The Pokémon franchise
has kicked off its special seasonal project "Émon to Kakeru Natsu
Monogatari" (Summer Stories Running with Pokémon), with the
premiere of two short films aimed at children and families, ideal
to enjoy during the summer holidays.
The first
of these shorts, titled "Morpeko to Hajimete no Odekake" (The
First Outing with Morpeko), premiered on Friday, July 5, 2025, in
Japan. This 3D animated story introduces us to Shōta,
a boy who ventures to visit a meat festival with the aim of meeting Bisharp,
a hero he deeply admires. Encountering Pokémon along the way transforms your
day into an unforgettable experience.
Chimchar
stars in the second short film
The second
short film, "Hikozaru to Shinmai Pokémon Kenkyūin" (Chimchar
and the Rookie Pokémon Investigator), will air on Thursday, July 11,
2025. This time, the animation will be in 2D and will
follow Ryō, a young researcher who, while doing fieldwork, encounters
unique and somewhat peculiar Pokémon, taking science and friendship to new
horizons.
A
talented voice cast
The first
short features Kei Shindō's lead performance as Shōta,
while Hiiro Ishibashi plays Ryō in the second. In addition,
iconic voices from the franchise are also present, including Ikue Ōtani (Pikachu), Kana
Hanazawa, Megumi Hayashibara, Etsuko Kozakura, Rikako
Aikawa, Kenta Miyake, Tsuguo Mogami, and Tatsuki
Kobe.
These
shorts reinforce Pokémon's adventurous spirit and offer short but emotional
stories that capture the essence of summer: friendship, discoveries,
and new emotions alongside creatures beloved for generations.
