🔗 Share this article

To celebrate the arrival of a captivating new book Pokécology: An Illustrated Guide to Pokémon Ecology, an exciting collaboration has been formed. Pokémon's creators and the Natural History Museum are opening a temporary store featuring exclusive merchandise. Enthusiasts can look forward to products like stationery, plushes, and artwork that are drawing from the museum's theme. For collectors, however, is a specially made Pikachu card, offered as a free bonus for the pop-up. The store is scheduled both the physical location and its web counterpart from January 26 to April 19.

Pokécology Behind the Partnership

Pokécology: An Illustrated Guide to Pokémon Ecology is a much-awaited tome filled with beautiful illustrations depicting creatures in their wild environments. It's essentially like the kind of research a Pokémon Professor might publish after adventurers submit their data, alternatively what Charles Darwin could have sketched had the famous islands teemed with Pidgeys instead of birds. Part of the charm stems from the book's scholarly treatment, treating Pokémon as a legitimate scientific inquiry. Author Yoshinari Yonehara and artist Chihiro Kinoshita both hold PhDs in animal behavior and ecology.

What Makes This Promo Card Stand Out

The company regularly for The Pokémon Company special edition promos for big events or crossover partnerships. Many such promotional cards typically highlight the iconic mouse Pokémon that acts as the franchise mascot. What distinguishes this new museum card however, is the distinctly bigger dimensions. Although exact measurements have not been immediately shared, availability will certainly be strictly limited, and customers limited to only a single card per purchase.

Curbing Reseller Activity

According to an official statement, some of the merchandise will also be sold outside the museum walls. However, a wider release will only be select retailers in the UK. Critically, fans cannot acquire the card via the online Pokémon Center. Although reseller interest is a given, it appears they will have a difficult time stockpiling large numbers on this occasion. For those unable to attend, consider an alternative like fossil-themed display coming to the Windy City later this year.

"Every penny from purchases made in the museum store and its online store, including Pokémon products, go toward the Natural History Museum’s non-profit work. This includes the efforts of hundreds of researchers who are scientific inquiry and finding answers to the planetary emergency," the statement notes.