Universal Studios Japan Announces New Pokémon Attraction Coming to Universal Parks Worldwide

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Pokémon is coming to Universal Parks — and it’s going to be unlike anything the franchise has ever done in a theme park setting. Universal Studios Japan has announced a new interactive Pokémon attraction experience developed in collaboration with The Pokémon Company. The attraction will debut at Universal Studios Japan before expanding to Universal parks worldwide, making this one of the biggest IP partnership announcements in Universal’s recent history.

Here’s everything confirmed so far about the new Pokémon attraction at Universal Studios Japan — and what it could mean for Universal Orlando and Universal Studios Hollywood.

New Pokémon Attraction: What We Know

• New Pokémon attraction announced by Universal Studios Japan in partnership with The Pokémon Company
• Described as highly interactive and designed to engage all five senses
• Will debut at Universal Studios Japan first
• Planned for global expansion to other Universal Destinations & Experiences parks worldwide
• Specific locations and timelines for international rollout have not yet been announced
• Announcement timed to coincide with Pokémon’s 30th anniversary

What Makes This Attraction Different

Universal and The Pokémon Company are describing this as an experience designed to engage all five senses — a level of immersion that goes beyond a standard ride or walk-through. That language suggests Universal is building something ambitious here, not just a licensed overlay on an existing experience.

This would be a purpose-built Pokémon attraction developed from the ground up with The Pokémon Company’s direct involvement. Given what Universal has achieved with the Wizarding World, Super Nintendo World, and now Epic Universe, the creative capability is clearly there to do something genuinely special with a franchise as beloved as Pokémon.

What Universal and The Pokémon Company Said

Mark Woodbury, Chairman and CEO of Universal Destinations & Experiences, framed the announcement around the power of the partnership: “Our collaboration with The Pokémon Company, which captivates the world with its imaginative and innovative content development, gives us the power to create incredible attraction experiences that exceed our guests’ expectations.”

Tsunekazu Ishihara, President and CEO of The Pokémon Company, noted the significance of the franchise’s milestone year: “We are thrilled to be able to fully launch this new project with you at this major milestone. With this project, we hope to continue to surprise people around the world by creating new entertainment that is unique to theme parks, as a rich real-world experience.”

Both quotes emphasize creating something genuinely new for theme parks — not an adaptation of existing Pokémon media, but something built specifically for the live, in-person experience.

The History Behind This Partnership

This announcement builds on a partnership between Universal and The Pokémon Company that began in 2021. Over the past several years, the two companies have worked together on themed parades and live entertainment experiences at Universal Studios Japan. This new attraction project represents a significant escalation of that relationship — from seasonal programming to a permanent, globally expanding attraction.

What This Could Mean for Universal Orlando and Hollywood

The announcement confirms the attraction will eventually come to other Universal parks worldwide — which almost certainly means Universal Orlando and Universal Studios Hollywood are in the pipeline. No timelines or locations have been confirmed yet, but Universal has a track record of rolling out successful USJ concepts globally (Super Nintendo World being the clearest example).

With Universal Epic Universe now open and continuing to add experiences, and with Universal Studios Hollywood actively expanding its footprint, a dedicated Pokémon attraction at either or both parks would be a massive draw. Pokémon’s global fanbase spans every age group — this is the kind of IP that could anchor an entirely new land rather than sitting as a standalone attraction.

Pokémon Is Coming to Universal Parks Worldwide — Stay Tuned

This is early-stage news. Universal and The Pokémon Company have confirmed the new Pokémon attraction is coming — first to Universal Studios Japan, then to parks around the world — but specific details, timelines, and park locations are still to be announced. Given that this marks Pokémon’s 30th anniversary, expect Universal to keep the momentum going with updates throughout the year.

DisMornings will have full coverage as this story develops. If you’re a Pokémon fan planning a future Universal trip, this is the announcement that puts Universal firmly on your radar for years to come.

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