Pokemon makes history with first new movie in 7 years - watch the trailer. August 31, 2026, 3:00pm Pokémon has announced that it's coming back with its first new movie in seven long years, and it's going a completely different route without Ash as teased by its first look revealed with a new trailer. Pokémon has had a long history of anime feature films under its belt as they took Ash Ketchum on all sorts of new adventures with a bigger scope than the TV series. But now that the TV series has moved on from Ash in the last few years, it's opened up a new path for the feature films too. Pokémon has officially announced that it's coming back with its first new feature film project since the release of Pokémon the Movie: Secrets of the Jungle in Japan in 2020, and it's going a very surprising route. Not only is this the first new anime movie in the franchise without Ash Ketchum in a starring role, but its the first one to focus on the official Pokémon trading card game too. Check out the first look at Pokémon: Wild Card below to see what's coming its way. When does Pokémon: Wild Card come out? Pokémon: Wild Card is scheduled to release sometime in 2027, but has yet to confirm its Japanese or international release date as of the time of this initial announcement. It's going to be handled by a very surprising production staff too. Story Inc. is working together with The Pokémon Company to produce the film, and Katsuhiko Kitada (who worked on The First Slam Dunk and Attack on Titan) will be directing it for CloverWorks, the same studio behind hits like My Dress-Up Darling, Spy x Family and more. Pokémon: Wild Card will also feature character designs from Akemi Hayashi, and focuses on the official trading card game for its adventure. It's teased to be a story about a card game player and Mimikyu, but there are still many details yet to be revealed about what to expect from the new movie project. It's a major detour from everything that the anime franchise has done to this point given its major focus on the real life trading card game, so ComicBook, LLC'll have to see what kind of shape it takes in the future. What does this mean for Pokémon's movie future? Pokémon: Wild Card is the 24th film in the long running Pokémon anime franchise, but is the first new movie without Ash Ketchum in the starring role. This marks a new shift for the franchise seemingly opening up these new movie adventures to not only new production staffs behind it all (as the movies tended to be made by the same teams as the TV anime before), but all kinds of new settings and ideas. This is going to be huge if it also means that the current TV anime won't get a film for its own characters in the near future either. But this likely isn't the case as Pokémon: Wild Card seems to be such a dramatic detour from the usual norm that it's hard to believe that a more "traditional" Pokémon movie project isn't in the works for the Pokémon Horizons franchise characters. With this new movie coming its way next year, it just remains to be seen whether or not this is the start of a whole new era of projects for the franchise moving forward.

Pokémon returns to theaters with new animated movie Pokémon: Wild Card. Published: August 31, 2026 Pokémon is heading back to theaters with a new animated feature, Pokémon: Wild Card, which is set to arrive in 2027. The movie was announced during the 2026 Pokémon World Championships in San Francisco, marking the franchise's first new animated theatrical film since Pokémon the Movie: Secrets of the Jungle in 2020. Pokémon: Wild Card. According to The Pokémon Company, Wild Card will take a different approach from many previous Pokémon movies. Instead of centering on a traditional Pokémon trainer and a journey through the region, the story will focus on a Pokémon Trading Card Game player and his partner, Mimikyu. The pair will put their skills to the test as they pursue their goals together. The TCG angle immediately caught everyone's attention. The trading card game has been a major part of Pokémon for decades, but it hasn't often been the main focus of a theatrical animated story. For longtime fans, especially those who remember collecting cards in the 1990s and 2000s, seeing that side of the franchise take center stage could make Wild Card feel familiar while still offering something new. Mimikyu in center stage. A teaser for Pokêmon: Wild Card has already given fans their first glimpse at what the movie has in store. Mimikyu appears alongside the unnamed TCG player, establishing the Pokémon as an important part of the story rather than simply another character appearing in the background. Variety reported that the teaser introduces the card-playing protagonist and Mimikyu while confirming the film's 2027 release. The footage doesn't reveal much about the wider plot yet, which means there's plenty that Pokémon fans still don't know. Mimikyu is also an interesting choice for the spotlight. The Ghost/Fairy-type Pokémon has become one of the more recognizable additions from the newer generations, thanks in part to its unusual appearance and mysterious personality. Here, it looks like Mimikyu will have a genuine partnership with the human lead. Behind the scenes, Wild Card has some notable anime talent attached. The movie is being produced by Story Inc. in partnership with CloverWorks, with Katsuhiko Kitada directing and Akemi Hayashi handling character designs, according to TheWrap. For viewers who enjoy anime, CloverWorks' involvement is particularly worth watching. The studio has worked on a number of high-profile animated projects, so the movie has an experienced team shaping its visual style. Big year for Pokémon animation. While there isn't a specific theatrical release date yet, 2027 is the target. Details about the rest of the cast, story, and characters are being kept quiet. That's not unusual this early in a movie's announcement cycle, and the teaser seems designed more to introduce the concept than explain everything. The timing is notable, too. TheWrap reported that Wild Card joins a growing slate of Pokémon screen projects, including Pokémon Tales: The Misadventures of Sirfetch'd & Pichu, an upcoming Disney+ stop-motion series. Pokémon isn't simply returning to theaters. It's continuing to find new ways to bring its enormous world to the screen. It's interesting that Wild Card isn't just repeating the formula fans already know. Putting the TCG at the heart of an animated movie gives the franchise room to explore a part of Pokémon that's been hugely popular on its own for generations. For now, though, SNIPdaily'll have to wait for more cards to be revealed. Watch the teaser. Got a story or tip for SNIPdaily? SnipDaily is your go-to destination for all things streaming. Follow SNIPdaily for streaming news and latest updates at SNIPdaily (C) 2026 SNIPdaily