Pokémon Company Recruits PhD Ecologists
The Pokémon Company is recruiting PhD holders in ecology for Tokyo roles, sparking "Jurassic Park but bio-engineered Pokémon" jokes from the community with 133 likes on IGN's coverage. Meanwhile, @PokemonRestocks announced Japan-exclusive 30th Anniversary rugs featuring Snorlax, Ditto, Pikachu, and Poké Ball designs. Classic series Pokémon: The Johto Journeys is now streaming free on the official YouTube channel starting with "Don't Touch That 'Dile."
The job posting for ecologists at The Pokémon Company specifies a need for bilingual Japanese and English speakers with research experience in animal and plant ecology. A bonus of 1 million yen (about $6,300) is offered upon joining, with an additional 1 million yen paid annually each March to successful PhD candidates. These new hires will not require game development skills like programming. Instead, their expertise in real-world ecosystems, including predator-prey dynamics and habitats, is intended to help develop the Pokémon series in a way that feels more organic and realistic. The 30th-anniversary celebration extends beyond rugs, with a collaboration with Uniqlo for t-shirts featuring Ken Sugimori's original art set to release in March 2026. The Pokémon Center is also offering an "Opening Scene" collection, immortalizing the iconic Gengar vs. Nidorino battle from the opening of the original games. Lego is contributing to the anniversary with three new Kanto-themed sets, including a massive 6,836-piece diorama of Venusaur, Charizard, and Blastoise. In Japan, a special edition of *Pokémon FireRed* and *LeafGreen* is being released with reproduced Game Boy Advance packaging and a case holding three glass Poké Balls. *Pokémon: The Johto Journeys* is the third season of the classic animated series, following Ash, Misty, and Brock's adventures through the Johto region as Ash competes in the Johto League. The series is notable for Ash adding Pokémon like Totodile and Chikorita to his team. The free streaming of the series is part of a newer distribution model for the company, which launched the official Pokémon TV YouTube channel in December 2024 after discontinuing the original Pokémon TV service. Episodes of *The Johto Journeys* are being added weekly with audio available in 12 different languages. This move to YouTube follows the October 2024 launch of a dedicated, 24/7 free ad-supported streaming television (FAST) channel on Pluto TV in North America. This channel gives viewers access to select episodes from the first 22 seasons of the popular anime.
