What's it Like Inside a Pokéball? REVEALED!
Peeking in to Pokéballs, munching Poké-pan, and Pokémon art headed to L.A.
The Pokémon Chronicle
The Pokémon Chronicle brings you a weekly roundup of all the latest Pokémon news from Japan, and beyond.
Hi there Pokéfan.
This week I’ve got a bunch of exclusive news for you, including two huge reveals from the Pokémon New Horizons anime.
Here’s what’s been going on:
🇯🇵 News From Japan and Beyond - The monster inside Roy’s mystery ball, Chansey playgrounds, and more Poké-cakes.
📰 The Main Story - first-ever look inside a Pokéball!
🧸 New Merch Alert - the coolest way to keep dry during rainy season.
🥸 Who’s That Pokémon!? - can you figure it out?
🇯🇵 News From Japan and Beyond
Pokémon sculptures using traditional Japanese art techniques headed to LA. The exhibit, currently on display in Kanazawa, Japan, will be coming to Japan House in LA from July 25th and features 70 unique Pokémon inspired artworks from 20 different artists.
A new lineup of Pokémon-themed cakes launched in Japan. Bread brand Yaapan is releasing a line of Pokémon-themed cakes fortified with vitamins and charm. The selection is based on the Scarlett and Violet starters, plus Pawmi.
15 new English language episodes of Pokémon Journey’s Ultimate coming to Netflix June 23rd. This brings fans ever closer to the final episode of the season, which has so far only aired in Japanese, where we bid farewell to Ash.
Japan’s Fukushima Prefecture is packed with Chansey-themed parks. Since 2019 Chansey has been the prefecture’s mascot and four parks have been erected across Fukushima with various attractions based on the Pokémon.
Game Freak is working on a brand new IP called Project Bloom. The developer of the Pokémon game franchise announced they’re partnering with Private Division, a publisher behind games such as Outer World, on a new action game. Little is known about the game, but we hope it’s packed full of the same magic that makes Pokémon.
Pokémon Horizon’s 6th episode reveals what’s inside Roy’s mysterious ball. To avoid spoilers, I won’t reveal the surprise, but it’s mind-blowing. You can watch the Japanese episode on YouTube by following the link above.
📰 Main Story - Peek Inside a Pokéball
[SPOILER ALERT] This section contains spoilers from the fifth episode of the Pokémon Horizons anime, which is currently only airing in Japan. Stop reading here if you don’t want to learn what happens in the episode.
We’ve been trying to catch Pokémon for decades. Over the years, the number and kind of balls we use to help us succeed has grown enormously. Yet, in all this time, we’ve never actually seen what happens to Pokémon while they’re inside their capsules. Until now.
In the fifth episode of the Pokémon Horizon’s anime which aired in Japan on May 5th, we’re given a take on what it’s like for Pokémon inside their balls. In the episode, the streamer known as Nidothing releases a video on the subject, which one of the heroes, Roy watches.
A segment in the video shows the duck Pokémon Quaxely inside a luxury ball. The interior of the ball looks like a lounge booth in a bar, with a disco ball overhead and Quaxely kicking back on a leather sofa and enjoying a tall drink. Luxury indeed.
I should note that the segment is just Nidothing’s depiction of the inside of a luxury ball, but it’s the first real take on a Pokéball interior we’ve been given by the anime. Until now, many fans (myself included) theorized that Pokémon were converted to energy and remained in stasis inside the balls until they were called upon to come out*. Episode five of New Horizons suggests that the inside of the balls are actual physical spaces (with interior decor).
*The theory is based on the fact that Pokémon are regularly shown turning into a pool of light when they return to their balls in the anime.
The luxury ball, one of the most expensive balls to purchase in the games, is known to make Pokémon you catch with it like you more, thanks to the additional comfort it provides. The question still remains though: what do the insides of all the other balls look like?
Drop a comment with your reaction to this reveal and let me know what you think goes on when a Pokéball enters its ball.
🧸 Merch Alert
From June to July in Japan, it’s rainy season. This week’s merchandise comes just in time for some summer showers!
Japanese umbrella maker, Sekizawa, is releasing a bunch of new Pokémon umbrellas.
The new lineup is based on two different design styles: black-and-white images of Pokémon and colorful pixel art sprites. The black and white umbrellas include designs such as Pikachu and Psyduck or the heads of various Pokémon, including Jigglypuff, Evvee, and Rowlet. The pixel art range offers you the choice between a dedicated Pikachu design, the Eveelutions, and a Kanto starter Pokémon one.
The black and white range costs 1,100 JPY and the pixel art range costs 1,650 JPY. The products are available via select stores in Japan.
🥸 Who’s that Pokémon?
I’ll share the answer and a new Poké-puzzle in next week’s newsletter. If you think you know the answer, hit reply to this email and let me know.
* the answer to last week’s puzzle is🥁🥁🥁Elekid!
That’s all folks
See you next week for another roundup of the latest Poké-news from Japan and around the world.
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Chancey is one of my favorite Pokémon! 🙂