World Space Week kicks off on October 4, and if the idea of exploring the infinite horizon of the cosmos doesn’t interest you, then maybe a world-famous Pokemon can inspire you to reach for the stars. As part of the event, the European Space Agency is teaming up with The Pokemon Company to shine a light on space exploration, and it’ll feature a very special Pikachu. Back in June, French Astronaut Sophie Adenot traveled to outer space and back with a special Pikachu plush to lay the groundwork for the promotion, capturing several moments on camera.
Back on terra firma, there’ll be exhibitions at ESA facilities during ESA Open Days, and at museums during World Space Week. This will cover France, Italy, Germany, Spain, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom.
While the goal is to both educate and entertain the next generation of explorers, there’s a good chance that exclusive collaboration products will also be a big draw. These will include plushies, Pokemon Trading Card Game accessories, and a replica of Adenot’s Pikachu decked out in astronaut gear and a bomber jacket. The ESA online shop will also offer special Pikachu-themed ESA apparel, including T-shirts, a tote bag, a notepad, and pins.
And that’s cool! It’s also likely to attract the seedier side of the Pokemon fandom, as we’ve seen several times in the past, as just about everything with Pokemon branding is usually scooped up by scalpers and sold online to collectors who couldn’t get their hands on those items. In one notable example, chaos broke out during a special exhibit at the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam after people flocked to acquire a limited-edition Pikachu card, which ended with four workers being fired for alleged misconduct.
Not even perishable food items are safe from the Pokemon reseller hustle, as the recent Krispy Kreme collaboration saw people listing boxes of Pokemon donuts for sale. While most were empty, others contained delicious treats and an expiration date.
In related Poke-news, Japanese airline All Nippon Airways recently unveiled a Pokemon-themed airliner to celebrate 30 years of the franchise, complete with custom illustrations of popular Pokemon like Pikachu, Bulbasaur, and Sprigatito.