Pokémon 20th Anniversary
The entire year of 2016 is set to be celebrated as Pokémon's 20th Anniversary, as February 27, 2016 marks the twentieth anniversary of the original Japanese release of Pokémon Red and Green Versions, and therefore the twentieth anniversary of the Pokémon media franchise as a whole.
Event distributions
Various level 100 Mythical Pokémon will be distributed to American and PAL region Pokémon X, Y, Omega Ruby, and Alpha Sapphire. The distributions also correspond to the release of merchandise related to the Pokémon.
| Pokémon | Duration | Method | |
|---|---|---|---|
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Mew | February 1 to 24, 2016 | Serial code |
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Celebi | March 1 to 24, 2016 | Nintendo Network |
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Jirachi | April 1 to 24, 2016 | Nintendo Network |
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Darkrai | May 1 to 24, 2016 | Serial code |
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Manaphy | June 1 to 24, 2016 | Nintendo Network |
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Shaymin | July 1 to 24, 2016 | Nintendo Network |
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Arceus | August 1 to 24, 2016 | Serial code |
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Victini | September 1 to 24, 2016 | Nintendo Network |
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Keldeo | October 1 to 24, 2016 | Nintendo Network |
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Genesect | November 1 to 24, 2016 | Serial code |
|
Meloetta | December 1 to 24, 2016 | Nintendo Network |
Super Bowl 50
The Pokémon Company International aired a 30-second commercial advertisement on February 7, 2016 with the motto "Train On." during Super Bowl 50. An extended version of the commercial was posted on Pokémon.com's official YouTube channel on January 25, 2016.
#Pokemon20: Pokémon Super Bowl Commercial (extended version)
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| This video is not available on Bulbapedia; instead, you can watch the video on YouTube here. | |
Pokémon: Train On. (30-second broadcast version)
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| This video is not available on Bulbapedia; instead, you can watch the video on YouTube here. | |
#Pokemon20
Posts with the hashtag #Pokemon20 on Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube were selected and displayed on Pokemon20.com. The official website states that selected submissions "may get something special".
Pokémon Day
Special events are scheduled to be hosted on February 27, 2016 at retail locations.
In the United States, Toys "R" Us will have special Holofoil Pikachu and Magikarp TCG cards from the new Generations set, a Pokémon activity book, and a poster with the original 151 Pokémon. There will also be binders themed around the Generations expansion for sale. GameStops will have an exclusive Mew plush and will give customers buying any Pokémon products a Mythical Pokémon poster. Stores in select cities will also host Early Access Competitions for Pokkén Tournament, with a grand prize of a trip to the 2016 US National Championships. Nintendo New York will also be holding an event from 9 AM to 5 PM. The JapanLA Pop Culture Shop in Los Angeles, California will have a pop-up shop dedicated to Pokémon merchandise that will run until March 27.
In Brazil, Copag will promote Pokémon Trading Card Game tournaments at selected stores across the country, where players will receive exclusive products. The company will also send a kit with 55 exclusive Pikachu Promo cards, three badge cases, three bags with the Play! Pokémon logo, and 12 Mewtwo deckboxes to each selected hobby store. Players will be able to receive the Pikachu Promo card by buying two Pokémon TCG products (except boosters) at RiHappy, PB Kids, BMart, and Planeta Brinquedos from February 27 to 28.
In South Korea, events are set to be held at Pangyo Hyundai Department Store in Seongnam from February 27 to March 6, 2016. During this time, visitors can collect stamps hidden across the department store to win a prize. A Mew will also be distributed via infrared on February 27 to 28, 2016. This Mew will be level 5 and similar to the Mew distributed to Japanese games rather than the international Mew. During these two days, a Pokémon Battle Event, Pokémon TCG Battle Relay Event, Pokémon Mini Museum and a Pokémon Mini Attraction are also set to be held.
The official Pokémon Twitch channel showed Pokémon gameplay, interviews, and discussions from at 1 to 9 p.m. EST. At 9 p.m. EST, a 24-hour anime marathon began on the officially-endorsed channel [Twitch Watches Pokémon, which showed the following movies and specials:
- Mewtwo Strikes Back
- The Power of One
- Spell of the Unown: Entei
- Celebi: Voice of the Forest
- Lucario and the Mystery of Mew
- Pokémon Ranger and the Temple of the Sea
- The Rise of Darkrai
- Giratina and the Sky Warrior
- Arceus and the Jewel of Life
- Zoroark: Master of Illusions
- Black—Victini and Reshiram
- Kyurem vs. The Sword of Justice
- Genesect and The Legend Awakened
- Pokémon Origins
- The Legend of Thunder!
