Pokemon Returns to Cinemas with 'Wild Card,' Directed by a Slam Dunk Veteran
The Pokemon Company has announced a new theatrical film, Pokemon: Wild Card, set for a worldwide release in 2027. The reveal came during the closing ceremony of the 2026 Pokemon World Championships in San Francisco, accompanied by a short anime teaser featuring a trading card game player in a yellow hoodie resembling Mimikyu. Variety
It is the first Pokemon film since 2020's Pokemon the Movie: Secrets of the Jungle, ending a seven-year gap on the big screen. The franchise is celebrating its 30th anniversary in 2026.
Katsuhiko Kitada will direct. Kitada's credits include The First Slam Dunk, Attack on Titan, and Naruto: Shippuden — a resume that bridges blockbuster sports animation and long-running action series. Character design falls to Akemi Hayashi, known for Banana Fish and Lazarus. Production is handled by CloverWorks, the studio behind Spy x Family and Bocchi the Rock!, two of the most widely watched anime titles of recent years.
The teaser does not give away plot details. It shows a figure hunched over a table of Pokemon cards, hood pulled up, evoking Mimikyu — the Pokemon that disguises itself as Pikachu. The imagery suggests the trading card game, a pillar of the franchise since the late 1990s, will factor into the story.
What makes this stand out is the assembly of talent. CloverWorks has built a reputation for sharp, character-driven animation. Pairing the studio with Kitada, whose The First Slam Dunk drew praise for its kinetic basketball sequences, signals a film aimed at both the core fan base and a broader theatrical audience.
The announcement also lands in a crowded release corridor. Pokemon's 2027 already includes two Nintendo Switch 2 games, Pokemon Winds and Pokemon Waves, shipping globally at the same time (Pokemon.com). A stop-motion animated series from Aardman — the British studio behind Wallace and Gromit — is also due in 2027 (Pokemon.com). Add a feature film to that slate and the franchise will be across cinemas, consoles, and streaming in the same calendar year.
No release date within 2027 has been set for Pokemon: Wild Card. No distributor or budget figures have been disclosed.
