Christmas proved to be a boon for Pokemon fans and the franchise. The latest movie Pokémon the Movie: Secrets of the Jungle opened in Japan on Christmas Day and ended the weekend among the top three in the box office, closing out 2020 on a high note for the beloved franchise.

Demon Slayer Kimetsu no Yaiba The Movie: Mugen Train took the No. 1 spot and finished the holiday weekend on top for an 11th straight week followed by Pokémon the Movie: Secrets of the Jungle, which slid into second place in its opening weekend. Rounding out the top 3 was the live-action historical comedy New Interpretation Record.

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Pokémon the Movie: Secrets of the Jungle had a long journey before releasing in 375 theaters throughout Japan. TOHO originally planned to open the film on July 10, but staff delayed the film to release on Christmas due to the spread of coronavirus. The film will open in 2021 out west but does not have a definitive release date. 

This particular movie ties into the release of Pokémon Sword and Shield. It is centered around the legendary Pokemon from the game Zarude and exists within an alternate timeline established by Pokémon the Movie: I Choose You! One of the intriguing storylines to come out about this movie is hints about the father of series lead Ash Ketchum, who is oft speculated about by fans. The mystery of who Ash’s dad is may not be solved in this movie, but the director Tetsuo Yajima has hinted that it will be a subject in this movie. 

The latest Pokémon movie is one of a slew of franchises to have their theatrical releases during the final months of 2020 and the beginning of 2021. Demon Slayer, of course, had been the first and most successful to release their movie in October with Pokémon: Secrets of the Jungle not far behind in December. January and February will see the release of both Sailor Moon: Eternal movies

Not every movie will have the cultural impact that Demon Slayer has had, but if the Pokémon movie can tap into the many fans that have followed the franchise over the years it’ll find success at the box office. 

Pokémon the Movie: Secrets of the Jungle opens in US theaters in 2021.

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Source: Kōgyō Tsūshin