Massive Pokemon Anime Ad Stars Ash and Pikachu

A new promotional ad for the Pokemon anime features the show’s original stars, Ash and Pikachu. The ad is notable for its huge size, as it takes up most of the wall at Shinjuku’s Japan Rail station.

The ad focuses on Ash (known as “Satoshi” in Japan) and Pikachu’s journey together through the many Pokemon anime adaptations. As part of a wall-sized display, clips from the different anime series covering their adventures are played simultaneously.

⋱新宿ウォール456プレミアムにて⋰
　#アニポケ 特別映像が公開中🎞
￣￣￣￣￣￣￣￣￣￣￣￣￣￣￣￣￣
JR新宿駅東西自由通路を
サトシ、#ピカチュウ が駆け抜けます⚡

放映は3月19日(日)まで💡
ぜひ見に行ってね🌟
※駅・係員へのお問い合わせはご遠慮ください。

#めざせポケモンマスター pic.twitter.com/fRFg5wULht

— アニメ「ポケットモンスター」公式 (@anipoke_PR) March 13, 2023

The presentation heavily references key scenes from different series, such as moments when Ash wins a gym badge or iconic Pokemon battles. With decades of material to draw on, the video highlights long-running stylistic flourishes, like the way Ash prepares to throw a Poke Ball. Even differences, like shifts in Ash’s character design and moments from newer shows, get some screen time.

In November 2022 during the Pokemon Ultimate Journeys anime, Ash and Pikachu achieved their greatest goal by winning the Pokemon World Championship. With this milestone reached, The Pokemon Company International announced that Ash and Pikachu would be “retired” from their position as the central characters of the anime. To wrap up their journey, a season-long series called Aim to Be A Pokemon Master began airing in January 2023, and features the return of some long-absent characters like Brock and Misty. Its last episode airs next week, on March 24, 2023.

The Pokemon anime ad is visible on the special Shinjuku Wall 456 Premium display until March 19, 2023. In April 2023, a new series starring two new characters and based in Pokemon Scarlet and Violet‘s Paldea region will begin airing.