Ten years after its launch, the mobile game Pokémon Go is finally getting a proper appearance in the anime. In episode 150 of Pokémon Horizons: The Series, titled “Hirogaru Sekai, Kimi to GO!” Liko and her friends will accompany none other than Professor Willow, the familiar face from the game, on a field research trip. The episode airs on September 18th, marking the clearest link between the game and the series to date.
The trailer for the episode already shows Captain Pikachu spinning a real PokéStop: The stop turns purple as Poké Balls and Pinap Berries fall out. For anyone who regularly plays Pokémon Go themselves, this is an amusing detail because it looks exactly like it does in the game. The episode will also reportedly show how Friede originally met his Charizard.
What's the Pokémon Go Event All About?
Alongside the anime episode, the “Pokémon Horizons: The Series Celebration Event” will kick off directly in Pokémon Go from September 16th to 22nd. The highlight: Charmander and its evolutions will appear in the game wearing Friede's glasses from the anime. So, if you want to grab an anime souvenir for your Pokédex, you should mark the date on your calendar.
Why is This Crossover Even Newsworthy After Ten Years?
It's worth looking back here: Pokémon Go celebrated its tenth anniversary this summer, and while there have always been references to the game in merchandise and spin-offs over the years, there has never been a proper story episode featuring an active game character like Professor Willow. The fact that Niantic, or rather, The Pokémon Company, is now choosing to do this shows how seriously the successful mobile game is now being treated as a standalone brand alongside other games and the anime—not just as a licensed product, but as an integral part of the overall universe.
For the community, this is primarily further proof that Pokémon Go is far from being written off despite its age. However, neither Niantic nor The Pokémon Company has officially announced whether this crossover will lead to further joint appearances in the future.
Will you be watching the crossover episode on September 18th, or are you more interested in the in-game event? Let us know in the comments!
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