Every time we board an airplane and take to the skies, one of the first things we do is watch a safety video before takeoff. Safety of course is the highest priority in air travel. But at Pokémon we also want air travel to be fun. With that in mind, we teamed up with All Nippon Airways (ANA) and created a totally fun-filled in-flight safety video launched in August 2024.
Pokémon has been making air travel a special experience for several years now under its “Pokémon Air Adventures” project. In March 2023, ANA joined in with the launch of two Pokémon-themed jets featuring liveries designed especially for ANA: the Pikachu Jet NH and Eevee Jet NH. Both jets were introduced on the airline’s international routes, and their cute designs immediately made them a hit with Pokémon fans of all ages.
In August 2024, the two Pokémon-themed jets started showing a brand-new in-flight safety video. Videos introducing an aircraft’s safety features and safety measures to follow in emergency situations are indispensable to ensure the complete safety and security of all passengers. But getting all passengers to watch a safety video from start to finish can be a challenging task. At ANA, to keep all passengers, from young children to adults, closely focused on its in-flight safety video, the new video launched in August 2024 features a cast of delightful Pokémon. ANA was sure that inserting Pokémon into its safety video would make passengers eager to watch – and that’s exactly what has happened.
Creating the new video was anything but easy, however. For one thing, all in-flight safety videos in Japan are required to follow guidelines issued by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLIT). How to balance those requirements with the playful participation of Pokémon characters demanded careful planning.
A second task was deciding which Pokémon would best fit the specific messages being conveyed in the safety video. Great pains were taken to select Pokémon with just the right traits for each aspect of the on-screen visual.
As an example, initially it was proposed to feature Machamp, a four-armed Superpower Pokémon, in the scene explaining how to put on a seatbelt. But because Machamp has a big muscular upper torso, fitting Machamp comfortably into an Economy seat was considered too difficult and impractical. Instead, Machamp was chosen to feature in the scene instructing how to use the shoulder belt equipped in the roomier Business Class seats.
Other Pokémon selected for the safety video, for the scene showing how to brace in preparation for an emergency, are Sandshrew and Metapod. The Mouse Pokémon Sandshrew has the ability to quickly curl into a tight ball if it senses a dangerous situation, while the Cocoon Pokémon Metapod hardens its shell to protect itself from danger.
To make the cast of Pokémon appealing to as many passengers as possible, characters were selected from the full range of the video game series: from the original Pokémon Red and Pokémon Green versions to the most recent Pokémon Scarlet and Pokémon Violet.
Along with the new in-flight safety video, a special disembarkation video was also created. It follows Pikachu’s journey from arrival at the airport up to boarding the aircraft. Along the way, a wide variety of Pokémon are featured. The video also showcases the teamwork and hospitality of the many people at ANA, whose dedication ensures that traveling with the airline is both enjoyable and safe.
To achieve optimal realism, the onboard scenes in the new videos were shot using a real aircraft. In addition, cabin attendants and other staff from ANA were involved in the production. They expressed great delight and pride at being able to take part in such an enjoyable, fun-filled project.
The new Pokémon in-flight safety and disembarkation videos were launched on the Pikachu Jet NH and Eevee Jet NH in August 2024, followed by their use starting in December 2024 on almost all of ANA’s domestic and international flights. The majority of passenger reactions have been positive. Some have praised the way the videos capture the attention of children, keeping them alert to their messages from start to finish. Cabin attendants have also reported that when Pikachu appears at the start of the videos, some passengers often let out squeals of delight.
The two videos have also attracted a lot of attention online. In no time at all, their versions uploaded to YouTube have together garnered more than 1 million views.
Needless to say, this positive reception of the Pokémon-themed in-flight and disembarkation videos has delighted everyone at Pokémon and ANA who was in any way involved in their production. More than mere entertainment, the videos make solid contributions to ensuring the safety of all passengers of all ages. This is a source of tremendous pride and joy, and Pokémon looks forward to further collaboration with ANA in the future, to make every journey in the skies a safe and enjoyable experience.
