Pokemon: Wild Card is the first new theatrical Pokemon movie in seven years, revealed Sunday night, August 30, at the closing ceremony of the 2026 Pokemon World Championships in San Francisco. The film follows a Pokemon Trading Card Game player and the Ghost/Fairy-type Mimikyu, and arrives in theaters worldwide in 2027.
The Pokemon Company confirmed the news on Sunday night as thousands of competitors wrapped up Worlds, with president and CEO Tsunekazu Ishihara making the reveal onstage before a teaser trailer played for the crowd.
What The Pokemon Company Announced
Ishihara told the closing-ceremony crowd, “Get ready for Pokemon: Wild Card, an all-new animated film featuring a Pokemon TCG player and Mimikyu! Stay tuned!” It is the first Pokemon film to center on the Trading Card Game rather than the video games or the Ash Ketchum anime, and the first new theatrical entry in the franchise since 2020’s Secrets of the Jungle.
The Teaser Trailer, Explained
The teaser, posted to the official Pokemon YouTube channel, follows an unnamed Pokemon TCG player in a yellow hoodie styled after Mimikyu’s homemade Pikachu costume. Mimikyu is the only Pokemon shown on-screen, trailing the player through a grey, ordinary-looking city rather than the bright wilderness of past Pokemon films — a deliberate signal, reporters at the reveal noted, that Wild Card is grounding its story in the competitive TCG scene rather than a monster-catching road trip.
Who Is Making Pokemon: Wild Card
Katsuhiko Kitada is directing, with character designs from Akemi Hayashi. Story Inc. is producing and CloverWorks — the studio behind Spy x Family and the first three seasons of the Attack on Titan anime — is handling animation. No specific 2027 release date, cast, or additional plot details have been confirmed.
How Wild Card Compares to Past Pokemon Films
| Film | Release | Franchise Focus | Gap to Next Film |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pokemon Detective Pikachu | 2019 | Live-action / video games | 1 year |
| Pokemon the Movie: Secrets of the Jungle | 2020 | Anime (Ash Ketchum) | 7 years |
| Pokemon: Wild Card | 2027 (TBA) | Trading Card Game | — |
The TCG framing is the more notable break from formula than the release gap itself. Every prior theatrical Pokemon film, animated or live-action, has centered on a trainer catching or battling alongside Pokemon in the wild. Wild Card is the first to build its story around a competitor at a card table instead — a bet that the Trading Card Game, not just the mainline video games or the Ash Ketchum anime, is now a big enough part of Pokemon fandom to headline a movie on its own.
Frequently Asked Questions
When does Pokemon: Wild Card come out?
Pokemon: Wild Card is set for a 2027 theatrical release worldwide. The Pokemon Company has not announced a specific month or date.
What is Pokemon: Wild Card about?
The film follows a Pokemon Trading Card Game player, shown in the teaser wearing a Mimikyu-styled hoodie, alongside the Ghost/Fairy-type Pokemon Mimikyu. It is the first Pokemon movie built around the card game rather than the mainline video games or the Ash Ketchum anime.
Who is directing Pokemon: Wild Card?
Katsuhiko Kitada is directing, with character designs by Akemi Hayashi. Story Inc. is producing and CloverWorks, known for Spy x Family and the early seasons of the Attack on Titan anime, is animating the film.
Where was Pokemon: Wild Card announced?
The Pokemon Company revealed the film on Sunday, August 30, 2026, at the closing ceremony of the Pokemon World Championships in San Francisco.
Related Reading
Trading cards from a hit franchise tend to hold their value long after release — see our breakdown of how much professional grading actually costs and our guide to getting started as a collector if Wild Card has you eyeing the secondary market.
