The Pokémon franchise has begun streaming two new animated “summer vacation” shorts on its official YouTube channel as part of the “Pokémon to Kakeru Natsu Monogatari” (Summer Stories of Running With Pokémon) project. These shorts are designed for children and families to enjoy during the summer break, depicting characters embarking on adventures with Pokémon and making discoveries along the way.

The first short, titled “First Outing with Morpeko” (Morpeko” to Hajime no Otekake”), premiered on July 4, 2025. This 11-minute 3D-animated short follows a boy named Shota and his partner Morpeko as they prepare to attend the Pokémon Beach Festival to see their idol, the hero Bisharp. However, their journey is fraught with mishaps, including issues with Shota’s Bisharp shirt and a scary encounter with a Sandygast. Kei Shindo, known for voicing Mollie in Pokémon Horizons and Lillie in Pokémon Sun & Moon, stars as Shota.

The second short, “Chimchar and the Rookie Pokémon Researcher” (Hikozaru to Shinmai Pokémon Kenkyuin), is scheduled to premiere on July 11, 2025. This 2D-animated short features a young researcher named Ryo, voiced by Hiiro Ishibashi (Yuga Odo in Yu-Gi-Oh! Sevens), who encounters unique Pokémon during his fieldwork. Both shorts are available on the official Pokémon YouTube channel.

Other voice actors with roles in these shorts include Ikue Ōtani, Kana Hanazawa, Megumi Hayashibara, Etsuko Kozakura, Rikako Aikawa, Kenta Miyake, Tsuguo Mogami, and Tatsuki Kobe.