Pokémon is Back in Theaters with TCG-Focused "Wild Card" Movie

Last night at the Pokémon World Championships, we were treated to a short teaser for an upcoming movie. The Pokémon Company officially announced Pokémon: Wild Card, a brand-new animated film slated for a 2027 release. This is the first theatrical feature in seven years for the franchise. Additionally, this film is really shaking up the standard formula by stepping away from the anime and instead focusing on the competitive world of the Pokémon Trading Card Game.

According to the initial teaser and details shared last night by Pokémon President Tsunekazu Ishihara, the story will follow a young TCG player and his partner Mimikyu as they battle to become a champion. Take a look at the trailer, which shows some incredible visuals.

The film is being animated by CloverWorks, the studio known for Spy x Family and Bocchi the Rock! (some of my personal favorites!). It is produced by STORY inc. and has Katsuhiko Kitada as director.

The last Pokémon film in theaters was Secrets of the Jungle, featuring Zarude back in 2020. It will be interesting to see how well a movie focusing on the TCG will perform especially with CloverWorks' stunning animation. Looking forward to the 2027 release!