February 27th is National Pokémon Day, which marks the date that the world was first introduced to the original 151 in the form of the Pokémon Red and Green games hitting the GameBoy in Japan, with 2019 set to be a bumper year for the franchise. Most exciting right now is Detective Pikachu, which is picking up a lot of hype after hugely enthusiastic test screenings, but we also have Pokémon the Movie: Mewtwo Strikes Back Evolution coming out this summer and, later in the year, the expected release of a fully fledged entry in the franchise on Nintendo Switch.
And now, to get everyone’s hype trains up to full speed, The Pokémon Company’s got some very special events planned for next Wednesday. These include a marathon of the animated series to be streamed on Twitch beginning February 27th and concluding on May 6th, which will include Pokémon the Series, Diamond and Pearl, Black and White, XY and a selection of the animated movies. If that isn’t enough Pokémon cartoons for you, then you’ll also be able to stream curated episodes through the Pokémon App on iOS and Android.
Fans of the Pokémon TGC won’t be left out, either. GameStop, Best Buy and EB Games (in Canada) will be hosting special events to mark the day and the release of the latest expansion, Sun & Moon. Attendees will receive a free oversize booster pack as well, with other goodies promised.
On top of all that, there’s a wealth of limited edition items being released, including a ‘premium quality’ Pokémon clothing line known as Poké Ball Classics, a US streetwear collaboration with 10.Deep Clothing Inc. and a special toy promotion with Funko Pop! and Build-A-Bear.
J.C. Smith, senior director of consumer marketing at The Pokémon Company, summarized the day as follows:
Pokémon Day is about celebrating the incredible fans that have made Pokémon one of the most beloved entertainment franchises in the world. As a thank-you to the community, we’re excited to provide them with more ways to experience all things Pokémon.”
If you want to join in the festivities on social media, fans are encouraged to chime in with the hashtag #PokemonDay on the 27th.