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The Eighth Pokémon generation is the eighth generation of Pokémon games, starting with Pokémon Sword and Shield and taking place in the United Kingdom-inspired Galar region. Sinnoh made its comeback with Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl and Pokémon Legends: Arceus.
New Pokémon[]
There are 96 new Pokémon introduced in this generation, including the starters Sobble, Scorbunny, and Grookey and the main legendaries Zacian and Zamazenta. This is the first generation with expansions to the main games instead of a third version. This added several new Pokémon via updates. Additional Pokémon were added with Pokémon Legends: Arceus including various evolutions to classic Pokémon like Wyrdeer. The Forces of Nature gained one member in the form of Enamorus.
There were 36 regional forms introduced in the games and expansions. This includes the first regional form of legendary Pokémon, Articuno, Zapdos, and Moltres. Some of the regional forms can exclusively evolve into different Pokémon species like Galarian Meowth into Perrserker. More regional forms were introduced in the Hisui region in Pokémon Legend: Arceus such as Growlithe.
Similar to Mega Evolution, certain Pokémon can Gigantamax in the Galar Region, taking on unique extravagant forms with signature Max Moves. There are 35 different Gigantamax forms counting both forms of Urshifu.
Games[]
Spinoffs[]
Other media[]
With the launch of Pokémon Sword and Shield, the anime launched a new season dubbed Pokémon Journeys: The Series internationally and as just Pocket Monsters in Japan. The show still features Ash with his new friend Goh. Instead of taking on the Pokémon Galar League, Ash travels between the eight regions each episode. Each of the main leads has their own goal in this series with Ash trying to be the top ranked Trainer while Goh wants to catch all the Pokémon. Unlike previous series of the anime, the English dub aired on Netflix. The Journeys anime marked the final time Ash and Pikachu are the main protagonists, as Liko and Roy will succeed them in the next series.
Pokémon the Movie: Secrets of the Jungle is the 23rd movie of the franchise, released in 2020 in Japan and 2021 worldwide via Netflix. Pokémon: The Arceus Chronicles a TV movie based on Journeys and promoting Pokémon: Legends Arceus, released in 2022.
In addition to the main series, The Pokémon Company released a series of eight short episodes called Pokémon: Twilight Wings. Each episode showcased a character from the Galar region. The company also released Pokémon Evolutions, an eight episode miniseries covers all the Pokémon games throughout the franchise. The miniseries also celebrated the franchise's 25th anniversary. A series of kid-oriented animations were also released, grouped together as Pokétoon. The company also released two animated shorts, Bidoof's Big Stand, involving Bidoof and A Ripple in Time. Pokémon: Hisuian Snow, an animated web series based on Pokémon: Legends Arceus, released in May 2022. The series is produced by Wit Studio, consisting of three episodes.
Beyond these animated series, there have special music initiatives. The music video, Acacia, released in 2020 to celebrate the release of the Expansion Pass. It features the song, Acacia by Bump of Chicken with animation by Studio BONES. The Pokémon Company International worked with various artists and the Universal Music Group to compile a special 25th anniversary album called Pokémon 25: The Album. It was promoted throughout 2021 with special music video releases and a virtual concert.