Summer is right around the corner, and popular Japanese clothing brand GU has revealed Pokemon The apparel collab is perfect for lounging by the pool or strolling along the beach. Celebrating its 30th anniversary in 2026, the Pokemon The franchise shows no signs of slowing down in terms of popularity, with recent TCG releases and crossover products selling out almost instantly and fans clamoring for more. This year has been packed with special events to celebrate three decades of the highest-grossing media franchise on Earth, and this new collaboration is already seeing a lot of fanfare online.
The continuing popularity of Pokemon has been both a boon and a headache for longtime fans of the franchise. While new product releases are exciting, they also attract scalpers, with resellers becoming a major obstacle for those wanting to collect these items themselves or buy them for their children. The most recent example of this came on May 2, when the high was expected Pokemon The 30th anniversary collection was on sale at Target locations nationwide. The posts immediately flooded social media, with some highlighting people lining up for the release from 2am. Many claimed they couldn't get any of the items they wanted, as scalpers grabbed everything in sight as quickly as possible. Cardboard displays are also being sold on eBay for upwards of $900.
I think Pokemon will dominate this summer for 3 big reasons
Pokemon fans have at least three big reasons to look forward to summer 2026, with more games, events, and merchandise coming soon.
Popular Japanese apparel chain GU reveals the perfect Pokemon collab for summer lounging
Those who want something affordable Pokemon-Look no further for themed clothing for summer, as popular Japanese apparel brand GU has revealed a massive collection of 16 unique t-shirts and shorts for men, women and kids. All adult T-shirts and shorts in the new collection are priced at ¥1,490 (about $10), while children's shirts are priced at ¥990 (about $7). Those wanting a themed shirt and pants set for their child can choose from Vaporeon, Pikachu, or Gengar-themed sets, all priced at ¥1,990 (about $13). Adult T-shirts range in size from XS to 3XL. Pre-orders are now live on the official GU website, and the collection will launch online and in-store on May 22.
Several collaborations with the popular franchise have been announced in 2026. In January, Secretlab revealed three new pokemon-Subjective Gaming chairs, featuring Pikachu, Gengar, and Eevee. Pokemon Centers across Japan have been offering special merchandise for the 30th anniversary, while sportswear brand Puma recently revealed shoes inspired by Umbreon and Espion. Japanese apparel brand Uniqlo will offer vintage Pokemon trade this summer, while the adidas collab is expected to launch in September 2026.
On the gaming front, this year has been dominated by social simulation sandbox titles Pokemon PokopiaIt was released in March for the Nintendo Switch 2 to rave reviews. Additionally, fans got their first look at Gen 10 and another area they'll be exploring when the first trailer Pokemon wind and waves was revealed in February. The games are expected to begin sometime in 2027, and players will have to choose from three new starters: Grass-type Brot, Fire-type Pombon, or Water-type Gequa.
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Those hoping to snag a Switch 2 console to play on Pokemon Pokopia or forthcoming Wind and waves This week saw some unfortunate news, as Nintendo officially confirmed that the popular console is getting a price increase worldwide. Originally priced at $449.99 in the US, the Switch 2 will now cost $499.99, an 11% price increase. In Japan, the increase is even more significant, with consoles now costing 20% more.
- Release date
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1997 – 2023
- network
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TV Tokyo, TV Osaka, TV Aichi, TVh, TVQ, TSC
- directors
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Shigeru Omachi, Koji Ogawa, Fumihiro Ueno, Hideki Hiroshima, Maki Kodaira, Makoto Oga, Ayumi Moriyama, Keitaro Motonaga, Shigeru Ueda, Fumihiro Yoshimura, Minoru Ohara, Yoshitaka Makino, Kiyoshi Egami, Makotoi, Murki, Makotoi, Murkoi, Nako, Hey Nishida, Tomoe Makino, Masahiko Watanabe, Hiroaki Takagi, Tazumi Mukaiyama, Ryohei Horiuchi, Yoshihiro Oda, Hiromichi Matano
- The authors
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Junki Takegami, Atsuhiro Tomioka, Hideki Sonoda, Yukiyoshi Ohashi, Yuka Miyata, Takeshi Shudo, Shouji Yonemura, Shinzo Fujita, Michihiro Tsuchiya, Deko Akao, Reiko Yoshida, Aya Matsui, Junichi Fujisaku
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Rika Matsumoto
Satoshi (voice)
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Ikue Otani
Pikachu (voice)
