As Pokémon Company completes the finishing touches on its first DLC for Pokémon Scarlet and Violet, it has a different venture brewing that’s bound to capture the hearts of fans.
In a striking departure from what audiences have come to expect from Pokémon adaptations, a live-action drama is in the works. Scheduled to premiere on October 19 on TV Tokyo and stream on U-Next, the show, Fill Your Pockets With Adventure, marks a new direction for the franchise, which has seen numerous adaptations from anime to movies and even a Netflix series.
While fans might be more accustomed to the fantastical Pokémon world, this drama is rooted in reality, offering a fresh perspective that focuses on the human experience intersecting with the Pokémon phenomenon. The show’s protagonist is Madoka Agaki, portrayed by Nanase Nishino, a former member of the Japanese idol group Nogizaka46 who made the transition to acting. Nishino, a recognized talent in the Japanese entertainment scene, was a recipient of the Japan Academy Film Prize for Newcomer of the Year in 2022 for her role in the crime film Last of the Wolves. Evidently thrilled to be part of a Pokémon project, she stated that she’s always wanted to work on something related to the franchise and couldn’t be happier to land the role.
🎊情報解禁🎊
10月19日スタート
毎週木曜深夜24時30分～放送ゲーム『#ポケモン』原案
初のオリジナルドラマ‼️
「#ポケットに冒険をつめこんで」放送決定🎉＼主演はポケモン好きの #西野七瀬／
ポケモンヒューマンドラマ
#ポケつめ をお楽しみに🧢#テレビ東京 pic.twitter.com/cjf9ZS1Ffl— 西野七瀬主演🧢ドラマ「ポケつめ」【テレビ東京公式】 (@poketsume) August 30, 2023
Madoka Agaki is a recent university graduate from a small port town. Opting to swap the familiarity of her environment and a job at a seafood manufacturer in Japan, she joins a small advertising agency, ADventure. She soon finds that her imagined life in the capital does not align with reality. Between the stress of work and a make-or-break presentation for her company, she finds herself longing for simpler times.
A twist in her routine comes in the form of a care package from her mother, which includes a relic of her past – a Game Boy Pocket along with her old copy of Pokémon Red.
Diving back into the digital realm of Pokémon, Madoka draws some important life lessons from the game that end up illuminating her perspective on her adult challenges.
Unlike other adaptations like Detective Pikachu, which brought Pokémon into the real world, this show is essentially a “Pokémon human drama,” emphasizing the impact of the game on people’s lives. It also aligns with recent moves in the Pokémon franchise; just as the iconic Ash Ketchum stepped down from his role after a 25-year journey to usher in new characters and adventures, this drama introduces a fresh narrative, one that hinges on real-world struggles and the transformative power of gaming.
While it remains uncertain whether the series will receive an English subtitle or even a release outside Japan, its premise stands as an intriguing experiment. It signifies how the Pokémon Company is willing to tell stories about its franchise in unconventional ways, similar to Pokémon: Path to the Peak, focusing on a young girl climbing the ranks in a Pokémon card club. This diversification also comes on the heels of reports about another live-action Pokémon show in development by Netflix, demonstrating that the franchise is anything but stagnant.
Nishino emphasized that the show would resonate with those who have played Pokémon, mentioning that it’s peppered with “little tidbits that will make you think “this is nostalgic”. The series thus acts as a bridge between generations of fans, illustrating how Pokémon, a cultural mainstay for over two decades, continues to evolve and enchant audiences worldwide.
So, whether you’re a lifelong fan or a newcomer to Pokémon, come this October, Madoka’s journey to navigate life as an adult, underscored by her reconnection with Pokémon, is sure to add a layer of depth to the franchise’s already rich tapestry.
