The world of Pokémon Go will cross over into the Pokémon anime series later this month, in an episode where the gang meet Professor Willow and spin a PokéStop.
Pokémon Go celebrated its 10th anniversary this summer, and the celebrations will continue this month as a landmark episode of the Pokémon Horizons series debuts in Japan on September 18, featuring a couple of very special guest stars.
Yes, Professor Willow himself will be making his anime debut, leaping over from his role assisting players in Pokémon Go. Coming along with him is Meltan, his partner Pokémon, and at least one PokéStop — the identifiers of real-world locations that Pokémon Go players spin in-game.
9月18日（金）18時55分から、『Pokémon GO』とアニポケのコラボエピソード放送が決定！
『Pokémon GO』内でも、テレビアニメコラボが開催されるよ。
コラボPVが解禁されたから、チェックしてね！https://t.co/VzJHnpeL7y #アニポケ #ポケモンGO pic.twitter.com/TWKMfTl5Wa— ポケモン公式 (@Pokemon_cojp) September 2, 2026
In a trailer posted today by the official Japanese Pokémon social media account, above Captain Pikachu can be seen spinning the PokéStop, accurately recieving Pokéballs and berries as a reward. And in a further nod, a Kecleon is revealed to have been hiding in plain sight — a neat nod to how the chameleon-like creature can be caught in Pokémon Go.
Exactly how Professor Willow will cross paths with Roy, Liko and the series’ other characters remains to be seen, as Go’s canonicity with the rest of the Pokémon franchise has always been left unclear. Indeed, Meltan and Melmetal, which debuted first in Pokémon Go, lack an official region of origin (such as Johto or Kanto), and are instead listed as being discovered in an “Unidentified” place.
Regardless, Pokémon Horizons and Go will also crossover together within Pokémon Go itself, with the episode’s Charizard wearing goggles available to catch in Go, as well as a return for Captain Pikachu. All of that takes place between September 16 and 22, around the time the special episode airs first in Japan. In the U.S., fans can start watching Pokémon Horizons: Season 3 via Netflix, while in the U.K. the series debuts on BBC iPlayer.
Tom Phillips is IGN’s News Editor. You can reach Tom at [email protected] or find him on Bluesky @tomphillipseg.bsky.social
