ANA and Pokémon Announce 3 New Themed Planes for 30th Anniversary
Japan’s All Nippon Airways has officially revealed an exciting new aviation collaboration to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the globally popular Pokémon video game franchise.
This massive partnership brings three brand new designs, each based on one of the first games in the Pokémon series, to the existing “Pokémon Jet” project, which creates a magical travel experience for passengers.
The Pokémon franchise originally launched in Japan in 1996 with the Red and Green versions, followed shortly by Blue, sparking a worldwide phenomenon.
Traveling across vast regions to catch and battle creatures has always been a core pillar of the series, making real-world aviation collaborations a perfect fit for the brand.
All Nippon Airways, commonly known as ANA, is a major Japanese airline that is also celebrating a major milestone this year, marking the 40th anniversary of its international flights.
The two companies share a long history together, having launched the world’s very first themed aircraft back in 1998.
Since joining the ongoing “Pokémon Air Adventures” initiative, ANA has successfully operated several beautifully painted planes, including the Pikachu Jet NH and Eevee Jet NH, bringing the total number of historical collaborations to eight.
Whilst the designs are still under wraps, some details of the three new planes have been revealed!
- “Pokémon Jet Red”
This Boeing 787-8 aircraft serves as the first entry in the new lineup and will be assigned to domestic flight routes in Japan.
- “Pokémon Jet Green”
The second aircraft is a Boeing 787-9 model designed specifically to carry passengers on international routes around the globe.
- “Pokémon Jet Blue”
Serving as the third entry, this Boeing 737-800 plane will operate on domestic routes in Japan.
An official teaser video for the project is currently available to watch online.
Specific details regarding the final paint designs and exact flight schedules will be announced in May 2026.
The three themed aircraft will begin taking to the skies sequentially throughout 2026.
In other 30th-anniversary related news, the official Pokémon Center has announced three new ranges of merchandise.
Fans can check out the new “Pokémon Timeless Adventure” stationery line, which focuses on the Kanto region and features exclusive artwork of Pikachu and the classic starter creatures peering at a Pokédex in a laboratory.
The retro-styled “Pikachu of Beginnings” plushies perfectly replicate the vintage, chubby aesthetic of the iconic mascot from the original 1996 video games.
Those looking for a sparkling commemorative item can grab the “30th Anniversary Pika Pika! Pikachu” plushies, featuring high-quality velour treated with a delicate glitter finish and a celebratory birthday ribbon.
Finally, fans in Tokyo can also look forward to the “Pokémon Card Game TOKYO LUMINOUS NIGHT Celebrating 30 Years” event, a massive projection mapping light show set to take place at the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building that will showcase dynamic representations of nostalgic classic cards.
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