2025 marks the 29th anniversary ofPokémon’s debut, and fans are receiving a special gift in the form of a new anime short set to begin streaming soon on the free-to-watch officialPokémon YouTube channel.Dragonite and the Mailman(Kamiryu to Yubinya-san) boasts stunning animation and visuals from CoMix Wave Films, the studio behind Makoto Shinkai’s acclaimed anime filmsYour NameandSuzume. While the short itself is only 14 minutes long, the impressive animation is undoubtedly feature quality.
Dragonite and the Mailmanis scheduled to premiere next week on February 27—also known as Pokémon Day. Until then, viewers can enjoy a newly released preview featuring the series’ theme song,Kami Hikoki(“Paper Plane”), composed by Canadian-born musician Evan Call and performed by Suis, the vocalist of the Japanese rock duo Yorushika.
A Heartwarming Story of Adventure
Pokémon and Animation Challenges
InDragonite and the Mailman, a young girl named Hana, who admires the flying postal worker Dragonite, finds a letter with no address. She embarks on an adventure to find the sender with the help of both wild and domestic Pokémon.
The short is directed by Taku Kimura (Star Wars: Visions) who shared his thoughts on the film: “In this anime, I wanted to portray two types of Pokémon. The first is the Pokémon that work at the post office and have a good relationship with humans. The second is the wild Pokémon that live vibrantly in nature and in groups. There are so many of them, so it’s hard to depict them in animation, but I didn’t shy away from that difficulty and drew them well.Since this is the 29th anniversary, we tried to feature Pokémon from as many different series as possible. The story is also structured so that it gradually goes back through the series, starting from the Paldea region. There are lots of little details in the film, so I hope you’ll watch it over and over again.”
Pokémon Day: A Global Celebration
Pokémon Day, celebrated annually on February 27, marks the anniversary of the original release ofPokémon Red and Greenin Japan in 1996. Over the years, this day has evolved into a global event featuring special announcements, events, and releases that honor the enduring legacy of the franchise.
Pokémon Has a New Anime From Makoto Shinkai’s Studio, and It Looks as Gorgeous as You Expect
A new trailer for Pokémon’s upcoming short anime has been released ahead of Pokémon Day, and it looks ethereal.
As the franchise approaches three decades of captivating audiences worldwide,Dragonite and the Mailmannot only celebrates the rich history of the series but also sets the stage for future adventures.
