The marketing campaign for Pokemon: Detective Pikachu has begun, and the movie's first poster is filled to the brim with references and Easter eggs, which Pokemon fans around the world will undoubtedly have fun perusing through.
Based on the Nintendo 3DS video game of the same name - which released in Japan in 2016 and the rest of the world in 2018 - Legendary Entertainment and Warner Bros. Pictures' adaptation has a number of blink-and-you'll-miss-it moments from the Detective Pikachu trailer that makes it worth rewatching for any hardcore fans of the core series.
Related: Live-Action Pokémon Look Better Than We Ever Imagined
This world-building actually carries over to the official movie poster for the film, which features dozens of references to various objects, creatures, and hallmarks of the Pokemon video games, including everything from a Charizard flying up above to an Eevee salon.
Pikachu, Charizard, and Snorlax
There are several monsters from the iconic JRPG series referenced in the initial poster, although most of them are not physically seen. A lot of the creatures that do receive nods in the image do appear in Detective Pikachu's first trailer, but there are three physical beasts in the poster in particular that are worth immediately calling attention to.
- Pikachu, voiced by Ryan Reynolds, is front and center (as expected).
- Charizard is up high in the sky – seemingly keeping an eye on the protagonist. Given the final evolution of Charmander's prominence in the actual trailer, it's a safe bet that there's a reason the Pokemon is featured here.
- Snorlax can be found tucked in to the right of Pikachu, seemingly catching some much-needed z's.
Total: 3
Lickitung, Eevee, Machamp, Magikarp, and More
Despite not being grounded in the mythology of the games, there are several nods to other Pokemon present in signs for various businesses. It makes sense that these powerful (and occasionally adorable) beings would become incredibly useful tools and companions for any aspiring business owner, and it's clear that that's exactly what has happened in Detective Pikachu's Ryme City.
- Charizard - Charizard’s BBQ sign.
- Lickitung - Lickitung Post Office sign.
- Eevee - Eevee Salon sign.
- Jigglypuff - Berry Juice, J. Puff Records, and neon signs.
- Machamp - Machamp’s Muscle Gym sign and Hoenn Sport Club poster.
- Joltik - Joltik Electric sign hanging up and to the right of Pikachu.
- Magikarp and Gyarados - Gyarados is feature behind the Magikarp lettering on a sign up and to the right on the poster.
Total: 8
Mewtwo, Mr. Mime, Primeape, and More
Other references, despite not being physical appearances are simple callouts to other fan favorites. For example, the legendary Mewtwo is presented though graffiti on the side of a garbage can, while some are present on posters and others are fun nods to the world that all of these Pokemon happen to inhabit. Here are all of the Poke-centric name drops and appearances in the poster:
- Mewtwo - "M2" is spray-painted on a garbage bin.
- Mr. Mime - Its name is shown on the One Night Only sign.
- Snubull - Ryme City Watch Area sign on light posts.
- Psyduck - Neon emblem located to the left of Jigglypuff's.
- Kingler and Rufflet - Ryme City Rufflets vs Kanto Kinglers poster hanging to the left of Pikachu.
- Loudred - Neon signs ahead of Detective Pikachu.
- Primeape - Hoenn Sports Club poster in the window to the left of Pikachu.
Total: 8
Charmander, Squirtle, and Bulbasaur
It seems as if something has happened to the beloved starter Pokemon from the Kanto region. These Pokemon Red and Blue mainstays (Charmander, Squirtle, and Bulbasaur) appear to be going missing at an alarming rate. Hopefully, Detective Pikachu can get to the bottom of this.
Total: 3
Pokemart, Pokemon Daycare, Hi-Hat Cafe, and More
While it's nice to see that new establishments have been able to emerge in the wake of a more fleshed out Pokemon universe, fans are understandably eager to see how true the film stays to Pokemon's canon. Despite a number of creative liberties, hardcore followers of the franchise will spot a few businesses that should seem familiar.
- Pokemart & Pokemon Day Care services appear to be present and accounted for.
- Pokemon Schools that are found in each game are also in Detective Pikachu.
- Hi-Hat Cafe, interestingly, premiered in the Detective Pikachu spinoff game for Nintendo 3DS platforms. So, while the cafe is right at home in the Detective Pikachu movie, core Pokemon fans could be forgiven for being unaware of the reference.
- Rad Rickshaw's Cycle Shop is here, which some gamers will recognize as the exact same store that appeared in Pokemon Diamond and Pearl's Sinnoh region. It looks like Rad Rickshaw has been busy franchising now that his bikes are sold in Ryme City.
Total: 5
Page 2 of 2: Even More Pokemon Easter Eggs In The Detective Pikachu Poster
Pokemon Dollars, Moomoo Milk, Rare Candy, and More
Following up on the presence of in-game establishments, the items of Pokemon art just as sacred as the locales that they are found in. Fortunately, it looks as if this wasn't lost on the creative minds at Legendary, as there are a number of items that gamers will immediately be able to point out.
