In partnership with Pokémon | Tickets on sale here
On November 10, Pokémon Night Out will take over London’s biggest indoor arena, The O2, for a fandom-focused dance music extravaganza to remember. Globally renowned DJ-producers Marshmello and Alison Wonderland will deliver high-energy sets at this one-of-a-kind event, which will feature iconic Pokémon visuals and a galvanising atmosphere. Here’s why you’ll want to be there in your favourite Pikachu T-shirt.
It’s basically a massive party
Your favourite Pokémon characters may look ageless, but the beloved franchise is actually turning 30 this year. “I grew up with Pokémon, so to do this, especially on the 30th anniversary, is just such an honour,” says headliner Marshmello.
The Pokémon universe began relatively modestly back in February 1996 with a pair of role-playing games launched on Game Boy. Since then, it’s grown into a global phenomenon with many interconnected strands including video games, a trading card game, manga and anime series, blockbuster movies, and of course the era-defining AR game Pokémon GO.
These days, Pokémon is widely recognised as the world’s highest-grossing media franchise, so this year’s 30th celebrations are an enormous deal. The anniversary campaign was officially launched earlier this year with a ‘What’s Your Favourite?‘ video featuring the likes of Lady Gaga, BLACKPINK‘s JISOO and F1 driver Charles Leclerc. Now, Pokémon Night Out is going to bring fans together for a party like no other.
Headliner Marshmello and support act Alison Wonderland really know their stuff
In fact, they were specifically chosen because they’re longtime fans of the franchise. “Both Marshmello and Alison Wonderland share a genuine passion for Pokémon that extends beyond the stage, making this collaboration a natural celebration of the fandom,” says Taito Okiura, VP of marketing at The Pokémon Company International.
Sydney-born DJ, producer and singer Alison Wonderland, who got into Pokémon through the OG games, says she’s an especially huge fan of Pikachu. “I remember I got this limited edition Pokémon Game Boy that came with a Pikachu pedometer, and I played it every day,” she says. “And so visually, Pikachu is just really comforting for me because they remind me of some great moments in my life. To this day, I still collect Pikachu toys and stuff like that.”
As for Marshmello, he’s more of a Mewtwo man. “Charizard and Pikachu, they’re kind of bubbly and lighthearted,” says the masked star. “But growing up, I just remember Mewtwo being a little bit more ominous.” So, will Marshmello’s grey and purple fave make a cameo during his set? There’s every possibility…
It’s a totally bespoke show
Both artists have worked closely with The Pokémon Company to create bespoke sets featuring moments that fans won’t have seen or heard before. Marshmello – one of the world’s most popular acts on Spotify, with billion-streamed bangers like ‘Happier’, ‘Silence’ and ‘Friends’ to his name – says he’s planning “a very special, very curated set” especially for Pokémon Night Out. “For this show, it’s been really fun to work off of all the visual moments we have planned,” he teases.
Meanwhile, Alison Wonderland is such a massive fan of the franchise that her baby son, Ash, shares his name with the iconic Ash Ketchum from the Pokémon anime and manga series. “Honestly, I’ve always wanted to have Pokémon visuals in my show,’ she says. “And now here we are, and I’m working with the legit ones. It’s just kind of surreal for me.”
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Though she doesn’t want to give too much away, Wonderland will say that she has slipped in a few audio-visual Easter Eggs. “I was given an opportunity to ask so many questions and talk to so many people at Pokémon, and everyone was so accommodating and encouraging of my ideas,” she says. “One of my favourite theme songs from the game is from the Lavender Town [location], and they’ve let me remix it especially for this show. I’ve also asked to have some Pokémon cries in my set, just to tailor it even more to the crowd.”
It’s a night for the fans
Above all, Pokémon Night Out is a celebration of a franchise that people have really taken into their lives since it began in 1996. “I imagine this is going to be some people’s first rave, but I’ll also be playing to people who’ve been raving since the ’90s. I love that kind of wide demographic!” says Wonderland. “It’s a new crowd for me, but it’s also a crowd of fans like me. Like, if I wasn’t playing, I would still go to this event!”
And when The O2 is filled with Pokémon fans, the vibes will be impeccable. “I think there’s a huge crossover between electronic music fans and fans of Pokémon,” says Wonderland. “A lot of people make little trinkets to bring to raves, and I’ve noticed that quite a lot of those trinkets are actually Pokémon-themed.”
So, consider this a low-key challenge: be there, and bring your favourite Pokémon trinket to make this a night to remember.
Pokémon Night Out will take place at The O2 in London on November 10. The last remaining tickets are available here.
