Pop Culture brands often turn to sneaker fanfare from time to time. This time around, it’s Pokémon that’s treading the collaboration route. For its 30th anniversary celebration, Pokémon is joining forces with adidas Originals for a comprehensive collection of 12 Pokémon x adidas Originals 30th Anniversary Sneakers.
As you’d expect from the names involved, the collaborative silhouettes blend the ‘90s nostalgia with modern streetwear style, giving those who have grown up playing Red and Blue on Nintendo Game Boy a reason to rekindle their memories.
Designer: Pokémon x adidasPokémon x adidas
Since its inception in 1996, Pokémon has evolved from the screens of the Game Boy to become one of the highest-grossing media franchises. The incredible journey is reflected through the signifying colors, textures, and unique structural add-ons that show up on the sneakers to portray the distinctive antics of various Pokémon.
The global release of the Pokémon-inspired sneaker collection is scheduled for September 2026. The sneakers that we are looking at include the adidas charms like the Samba, Superstar, and the Gazelle. These have been reimagined for Pokémon fans with colors and motifs to celebrate their beloved characters.
The highlight of the collaboration is three models designed after the lavender tones of Mewtwo. Other motifs embracing the collection include the wing-shaped overlays of Charizard and the textured yellow sneaker uppers drawn from Pikachu. A Pro Model and one Superstar iteration use fuzzy yellow uppers mimicking the Pikachu fur texture and are completed with Poké Ball lace dubraes.
The other Superstar silhouette is presented with a clean white base. The base is covered in an all-over graphic Pikachu print. A Charizard-inspired Superstar sneaker features a wing-shaped flap overlaying the eyelets, a nod to the character’s draconic form. As mentioned earlier, it’s Mewtwo that adidas and Pokémon have given the most attention. Mewtwo ZX 8000 sneaker design features a Master Ball lace charm with lavender and violet tones and horn-like ears to complement the character. The other two models are an original Samba and Handball Spezial. The latter has a heel loop inspired by the cord-like add-on extending from the back of Mewtwo’s neck.
Every pair of sneakers in the collection is a sublime blend of both brands. While adidas has gone ahead and presented its best models, Pokémon has left no stone unturned to ensure they are a true symbolic representation of what it represents. For the fans willing to open their wallets for a pair of adidas footwear with Pokémon branding, the commemorative sneakers are likely to retail between $110 and $180.
30th Anniversary Collection of Pokémon x adidas Originals will make a global debut in September this year and will be available via the adidas online store and select retailers.
