Weekly Shonen Jump and Pokémon Announce Landmark Manga Collaboration in Japan

In an unprecedented collaboration, Weekly Shonen Jump, Japan’s legendary manga magazine known for serializing global phenomena like One Piece, has announced its first official partnership with the Pokémon franchise.

This cross-media initiative marks a significant milestone for both Japanese manga and Nintendo’s internationally beloved Pokémon series, drawing considerable attention from fans across the anime and gaming landscapes. The collaboration centers around an exclusive series of original illustrations created by celebrated manga artists currently featured in Weekly Shonen Jump.

Each artist has paired one of their iconic manga characters with a Pokémon, resulting in fresh, imaginative artwork that bridges the worlds of manga and gaming.

As of now, three standout illustrations have been unveiled: - Eiichiro Oda brings together One Piece’s protagonist, Luffy, alongside franchise mascot Pikachu. - Kouji Miura features Chinatsu Shikano from Blue Box with Water-type favorite Totodile. - Shuhei Miyazaki pairs Roboco from the comedic series Me & Roboco with the dynamic Mega Blaziken. This initiative highlights both the timeless appeal of Pokémon, managed by Nintendo, The Pokémon Company, and Game Freak, and the persistent cultural influence of Shueisha’s Weekly Shonen Jump, long recognized for launching some of the biggest names in manga and anime.

In a statement released alongside the announcement, Weekly Shonen Jump editors emphasized the historic nature of the crossover, underlining their excitement to "unite beloved heroes from different realms for readers and fans to enjoy." Looking ahead, additional illustrations from other popular series will debut as part of a special group cover for the combined 36th and 37th issue of Weekly Shonen Jump, set for release in Japan on August 4, 2025.

Adding further value, the 38th issue will include a special sticker of the collaborative group illustration, as well as related giveaways designed to engage collectors and fans of both manga and the Nintendo Switch’s enduring Pokémon franchise. Weekly Shonen Jump, published by Shueisha, has consistently driven innovation in the manga industry since its founding in 1968, while Pokémon, since its 1996 debut, has become a multimedia juggernaut, breaking sales records on the Nintendo Switch and across various platforms.

This unique collaboration underscores the shared legacy and forward-thinking spirit of two icons in Japanese pop culture. Stay tuned as more details and artwork from the Weekly Shonen Jump x Pokémon collaboration are revealed leading up to the magazine’s release dates later in 2025.

Pokémon Japan Shonen Jump Weekly Shonen Jump One Piece Shueisha Nintendo Eiichiro Oda Kouji Miura Shuhei Miyazaki Blue Box Me & Roboco