ANA Unveils World's First Pokémon-Themed
In-Flight Videos
ANA launches new safety and disembarkation videos featuring
beloved Pokémon in celebration
of the Pokémon World Championships
and Anna Taniguchi
On August 15, ANA introduced the world's first Pokémon in-flight videos, created in collaboration with The Pokémon Company.
Coinciding with the start of the Pokémon World Championships in Honolulu, ANA celebrated the launch of the two new Pokémon-theme videos with a commemorative event at Haneda Airport.
60 Pokémon World Championship competitors were the first to experience the new videos aboard ANA's Pikachu Jet NH as they headed to Hawaii.
The two videos, “ANA Safety Video featuring Pokémon” and “ANA Disembarkation Video featuring Pokémon,” feature a variety of beloved Pokémon for passengers on Pikachu Jet NH and Eevee Jet NH.
Step into the world of Pokémon
While ANA has produced creative and engaging safety videos in the past – including themes such as FLYING HONU and kabuki, a form of classical Japanese theater – this collaboration marks the first time the airline has featured iconic global characters. ANA's vision aligns with the goal of “Pokémon Air Adventures” to create a fun, memorable journey while connecting people and local regions.
In the new pre-flight video, Pokémon participate in safety demonstrations and procedures.
Upon landing in Honolulu, passengers were greeted with the "ANA Disembarkation Video," which highlights the aircraft staff and team spirit of the ANA Group. In this video, Pikachu gets lost and is reunited with its trainer through the coordination and support of the ANA team.
Each video features Pokémon spanning multiple generations, from the earliest games to the most recent titles. With such a wide variety, fans can eagerly watch for their favorite Pokémon to make an appearance.
We spoke with two members of the marketing communications team to get a behind-the-scenes look at the production of the videos. Ruriko Sakai, whose favorite Pokémon is Eevee, discussed the process of bringing the videos to life.
“We delved into the exciting world of Pokémon to determine how each character would play their part in promoting safe travels,” Sakai said. “For example, we selected Machamp and Lucario because they most closely resemble humans in carrying out safety procedures.”
Behind the scenes
Throughout the filming process, the team faced unique challenges in bringing Pokémon to life in an aircraft cabin.
“Each Pokémon has a set height and weight, so we had to take that into account when featuring them in the videos,” said Sakai.
Given the wide variety of characters included in the videos, maintaining realism and accurate safety demonstrations was a new challenge for the team.
“It was particularly challenging to clearly show Metapod facing forward while seated, since Metapod is an insect-type Pokémon that closely resembles a green chrysalis,” Sakai said. “Our team thoroughly debated whether Metapod wearing a seatbelt in front would be unsecure and pose a safety problem.”
The team ultimately decided to have Metapod face sideways to properly wear a seatbelt, ensuring that every Pokémon was shown carrying out the correct safety procedures.
The ANA team's effort, in collaboration with The Pokémon Company, created two engaging videos that viewers of all ages can enjoy.
Future visions
The team hopes the videos will convey ANA's new management vision, “Uniting the World in Wonder,” by providing a fun and unexpected passenger experience.
“Pokémon is loved by people of all ages around the world. At ANA, we will continue striving and overcoming challenges to achieve our goal to unite the world in wonder,” said Sakai.
Catch the Pokémon-themed in-flight safety video and disembarkation video on your next flight with Pikachu Jet NH and Eevee Jet NH!
For more information on ANA's activies with Pokémon Air Adventures, please visit:
https://www.ana.co.jp/en/jp/international/theme/pikachujet/
©Pokémon. ©Nintendo/Creatures Inc./GAME FREAK inc. TM, ®, and character names are trademarks of Nintendo.