Pokemon: Wild card is the first new Pokemon movie in 7 years

The first new Pokemon movie since 2019 bets on the card game

The Pokemon Company announced Pokemon: Wild Card during the closing ceremonies of the 2026 Pokemon World Championships - the franchise’s first new theatrical movie in seven years. Rather than another training-journey adventure, Wild Card puts the Pokemon Trading Card Game at the center of its story, following an aspiring TCG player and his partner Mimikyu as they chase the goal of becoming champion.

Why it matters for dads

Building a movie around the Trading Card Game rather than the usual Ash-style journey is a genuinely different pitch, and it’s a smart one for a franchise whose card game has quietly become as big a household presence as the games themselves - a lot of families have a shoebox of Pokemon cards somewhere in the house whether or not anyone in it plays Scarlet and Violet. Seven years between theatrical releases is also a long gap, so this reads as a deliberate, considered comeback rather than an annual cash-in.

The creative team is worth noting too: CloverWorks, the animation studio behind this, has a strong recent track record, and pairing that with a TCG-first story could make Wild Card land differently than the training-journey formula the franchise has leaned on for decades. There’s not enough here yet to know if it’s actually good, but the premise alone earns it a spot on the family movie-night watchlist for 2027 - and if Pokemon already has a foothold in your house through the LEGO Pokemon Eevee set or the cards themselves, this is one to have on the radar early.

What’s next

No release date, trailer beyond a first teaser, or cast details have been confirmed. We’ll cover Wild Card again once The Pokemon Company shares more - including whether it gets a wide theatrical release or a more limited one.

What is Pokemon: Wild Card about?

An aspiring Pokemon Trading Card Game player and his partner Mimikyu chase the goal of becoming a champion - the first Pokemon movie built around the TCG rather than a traditional training journey.

When does Pokemon: Wild Card release?

2027. An exact date hasn’t been announced; it was revealed during the closing ceremonies of the 2026 Pokemon World Championships.

Who is making Pokemon: Wild Card?

Katsuhiko Kitada directs, with character designs by Akemi Hayashi, Story Inc. producing, and CloverWorks handling animation.