1. Always aiming for equal excitement and enjoyment from localized productions

 

The Pokémon TV anime series, currently seen in Japan on TV TOKYO network channels, has been broadcast around the world in more than 190 countries and territories.

 

The Pokémon anime series are seen globally, and The Pokémon Company plays a role in localization to deliver these animations to Asian viewers.

 

2. Every production is thoughtfully created for global users

 

When preparing a Pokémon TV program for overseas viewing, we always collaborate closely with a local production company, to ensure a perfect fit with the location where the anime will be viewed. In April 2023 we launched a new series featuring the two protagonists Liko and Roy. In developing the scenarios of their various adventures for overseas viewing, we begin with script writing in the local language, taking utmost care to make every scene blend smoothly with the culture and customs of the location where the anime will be shown.

 

Sometimes expressions commonly used in Japan, in Japanese, are difficult to convey in other languages. In those cases, care is taken to tweak the anime script in the local language so that the story will be seamlessly conveyed to the local viewer. Such changes can never divert significantly from the central message of the original version.

 

△Liko and Roy, protagonists of the TV anime series currently being broadcast

 

We always keep two points in mind when translating original scripts for localized broadcasting. First, the localized version must retain, as closely as possible, the overall message of the Japanese-language original. Second, the localized version must provide the same kind of “Pokémon experiences” as the Japanese original. For example, when we were deciding what to name Liko and Roy in the Taiwanese Mandarin language, characters were selected that would convey nearly the same sounds as the original Japanese names.

 

 

During preparation of localized versions of Pokémon anime, we don’t insist on casting or performance coaching that sticks closely to the Japanese original. We always seek the opinions of local staff who, once they have a good understanding of the anime’s protagonists, help create a seamlessly familiar anime that will have maximum appeal to the viewers in their specific country or region.

 

Every Pokémon employee is a Pokémon producer.When dubbing into a local language, the staff in charge always make sure that every Pokémon or human character is appealing to local viewers and that all scenes are filmed in a way that‘s completely natural in their local setting.

 

3. A Pokémon song was created specially for the anime shown in Taiwan

 

Localization isn’t limited to an anime’s story. In Taiwan, for example, the theme song of Pokémon Horizons: Season 2 - The Search for Laqua, a new season of a TV anime debuting in May 2025, was created by a local artist.

 

△The opening title of Pokémon Horizons: Season 2 - The Seach for Laqua “Pokémon” is rendered in the local language as 寶可夢

 

Ever since the first Pokémon anime series was launched in Taiwan in 1998, the same song as the Japanese version was used. The decision to switch to a locally produced song was made in response to the widespread recognition the original Pokémon theme song has achieved in Japan. For a long time, the staff hoped to achieve similar recognition and love of a Pokémon song in the local Taiwanese Mandarin language.

 

To create the Taiwanese version of the opening theme song of Pokémon Horizons: Season 2, we called on Yoga Lin, a popular local singer. Yoga Lin himself is well known as a big Pokémon fan, together with his two children.

 

△Yoga Lin

 

The song that Yoga Lin created is Pocket Dream Master. The song is cheerful and upbeat, and reflects his deep understanding of the Pokémon worldview.

 

The animation created for the Taiwanese song is largely based on the Japanese original, but for the local version a bit of tweaking took place. Visual images, for example, were modified to fit the lyrics of Pocket Dream Master, and the timing of the showing of credits was shifted slightly.

 

4. Always aiming for equal excitement and enjoyment from localized productions

 

From the day the Taiwanese theme song was introduced, Pokémon anime viewers in Taiwan expressed enormous surprise, delight and joy at the use of a song composed by one of their own artists.

 

△The opening visual of the Taiwanese anime

 

Pokémon was “born” in Japan, but our hope is that Pokémon will be a welcome part of the lives of people everywhere To achieve this, we will continue to learn about the special characteristics of each country or territory we connect with, to ensure that people everywhere will get the same fun, excitement and enjoyment from their localized Pokémon productions as people around the world get from our original productions.