The February launch of the Pokémon: Black & White animation in the U.S., along with a sneak preview of the season in European markets the same month, achieved fantastic ratings in all territories. The new season introduces fans to a generation of never-before-seen Pokémon characters featured in a thrilling new storyline set in the brand new Unova region, as seen in Pokémon Black Version and Pokémon White Version. During the airing of the sneak preview of Pokémon: Black & White, Gulli led all networks in France among kids aged 4–10, attracting more than 600,000 viewers. In Italy, K2’s audience broadcast to 257,113 individuals age 4 and older. In the Netherlands, on Disney XD, audience figures reached 123,420 kids aged 6–12. The full season of Pokémon: Black & White premieres later this year across all European territories.
Also in February, a brand-new Pokémon feature film, Pokémon—Zoroark: Master of Illusions, debuted in Europe and the U.S. In France, it achieved record ratings with 500,000 viewers on Gulli, boasting one of the best ratings of the block for the whole season. K2 also celebrated success and achieved an audience of 341,000 individuals age 4 and older, becoming the highest-rated channel in Italy. In the Netherlands, Disney XD achieved an audience of 123,720 kids aged 6–12. In Spain, Clan TV gained an audience of 471,000 viewers, making it one of the most viewed programmes in all DTT thematic channels in Spain on that day.
The Pokémon Company International is entering into an agreement that makes Universal Pictures (UPIE) the exclusive Home Entertainment distributor in select European markets, and it will distribute the Pokémon—Zoroark: Master of Illusions DVD in the UK, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, the Nordics countries, and Spain in late Spring 2011. France Télévisions Distribution (FTD) will distribute the French version of Pokémon—Zoroark: Master of Illusions DVD on April 6th. In Australia, The Pokémon Company International continues its eight-year DVD partnership with Magna Home Entertainment, which will distribute DVDs of the 13th TV season, Pokémon Diamond & Pearl: Sinnoh League Victors, and Pokémon—Zoroark: Master of Illusions in Australia and New Zealand.
Building on the huge success of the video games, a brand new Pokémon Trading Card Game expansion, Pokémon TCG: Black & White, will reach shelves shortly, launching with three theme decks on April 6th and four booster packs on April 25th. In France, Italy, Germany, and Spain, the expansion is set to launch on May 25th. Also watch out for the highly anticipated single-player Pokémon Trading Card Game Online: Trainer Challenge game launching in April and the player-versus-player Pokémon TCGO game launching this winter.
Also coming later this year, Bandai Europe will be rolling out a brand new toy range in September to tie in with the latest gripping Pokémon TV animated series. The product line will still include all of the most popular toys, such as the dazzling twister figures, the thrilling battle arena twister deluxe set, the Poké Ball yo-yos, and slush figures, but will also feature exciting new developments such as the digital Poké Ball, the Pokémon City playset based on the Unova region’s Castelia City, and much more.
Pokémon is supported by millions of dollars in advertising throughout the year across multiple categories. In the UK, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, and Spain, The Pokémon Company International launched a multimillion-dollar creative campaign on March 14th, which featured engaging advertising creative that encapsulated print, online digital escalator panels, and outdoor advertising that emphasised the fun of discovering over 150 new Pokémon characters introduced by the Pokémon Black Version and Pokémon White Version video games.
Representatives from The Pokémon Company International are attending MIP TV to meet with existing media partners and to discuss opportunities with potential new collaborators as the company launches this exciting new chapter of Pokémon entertainment for its worldwide audience.