posted on by Crystalyn Hodgkins
CloverWorks animates 1st new anime film in franchise in 6+ years
The Pokémon Company announced on Monday an all-new anime film for the franchise titled Pokémon: Wild Card. The film will open in 2027. CloverWorks is animating the film.
English trailer
Japanese trailer
© Nintendo/Creatures Inc./GAME FREAK inc. © Pokémon: Wild Card Project
Katsuhiko Kitada (unit director for The First Slam Dunk, animation director for Attack on Titan) is directing the film at CloverWorks. Akemi Hayashi (Lazarus, Banana Fish) is designing the characters. Story Inc. is producing the film.
The Pokémon Company announced the film during the closing ceremony of the 2026 Pokémon World Championships in San Francisco.
The company describes the story:
Pokémon: Wild Card tells the exciting story of a Pokémon TCG player and his partner Mimikyu. When the time comes to put their cards on the table, will they have what it takes to achieve their goals?
The film is the 24th anime film in the franchise and is the first since Pokémon the Movie: Secrets of the Jungle (Gekijōban Pocket Monster Koko), which opened in Japan in December 2020. Netflix started streaming the film in October 2021.
Sources: Pokémon franchise’s website, Variety (Jordan Moreau)
