The rumors and six-year wait are over as the iconic creatures return to the big screen. During the closing ceremony of the Pokémon World Championships 2026 in San Francisco, The Pokémon Company officially announced its upcoming animated feature film titled Pokémon: Wild Card, scheduled for a 2027 theatrical release.

The project will shift from traditional adventures to focus on the competitive Pokémon Trading Card Game (TCG) for the first time. The story follows an emotional journey of a card game player and their loyal Mimikyu, showcasing the effort and determination needed to succeed in tournament play with the dream of becoming a champion.

Renowned studio CloverWorks will handle the animation under the direction of Katsuhiko Kitada, known for his work on The First Slam Dunk and Attack on Titan. Character designs will be by Akemi Hayashi, celebrated for her work in Lazarus and Banana Fish, with general production by Story Inc..

About Pokémon

Pokémon: Wild Card is the 24th film in the franchise and the first animated feature since Pokémon the Movie: Secrets of the Jungle in December 2020. After over two decades of films tied to the TV series and main games, the franchise is making a 180-degree turn by bringing the excitement of its trading cards to the big screen.

With a top studio leading the project and Mimikyu in the starring role, do you think bringing the card game to the cinema is the fresh start the franchise needed?