Index
1. Creating a Video Passengers Watch to the End
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 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-flight safety videos provide important instructions on how to protect oneself during emergencies. However, airlines often struggle to keep the attention of all passengers until the very end.
An ANA staff member reflected on the project’s goals, sharing, “People of all ages are familiar with Pokémon, so we believed that featuring these characters in the safety video would help passengers truly want to watch the safety video.”
2. Delivering Essential Information, the Pokémon Way
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). Balancing those requirements with the playful participation of Pokémon characters demanded careful planning.
Secondly, when selecting which Pokémon to feature, we looked for a perfect match between a Pokémon’s unique traits and the specific messages being conveyed in the safety video.
As an example, we initially considered featuring Machamp, the four-armed Superpower Pokémon, in the scene demonstrating how to put on a seatbelt. However, we realized its massive body would not fit into an Economy seat. Instead, we featured Machamp in a Business Class seat, where it demonstrates how to use a shoulder belt in a more spacious setting.
For the scene showing the emergency brace position, we chose Sandshrew and Metapod. The Mouse Pokémon Sandshrew has the ability to quickly curl its body 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, we included characters from across the video game series’ history: from the original Pokémon Red and Pokémon Green (released as Pokémon Red and Pokémon Blue outside Japan), to the most recent Pokémon Scarlet and Pokémon Violet.
3. Bringing Pokémon to Life in the Airport
In addition to the new in-flight safety video, we produced a special disembarkation video that plays upon arrival. This story follows Pikachu’s journey from arrival at the airport up to boarding the aircraft.
By showing Pokémon seamlessly blending into the airport environment, the video highlights the teamwork and hospitality of the many people at ANA, whose dedication ensures that traveling with the airline is both enjoyable and safe.
To ensure the highest level of realism, we filmed the cabin scenes on a real aircraft. In addition, cabin attendants and other staff from ANA participated in the production. The staff expressed great pride and enthusiasm in being able to contribute to the project.
4. Encouraging Flight Safety Awareness
We launched the“Pokémon Edition” in-flight safety and disembarkation videos on the Pikachu Jet NH and Eevee Jet NH in August 2024. Starting in the following December, ANA rolled out these videos to most of its domestic and international fleet. The two videos have also attracted a lot of attention online, with the YouTube versions surpassing one million total views.
Passengers have shared glowing feedback, noting that the content is easy for children to understand and does well at keeping them focused. Flight attendants have even reported hearing cheers from the cabin when Pikachu appears at the start of the videos.
A staff member from The Pokémon Company summed up their thoughts on the project with a smile:
“This project was about more than entertainment; it was about creating an important resource for passenger safety. It was a complex challenge, but we’re thrilled that it got people to watch the safety video more closely. We look forward to continuing to help passengers enjoy their time in the skies with Pokémon.”
Through this partnership, ANA and The Pokémon Company will continue to provide exciting and wondrous travel experiences for everyone taking to the skies.