Pokemon Wildcard Movie 2027 by CloverWorks

The Pokemon Company announced a new anime film titled 'Pokemon: Wildcard' during the Pokemon World Championships 2026 in San Francisco on Monday. The film is scheduled to premiere in 2027, marking the first new Pokemon movie in seven years, a gap fans can appreciate by checking the franchise's cinematic stats.

CloverWorks, the studio behind the production, revealed the main staff, an announcement visual, and a promotional video. Katsuhiko Kitada, known for his work as an episode director on The First Slam Dunk, will direct the film. Character designs will be handled by Akemi Hayashi, whose credits include Lazarus. The planning and production is being managed by STORY inc.

Film Concept and Focus

The film will incorporate the Pokemon Trading Card Game into its narrative. A specific Pokemon, Mimikyu, is stated to play an important role in the story. This integration suggests a plot that bridges the digital creatures of the anime with the physical card game mechanics, potentially introducing new characters to the cinematic squad.

Franchise Context

The Pokemon movie franchise began in 1998 with Pokemon Movie 01: Mewtwo no Gyakushuu (released internationally as Pokémon: The First Movie - Mewtwo Strikes Back). The most recent theatrical release was Pokemon Movie 23: Koko (Pokémon the Movie: Secrets of the Jungle), which premiered in December 2020. The announcement source, Oricon News, notes this seven-year gap between films.

The current television anime, Pokemon (2023), also known as Pokémon Horizons: The Series, premiered in April 2023. This new film represents a separate project from the ongoing TV series.

Production and Release Details

Official channels for the film have been established. Fans can find more information on the official site and the project's official X (formerly Twitter) account. The announcement was made at a major competitive event for the franchise, highlighting its significance.

The core creative team brings experience from notable projects outside the Pokemon universe. This indicates a potential for a fresh visual and directorial approach while staying within the established world. The film's 2027 release date sets a long-term expectation for fans awaiting a new cinematic adventure.

No further plot details, voice cast, or specific release window within 2027 were provided in the source announcement. The project is now in active development at CloverWorks studio.