Universal Studios Japan and The Pokemon Company announced a new collaborative partnership today that will allow these two companies to “jointly explore groundbreaking entertainment that will immerse guests into the world of Pokémon with innovative technology and creativity beginning in 2022”.
J.L. Bonnier, the President and CEO of Universal Studios Japan said in a statement: “Pokémon is beloved by fans around the world. We are honored to have a long-term partnership with The Pokémon Company while developing groundbreaking Pokémon entertainment at Universal Studios Japan for both Pokémon fans and our guests. The globally popular Pokémon characters combined with Universal’s innovative approach to creating authentic and one-of-a-kind theme park entertainment promise excitement for the entire family. Our efforts to develop new guest experiences will continue to help reinvigorate the tourism market.”
This news comes on the heels of Universal Studios Japan’s announcement that it will be expanding its blockbuster Super Nintendo World to include a new Donkey Kong-themed area. This upcoming expansion will feature a roller coaster, interactive experiences, and themed areas where you can take a walk on the wild side through the lush jungles where Donkey Kong and his friends live. This new expansion is scheduled to open in 2024.
This new partnership could potentially bring the world of Pokemon to the existing Super Nintendo World, the new expansion, or potentially both! Right now not much is known about this partnership, but hopefully we’ll learn more in 2022 as both Universal Studios Japan and The Pokemon Company work on this new project.