Pokemon Announces First Animated Movie in Seven Years Called Wild Card

Announcement delivered by The Pokémon Company President and CEO Tsunekazu Ishihara at the closing ceremony of the 2026 Pokémon World Championships in San Francisco, specifically at the Chase Center, signaling the first new Pokémon feature film in seven years.
The reveal was also shared via Pokémon's official X account, indicating a coordinated social-media rollout alongside the live-event announcement.
The teaser trailer emphasizes the Trading Card Game world, features Mimikyu, and includes a mysterious character, highlighting a shift toward TCG-centered storytelling.
The World Championships weekend drew tens of thousands of fans to San Francisco, underscoring the event’s scale and the franchise’s momentum behind expanding into film and other media.
Pokémon announced a new animated film called Pokémon: Wild Card during the 2026 Pokémon World Championships in San Francisco, marking the franchise's first feature film in seven years InvenGlobal. The movie, set to release worldwide in 2027 to coincide with Pokémon's 30th anniversary, will focus on the Trading Card Game world and feature the character Mimikyu Shane the Gamer.
The Pokémon Company President and CEO Tsunekazu Ishihara unveiled the project at the Chase Center closing ceremony JustJared, sharing the news alongside a teaser trailer that emphasizes competitive spirit and the pursuit of becoming a champion JustJared. The announcement was also posted on Pokémon's official X account as part of a coordinated rollout to fans worldwide.
Pokémon: Wild Card marks a major shift in how the franchise tells stories. Rather than focusing on video game trainers, the film centers on the Trading Card Game world InvenGlobal. This is the first feature-length animated Pokémon movie to spotlight the TCG as its core narrative, expanding the franchise beyond its traditional game-centered approach.
The film will be produced by CloverWorks, a renowned Japanese animation studio Shane the Gamer. Mimikyu plays a key role in the story, alongside a mysterious main character whose identity remains hidden from the teaser trailer.
The last Pokémon feature-length animated film released seven years ago InvenGlobal. The new movie arrives during a period of renewed momentum for the franchise, with the 2026 Pokémon World Championships drawing tens of thousands of fans to San Francisco's Chase Center.
By releasing in 2027, Pokémon: Wild Card aligns with the franchise's 30th anniversary celebrations Shane the Gamer. This timing signals the company's intent to make the film a centerpiece of anniversary festivities and broader expansion into cinema.
The Pokémon Company strategically revealed Pokémon: Wild Card during the closing ceremony of the 2026 Pokémon World Championships SSB Crack JustJared. This event, described as the franchise's first fan convention at that scale, drew massive crowds to San Francisco JustJared.
By announcing the film to a live audience of dedicated fans and competitive players, the company ensured the news reached its most engaged audience first JustJared. The simultaneous social media rollout through Pokémon's official X account extended the announcement's reach to millions of followers worldwide.
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