Pokémon Is Back! ‘Wild Card’ Teaser Reveals New Hero, Mimikyu and TCG-Focused Adventure

The Pokémon franchise is returning to the big screen after a seven-year gap with Pokémon: Wild Card, a new feature-length animated film set for theatrical release in 2027. The announcement was made during the closing ceremony of the 2026 Pokémon World Championships in San Francisco.

Alongside the announcement, fans were treated to the film’s first teaser and Super Teaser Visual, offering the first look at its new protagonist and Mimikyu. The teaser introduces a Pokémon Trading Card Game player determined to become a champion, marking a major departure from the traditional Pokémon movie formula.

The film will reportedly centre on Mikiya, a young TCG player seen wearing a yellow hood inspired by Mimikyu. The popular Ghost/Fairy-type Pokémon also features prominently in the teaser and poster, suggesting that it will play a key role in the story.

The Pokémon Company has described Wild Card as an all-new animated feature, with the Pokémon TCG placed at the heart of the narrative for the first time in a theatrical Pokémon movie. The concept is particularly timely as the trading card game approaches its 30th anniversary. The film is being directed by Katsuhiko Kitada, with Akemi Hayashi handling character designs. Japanese animation studio CloverWorks is producing the animation, while Story Inc. is involved in production.

Wild Card follows Pokémon the Movie: Secrets of the Jungle, which was released in Japan in 2020 and internationally in 2021, making the upcoming film the franchise’s first new theatrical Pokémon movie in roughly seven years. The long hiatus has already sparked excitement among fans, with many welcoming the return to cinemas and Mimikyu’s prominent role.

The teaser currently provides only a glimpse of the story, with details about the supporting cast, voice actors, wider plot and exact release date still under wraps. Its closing message, “Coming 2027 and beyond,” has also fueled speculation that the project could mark the beginning of a new series of Pokémon films. Pokémon: Wild Card is scheduled to arrive in theaters in 2027, with further release details expected later.