which has become a bestseller.

Organic cotton hoodies and t-shirts in the brand’s seasonless colour palette of black, Belgian block and beige are available as well as a denim jacket and jean set, inspired by the outfit worn by Pikachu’s best friend, Ash Ketchum. The collection is limited and only available at Axel Arigato stores in London, Paris, Copenhagen, Stockholm and Gothenburg, and online at axelarigato.com.

Yahoo Ryot Lab, Charli Cohen and Selfridges create virtual 3D experience for limited edition Charli Cohen x Pokémon collection

To celebrate the 25th anniversary of Pokémon, Yahoo Ryot Lab – Yahoo’s immersive storytelling production house – has partnered with Selfridges and London-based fashion designer Charli Cohen to launch Electric/City, an innovative “cyberpunk” online shopping experience. The collaboration gives fans exclusive access to browse and buy limited-edition garments from the Charli Cohen x Pokémon range, as well as an exclusive Charli Cohen digital-only range.

The digital environment enables fans to discover the Charli Cohen collections through an immersive, 360-degree video experience, where shoppers can explore within a “cyberpunk” take on fashion capitals around the world, decorated with neon signs inspired by and celebrating the iconic Pokémon character, Pikachu. Hotspots within the virtual world will enable fans to buy items from the Pokémon physical collection to be delivered to their home.

Working in collaboration with Charli Cohen, as well as partners BlockV, Wolf 3D and Aircards, Yahoo Ryot Lab has created an additional bespoke digital Charli Cohen collection, separate from the Pokémon collection, for fans to purchase exclusively in the 3D, immersive virtual store that can be accessed in browsers across mobile and desktop at ElectricCity.co. Digital Charli Cohen garments purchased in Electric/City will be redeemed into an account-secured web-based digital wallet, provided by BlockV, that will enable them to be on show for new owners across different digital platforms.

The Charli Cohen x Pokémon physical collection unlocks:

  • Snapchat: Fans can celebrate the 25th anniversary using an exclusive snap lens attached to every garment

The Charli Cohen digital garments unlock:

  • ReadyPlayerMe: Fans can create their own avatars with Charli Cohengarments to view in AR and share socially, as well as being able to use the wider Charli Cohen collection for their virtual avatars across 500+ other virtual platforms, including VRChat, Somnium Space and Mozilla Hubs.
  • Snapchat: Fans can alsodigitally wear a Charli Cohen outfit with an AR body tracking Snapchat lens.

“We are focused on helping creators and brands bring their immersive experiences to life across the metaverse,” says Sam Field, Director of Creative Technology, EMEA at Yahoo. “Over the last 18 months, we’ve seen huge consumer demand for immersive experiences. For Electric/City, we’ve built what we call a Brandiverse: a hybrid of emerging technologies that create immersive brand experiences at scale. This project combines 3D virtual environments, 4K video streaming, 3D design software for digital clothing, motion capture, blockchain-enabled digital collectibles, augmented reality and more. As an industry rooted in innovation, our Brandiverse is a natural fit for fashion brands – embracing the power of immersive storytelling to allow people to explore their identity through fashion in new ways and throughout their physical and digital lives. The combination of The Pokémon Company International, Charli Cohen’s focus on tech-inspired fashion, and a retail powerhouse like Selfridges makes for an incredibly exciting collaboration.”

 

 

 

 

Zavvi launches limited edition, exclusive Pokémon Explorer clothing and accessories collection

The UK online retailer, Zavvi has partnered with the Pokémon Company International to launch an exclusive, limited edition and fully licensed Pokémon Explorer clothing collection. The new range takes inspiration from the anime IP and the ‘sense of adventure’ felt when players explore the outdoors with Pokémon GO.

Designed as an ode to Pokémon GO’s enduring effect on audiences across the world, the Zavvi Pokémon Explorer range is targeted at avid wanderers, and is billed as ‘perfect for trainers setting off into the wildlands of their region to find coveted Pokémon.’

According to the team at Zavvi, the range ‘draws inspiration from the simplicity of the outdoors,’ combining natural and earthy tones with ‘utility themed garments’ emblazoned with some of the most iconic Pokémon characters. T-shirts, hoodies, and military style jackets in the collection feature the likes of Bulbasaur, Charmander, Evee, Snorlax, and Pikachu.

The partnership will also see the launch of a limited edition selection of accessories, including a cap, bucket hat, and a backpack featuring a woven Pikachu Scouts-inspired patch, ‘perfect for venturing out into the wilderness.’

There will also be two limited-edition Zavvi x Pokémon handcrafted canvas high-top designs, featuring Charizard soaring over a mountainous landscape on a white background.

The new merchandise will be available to purchase from 12pm on 25 August 2021, exclusive to Zavvi.com.