Well in Universal Studios Japan, but it is a start!
From Mark Woodbury Chairman and CEO, Universal Destinations & Experiences.
“Collaborating with imaginative and inventive storytellers fuels our ability to create and deliver mind-blowing attractions and experiences that shatter guest expectations. The Pokémon Company is one of the most beloved interactive franchises in the world, and through our ongoing partnership, we will continue bringing its vibrant world to life in new and innovative ways for years to come.” Full article here
Before we get into it we like to remind you you can follow our theme park journeys over on YouTube by clicking here.
First announced back in 2021, it appears Universal is going full steam ahead on bringing Pokémon to the parks, starting in Japan. Don’t worry, US folks, if this proves successful, I mean, come on, why wouldn’t it expect Pokémon to show up here in the states sooner than later.
While there aren’t many details to share at this point, we are beyond excited for Pokémon to be in the theme parks. Imagine walking around with tired feet and finding a Snorlax bench to relax on? Am I dreaming, perhaps, but they did make a massive beanbag of him at one time, you could buy. Given this is the 30th anniversary of Pokémon and those parks are thriving, the time is now for Pokémon to be represented in some form in the theme parks.
Some extra thoughts
Given we love theme parks and Pokémon, our armchair imagineering brains have kicked into high gear on what could come to the parks. Universal has already proven Nintendo is highly successful in the parks with the Super Mario characters and my guy, Donkey Kong. While I have my own thoughts on the DK attraction, it is a fantastic thing to see DK walking around and even being able to jump on a Mine Kart. I just wish that was a longer experience but I degrees.
Conclusion on Pokémon Coming to Universal
While we await more news, we can stick to enjoying Pokémon in all of the other ways Nintendo has managed to get them in front of us. The trading card game (TCG) has really caught fire as of late, and the Pokémon games are as popular as ever! We will, however, be dreaming of what is to come for the theme parks!
If you want a good resource for planning a trip to Japan, I suggest our planning article here!