The Empire State Building will light up yellow and blue on Pokémon Day to celebrate the upcoming U.S. premiere of Pokémon Horizons: The Series

The Pokêmon Company International (TPCi), their long-term charitable partner The Toy Foundation™, and the Empire State Building in New York City have teamed up to celebrate Pokémon Day 2024 by illuminating the iconic tower in yellow and blue, inspired by the colors of the Pokémon logo. TPCi says the lighting is also in anticipation of the U.S. premiere of Pokémon Horizons: The Series, which the company describes as the first new mainline Pokémon anime to premiere since the original Pokémon the Series over 25 years ago. The Empire State Building will be lit in Pokémon’s colors on February 27th from sunset until 2 a.m., along with hosting Pokémon GO activities for visitors. Catch the U.S. premiere of Pokémon Horizons: The Series on March 7th, exclusively on Netflix.

Pokémon Day 2024 will be the 28th anniversary of the release of the original Pokémon Red and Pokémon Green games in Japan in 1996. To celebrate the occasion, TPCi will also be donating $10,000 USD to New York-based charity The Toy Foundation™, “in support of the organization’s critical mission to deliver the extraordinary benefits of play to children in need.” TPCi has previously been a major sponsor for the foundation's 2023 Toy of the Year® Awards, contributing $90,000 USD and more than $3.7 million worth of cards and other merchandise. Both major donations have been part of TPCi’s 2022 pledge to donate at least $25 million USD over five years to “organizations dedicated to improving the lives of children and supporting social equity.”

Raquel Daniels, the new Chief Diversity and Social Responsibility Officer at TPCi, said:
"Pokémon Day is about celebrating the Pokémon brand alongside its passionate fan community, and we couldn’t think of a better way to honor that than by making a positive impact on the lives of children and families in need. As we look forward to the Empire State Building lighting, we are continuing our support of The Toy Foundation’s important work by furthering opportunities for children and families in New York to experience the comfort and joy of play."

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At the Empire State Building
Pokémon GO Trainers who visit the Empire State Building anytime on February 27th can complete special Timed Research tasks, to earn in-game rewards like Incense and Lure Modules, plus an encounter with Pikachu wearing a party hat. PokéStops near the building will be themed for the day, and Lure Modules used on them will have a higher chance of attracting Unown.

Captain Pikachu, one of the stars of Pokémon Horizons: The Series, will be making a special appearance on the Empire State building’s social media channels on Pokémon Day, exploring the landmark on its official TikTok, Instagram, X (formerly Twitter), and Facebook accounts. Tickets to the Empire State Building are available at esbnyc.com, and to get real-time updates about the lights, Trainers can text CONNECT to 274-16.