The Pokémon brand has been used in all sorts of advertising and promotions in Japan, and now it's been linked to a new cafe that combines the best elements of summer, like fun on the beach and fun in the mountains.
According to PR Times, they've partnered with Japanese cafe chain Pronto to offer several Pokémon-themed foods and drinks in a tasty new marketing ploy. Purchases will come with a card or keychain, so fans can enjoy something extra special with their dinners. These are just some of the products Pronto is offering to celebrate this season with Nintendo's pocket monsters.
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Latest tasty Pokémon collaboration celebrates summer fun
Aiming to convey the fun of both the beach and the mountains, the new Pokémon collaboration with the Pronto chain offers several drink options for summer sipping, including Pikachu's Midsummer Mango Milk (panna cotta flavor with cherries), Terrapagos' Shiny Gelatin Squash (lychee with gelatin in a ramune flavor), and Sinicha's Omotenashi Matcha Latte (Uji matcha with shiratama dango and red beans). Not only do the cups feature each Pokémon, but customers who purchase a drink will receive one of 20 collectible cards. Food items include Flying Dragon's Tomato Cream Pasta, Finizon's Water Ring Bagel Sandwich, Clodsee's Double Chocolate Mousse, and Ogelpon's Four Masks Basil Pasta, which come with one of seven keychains when purchased.
Pokémon tote bags, bento boxes, glasses, and tumblers are also available for purchase. Drinks are priced at around $6.40 and food is priced between 1,430 yen (about $9-12), while other items are priced between 2,090 yen (about $13.08) and 6,600 yen (about $41.29). Food and drinks will be available on July 11, while the first batch of other items will be available from this date until July 25 (after which they will be replaced by other products). Unfortunately, these items are limited in quantity, so fans who want to get them all will have to hurry.
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Pokémon remains a huge brand worldwide.
First released in the 1990s, Pokémon is one of Nintendo's premier video game franchises. It is also known for its extremely long-running animated series, which had a major impact on the brand as a whole and established the electric mouse Pikachu as the franchise's mascot. Competing against brands such as Digimon and Yo-kai Watch, Pokémon has outlasted and surpassed them all. This is in part due to the familiarity of the anime, with the various monsters becoming iconic characters in their own right. More recently, it has been “rebooted” through the Pokémon Horizons anime, which has finally moved beyond the long-running anime's main character, Satoshi Ketchum (better known as Satoshi in Japan).
Naturally, numerous businesses and restaurants now have official collaborations with Pokémon. In fact, the upcoming Pronto Pokémon Footwear items won't be the chain's first product launch. It speaks to just how deeply Pokémon has permeated Japan, with various businesses using the property to promote special products. It's no exaggeration to say that Pokémon has transcended its status as a video game and anime franchise to become synonymous with aspects of both Japanese commercial and popular culture.
Pokemon
The Pokémon series, which has expanded into various media including trading card games, video games, manga, live-action films, and anime, is set in a world where humans and creatures with various special abilities coexist.
Written by Satoshi Tajiri
The first movie Pokémon the Movie
Latest movie “Pokémon the Movie: Secret of the Jungle”
The first TV show Pokémon (1997)
First aired on April 1, 1997
Video games Pokémon GO, Pokémon X & Y, Pokémon Let's Go Arceus, Pokémon Scarlet & Sumire, Pokémon Sword & Shield, Pokémon Diamond & Pearl, Pokémon Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl, Pokémon Red & Blue, Detective Pikachu, Detective Pikachu Returns, Pokémon Let's Go! Eevee, Pokémon Let's Go! Pikachu
Expanding
Source: PR Times