With just a few more weeks to wait until the release ofPokemon VioletandPokemon Scarlet, the hype and promotions for the new games are stronger than ever. As newPokemonkeep being announced and released before the game itself totease fansand get everyone ready, one more important release also happened last week. The official song for the latestPokemongames is “Celestial,” by the superstar Ed Sheeran - and the music video is partly anime!
Ed Sheeran is known around the world for his pop music, and is very popular in Japan as well. It is still surprising to see him chosen as the artist behind the latestPokemonsong, though, as typically Japanese pop or rock stars remain the top choices. In the past,Pokemonhas evenreleased multiple songs, with a different version for the English and Japanese TV shows.
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This time, though, Sheeran’s song is the choice for both the Japanese and foreign language release. The official music video does have Japanese subtitles, though, so that Japanese fans can still understand the meaningful lyrics. The video was released on Ed Sheeran’s official YouTube just last week and has already climbed into the top 20 songs on YouTube.
Even more interesting than Sheeran beingPokemon’s chosen artist is the style of “Celestial”’s music video. It bounces back and forth between being live action and animated, with the anime sections featuring variousPokemonbeing a part of Sheeran’s daily routine. Judging by all thePokemontrinkets in his house at the start of the video, it’s clear that he is meant to be anadult fan of the series, and the story is his daydreams about what his life would be like if it hadPokemonin it.
The first half the music video continues in this way, featuring onlyPokemonfrom the original 150, and feels very nostalgic. The animated portions are cute, but crudely done. As the music video continues, though, the line between daydream and reality blurs. Eventually, the music video becomes anepicPokemonbattle, drawn in a more modern anime style! It has not only an anime-version of Ed Sheeran, but plenty of newer (and old!)Pokemon, too.
Pokemon VioletandScarletwill have both new and oldPokemon, hoping to continue to keep older fans playing while still appealing to the younger ones. “Celestial”’s story about an adultPokemonfan who still remembers the good times from playing on Gameboy Color, but also enjoys the newerPokemon, is exactly what thePokemonCompany is hoping for. “Celestial” feels bothnostalgic and modernat the same time, and may be exactly the kind of hype older fans of the series need to get excited about the new game.
While it is uncertain yet how “Celestial” will feature in theNintendo Switchgames, it has been confirmed that the song will be in them somewhere. Our guess is for the opening or ending credits, which is arguably the best place for a great theme song! We will all find out exactly how much of the song will be in the games and where in just six more weeks whenPokémon ScarletandPokemon Violetfinally release.
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Pokemon ScarletandPokemon Violetwill release on the Nintendo Switch on June 15, 2025.