- MooMoo Milk - A reference to the milk from the Pokemon Miltank that originates from the Gold Version and Silver Version Game Boy Color Pokemon games. It's bottled and sold across the Pokemon series.
- Pokemon Dollars - The currency utilized throughout the Pokemon franchise seems to be alive and well in Ryme City, as is evident by the littering sign.
- Rare Candy - The items utilized to level up Pokemon appears to have made the jump to the big screen through a massive neon sign.
- Revival Herb - Much like its name implies, the Revival Harb will... well, revive a fainted Pokemon. It's present underneath the Magikarp sign.
- Energy Powder - This herb restores HP, and two of them can be found sitting on their own sign.
- Energy Root - Mixed in with a plethora of berries on the film's poster, the Energy Root also restores HP to injured Pokemon.
- Heal Powder - Capable of healing a status problem on your Pokemon, the Heal Power can be found on a sign sitting underneath the Pokemon Day Care logo.
- Lava Cookie - This item debuted in Pokemon Ruby and Sapphire, it's capable of curing status conditions. It can be found alongside a Soda Pop underneath the Pokemon School logo.
- Soda Pop - Featured on a vending machine and on a sign next to the aforementioned Lava Cookie, this item is known to restore health to Pokemon. And, presumably, provide humans with a nice bubbly beverage as well.
- Fresh Water - Found just underneath the Energy Powder sign, it's hard to miss the cool, refreshing taste of Fresh Water. Oh, it's capable of restoring HP as well.
- Berry Juice - Located under the Pokemart logo, there are two Berry Juices clinking together to play into their tropical aesthetic. As a drink, it also restores HP.
- Lemonade - Rounding out the list of available drinks in the Pokemon games is Lemonade, and it can be found just under the Fresh Water sign.
Total: 12
Berries, Berries Everywhere
There are so many berries featured within the Pokemon games now that players could be forgiven for forgetting some of the names. So, of course, there are a few being advertised as items for sale within the world of Detective Pikachu.
From the top down, the berries shown are: Leppa Berry, Sitrus Berry, Rawst Berry, Chesto Berry (?), Persim Berry, Oran Berry, Aspear Berry, Cheri Berry, and Lum Berry. The only one that's unclear is the Chesto Berry, but it best matches the lists of previously known berries from throughout the Pokemon series.
Total: 9
Kanto, Johto, an Hilarious Unova Reference, and More
In addition to all the items, drinks, shops, and everything else, the Pokemon games are also known for their areas and regions. Some games have specific regions that may not carry over to other titles, but the Detective Pikachu movie poster aims to, at least, reference a few of those relatively unknown areas.
- Tahnti Park - Adorning a sign at the very end of the alleyway that Detective Pikachu finds himself wandering down is the word "TAHNTI." As it turns out, this is a reference to Tahnti Park which is an area of Ryme City from the original Detective Pikachu game.
- Kanto - The Kanto Kinglers appear to be getting ready to take on the Ryme City Rufflets in a poster advertising the match next to the Hi-Hat Cafe. This makes for a nice nod to the region in which the entire series began.
- S.S. Anne - Another nod to the events of Pokemon Red and Blue Versions, a ticket to the S.S. Anne is needed in order to progress through the Pokemon Red and Blue game, which contains several Pokemon trainers aboard.
- Johto - This one is a little more on the nose, but who wouldn't want to sign up for the Johto Sport Club?
- Hoenn - The Hoenn Fight Club poster can be found to the left of Pikachu in the window of the Hi-Hat Cafe. It also features Primeape and Machamp which have both already been listed above.
- Unova - A shout out to this region stems from a sign reading Unova Style Pizza, but this joke may initially fly over the heads of even the most hardcore of fans. Upon reflection, it's easily one of the more intelligent examples of creative liberty being exercised by the team responsible for this poster, as Unova (which debuted in Pokemon Black and White) is based on New York City.
Total: 6
Pokemon Snap, Team Rocket, and the Return of Routes
- Pokemon Snap - Despite the fact that The Pokemon Company and Nintendo appear to have no interest in resurrecting the beloved Nintendo 64 spin-off game, Pokemon Snap, at least someone in Legendary's creative department felt the need to give the criminally overlooked classic a little respect.
- Team Rocket - In a wonderful bit of symbolism, there's a red R spray painted on the black garbage can featuring the more prominent Mewtwo easter egg. As many fans of the animated Pokemon: The First Movie and corresponding in-game lore will recall, Team Rocket is responsible for the creation of the legendary psychic-type.
- Route 1 - Adorning a sign sitting in front of Snorlax, this isn't so much shocking as it simply is a cool nod to the way roads (or routes) are labelled on the maps in the Pokemon video games.
Total: 3
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There's a grand total of 57 different references to the Pokemon franchise in the Legendary film's poster alone, and it's evident that gamers will have a lot to look forward to when Pokemon: Detective Pikachu arrives in theaters this summer.
More: Detective Pikachu: Every Pokémon Confirmed For Live-Action (So Far)
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