Pokémon: Wild Card Is Coming in 2027 — First Teaser Reveals a Mysterious New Hero and Mimikyu

A new Pokémon movie is officially on the way, but this time the franchise is putting a very different character at the center of its big-screen return.

Pokémon: Wild Card, a new feature-length animated film, has been announced for release beginning in 2027, with the first teaser offering fans their first look at a Pokémon Trading Card Game player and the mysterious Pokémon Mimikyu.

The movie was unveiled during the closing ceremony of the 2026 Pokémon World Championships in San Francisco, where The Pokémon Company also revealed the first footage from the project.

And there is already one big question surrounding the movie: Who exactly is the new Pokémon TCG player at the heart of Wild Card?

The First Pokémon: Wild Card Teaser Is Here

The teaser gives only a brief glimpse of the story, but it establishes an important change for the franchise.

Instead of following the familiar Pokémon adventure formula centered on its traditional animated heroes, Wild Card will focus on a Pokémon Trading Card Game player who is trying to become a champion. The Pokémon Company has confirmed that the character is paired with Mimikyu.

The teaser also shows the player wearing a yellow hoodie that visually resembles Mimikyu’s disguise.

That detail has immediately made Mimikyu one of the most intriguing parts of the upcoming film.

Mimikyu is known for disguising itself to resemble Pikachu, while keeping its actual appearance hidden beneath its cloth-like covering. The character was introduced in the seventh generation of Pokémon games.

Why Is Mimikyu So Important to Wild Card?

The movie’s official description specifically pairs the Pokémon TCG player with Mimikyu, suggesting that their relationship will be central to the story.

The official Pokémon announcement describes Wild Card as the story of an aspiring Pokémon Trading Card Game player and Mimikyu, with the two facing the challenge of achieving their goals.

The teaser doesn’t reveal the player’s name, voice cast or detailed backstory yet.

That leaves plenty of room for speculation about who this new character is and what kind of journey Wild Card will tell.

A Pokémon Movie Unlike the Recent Films

One of the biggest reasons Pokémon: Wild Card is attracting attention is the direction of its story.

The film puts the Pokémon Trading Card Game at the center of a feature-length Pokémon movie. That is a significant change from the franchise’s more traditional movie adventures.

The Pokémon TCG has already appeared in animated projects, but Wild Card is being positioned as a full-length theatrical story built around a TCG player.

That could make the film particularly interesting to Pokémon fans who follow the competitive card game as well as the anime and video games.

Pokémon: Wild Card Marks the Franchise’s Big-Screen Return

The new movie also represents Pokémon’s return to feature-length animation after a long gap.

The most recent Pokémon movie was Pokémon the Movie: Secrets of the Jungle, which debuted in Japan in 2020 and reached international audiences through Netflix in 2021. Wild Card is therefore arriving after roughly seven years without a new Pokémon feature film.

The timing is also notable because Pokémon is celebrating its 30th anniversary in 2026.

The new film is therefore becoming one of the franchise’s major projects heading into its next era.

Who Is Making Pokémon: Wild Card?

The movie has assembled a notable Japanese animation team.

Katsuhiko Kitada is directing the film, while Akemi Hayashi is responsible for character designs. STORY inc. is producing the project and CloverWorks is handling the animation.

CloverWorks is known internationally for anime projects including SPY x FAMILY, Bocchi the Rock! and other major productions.

That creative lineup is another reason anime fans are watching the project closely.

When Will Pokémon: Wild Card Be Released?

Pokémon: Wild Card is scheduled to begin its worldwide release in 2027.

However, fans should note that an exact theatrical release date has not yet been announced. The official material currently points to a 2027 release rather than giving a specific day or month.

The teaser also uses wording indicating the movie is coming in 2027 and beyond, leaving additional details about the release schedule still unclear.

What We Know So Far

Here are the key details currently confirmed about Pokémon: Wild Card:

• Title: Pokémon: Wild Card
• Release: Beginning in 2027
• Format: Feature-length animated movie
• Story focus: A Pokémon Trading Card Game player
• Pokémon partner: Mimikyu
• Director: Katsuhiko Kitada
• Character designer: Akemi Hayashi
• Animation: CloverWorks
• Producer: STORY inc.
• Exact release date: Not yet announced
• First teaser: Released

The Biggest Mystery Is Still Unanswered

For now, the teaser raises almost as many questions as it answers.

Who is the Pokémon TCG player? Why is Mimikyu connected to them? And what exactly does “Wild Card” mean for the story?

Those answers have not been revealed yet.

What is clear is that Pokémon is returning to the big screen in 2027 with a movie that puts the Trading Card Game, a new human protagonist and Mimikyu at the center of the adventure.

And after a seven-year wait for a new Pokémon movie, that alone gives Pokémon: Wild Card plenty of attention heading into 2027.