- A Family That Battles Together Stays Together!
- Cerulean Blues
- We're No Angels!
- Showdown at the Oak Corral
- Oaknapped!
- Training Daze
- Putting the Air Back in Aerodactyl!
Players who log on to Pokémon Trading Card Game Online will receive a set of commemorative card sleeves.
Games
In addition to the following, Pokkén Tournament for Wii U and Pokémon GO are scheduled to be released worldwide in 2016. A physical release of Pokémon Rumble World and Pokémon Super Mystery Dungeon are also scheduled to be released in Europe in 2016. Officially announced on January 26, 2016, Great Detective Pikachu ~Birth of a New Duo~, which was initially unveiled in 2013, was stated to be receiving a digital release on the Nintendo eShop in Japan on February 3, 2016.
Pokémon Sun and Moon
Pokémon Sun and Moon, the primary paired versions of Generation VII, were announced at midnight JST on February 27, 2016 in a worldwide Pokémon Direct.
Pokémon Red, Green, Blue, and Yellow
The Generation I games, Pokémon Red and Green, Pokémon Blue, Pokémon Red and Blue, and Pokémon Yellow, are set to be released on February 27, 2016 on the Nintendo 3DS on Virtual Console. Limited-edition Nintendo 2DS bundles and New Nintendo 3DS bundles are also scheduled to be released in Japan/Europe/Australia and in North America, respectively.
Pokémon Photo Booth
Pokémon Photo Booth was released on February 24, 2016 for iOS.
In other Nintendo games
Nintendo Badge Arcade
On February 25, 2016, North American versions of Nintendo Badge Arcade celebrated the 20th Anniversary of Pokémon with ten sets of Pokémon badges, including the first badges of Mega Evolved Pokémon. Pokémon-themed HOME Menus will be displayed on the game's Miiverse Gallery after March 6.
Splatoon
In commemoration of Pokémon's 20th Anniversary, a Splatfest was held on February 20, 2016 at 6:00 AM UTC, pitting players who prefer Pokémon Red against players who prefer Pokémon Blue*/Green*. The Splatfest, like all Splatfests, was divided and tallied by game region. At the end of the Splatfest, in all three regions, Red lost to Blue and Green.
In Japan, replicas of the Red Team and Green Team T-shirts distibuted to participants will be sold in Pokémon Centers across the country.
Super Mario Maker
An Event Course entitled I Choose You! was uploaded on February 11, 2016. When the player completes this course, they will unlock a Bulbasaur, Charmander, or Squirtle costume. Completing the course three times will unlock all three. Unlike the Super Smash Bros. Pokémon costumes, these costumes have a full set of custom sound effects and music taken from Pokémon Red and Green.
Merchandise
Several merchandise items were made in celebration of Pokémon's 20th Anniversary.
Figurines and plush toys are set to to be sold exclusively at Toys "R" Us, Walmart, GameStop, Walgreens, Target, and specialty stores in the United States, depending on the item, being released throughout the year.
Clothing and other accessories are set to be sold from the online Pokémon Center in the United States.
Trailers
#Pokemon20: Celebrate 20 Years of Pokémon!
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| This video is not available on Bulbapedia; instead, you can watch the video on YouTube here. | |
UK: Celebrate 20 Years of Pokémon with #Pokemon20!
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| This video is not available on Bulbapedia; instead, you can watch the video on YouTube here. | |
#Pokemon20: GAME FREAK's Junichi Masuda
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| This video is not available on Bulbapedia; instead, you can watch the video on YouTube here. | |
#Pokemon20: The Pokémon Company's Tsunekazu Ishihara
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| This video is not available on Bulbapedia; instead, you can watch the video on YouTube here. | |
Celebrate #Pokemon20 with the Mythical Pokémon Mew!
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| This video is not available on Bulbapedia; instead, you can watch the video on YouTube here. | |
In other languages
Train On.
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