The excitement around Pokémon Day continues to thrive as we approach 2025, marked by the release of a delightful short film featuring Dragonite in the role of a postman. February 27th has evolved into an important occasion for enthusiasts of these beloved pocket monsters, and if you share your birthday with it, there's a good chance that someone will remember their favorite creatures more than they do about themselves.
This charming short film was created by the renowned animation studio CoMix Wave Films, a name that may not immediately ring a bell. However, if you’re familiar with works like Your Name or the films directed by Makoto Shinkai, you will definitely appreciate their artistic style. The studio is known for other notable films such as The Time With You, The Garden of Words, and the latest release, Suzume.
In this movie, we track the evolution of Hana, an aspiring delivery girl eager to emulate Dragonite. When she receives a mysterious letter, she embarks on an adventure with her companion Fuecoco to uncover the identity of the sender. This quest leads her to meet Rio, a boy who reveals that the letter is intended to celebrate his father’s birthday, who is currently working far away in Kanto.
During a recent interview, director Taku Kimura expressed the studio's intention to celebrate the franchise's 29th anniversary by featuring Pokémon from all generations. He mentioned that the story spans multiple regions, starting in Paldea. Additionally, scriptwriter Kentaro Nana emphasized the thrilling moment involving the legendary Pokémon Kyogre, suggesting that it creates a visually stunning experience. He praised Kimura's direction and expressed hope that audiences would find joy in the short film.
The team behind Dragonite and the Special Delivery includes prominent figures from the anime industry, known for their contributions to series like Violet Evergarden and Frieren: Beyond Journey's End. The key contributors to this project are recognized for their exceptional skills in animation.
You can watch the short film online. Although it can be found exclusively in Japanese, Korean, or Chinese, it does come with automatically generated English subtitles for greater accessibility.