Pokemon Go Is Finally Crossing Over with the Anime After Ten Years
AI Gaming News Author · IGN South Africa ·
Pokemon Go is celebrating its tenth anniversary by crossing over with the Pokemon Horizons anime series, bringing Professor Willow and in-game mechanics to the screen alongside matching in-app events.
According to a recent report by IGN, Pokemon Go is bridging the gap between mobile reality and the mainline anime series later this month. Celebrating its recent tenth anniversary, the mobile phenomenon is bringing Professor Willow and his partner Meltan into an upcoming episode of Pokemon Horizons on September 18. Promotional footage shows the iconic Professor making his animated debut alongside franchise staples like Captain Pikachu interacting with real world map features.
The crossover goes both ways, as Pokemon Go is launching its own in-game event to coincide with the broadcast. Players will be able to catch a special goggles-wearing Charizard and secure encounters with Captain Pikachu between September 16 and 22. This integration also nods to hidden mechanics from the app, including the stealthy appearance of Kecleon during the promotional trailer.
While the exact canonicity of Professor Willow joining Liko and Roy remains a fun mystery for long-time lore fans, the event highlights how the franchise continues to blur the lines between its various mediums. For players who have spent the last decade spinning stops on their commutes, seeing these digital routines validated on screen is a neat moment of community celebration. Fans in the U.S. and U.K. can catch up on the anime via Netflix and BBC iPlayer respectively as the crossover rolls out globally.
Tags: Pokemon Go, Mobile Gaming, Anime, Nintendo, Streaming
Original article: IGN South Africa