Pokémon is returning to the big screen in 2027 with Pokémon: Wild Card,
a new animated feature announced during the closing ceremony of the 2026 Pokémon World Championships in San Francisco. The film stars a trading card game player and a ghostly Mimikyu.
San Francisco Announcement Sets 2027 Release for Wild Card
The Pokémon franchise is officially heading back to theatrical distribution with Pokémon: Wild Card,
a new movie releasing worldwide in 2027. The project was unveiled during the closing ceremony of the 2026 Pokémon World Championships in San Francisco, bringing the trading card and video game phenomenon back into cinematic focus.
Alongside the title announcement, a short teaser trailer offered fans their first look at the upcoming picture. The footage introduces a central protagonist who is a trading card game player dressed in a yellow hoodie like Mimikyu. The ghost and fairy type Pokémon was originally introduced in Sun
and Moon,
the seventh generation games in the franchise. The creature crudely disguises itself as a Pikachu, the mascot of the
series, while its true form remains hidden beneath a yellow rag.
Animation Talent Behind the New Feature
Production duties for Wild Card
are handled by CloverWorks, the Japanese animation studio behind titles like Spy X Family,
Bocchi the Rock
and other notable anime. Directing the film is Katsuhiko Kitada, whose previous credits include anime films and shows such as The First Slam Dunk,
Attack on Titan,
and Naruto: Shippuden.
Meanwhile, character design falls to Akemi Hayashi, known for work on Banana Fish
and Lazarus.
A Theatrical Return After Years Away
The upcoming feature marks a significant return to cinema screens for the franchise. Wild Card
is the first Pokémon movie produced since 2020’s Pokémon the Movie: Secrets of the Jungle,
which received a theatrical release in Japan before arriving worldwide on Netflix in 2021. The last film in the series to secure a worldwide theatrical run was 2018’s Pokémon the Movie: The Power of Us,
which screened through a limited Fathom Events release outside of Japan.
Milestones and Upcoming Generation Windows
The film announcement arrives as the broader franchise marks major temporal milestones. The property celebrated its 30th anniversary in 2026. Looking ahead to the next calendar cycle, the franchise will also see the release of Winds
and Waves,
representing the 10th generation of Pokémon titles, setting up a busy release schedule for both games and cinema.
