🔗 Share this article

Marking the arrival of the fascinating new book Pokécology: An Illustrated Guide to Pokémon Ecology, a unique collaboration is underway. Pokémon's creators alongside the Natural History Museum are opening a pop-up shop stocked with exclusive merchandise. Enthusiasts will find products like stationery, plushes, and artwork that are inspired by the institution's aesthetic. For collectors, however, will be a specially made Pikachu card, offered as a gift with purchase at the pop-up. The store is scheduled from the physical location and its web counterpart between late January and mid-April.

Pokécology Behind the Collaboration

Pokécology: An Illustrated Guide to Pokémon Ecology represents a highly anticipated tome packed with stunning illustrations depicting creatures in their wild environments. The concept like the kind of research a Pokémon Professor might publish once trainers provide field notes, or a naturalist's journal could have sketched had the Galapagos were populated by flying-types instead of birds. A key appeal stems from the book's scholarly approach, treating Pokémon as worthy of subject for inquiry. Writer Yoshinari Yonehara and illustrator Chihiro Kinoshita both hold PhDs in ecology and behavioral science.

What Makes This Special Card Different

The company regularly to issue special edition promos celebrating major tournaments or crossover partnerships. Many of these collector items often feature the famous mouse Pokémon that acts as the series face. The factor setting this new promotion apart however, is the distinctly bigger size. While exact measurements were not immediately shared, its distribution will certainly be strictly limited, and customers limited to only a single card per purchase.

Limiting Reseller Interest

Per a company statement, some of the merchandise will also be sold beyond the museum walls. But, a wider release is slated for select retailers within the UK. Critically, collectors will not be able to purchase the card through the online Pokémon Center. While reseller interest is a given, the setup suggests they're going to have trouble hoarding mass quantities on this occasion. If you're feeling left out, consider the upcoming fossil-themed display coming to Chicago in the coming months.

"All profits of sales from the museum store and from its web shop, which covers Pokémon products, support the Natural History Museum’s charitable mission. This includes the research of hundreds of researchers dedicated to conducting studies to discover answers to the planetary emergency," the statement notes.