Pokémon 20th Anniversary events detailed

Today, The Pokémon Company sent a press release to announce various events for the 20th Anniversary of the Pokémon series. First, we have some data about the franchise:

• over 275 million copies of Pokémon games sold
• 21.5 billion of Pokémon cards shipped in 74 countries, and 11 languages
• 450 000 players take part in Pokémon event throughout the year
• over 800 episodes for the anime series

Trailer

Next, we have a trailer introducing almost everything The Pokémon Company has in store for the 20th Anniversary of the Pokémon series:

20th Anniversary website

The Pokémon Company launched a special website for the 20th Anniversary of the Pokémon Franchise: click here to check it out! There, you will find:

• a timeline of the Pokémon franchise
• details about special merchandise
• details about the Pokémon distributions
• various activities
• and more…

The website will also be updated regularly with submissions from fans. Using the #Pokemon20 hashtag on Twitter, Instagram, or YouTube, you can share your memories of the series. Selected entries will be added to the official website!

Super Bowl commercial and activities

The Super Bowl is a pretty major event not only for (american) football fans, but also for companies looking to advertise their products. This year, it will be on February 7th, and The Pokémon Company will go all out by showing a commercial there. The commercial will not focus on a game in particular, but instead of the franchise as a whole. The message? “Train on.”

There will also be several activities, such as:

• release of Pokémon Photo Booth app for Android / iOS devices
• release of limited-edition toys, figures and plushies from Takara-Tomy
• new video game releases
• TCG expansions
• movies
• and more…

Head after the break for the rest of this post!

Games

On February 27th, Pokémon Red, Blue, Yellow will be released as Virtual Console titles on the Nintendo eShop of the Nintendo 3DS. On the same day, some Nintendo 2DS / New Nintendo 3DS bundles will be released in Europe and North America, along with some cover plates (click here for more details)!

And throughout the year, several rare Pokémon will be distributed for Pokémon X, Y, Omega Ruby, and Alpha Sapphire:

• February 1st – 24th: Mew (available at GameStop in North America, code need to be redeemed before May 31st)

• March 1st – 24th: Celebi (available via Nintendo Network)

• April 1st – 24th: Jirachi (available via Nintendo Network)

• May 1st – 24th: Darkrai (available via GameStop in North America, serial code to be use before August 31st)

• June 1st – 24th: Manaphy (available via Nintendo Network)

• July 1st – 24th: Shaymin (available via Nintendo Network)

• August 1st – 24th: Arceus (available at GameStop in North America, serial code has to be used before November 30th)

• September 1st – 24th: Victini (available via Nintendo Network)

• October 1st – 24th: Keldeo (available via Nintendo Network)

• November 1st – 24th: Genesect (available at GameStop in North America, serial code has to be used before February 27th, 2017)

• December 1st – 24th: Meloetta (available via Nintendo Network)

For more details about these Pokémon, click here (US) or here (UK)!

Of course, some other games will be released this year, such as:

• Pokkén Tournament in Spring (March 18th in Japan)
• Pokémon Rumble World at retail (January 22n in Europe)
• Pokémon Super Mystery Dungeon (February 19th in Europe)
• Pokémon GO, this year

TCG

This year, the Pokémon TCG: Generations expansion will be released. It includes more than 110 cards including Pikachu, Snorlax, Ninetales-EX, Jolteon-EX, plus Mega Charizard-EX, Mega Blastoise-EX and Mega Venusaur-EX. The cards cover all stages of a trainer’s journey, from their first Pokémon to battles against elite trainers.

The following will also be released:

• booster packs, in a specially labelled and designed range, starting with the Mythical Collection in late February (UK and Germany);
• Mythical Pokémon Collections throughout 2016, with additional Pokémon TCG: Generations booster packs;
• Red and Blue Collection Boxes, with more Pokémon TCG: Generations booster packs.

TV Animation

Several TV channels will broadcast the various Pokémon movies (remastered), across Europe and North America. The movies will also be available on VOD platforms, such as iTunes, Google Play and Amazon, but also Pokémon TV. On iTunes, the first movie will come with an interactive iBook.And starting today, you can pre-order Hoopa and the Clash of Ages on iTunes, in the United States.

As for Pokémon XY&Z, the latest TV series, it will begin airing on February 20th in the United States.

Source: The Pokémon Company