What started in 1996 as a video game about collectible “pocket monsters” has become much more.
This year, Pokémon celebrates its 25th anniversary and, in addition to having the help of pop singer Katy Perry to celebrate, the creators of the popular franchise are hosting virtual events, launching special merchandise and doing everything to celebrate.
If you have Pokémon fans in your home, check out our list of everything we know so far about the birthday celebration. Rest assured that 2021 will be a year full of Poké, and when it comes to these special events, you and your family will want to catch them all.
P25 Music
In addition to Katy Perry, Pokémon will partner with Universal Music Group to work with a variety of musicians to create songs with a special Pokémon theme, which will be released throughout the year. Pokémon announced its collaboration with Katy Perry in January, saying details of its participation and the other artists on the lineup will be announced at a later time.
Live celebration video
In a YouTube video created just for the special anniversary, a Poké Ball goes through Pokémon, stickers, plush characters, video game clips and more. It’s Pokémon’s special way to sum up all the milestones of its 25 years as a franchise, and it’s a fun walk on the memory path for fans.
25th anniversary themed products
To kick off the celebration, Pokémon announced a collaboration with the Bear Walker skateboards in January. Fans of the franchise can purchase limited edition skateboards and beware of many other themed products that will arrive at the Pokémon Center in 2021.
New collectible cards
The Pokémon Trading Card Game will receive cards from the 25th anniversary special edition added to the mix in late 2021. In the meantime, oversized cards with Pikachu and many more Pokémon will be available from February 26th.
Special merchandise and collaborations
Throughout the year, Pokémon said it will announce collaborations with major brands, from McDonald’s to Build-A-Bear Workshop for special promotions and merchandise.
Pokémon Go: Kanto event
To help celebrate, the mobile game Pokémon Go, which also celebrates its fifth anniversary this year, will host a special event within the augmented reality game on February 20. Game developer Niantic says the event, which is an extra in-app purchase, will take Pokémon trainers back to the early days of the Pokémon franchise, making the first 150 Pokémon originally found in the Kanto region of the game available to be captured.
Dedicated website
At any time during the celebratory year, parents can visit the Pokémon’s 25th anniversary website for the latest updates on events and collaborations.
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