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A recent data breach atPokémondeveloper Game Freak has revealed for the first time the existence of the 24th Pokémon movie, which would’ve seen a new protagonist take the wheel from Ash, even beforePokémon Horizons. This film seems to have been caught up in development hell, and looks to have been very different from anyPokémonmovie released before.
Over the weekend of June 06, 2025, a hacker who managed a successful phishing attempt uploadednearly 1 TB of information taken from Game Freak’s servers. Included among the information is development tools for prior generations of Pokémon, beta Pokémon designs, and even full source code for some of the games. Surprisingly, however, there is also some information related to thePokémonanime, and part of this anime-related information involves the 24th movie in the franchise, which was set to radically shake up everything fans know aboutPokémonmovies.
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The Lost Movie Would’ve Starred a New Male Character, Not Ash
According to information from the leak,shared on X (Formerly Twitter)andas compiled on pokeos.com, the 24th film in the series was set to be directed by Koubun Shizuno, who is largely known for directingDetective Conan/Case Closedmovies–already a major departure, as every previous Pokémon movie has been directed by the anime’s overall director Kunihiko Yuyama, or Tetsuo Yajima (forPower of UsandSecrets of the Jungle). The film was meant to appeal to adults, especially women, and intended to encourage lapsedPokémonfans to return to theaters to see this bold new take on the franchise.
Details suggest that the film was intended to be set in an original metropolis in the Kanto region and focus largely on the original 151 Pokémon.The main character was set to be Light, a 15-year-old boy who works at a Pokémon daycare. He somehow encountersa chubby-looking Pikachu, which turns out to be a Mew in disguise. The plot is said to involve themes of “promises, friendship, and what it means to be a Pokémon trainer.” Listed as challenges faced by the production was balancing the story’s darker themes with the generally upbeat Pokémon world.
The information in the leak dates back to 2022, and lists the intended release date as either 2023 or 2024, which obviously didn’t happen. Had the film been released in 2023, it could’ve potentially predatedPokémon Horizons, reshaping fans' expectations of what thePokémonanime looks like in a completely different way. The leak also seems to mention a new Pokémon known only as “Aperon.” A key visual was also found alongside the other information, seemingly depicting “Aperon” in a character’s bag as they flee from other Pokémon.
Could This Lost Movie Still Be Released?
Pokémon’s 24th Movie Could Still Come to Be
While there’s still a lot that remains unknown about this movie, it certainly represents a major change for the franchise moving forward, and a change in direction like this might be just what the series needed. It’s not clear at the moment if production on the movie continued into 2023 or even to this day; it may be that the film was abandoned, as Koubun Shizuno seems to be busy working on a new film for 2025 entitledMy Tyrano II: Easter, Garden, which likely wouldn’t leave much time to work on aPokémonmovie as well.
However, the film would presumably have been decently far in development by the time the leak takes place, if it was set for a possible 2023 release.It’s not impossible that the film could still be released, although this leak may actually damage the chances of anyone ever setting eyes upon this lost piece ofPokémonmedia. Given the time period in which this film was being worked on, COVID may still have been a complicating factor in its production, slowing down the pace of work to unsatisfactory levels.
The idea of aPokémonfilm aimed particularly at adults and lapsed fans is definitely an exciting one, especially if it has darker themes than the averagePokémonmovie does. It could’ve gone a long way towards breaking the preconception thatPokémonis exclusively for children, without going so far as to make it completely unwatchable by children. This movie offered a very different look at thePokémonuniverse than either the original anime orPokémon Horizons, potentially opening the way for another pillar in the absolutely massive franchise. Fans at this point can only hope that some day, it might be possible to watch this unique take onPokémon.
Source:@CentroLeaks (X),Pokeos
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Pokémon follows Ash Ketchum on his journey to become a Pokémon Master, accompanied by his loyal Pikachu. Released in 1997, the series explores Ash’s travels through various regions, where he encounters new friends and challenges, underscoring the themes of adventure and teamwork.
