Hatsune Miku’s Official Pokémon Collab Returns With 2 New 30th Anniversary Releases
Pokémon and Hatsune Miku’s official music collaboration has returned with two new songs celebrating the franchise’s 30th anniversary, exploring both its latest adventures and the origins of the long-running series.
The new songs, titled “LEGENDS” and “1996,” are the latest releases from “Pokémon feat. Hatsune Miku Project VOLTAGE”, with both tracks written and composed by legendary Vocaloid producer ryo (supercell).
Launched in August 2023, Project VOLTAGE brings together the worlds of Pokémon and Hatsune Miku through original music, animated videos and illustrations featuring the virtual singer as a Pokémon Trainer specializing in each of the series’ 18 types.
The collaboration has since attracted contributions from numerous popular Vocaloid producers, including DECO*27, PinocchioP, Giga and Kairiki Bear, with songs incorporating recognizable music and sound effects from the Pokémon games.
For its latest releases, the project has enlisted ryo, the composer behind supercell and some of Hatsune Miku’s most influential early songs, including “Melt”, “World Is Mine” and “Black Rock Shooter”.
Ryo has also produced music for several major anime series, including “Kimi no Shiranai Monogatari” from Bakemonogatari and “My Dearest” from Guilty Crown.
The first of his new Pokémon collaborations, “LEGENDS”, takes inspiration from Pokémon Legends: Z-A, with ryo explaining that he created the track after playing through the game’s Mega Dimension expansion.
He described writing the song while still experiencing the excitement of completing the game, hoping younger listeners would enjoy it now and discover additional meaning in its lyrics as they grow older.
Its accompanying animated music video features Hatsune Miku performing alongside Toxtricity and Rillaboom, with the two Pokémon joining her as members of a band.
The second song, “1996”, takes a more nostalgic approach, reflecting on the experiences of fans who have grown up alongside Pokémon since its debut.
Its title references the year Pokémon Red and Green first launched in Japan, connecting the track to the beginnings of a franchise that has now spent three decades entertaining players around the world.
Ryo revealed that he had actually written “1996” before “LEGENDS” but had kept it unreleased, deciding to share the older song after completing his work on the new Pokémon Legends-inspired track.
He described the two releases as complementary songs, with “LEGENDS” intended for children discovering Pokémon today and “1996” reflecting the experiences of adults who have followed the series over the years.
Project VOLTAGE has already contributed to Pokémon’s anniversary celebrations during 2026, including the release of “Crossroad” for Miku Day in March, produced by kz and TAKU INOUE.
The collaboration also held its first dedicated live concerts in March, featuring performances of Project VOLTAGE songs alongside appearances from Pokémon and the Piapro Characters.
The official music video for “LEGENDS” was released on October 22, 2026, and is available to watch now on YouTube.
The accompanying “1996” music video is scheduled to premiere on October 23, 2026, at 6:39 PM JST (5:39 AM ET / 2:39 AM PT).
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