By Christopher Baggett
The Pokémon Company is coming to SDCC for the first time ever, and they’re bringing the beginning of the end of an important Pokémon era with them.
TPC will host a Pokémon panel on Thursday, offering a behind-the-scenes look at the upcoming finale to Pokémon: Ultimate Journeys and the first season of Pokémon Horizons. Pokémon: Ultimate Journeys‘ conclusion is a milestone for the series, featuring the end of Ash Ketchum’s arc. The upcoming series, Pokémon Horizons, will kick off a new era of Pokémon with new heroes – and, presumably, new Pokémon.
If you’re interested in more Pokémon, Jazwares, Mattel, and Bandai Namco will feature Pokémon merchandise and photo ops at each booth. Jazwares will also be holding a panel discussing current and upcoming Pokémon merchandise.
The Pokémon Company International to Provide Behind-the-Scenes Insights into How It Delivers Animation from Japan to Fans Around the World, Including ‘Pokémon Ultimate Journeys: The Series’ Finale and the Upcoming ‘Pokémon Horizons: The Series’
Additional Fan-Focused Pokémon Experiences Available During Comic-Con International
Bellevue, Wash. — July 6, 2023 — Today, The Pokémon Company International announced that it is headed to San Diego and will host its first-ever panel at Comic-Con International 2023. The panel, titled “Pokémon: Bringing Iconic Animation to Global Audiences,” comes ahead of a historic milestone for the Pokémon brand and animated series — the upcoming conclusion of Ash Ketchum’s story arc and the highly anticipated beginning of a new era with “Pokémon Horizons: The Series.”
Taking place on Thursday, July 20 from 11:45 a.m. to 12:45 p.m. PDT in Room 6BCF of the San Diego Convention Center, the panel will offer a behind-the-scenes look at how the beloved Pokémon animated series is localized from its original Japanese version to one of the most popular series enjoyed by international audiences. In addition, attendees will receive sneak peeks of the final part of “Pokémon Ultimate Journeys: The Series” — also known as the special collection of episodes concluding Ash and his Pikachu’s storied, 25-season journey — as well as the highly anticipated “Pokémon Horizons: The Series” coming soon around the world.
“This is an incredibly exciting time for the Pokémon brand and animated series as we celebrate Ash Ketchum’s legacy while gearing up for new adventures with Liko and Roy in ‘Pokémon Horizons: The Series,’” said Taito Okiura, vice president of marketing for The Pokémon Company International. “Comic-Con International is the premier pop culture event and the perfect place to celebrate these icons who have made an indelible mark on popular culture. As we embark on this new chapter, we invite attendees to join us as we share never-before-seen insights into how we localize the beloved animated series so that Trainers around the world can enjoy their favorite stories and characters.”
In addition to the animation panel hosted by The Pokémon Company International, Trainers can look forward to the “Jazwares Spotlight” panel hosted by Pokémon master toy licensing partner Jazwares. This panel will highlight the toymaker’s hottest products for 2023, including new Pokémon collectibles. More details on timing and location will be announced soon.
Outside of panels, Trainers will be able to engage with the Pokémon brand through various experiences on the show floor, such as photo opportunities, fan-focused giveaways and product previews, at the Jazwares booth #3513, Mattel booth #3029 and Bandai Namco booths #3329 and #301 (featuring Pokémon products from Bandai Spirits and Kawada, respectively) that are unique to Comic-Con International attendees. In addition, Trainers can purchase official Pokémon merchandise unique to Comic-Con International at the Jazwares and Mattel booths. Lastly, publishing partner Insight Editions will pass out recipe cards from its upcoming “Pokémon Baking Book” at their booth #2129, while supplies last.
For the latest announcements on the Pokémon animated series, including “Pokémon Horizons: The Series,” fans can follow @Pokemon on social media and subscribe to the official Pokémon YouTube channel.
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About Pokémon
The Pokémon Company International, a subsidiary of The Pokémon Company in Japan, manages the property outside of Asia and is responsible for brand management, licensing and marketing, the Pokémon Trading Card Game, the animated TV series, home entertainment, and the official Pokémon website. Pokémon was launched in Japan in 1996 and today is one of the most popular children’s entertainment properties in the world. For more information, visit www.pokemon.com.
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