Pokémon is returning to the big screen with a brand-new animated movie, Pokémon: Wild Card, which has officially been set for a worldwide release in 2027. The film was announced during the closing ceremony of the 2026 Pokémon World Championships in San Francisco, where a first teaser also offered fans their initial glimpse at the project.
The teaser introduces a mysterious Pokémon Trading Card Game player alongside Mimikyu, the Ghost- and Fairy-type Pokémon known for disguising itself as Pikachu. The character appears in a yellow hoodie resembling Mimikyu’s signature appearance, suggesting that the Pokémon will have an important connection to the story.
Pokémon: Wild Card Brings Mimikyu to a New Adventure
Mimikyu originally debuted in Pokémon Sun and Pokémon Moon as part of the franchise’s seventh generation. Although it resembles Pikachu beneath its handmade disguise, the Pokémon’s actual appearance remains hidden, making it one of the series’ more mysterious characters.
Behind the new movie is director Katsuhiko Kitada, whose previous credits include projects such as The First Slam Dunk, Attack on Titan and Naruto: Shippuden. Akemi Hayashi is handling character designs, while CloverWorks will produce the animation.
Pokémon: Wild Card represents a significant return for the film franchise. It will be the first Pokémon movie since 2020’s Pokémon the Movie: Secrets of the Jungle, which received a theatrical release in Japan before arriving internationally on Netflix in 2021.
The new project also arrives during a major year for the franchise. Pokémon celebrated its 30th anniversary in 2026, while the next generation of games, Pokémon Winds and Pokémon Waves, is also scheduled to launch in 2027.