The Pokémon franchise has unveiled two new animated shorts for the summer season, part of a project titled “Pokémon to Kakeru Natsu Monogatari” (Summer Stories of Running With Pokémon), also referred to as “Pokémon Summer Stories”. These shorts depict new adventures with Pokémon and are being streamed on the official Pokémon YouTube channel.
“First Outing with Morpeko” Premieres
The first of the two shorts, “First Outing with Morpeko,” premiered on July 4, 2025. This 11-minute 3D-animated short follows a boy named Shota and his partner Morpeko as they embark on a journey to attend the Pokémon Beach Festival. Their goal is to see their idol, the hero Bisharp. However, their trip is fraught with comical mishaps, including issues with Shota’s Bisharp shirt and an encounter with a Sandygast, raising questions about whether they will arrive at the festival in time. Kei Shindo, known for voicing Mollie in Pokémon Horizons and Lillie in Pokémon Sun & Moon, stars as Shota.
“Chimchar and the Rookie Pokémon Researcher” to Follow
The second short, “Chimchar and the Rookie Pokémon Researcher,” is slated to premiere on July 11, 2025. This 2D-animated short introduces a young researcher named Ryo, voiced by Hiiro Ishibashi (Yuga Odo in Yu-Gi-Oh! Sevens). The story centers on Ryo’s fieldwork, during which he encounters various unique Pokémon. Like “First Outing with Morpeko,” this short will also be available on the official Pokémon YouTube channel.
These new “summer vacation” shorts offer fans fresh narratives and diverse animation styles, expanding the beloved Pokémon animated universe for children and families.
