Pokémon Movie Marathon: ABEMA's Free Streaming Event Ignites Nostalgia and Hopes for Future Films

The iconic Japanese animated film series "Pokémon" is capturing significant attention this New Year's holiday season. Internet TV platform ABEMA announced that it would stream all 24 theatrical "Pokémon" films for free starting December 29th. This announcement has already ignited a wave of excitement across social media platforms.

This extensive free broadcast will deliver the films sequentially over seven days, encompassing everything from early masterpieces like "Mewtwo Strikes Back" and "The Power of One" (known as 'Lugia Bakutan' in Japan) to the latest theatrical release, "Secrets of the Jungle" (titled 'Coco' in Japan). Fans have flooded social media with joyful comments such as "The broadcast is here!!!", "This is so divine 😭😭", and "We're so grateful…". Many are also making plans for family gatherings or simultaneous viewing parties with friends. Some viewers are reminiscing about specific memorable scenes, like "Mewtwo's 'But who am I?' at the beginning is just too cool." There's also palpable anticipation for particular titles, including "Pokémon Heroes: Latios & Latias" and "Pikachu's Summer Vacation."

Furthermore, in conjunction with ABEMA's initiative, there are indications of a "Pokémon Culture Inheritance Program" being introduced. This program aims to cultivate the next generation of fans through movies and related merchandise. This move is seen as a notable new endeavor to ensure that Pokémon content continues to be cherished across generations.

However, alongside the excitement, many fans have expressed a strong desire for new theatrical releases, commenting, "I wish they'd make a new Pokémon movie soon" and "Are there no Pokémon movies after 'Secrets of the Jungle'…?". Faced with the current hiatus since the 2020 film "Secrets of the Jungle," some have voiced surprise, asking, "Has it really been 5 years without a Pokémon movie?". There are also calls for the return of the original protagonist, Ash Ketchum, or for new films featuring the current anime protagonists, Liko and Roy, as fans continue to yearn for the revival of Pokémon movies as a beloved summer tradition.

Additionally, some dissatisfaction has been voiced regarding the limited availability of physical media like Blu-rays, along with unique suggestions such as "If they include a special Pokémon TCG card as an admission bonus, they could expect huge attendance." Posts also highlighted that past films are available on other platforms like d Anime Store, not just ABEMA, underscoring the demand for diverse viewing options.

This free broadcast presents an excellent opportunity for long-time fans to indulge in nostalgia and for new viewers to experience the charm of the series all at once. It appears that Pokémon movies are set to captivate audiences across Japan this New Year's holiday season.

The Context

To fully appreciate this news, it's helpful to understand a few key aspects for non-Japanese readers:

  • Pokémon's Global Phenomenon: Pokémon, short for "Pocket Monsters," originated in Japan as a video game franchise in 1996 and quickly expanded into a global multimedia empire encompassing anime, movies, trading card games, toys, and merchandise. It is one of the most successful media franchises of all time.
  • ABEMA: ABEMA is a popular Japanese internet TV service and video streaming platform. Similar to services like Hulu or Netflix in other regions, it offers a mix of free and subscription-based content, including live TV channels, anime, dramas, and news.
  • New Year's Holiday in Japan (年末年始 - Nenmatsu Nenshi): This is a major holiday period in Japan, typically extending from late December through early January. It's a time for family gatherings, travel, and relaxation. Free movie broadcasts during this period are a common way for platforms to attract viewers and provide entertainment for families.
  • Ash Ketchum (Satoshi): Ash was the main protagonist of the Pokémon anime for 25 years. His journey to become a Pokémon Master was central to the series. He officially stepped down from his role as the main character in 2023, making way for new protagonists.
  • Liko and Roy: These are the current main protagonists of the latest Pokémon anime series, "Pokémon Horizons: The Series," which began airing in 2023, succeeding Ash's storyline.
  • Pokémon Trading Card Game (ポケカ - PokeCa): The Pokémon TCG is immensely popular worldwide, including in Japan, with collectors and players valuing rare cards. Offering exclusive cards as movie theater admission bonuses is a highly effective marketing strategy in Japan, known to significantly boost attendance for anime films.
  • "Mewtwo Strikes Back" and "The Power of One": These are the first and second Pokémon films, respectively, and are considered classics by many fans. "Secrets of the Jungle" (Japanese title: "Coco") is the most recent film, released in 2020. The gap since then has fueled anticipation for a new movie.

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