AOKIstudio

Pokémon and Pokémon Go

Pokémon is a Japanese franchise created in 1996 by Satoshi Tajiri, which includes video games, animated series, trading cards, and many other merchandise. The concept of the original video game is based on capturing, training, and battling Pokémon, fictional creatures with various shapes, characteristics, and powers. The name Pokémon comes from the contraction of the Japanese name Poketto Monsutā, a phonetic transcription of the English "Pocket Monsters." The most famous character is Pikachu, a small yellow electric creature. As the mascot of the Pokémon franchise, it has become an international icon. Pokémon GO is an augmented reality mobile game, developed by Niantic and released in 2016. Players capture Pokémon that appear in various real-world locations using a smartphone's geolocation and camera. Pokémon GO revolutionized the way of playing by combining augmented reality with the Pokémon universe.

3D animation of Pokémon characters

Since 2016, AOKIstudio has been animating Pokémon characters in 3D for films by The Pokémon Company and its partners: TV commercials, web commercials and a music video. The characters are animated in 3D and then integrated into live-action footage. The graphic style is a blend between cartoon and realistic 3D rendering.
This page brings together the nine films the studio has worked on. Click a thumbnail to watch the video.

Pokémon Champions

Pokémon Champions is a Pokémon battle game announced by The Pokémon Company in 2025 for Nintendo Switch and smartphones.
AOKIstudio animated the characters in 3D for the game's first reveal video, directed by Yuki Tsujimoto and produced by VIXI INC.

Pokémon Champions web commercial animated in 3D by AOKIstudio

Pokémon Champions web commercial, Japan 2025

Detective Pikachu Returns

Detective Pikachu Returns is the sequel to Detective Pikachu, released on Nintendo Switch in 2023.
AOKIstudio animated Pikachu in 3D for the game's TV commercial, broadcast in Japan for the game's release.

Pikachu animated in 3D for the Detective Pikachu Returns commercial

Detective Pikachu Returns TV commercial, Japan 2023

Detective Pikachu

Detective Pikachu) (Meitantei Pikachū) is a video game published by The Pokémon Company for the Nintendo 3DS. Unlike the main series, which focuses on capturing, training, and battling Pokémon, Detective Pikachu emphasizes investigations, with the player taking on the role of a Pikachu tasked with solving various mysteries.
AOKIstudio animated Pikachu in 3D for three TV commercials, broadcast in Japan in 2016 and 2018.

Pikachu animated in 3D in a street, Detective Pikachu commercial

Detective Pikachu TV commercial #1, Japan 2016

Pikachu animated in 3D in an office, Detective Pikachu commercial

Detective Pikachu TV commercial #2, Japan 2018

Pikachu animated in 3D in a mansion, Detective Pikachu commercial

Detective Pikachu TV commercial #3, Japan 2018

Pokémon GO

The commercials for Pokémon GO emphasize the social and exploratory aspects of the game, dynamically showcasing a wide variety of Pokémon characters and human players.
AOKIstudio animated the Pokémon GO characters in 3D for two commercials.

Pokémon animated in 3D in a park, Pokémon GO commercial

Pokémon GO TV commercial, Japan 2018

Mega Evolution animated in 3D, Pokémon GO commercial

Pokémon GO Mega Evolution TV commercial, Japan 2020

25th anniversary music video

The Pokémon Company produced a series of virtual concerts and music videos in different countries in 2021 to celebrate Pokémon's 25th anniversary.
AOKIstudio animated the characters for the music video produced in Japan, "Reconnect" by Yaffle, featuring Daichi Yamamoto and AAAMYYY.

Pikachu, Charmander and Squirtle animated in 3D, Pokémon 25th anniversary music video

Pokémon music video "Reconnect", Japan 2021

Toyota and Poké Balls

In 2020, Toyota Motor Corporation created a commercial in collaboration with The Pokémon Company for the opening of a Toyota festival.
The commercial features Poké Balls, the small red and white balls used in the games to capture Pokémon, as Toyota cars being transported by car carriers to the Toyota dealership. The 3D rendering is realistic in style to give viewers the feeling that these enormous Poké Balls actually exist.

Giant 3D Poké Ball, Toyota and Pokémon commercial

Toyota × Pokémon TV commercial, Japan 2020