Pokémon Officially Returns to a Beloved Region for 30th Anniversary

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Captain Pikachu being annoyed by three Pichu in Pokemon Horizons Season 2 Part 3

Published May 29, 2026, 7:45 PM EDT

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Pokémon will never go out of style. Another year passes and here we are debating over which starter to choose, who's the best pick for which gym leader, and so on. That said, we all know that Kanto is the franchise's comfort blanket, the place that gave us Pikachu, the three iconic starters, the creepy Mr. Mime and basically, 151 icons. So, with the franchise celebrating its 30th anniversary in 2026, it probably shouldn’t be a shock that Pokémon is once again returning to its original region.

The next official Pokémon release for 2026 has reportedly been revealed, and it’s another Kanto-focused LEGO set. According to a leak on Instagram, the upcoming set is titled Charizard vs. Jolteon and will feature the two classic Generation 1 Pokémon in battle. The set is designed for ages 8 and up, which is funny because we all know it's going to be adults who end up buying it. It reportedly includes 751 pieces and is part of LEGO’s “Smart Play” line, with a smart charger, smart tags, and smart bricks that help simulate a battle between Charizard and Jolteon. But also, if we're being especially picky about it, this is a terrible match-up for Charizard. As a flying type, he's going to struggle against Jolteon's electric attacks. His best bet is probably overpowering Jolteon early but even still, it's not good.

Why Did LEGO Choose Charizard and Jolteon?

Charizard remains one of the most marketable Pokémon in the entire franchise — obviously, because he's a gigantic fire dragon thing — while Jolteon gives the set Kanto favorite tied to the Eevee-lution line. Still, collectors have a few worries about the possible price, especially with smart bricks involved, and some are questioning why Charizard keeps getting so much attention when there are now more than 1,000 other Pokémon to choose from. Again, it's probably because Charizard is awesome.

That frustration is normal from a certain point of view, but it also speaks to how powerful Kanto still is for the franchise. The first generation of Pokémon games remains the best-selling era overall, outperforming other generations by millions of units, most likely because it was the gateway for millions of fans. Even as newer entries like Pokémon Sword and Shield and Pokémon Scarlet and Violet have brought in huge audiences on Nintendo Switch, the original region still carries a level of brand recognition that’s hard to beat. Heck, even the latest game, Pokopia, gives you Squirtle, Charmander and Bulbasaur as your first three entries to the Pokédex. Original and best.

The Charizard vs. Jolteon LEGO set has not yet been officially dated, but it is expected to be part of Pokémon’s 2026 anniversary lineup.

Release Date 1997 - 2023

Network TV Tokyo, TV Osaka, TV Aichi, TVh, TVQ, TSC

Directors Shigeru Omachi, Koji Ogawa, Fumihiro Ueno, Hideki Hiroshima, Maki Kodaira, Makoto Ooga, Ayumi Moriyama, Keitaro Motonaga, Shigeru Ueda, Fumihiro Yoshimura, Minoru Ohara, Yoshitaka Makino, Kiyoshi Egami, Makoto Sokuza, Bjarne Heuser, Naoki Murata, Kenichi Nishida, Tomoe Makino, Masahiko Watanabe, Hiroaki Takagi, Tazumi Mukaiyama, Ryohei Horiuchi, Yoshihiro Oda, Hiromichi Matano

Writers Junki Takegami, Atsuhiro Tomioka, Hideki Sonoda, Yukiyoshi Ôhashi, Yuka Miyata, Takeshi Shudo, Shouji Yonemura, Shinzo Fujita, Michihiro Tsuchiya, Deko Akao, Reiko Yoshida, Aya Matsui, Junichi Fujisaku

Franchise(s) Pokemon