Original Pokémon Cards Are Being Reprinted For 25th Anniversary Celebrations

Pokémon commemorates its 25th anniversary in 2021, and to celebrate, The Pokémon Company is reprinting a set of classic cards from The Pokémon Trading Card Game.

These new (but not new) cards will roll out throughout the year, and will centre around one region at a time, featuring their starter Pokémon. Moreover, they will be "oversized" versions of the originals with the same artwork, adding a special symbol to denote their uniqueness. Titled "First Partner Packs," the schedule for each region is:

• March 5th, 2021 - Galar First Partner Pack
• April 2nd, 2021 - Alola First Partner Pack
• May 7th, 2021 - Kalos First Partner Pack
• June 4th, 2021 - Unova First Partner Pack
• July 9th, 2021 - Sinnoh First Partner Pack
• August 6th, 2021 - Hoenn First Partner Pack
• September 3rd, 2021 - Johto First Partner Pack
• October 8th, 2021 - Kanto First Partner Pack

Coincidentally, the rollout of the packs ends in early October, and the 25th anniversary of The Pokémon Trading Card Game will occur on October 20th, 2021. Ergo, we might see even more goodies arrive towards the latter months of this year, but The Pokémon Company is (quite literally) keeping its cards close to its chest on this front. We'll keep you in the loop if we learn more.

A Collector's Binder will be included in these packs, which is tidy, so you'll be able to add to your collection with each release. Lastly, the packs will come with two run-of-the-mill TPTCG booster packs, a boon to those with established experience in The Pokémon Trading Card Game and those who are getting started this year. If you'd like a sneak peek at the upcoming starter cards, PokéGuardian has them all here for your perusal.

The Pokémon Company is painting the town Delibird red for the anniversary, and these cards are not all that it's got in store. Promising events and promotions throughout the year, the party starts with a celebration of the Galar region in March, and will travel to the numerous regions in the series in the coming months.

"Cool themed collectibles" are on the way, too, and Katy Perry is just one of the "biggest names in music" that will be collaborating with the company. Personally, I am holding out hope for a Florence and the Machine cover of Cyrus's theme from Diamond and Pearl.