Pokémon announces short anime series for monpoké brand in February 2025

Modified Dec 18, 2024 18:32 GMT

Pokémon announces short anime series for monpoké brand in February 2025 (Image via The Pokémon Company)

Wednesday, December 18, 2024 saw the official X (formerly Twitter) account for Pokémon's monpoké baby brand officially announce a short anime series as in production. The announcement also confirmed the short anime series’ release date of Wednesday, February 19, 2025 in Japan, and other significant release information. However, an exact release time for the series has yet to be provided as of this article’s writing.

The upcoming series will air online via the Pokémon Kids TV Japan YouTube channel, with its first two episodes premiering on February 19 and a new one airing each Wednesday after. The series is said to have 10 five-minute episodes in total. The same YouTube channel where the series will air is streaming a music video of its theme song, which is titled “Hajimemashite, Atsumeyo” and translates to “Nice to Meet You, Let’s Gather Together.”

Pokémon's upcoming project is one aimed at an infantile audience

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Per the latest available information, Reiko Yashida of Pokémon Journeys: The Series is writing the short anime’s script, with Fanworks in charge of animation. The short anime series will focus on franchise mascot Pikachu, who arrives on Monpoké Island. The island is filled with beautiful forests and breathtaking beaches, but also other titular creatures whom Pikachu meets and enjoys fun-filled days of play and adventures with.

The company previously launched the Fun Times on monpoké Island web series internationally on YouTube in April as part of globalization efforts for the baby-focused brand. The series included short videos which were intended as a means of parents introducing their children to the franchise’s world. Likewise, the new upcoming series seems to have a similar focus in mind given its plot and apparent approach.

However, the upcoming series seems to be more focused on Japanese audiences rather than international ones. This isn’t surprising, as the original series and brand were each first exclusive to Asia, with availability extending to additional markets over the past year. The brand includes licensed merchandise and books which feature Pokémon such as Pikachu, Dedenne, and Smeargle.

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The monpoké brand is also collaborating with French luxury childrenswear label Bonpoint, releasing both a clothing line for toddlers, and a skincare line. A collaboration with book publisher Scholastic is also in the works, with the end goal of releasing picture books for sale in the United States and Canada, and eventually the United Kingdom. The monpoké brand was first launched in March 2019.

Previous collaboration partners for the brand include babywear and maternity designers at Inujirushi, Nanoblock toymaker Kawada, baby product maker Combi Corporation, SEGA Toys, and stuffed animal manufacturer Sekiguchi. As the brand’s international expansion continues, fans can expect additional companies to enter into collaborative efforts. However, none beyond those mentioned above currently officially announced or rumored as happening.