The adidas x Pokémon collaboration celebrates the 30th anniversary of a franchise that has gone from Game Boy screens to becoming a universal language. Footwear, icons spanning several generations and a healthy dose of nostalgia come together in a collection designed to keep catching them all.
Pokémon emerged in the 1990s, at a time when trading creatures between two consoles with a cable felt almost like magic. Video games, trading cards, anime and merchandise quickly turned Pikachu and company into a defining part of popular culture for an entire generation.
Three decades later, Pokémon has achieved something even more difficult: avoiding becoming frozen in nostalgia. Each new generation has found its own gateway into the Pokémon universe, from new video game releases and mobile apps to collecting, fashion and collaborations. That ability to evolve without losing its identity makes its partnership with adidas particularly fitting.
adidas x Pokémon: Classics Reimagined
The 30th anniversary collection brings different Pokémon characters to some of adidas’ most recognisable silhouettes, using colours, textures and subtle details to translate each creature’s personality into footwear.
Pikachu, unsurprisingly, takes centre stage. The franchise’s most recognisable character appears across several adidas x Pokémon Superstar Pikachu versions, from a yellow pair with a furry finish to a white edition covered in Pikachu graphics. The same visual language continues on the adidas x Pokémon Superstar Mid Pikachu, which brings those yellow, textured cues to a high-top silhouette.
Charmander’s evolution line also gets its own progression throughout the collection. The adidas x Pokémon Superstar Charmander combines cream and orange tones to echo the Fire-type Pokémon, while the adidas x Pokémon Superstar Charmeleon takes on a sharper, more aggressive look with details inspired by its claws. The sequence culminates in the adidas x Pokémon Superstar Vintage Charizard, where oversized overlays inspired by Charizard’s wings make it one of the collection’s most striking interpretations.
From Mewtwo to Rayquaza
Mewtwo leads another of the collection’s main stories, appearing across three different silhouettes. The adidas x Pokémon Samba OG Mewtwo introduces details inspired by the legendary Pokémon on one of adidas’ most recognisable shoes, while the adidas x Pokémon Spezial Mewtwo adds more specific elements, including triangular eyelets and references to the Master Ball. The adidas x Pokémon ZX 8000 Mewtwo completes the trio by bringing the same visual universe to one of the brand’s standout retro-running silhouettes.
Ghost-type Pokémon also find their place within the Adistar family. The adidas x Pokémon Adistar Control 5 Haunter brings Haunter’s aesthetic into the line, while the adidas x Pokémon Adistar XLG 2.0 Gengar uses tones associated with Gengar to turn the chunky silhouette into one of the collection’s most distinctive designs.
Rayquaza moves between different worlds too. The adidas x Pokémon Adistar Control 5 Rayquaza channels the legendary Pokémon’s visual identity, the adidas Originals x Pokemon ZX 500 RS ‘Rayquaza’ brought back a classic while the adidas x Pokémon F50 Tunit Mega Rayquaza carries the same universe into a football-inspired silhouette, linking two very different areas of collecting.
The Collection Goes Beyond Footwear
The collaboration is not limited to shoes. The adidas Originals x Pokémon “Pikachu” Relaxed Unisex Bomber brings back the look of retro sports jackets with a relaxed fit and V-neck collar.
The design blends adidas Originals references with Pokémon graphics, extending the collection beyond footwear and turning the capsule into something that can be worn from head to toe.
The result feels especially fitting for two names that have spent decades working around a similar idea: preserving what made them instantly recognisable while finding new ways to introduce those classics to each new generation.